SShprints

We are 2 guys in early 30s and are looking to travel dec 25-jan 1 on miles. Options are very limited:

Berlin by itself-6 days (day trip to Dresden or Potsdam)
Berlin 3d & Munich 3d (Day trip to Salzburg)
Berlin 4d & Krakow 2d (Day trip to Aushwitz)
Berlin 2d & Rome 4d

we are torn and have to make a decision today
Rome will have better weather and we can get a nonstop flight back to NY so thats a plus..but I worry that Rome is very rainy that time of year. I've been to Rome before and neither of us have been to Germany so we are very keen to visit Germany but I feel like Berlin will be zoo grey and gloomy and all of Germany will be extremely cold to walk around and won't be enjoyable.

any suggestions are welcome.
thanks!

annhig

just got back from my 3rd trip to Rome so I'm biased.

however, anywhere can be cold, anywhere can be wet that time of year. we have deliberately targeted places like Prague and Budapest for inter Xmas and N. Year trips because those cities do snow and cold so well.

my picks would be Prague and Berlin.

SShprints

Thanks!
I've been to Prague and don't really have interest to go there again. Which would you pick form the above?

I prefer snow to rain..I hate rain.

kpiepen

I am in Berlin now and it is cold and grey and gloomy. (but so interesting!) I think at Christmastime it would be a lot more cheerful. Munich is 6 hours away - not a quick jaunt if you only have a week.

It really depends on interest - if you're keen to see WW2 sites, Cold War, classic museums, good food, late night entertainment you can't beat Berlin. You could easily fill a week there is so much to do and see and the city is so big. If you want snowy, pretty, quieter towns probably Salzburg and Munich would be more your thing.

I can't speak to Krakow or Rome.

SShprints

ok, you've convinced me that I need to come to Berlin..so we are switching our dates around and now have a longer stay..dec 25 to Jan 4...and now one of the options is Paris. We decide against Rome or Krakow. So now the 2 options are:

1) 4 days Berlin & 5 days Paris
2) Berlin/Dresden/Munich/Salzburg 9 days

which would you recommend? I have been to Paris, but my partner hasn't. Neither one has been to Germany

annhig

no 2. i loved Dresden, and salzburg in the winter is lovely.

also there should be lots of music around to go to.

SShprints

you mean classical music? my partner is a classical pianist..so classical music is a BIG PLUS

annhig

oh yes, for classical music you should be well served especially in Salzburg. Dresden too, and Berlin, though Vienna between Christmas and New Year, if you can get tickets for the New Year's concert in the Musikverein, would be best of all.