Have n clue about boat tours in Berlin - I do;t remember seeing any water.

IMHO I would head straight for the 4 sights of major interest to YOU - one on Mon and 3 on Tues.

Top of my list would be the
Pergamom museum
ReichstagBerlin
Wall Museum
Whatever you love most

Be sure to have dinner at one o f the cute outdoor cafes in the old eastern part of the city

The boat tours are on the Spree and Landwehr canals. I have always enjoyed these kinds of tours as they give you a different perspective of a city...think the Chicago boat tours. It doesn't even matter if you can hear anything.

4 key sights might indeed be another way to go.

Toucan, I have no knowledge specific to Berlin, but I love boat tours as initial activities in cities. Great way to see things while jet lagged, and usually an interesting perspective.

Thanks for your perspective Jubi.

I have been researching the Brewer's Best of Berlin Tours, and on TA they really get good reviews. It took pages of review before I found a bad one, and that wasn't about the tour but rather some miscommunication about a privately arranged tour time and date. Not fun, but Brewers apologized right away.

It's a six hour walking tour, heavy on history, and visits a lot of the spots I would want to visit. So I am thinking I might do that on Tuesday.

If it rains, all bets are off and I will spend a day on Museum Island

I hope the tour takes you to the Memorial for the Murdered Jews of Europe. It was unforgettable.

Let me offer you a link about the project.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/09/arts/design/09holo.html?pagewanted=all

Lsky, yes, it is listed and was one of the places I wanted to visit.

Thank you for the link lsky, very interesting article.

Another not specific to Berlin idea, but would you like to do a walking tour on your own? Often in guidebooks you can find them already mapped out, hitting several of the major sights in various neighborhoods?

I'm just big on doing stuff on my own, over joining organized tours. Although I do think a hop on-off bus type thing is always a good first thing to do to get a feel for a new city.

Have a ball! It sounds like a great trip!!

Yes, generally I don't do a lot of guided tours, but I have so little time. On an actual vacation I have more time to wander, get lost a little, and find my way again. That was why I was thinking this direction, but I would really only want one that was more in depth---which is why the Brewer one sounds interesting. I would love to hear if anyone has gone on it. I haven't committed yet, just something I am thinking about.

What I would really like is to hire someone like Michael Osman for a day, but haven't had any luck yet finding any references. I've been searching this site but haven't seen anyone mention a private guide.

I am an overpreparer, so will probably do some options for walking tours to have on hand as a just in case. Last spring when I knew I might be going to this conference I requested the fodors germany book as a free guidebook, so have noted some from there. I'll make a library run for some other guidebooks too. With other events in my life this summer I haven't had a lot of time until now to try to pull it all together.

Even though I don't have much time, I want to make the most of it!

We totally enjoyed have Jeremy Minsberg as our private guide three years ago. We tried to book him for subsequent but he was not available.

That trip was my 4th to Berlin and my husband's first. We learned so much more than a DIY or group tour and I highly recommend him. Jeremy Minsberg (jeremy@theberlinexpert.com)

When he was not available, he recommended Heather Mae Ellis but I cannot personally recommend her as we have not yest used her services. orangeheather@googlemail.com

You might find my detailed trip report helpful: http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/trip-report-4-fabulous-days-in-berlin.cfm

Thank you kfusto! I read your report, that does sound like the kind of day I am looking for. I sent an email off to Jeremy, so, fingers crossed that he might be available.

The most efficient and memorable way to see any city is with a tour guide, or even a group tour, on foot or on a bike. Please, no bus tours unless walking is difficult for you.

You will see and learn far, far more than walking around with a tour book or printed "walk" from the city held in your hand. Plus, you can ask questions from a tour guide, as well as learn all the quirky bits about a city that no tour book has place to mention.

Every time I read the Rick Steves "walk" through Frankfurt, I want to cry, it is so awful. The one the city publishes, is almost as bad.

