Berlin and.....???
Sep 21st, 2016, 03:46 PM
#1
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Berlin and.....???
Hi! First time in Eastern Europe. Would we be foolish trying to navigate by ourselves in Berlin for 4 - 5 days not knowing the language? OR is a tour preferable? We can be away for 2 + weeks. Which other areas/cities should we take day trips/ trains/ to explore? We are not museum people and do not want to see churches. We prefer to enjoy the people, the daily life. We want to visit Krakow and see the camp. Best month / months?
Thank you so much for your time and courtesies.
Suzy
Thank you so much for your time and courtesies.
Suzy
Sep 21st, 2016, 04:06 PM
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Language should rarely be an issue in Berlin - almost everyone under 30 (except immigrants) should speak English, and many older people will too. (I did find a few Germans who didn't speak any English e.g. at a B&B in Gorlitz but not a problem.) I didn't worry about language in Europe even before I got a smart phone, and now that I have one, it's almost a completely non-issue. English is the only language I speak, and I've never had any real issues getting around in the dozen or more countries I've visited in Europe.
How about Berlin, Prague, and Krakow? Stop off in Dresden at least for a few hours - if going by train, you'll pass through anyway. You can do all three cities by bus and train, mostly train. Easy to do yourself without a tour. In Krakow, you can see Auschwitz without a tour if you enter the camp before a certain hour during high season. September is generally a good month to go. I was in Berlin in April and Prague and Krakow in September on a different trip.
How about Berlin, Prague, and Krakow? Stop off in Dresden at least for a few hours - if going by train, you'll pass through anyway. You can do all three cities by bus and train, mostly train. Easy to do yourself without a tour. In Krakow, you can see Auschwitz without a tour if you enter the camp before a certain hour during high season. September is generally a good month to go. I was in Berlin in April and Prague and Krakow in September on a different trip.
Sep 21st, 2016, 04:21 PM
#3
So, NO museums and NO churches. Yeah, Berlin has a lot of alternatives; I'm not sure I'd say the same for Dresden but that is subjective.
You should have little trouble with any language issues in Berlin.
You should have little trouble with any language issues in Berlin.
Sep 21st, 2016, 04:42 PM
#4
We paired Berlin with Kraków, no problems with language in either city.
We took an hapir amd a half Air Berlin dlight to Kraków from Berlin.
You will not have problems navigating around Berlin. You can sign up for walking rours focusing on specific times in history, i.e., WWII and Hitler, Cold War.
We took an hapir amd a half Air Berlin dlight to Kraków from Berlin.
You will not have problems navigating around Berlin. You can sign up for walking rours focusing on specific times in history, i.e., WWII and Hitler, Cold War.
Sep 21st, 2016, 06:50 PM
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No need to take a tour unless that is your preference. Berlin is easy to visit on your own. Even back in 1994, I had no difficulties with language in Berlin. Poland was a bit more tricky, but not insurmountably so. English is, I'm sure, even more widely spoken and understood today than then.
I second the idea of a day trip from Berlin to Potsdam, to include Sansoucci.
Krakow is delightful!
Although I rarely prefer tours, I was very, very glad I joined a tour to visit Auschwitz / Birkenow from Krakow -- there is no way that I would have wanted to try driving, or to even try to manage public transportation, after an experience that emotional. And you might want to plan on a full day for your visit to Auschwitz / Birkenow, with a very, very, very quiet evening afterwards to reflect and recover.
And while in Krakow, even if you aren't into museums, try to make time for <i>Lady with an Ermine</i> -- she is very special.
Depending on how much time you decide to give these two cities, and your arrival and departure cities, you have a lot of options for filling out your trip -- Dresden, Prague, Warsaw, Budapest.... I strongly encourage you to consult a few regional guidebooks at your local library to see what most appeals.
As for timing, I always prefer just before high season (to avoid the crowds and also to visit before those in the tourism industry tire of the hordes), but you'll have to check some climate statistics to see whether that would suit you. Try wunderground.com
Hope that helps!
