michelle_dorland

My husband and I have a 1 week vacation in Oct. We are thinking of going to Berlin for 3-4 days and want some suggestions on where else to go? We are trying to decide so that we can book our plane tickets? Should we do day trips from Berlin? If so, where? Or Should we go to Munich or Prague (we could fly out of either city on our way home).

sparkchaser

It depends on when in October. The beginning of October? Stay away from Munich unless you want to experience Oktoberfest.

Is your one week 7 days and does it include travel days to/from Berlin?

Day trips are certainly possible from Berlin but it really depends on what your interests are. What are your interests?

If I was in Berlin, I'd be tempted to go over to Poland instead of Czech Republic.

danon

A day trip to Potsdam or Leipzig is a possibility.
If you are interested in history and art. there will be enough in Berlin to
keep you busy .

annhig

Hi michelle,

assuming that you are going to be ending back in Berlin, I would put that at the end of the trip.

first I would go to Dresden and stay 3 nights. [not long enough, but better than nothing].

then get the train to Potsdam and spend a day seeing the Sans Soucci palace etc.

then get a late afternoon train to Berlin and finish my trip there.

ssachida

Hi, I'm headed to Nuremberg, Dresden and Berlin for a nine day trip later this month. This itinerary was put together by a German friend whose parents live in that general area. Knowing what I know about my friend, I'm pretty sure its a good plan

Have fun!

danon

Is stayed in Dresden for 2 nights and found it enough ...
depends on your interst and preference - big cities or smaller towns.

danon

P.s.
If you wish to stay un Berlin for 4 days and can fly out of another city,
Prague is beautiful
The train ride between the two cities is abou 4.5 hours.

Pegontheroad

I'd definitely recommend Potsdam. Gorgeous!

I really liked Leipzig also. If you're interested in the Cold War, you could see the Nicholaikirche (church of St.Nicholas), the site of year-long protests that played a major part in bringing down the Communist government. It's a beautiful church and is historically very important.

Another fascinating Cold War site is the Stasi museum (Museum in der Runden Ecke), which has artifacts and information about the oppressive DDR government.

The street leading to the Nicholaikirche, which is called Nicholaistrasse, is a pedestrian street whose buildings have art nouveau facades. Really neat!

Another place I loved was the Spreewald. It's a fascinating world of canals and islands shaped over a thousand years by the Sorbs. It's about an hour and a half by car from Berlin. One of the highlights of my 2009 trip.

indy_dad

I haven't been to the other places mentioned so I don't know what is "best". We chose to combine Berlin and Prague and enjoyed it.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-with-kids.cfm

annhig

Peg, we liked Leipzig too, but I'm not sure that it's as conveniently placed as Potsdam and Dresden for someone flying into Berlin.

kja

I'll add my voice to those suggesting you visit Potsdam for a day - Sanssouci is delightful IMO.

As others are noting, whether you have time for anything else depends on your interests and whether your week includes travel or not.

Michael

Yes to Potsdam, no to Leipzig which we found uninteresting. You could also break up your Berlin stay by going for one or two nights to Dresden.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...7634927002595/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...th/4282580063/

danon

I am not a " tour person" , but I was glad to have taken a bus tour in Potsdam
and walking/ bus tour in Leipzig... the bus took us outside the very center of Leipzig to the
residential areas, parks, the river, former KGB lodgings etc.
I agree, Potsdam was more interesting and easier to reach.

michelle_dorland

Everyone, thanks for your responses. Sounds like Dresden is a nice place to visit. So, maybe we will fly into Prague, take train to Dresden and then finish in Berlin. Definitely want to go to Potsdam while in Berlin. Would anyone recommend Munich over Prague? I've been to both years ago, my husband hasn't.
Would love to get out of the city and see some of the natural beauty that Germany offers, just don't know if 1 week is enough time to do both.

LSky

You didn't mention what your interest were so it's hard to give you concrete advise.

2 nights in Dresden, imo, is enough. If it's natural beauty you want then go south of Dresden
This is a beautiful place:

http://www.stadtrundfahrt-in-leipzig...tone-mountains

You may consider renting a car.

danon

Prague, Dresden, Berlin is what I didi a few years ago...travel by train is easy between the three,
I had much more time.
Might bee too rushed to do it all in one week.

michelle_dorland

My husband and I like to see the sights but also enjoy wandering around cities and see how the locals enjoy there city. We will enjoy the history of Berlin and Dresden, but would love to get off the beaten path in Berlin. We also enjoy good food and wine.
Has anyone been to the wine area around Dresden? Are there tasting rooms or is wine just produced there? Wine tasting is always fun for us. Spreewald sounds pretty and peaceful too. So many choices to choose from.

Dukey1

Octoberfest is OVER on 6 October this year. I wouldn't add Munich to your trip...great place but Berlin is far FAR more varied as is the area around it.

Michael

<i>Would love to get out of the city and see some of the natural beauty that Germany offers, just don't know if 1 week is enough time to do both.</i>

The Saxon Alps between Dresden and the Czech Republic are quite nice.

annhig

Easiest to do on the train is Dresden - Leipzig - Berlin; see bahn.de.

if you wanted to see the countryside, you could get the train to Dresden, spend a day or two there without a car, then pick one up and go touring, perhaps ending in Leipzig.

Potsdam would be easier to do as a day trip from Berlin.

to fit all of this in, you really need 10 days.