Berlin/Germany - things to do/places to see/suggestions

BS122256

My wife and I will be getting into Berlin on the 4th and attending the concert on the 5th, flying back to the US on the 10th.  What are some recommendations of other cities in Germany to visit, things that we should look to do, etc?  This is our first time visiting there and we'll also be celebrating our 15th wedding anniversary too!

2-feign-reluctance

Hang with @dimitrispearljam

giulia.saud

I guess it depends what you like, but Berlin has plenty to offer for a few days - amazing Museums, nightlife, history, parks. Anything in particular that you would like to know?
For day trips you can easily get to Potsdam, Dresden, Leipzig and possibly even Hamburg. It depends how far you want to go/if you plan on sleeping in Berlin the whole time. Further out, southern Germany is also very nice, Munich or other smaller towns in Bavaria.

Spiritual_Chaos

They have a video game museum. Could be worth checking out.

But my suggestion would be to take a cheap flight up to Sweden for the last days.

BS122256

Plan would be to stay in Berlin Wednesday and Thursday night and then we would probably go to southern Germany for the rest of the week getting back to Berlin on the 10th to fly back.  What's the best way to get around?  Train?  Rental car?

giulia.saud

Trains can be quite expensive especially at shorter notice, it might be cheaper to rent a car. It gives you the freedom to go to smaller places that are not near a train station, but it's slower. Try simulating the price for trains https://www.bahn.com/en/view/index.shtml and cars, and see what works best for you. I've heard Augsburg is really nice, you can also visit Neuschwanstein Castle, or follow the Romantische Strasse http://www.romantischestrasse.de/index.php?L=0

BS122256

Thanks!!

Princess Bulldozer

If you want to go south, I would suggest concentrating on the state of Bavaria.
It has places such as Würzburg, Nuremberg (also called Nürnberg in Germany) and Munich (also called München in Germany). Trains can be late and therefore you should plan to be back in Berlin the day before your flight home in my opinion. (I have lived in Germany for the last 2.5 years, and commuted long-distance for work for a portion of it by train). The fast (but more expensive trains) take about 4-5 hours from Berlin to Würzburg and cost about 100€ if you can't get the cheaper savings ticket. Savings tickets can only be used on the train route/time you picked. Flexible tickets can be used on the same day for any route/time.

My preference is to stay in one place for 5 days at a time. Holidays can be lost with travelling from one place to another. Maybe it makes more sense to either stay in Berlin, it has so much to offer. Or fly into Munich and hang out there for the time you have. It also has lots to offer.

BS122256

Anyone flown Eurowings?  RT from Berlin to Munich is $78 on that airline.  $135 on Lufthansa.  Thanks all for the help!

lastexitlondon

Rammones museum you might even bump into ED there!

Princess Bulldozer

BS122256 said:

Anyone flown Eurowings?  RT from Berlin to Munich is $78 on that airline.  $135 on Lufthansa.  Thanks all for the help!

Not yet, I will fly with them for the tour myself. They seem reasonable, just buy the additional check luggage now. Otherwise it will be more expensive at airport, like other cheap airlines. I like flying Lufthansa though as well.

kermie13

Hey... I am from Berlin. 

You have 6 days right? Depends if you rather see 1-2 places or rush and see more places.
You could easily spend 3 - 4 days in Berlin....... there is a lot to do and to see. Tons of museums, galleries, just general sight-seing....and not to mention great bars, pubs, restaurants. 
And like someone else mentioned a day trip to Potsdam, which is a beautiful place south of Berlin (30- 40 min Regional Train), which has palaces, a pretty old town and is located right by the lakes and river. 
https://www.tripsavvy.com/best-things-to-do-in-potsdam-1519867
And this place is quite interesting too: 
https://awesomeberlin.net/activities/abandoned-beelitz-hospital-complex
https://withberlinlove.com/2015/10/26/baumkronenpfad-beelitz-heilstatten/
(its an old Sanatorium from the 19th century, abandoned for more than 25 years)



If you want to see other cities I would go to Hamburg (1.5 - 2 hours by train). Its a good place to visit for 1-2 days.

I really like Leipzig too. Great art scene, alternative culture, lots of history- it was the center of the Peaceful Revolution that led to the Fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 ... found this article that gives you a bit of an impression:
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2015/aug/10/the-alternative-city-guide-to-leipzig-germany

Dresden is beautiful too. 

A bit unusual but north of Dresden is a small but beautiful city called Goerlitz: lots of films were made there such as "Grand Budapest Hotel" , "Inglorious Basterds" and "The Reader":
http://cherylhoward.com/2015/09/14/gorlitz-photos/
http://www.earthtrekkers.com/berlin-day-trip-rakotzbrucke-gorlitz-bastei-bridge/

Keep in mind Munich is 6 - 6 1/2 hours on the train, so not really around the corner.  I personally think its too far away for the time period you have.
But as mentioned above that totally depends how much time you want to spend at each place. 


Take care....Kristin

Princess Bulldozer

kermie13 said:

Hey... I am from Berlin. 

You have 6 days right? Depends if you rather see 1-2 places or rush and see more places.
You could easily spend 3 - 4 days in Berlin....... there is a lot to do and to see. Tons of museums, galleries, just general sight-seing....and not to mention great bars, pubs, restaurants. 
And like someone else mentioned a day trip to Potsdam, which is a beautiful place south of Berlin (30- 40 min Regional Train), which has palaces, a pretty old town and is located right by the lakes and river. 
https://www.tripsavvy.com/best-things-to-do-in-potsdam-1519867
And this place is quite interesting too: 
https://awesomeberlin.net/activities/abandoned-beelitz-hospital-complex
https://withberlinlove.com/2015/10/26/baumkronenpfad-beelitz-heilstatten/
(its an old Sanatorium from the 19th century, abandoned for more than 25 years)



If you want to see other cities I would go to Hamburg (1.5 - 2 hours by train). Its a good place to visit for 1-2 days.

I really like Leipzig too. Great art scene, alternative culture, lots of history- it was the center of the Peaceful Revolution that led to the Fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 ... found this article that gives you a bit of an impression:
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2015/aug/10/the-alternative-city-guide-to-leipzig-germany

Dresden is beautiful too. 

A bit unusual but north of Dresden is a small but beautiful city called Goerlitz: lots of films were made there such as "Grand Budapest Hotel" , "Inglorious Basterds" and "The Reader":
http://cherylhoward.com/2015/09/14/gorlitz-photos/
http://www.earthtrekkers.com/berlin-day-trip-rakotzbrucke-gorlitz-bastei-bridge/

Keep in mind Munich is 6 - 6 1/2 hours on the train, so not really around the corner.  I personally think its too far away for the time period you have.
But as mentioned above that totally depends how much time you want to spend at each place. 


Take care....Kristin

Great suggestions

kermie13

Danke 

BS122256

Awesome suggestions!  Thanks.  

kermie13

no worries. let me know if you guys have any other questions.