Berlin lights up with colour for October

Landmarks in Berlin will be awash with coloured and moving lights this month in one of the world's biggest illumination spectacles, the Festival of Lights.

The October 10-19 extravaganza is the 10th annual light festival and a big draw for autumn tourists.

Last year about two million people came out to see the spectacle.

There is no charge for viewing, but key venues are usually packed with crowds.

On October 11, many museums and attractions will open until midnight or later, adding to the excitement, the Visit Berlin tourist agency says.

An ancillary project, Berlin Leuchtet, will provide floodlighting or art lighting at a further 70 inner-city buildings.