Berlin
 

We have 3 nights in Berlin. Can anyone suggest an itinarery or should we get a personal guide for a day? We will be at the Regent Berlin. Any names for guides? Judy

I really like Terry Brewer. He's a British ex-intelligence officer, extremely knowledgeable and quite funny. You can see my posts about him elsewhere. I think he is doing more private tours now than he was doing, although I took two of his public walking tours.

You don't need a guide, of course. DK Berlin has some good itinerary suggestions.

If you're interested in antiquities, try the Pergamon Musum on Museum Insull about a mile east of the Brandenberg Gate. If you like art, there's the Neuegallerie not far from Potzdammer Platz, the galleries in Mitte, and the Kathe Kollewitz museum off Kurfurstendamm. And if you like department stores, you can't beat KaDeWe near the Zoo station.

We do like Palaces, Catherdrals, shopping and would like to see some Holocaust mesums. We are thinking of getting a private guide for 1 day. Anyone have any e-mail addresses for guides? What about Pottsdam? How do you get there and how far is it from Berlin? Judy

There's a great itinerary here on Fodor's. Guide is optional, but it is certainly "better" to have a guide: you get better explanations, more concise tour, etc.

Recommended private guides?
I also heard Brewer is good with some, and:

http://www.insiderberlintours.com/in.../Private_Tours

http://www.gablinger.com/tours.htm

Here is the Fodor's suggested itinerary for 2-3 days: http://tinyurl.com/23jahv

In my opinion, the Reichstag is a must. Also the Pergamonmuseum and the Brandenburg Tor. The food hall in the KaDeWe department store is reputed to be the largest in the world - the torte is fantastic.

With just 3 nights, I'm not sure I'd go to Potsdam, although it is great, and not hard to get to.

Buy a daily transit pass (can buy them all at once, and validate one per day) and you can take the s-bahn right to Potsdam. Your transit pass will cover transportation in Potsdam as well.

I will contact the guides recommended so far. Many thanks! Judy