I know lots of people like Munich (no idea why) Hamburg is more fun which is not saying a great deal.

I think Liepzig and Dresden make a better visit if you want to end up at Berlin, though Magdeburg has the some fine city scapes (with relatively few people).

On the other side of town, Trier at the end of the Mosel valley is most pleasant and you can drop in on Ulm and Wurzburg on the way which are both worth the time. And hence to Normandy...

We have been a number of times. Berlin is an all time favorite and we are returning for 5 days between Christmas and New Years for the 4th trip.

I do not think Berlin and Munich make sense from a geography stand point with only one week. I would perhaps stay in Dresden for two nights if you want a change but Berlin can easily occupy for a week with a day trip or two.

There are many lovely spots in Germany. We like the Bavarian Alps (Berchtesgaden, Garmisch), Wurzburg and others but "best" IMO is based on your individual tastes and what you enjoy.

With only a week, I would choose either Berlin or Munich due to the geography as kfusto pointed out.

If you choose Munich, you could spend a few days in the city and then do a driving trip encompassing Salzburg, Garmisch and/or Fuessen.

If you choose Berlin, there's enough to see and do for an entire week. But if you want to get outside of town, you could take the train to Leipzig or Dresden. Or a great day trip would be taking the train to Luebbenau (in the Spreewald) and rent a canoe to paddle through the Spreewald. (We did that several times when we lived in Berlin.) They also have barge rides where you can sit and drink as they take you through the Spreewald.

also if you choose Berlin you could do a day trip to Potsdam, which we liked a lot.

I'll cast my vote for Bavaria. Munich is the big city in Bavaria and has a lot to offer all by itself. Obviously Ludwig country in the Alps is beautiful and studded with the Mad King's castles. Bertschesgaden and nearby Salzburg will charm you. North of Munich Rothenburg is right out of a storybook. Rothenburg can be crowded with tourists during the day but things settle down and you have a quiet time after the tour busses leave in the afternoon, so it is good to stay a night.

Before you commit yourself on one city or region in Germany, you should check how you can get from there to your next destination, Normandy.
I don't know if you plan to train or fly or a mix of both, but it could make a huge difference in travel times if you stayed in the middle of nowhere in the Alps, or in a city with an international airport, or closer to the French border with access to the TGV network.

Thanks for all the input. We are probably going to go with Berlin and skip Munich this trip. That being said, recommendations have been made for Liepzig and Dresden and Luebbenau. Does anyone else recommend any of these places (or others) and why? Thank you!

hi erin,

we loved Leipzig and Dresden. Halle was very interesting too [especially the Haendel museum/ Geburtshaus ] in fact that whole area is well worth exploring - so much to see, so many interesting historical sites of both recent and less recent history, and people are so happy to meet you, having been deprived for so long of contact with the west.

if you are going to Berlin, the area to the south of it is so accessible and prices are still reasonable.

When in Berlin, your first "day trip" should be to Potsdam before you go any further.
It's very easy to reach (situated right next to Berlin), and has lots to see (palaces, parks & gardens, old town, Dutch quarter, etc.). It's best from spring to fall, so if you plan to travel in winter, other trips may be more enjoyable.
You can get to Potsdam from Berlin by regional or suburban trains any 10-20 minutes for little money (around €3).