Just a bit on your other questions:

Yes, the Moltkebrücke stop for boat excursions is just a stone's throw from Hauptbahnhof.
Take Washingtonplatz exit and walk across the river. Appr. 5 min walking from the trains.
The river cruises are usually less than an hour and are okay but show only a bit of the city center East, obviously. With very little time, it may be wiser to skip it, go to hotel first and then on a tour on foot.

The Berlin subway has the same style of signage as in Paris re. Final destinations/terminus as you described. The S-Bahn has same but here trains of several lines share platforms like on a "real railway".

Your hotel will be in easy walking distance from Zoo station, and with many stores, eateries, restaurants in walking distance up and down Kudamm. The next stop for city tour buses is literally around the corner at Kudamm. As the city is somewhat spread out, a bus tour has its upsides, as many tourists just see what is in a half-mile diameter around Brandenburg Gate. But for starters you could just catch the subway, go to Potsdamer Platz and see the sights in the Mitte district or take a walking tour of that part of town. The bus tour could be a fall back option for rainy weather, though.

For a nightcup in walking distance from your hotel, you can try out the bars and pubs or restaurants around Savignyplatz, maybe 10 mins walking across Kudamm .
Or take subway line 1 from your hotel towards Warschauer Str. and explore the neighborhood around Görlitzer Bahnhof subway stop. Tons of pubs, eateries, restaurants in that area with a somewhat "alternative" touch.

Toucan2; Here is a free walking tour of 3 1/2 hours. We have ysed them in Munich and thourght it was excellent.

The guides receive tips. www.newberlintours.com This site has a little information on Berlin www.inyourpocket.com/germany/berlin

Enjoy the free time you have.

Thanks again. Jeremy is available! I spoke to a friend who is also going to the conference and arriving Tuesday morning so we are going to spend the day with Jeremy as a tour guide. I know it will be a great day, and as you say, we will be able to ask questions and see a lot of the city by foot.

Cowboy, thank you so much for the extra detail. I had misunderstood the timing on the luggage delivery so will need to go straight to the hotel first on Monday afternoon, drop the luggage off then spend a bit of time on my own that afternoon. I'll have a few options in mind and let weather and mood guide me. Thank you for the additional tips on restaurants etc.

On the Wednesday night it looks like there will be an event at Wasserwerk which looks like fun! It will include a performance by Adagio.

Toucan, please tell Jeremy that Kim from FL sends her regards. So pleased you were able to get him for the day!

Enjoy Berlin - it is a very interesting city and one of our favorites in Europe.

kfusto, I will certainly do that!

Kim, Jeremy's response was: She was one of my fav clients!

iris1745 mentions free tours and I would also recommend. We had a great experience on free bike tours of both Berlin and Munich (Berlin being the better one). I just found it through a google search.

iris1745 mentions free tours and I would also recommend. We had a great experience on free bike tours of both Berlin and Munich (Berlin being the better one). I just found it through a google search.

Don't miss the Pergamon Museum but keep in mind that ticket prices to most sights in Berlin are quite high! On the other hand, it was a pleasant surprise to find that the Holocaust Museum is free (recommended!!!)
I'm not a fan of tours so I can't help you with that, but I found Berlin's transportation to be excellent. The subway goes everywhere (at the moment line U6 in the center has a few stations closed due to road works but it's an easy walk between the stations that are open) and there are several train stations all over the city center.
Many guidebooks recommend the Charlottenburg Palace but I say you skip it with such a limited time to see the city. It's way overpriced and although nice, inside it's just an ordinary baroque palace. Here are a few more ideas on how to spend your time in the city, depending on your interests: http://www.ucityguides.com/berlin/sights-attractions-tours.html

Toucan, thanks for passing that on and have a great trip!

Just finished a fabulous day with Jeremy Minsburg. I have had beautiful weather these past two days, and saw a lot. Will write more later when I return from trip next week.

Just a thank you from everyone for the ideas and input, as always, it helped me make the most of my trip.

Toucan, very glad you are enjoying Berlin and that you enjoyed your day with Jeremy.

Looking forward to reading more as we get closer to our visit in December.