I second the idea of a day trip from Berlin to Potsdam, to include Sansoucci.
Krakow is delightful!
Although I rarely prefer tours, I was very, very glad I joined a tour to visit Auschwitz / Birkenow from Krakow -- there is no way that I would have wanted to try driving, or to even try to manage public transportation, after an experience that emotional. And you might want to plan on a full day for your visit to Auschwitz / Birkenow, with a very, very, very quiet evening afterwards to reflect and recover.
And while in Krakow, even if you aren't into museums, try to make time for <i>Lady with an Ermine</i> -- she is very special.
Depending on how much time you decide to give these two cities, and your arrival and departure cities, you have a lot of options for filling out your trip -- Dresden, Prague, Warsaw, Budapest.... I strongly encourage you to consult a few regional guidebooks at your local library to see what most appeals.
As for timing, I always prefer just before high season (to avoid the crowds and also to visit before those in the tourism industry tire of the hordes), but you'll have to check some climate statistics to see whether that would suit you. Try wunderground.com
Hope that helps!
Oct 16th, 2016, 06:44 AM
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Thank you SO much! Such a big help.
How long is the train trip from Berlin to Dresden?
Dresden to Prague?
Prague to Krakow?
Is this a practical route?
To see the sights at a leisurely pace and observe the life style of the people, we were thinking: 5 days in Berlin, 1 in Dresden, 4 in Prague, and 4 in Krakow. Reasonable? Would you alter this?
Will there be a significant difference in the experience if we plan this trip for early, as opposed to, late September?
With true appreciation,
SG
How long is the train trip from Berlin to Dresden?
Dresden to Prague?
Prague to Krakow?
Is this a practical route?
To see the sights at a leisurely pace and observe the life style of the people, we were thinking: 5 days in Berlin, 1 in Dresden, 4 in Prague, and 4 in Krakow. Reasonable? Would you alter this?
Will there be a significant difference in the experience if we plan this trip for early, as opposed to, late September?
With true appreciation,
SG
Oct 16th, 2016, 02:06 PM
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The OP has begun a new thread:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...gue-krakow.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...gue-krakow.cfm
Oct 16th, 2016, 10:32 PM
#9
September is generally a lovely weather month across Central Europe. All of the European school children are back in session, so the tourist demographics reflect that. Tourist crowds will still be high, but not like the summer.
If museums and churches aren't high on your sightseeing list, you'll be fine in Berlin, Prague, and Krakow. There are palaces, castles, and neighborhoods to wander instead. Others can speak to Dresden; my recollection of a visit several years ago was of museums punctuated by churches and a little wandering.
In all of the tourist areas of the cities on your itinerary, English is widely spoken. Keep in mind that you will need three different currencies: Euro, Koruna, and Zloty.
I hope this is helpful.
If museums and churches aren't high on your sightseeing list, you'll be fine in Berlin, Prague, and Krakow. There are palaces, castles, and neighborhoods to wander instead. Others can speak to Dresden; my recollection of a visit several years ago was of museums punctuated by churches and a little wandering.
In all of the tourist areas of the cities on your itinerary, English is widely spoken. Keep in mind that you will need three different currencies: Euro, Koruna, and Zloty.
I hope this is helpful.
Oct 17th, 2016, 09:27 AM
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Berlin to Dresden and Dresden to Prague are roughly 2 hours each.
From Prague to Krakow you could depart 10.24 am and arrive 6.21 pm with 2 changes. Or get an early start at 7.46 am to Ostrava where you change to an Express Bus, arrival at 1.25 pm.
The time allocated to the respective cities depends on your interests. I hate one-nighters, and I am biased in favour of Dresden, so I'd say deduct one night from Berlin and add it to Dresden. Not a fan of Berlin anyway. Others will disagree, of course.
From Prague to Krakow you could depart 10.24 am and arrive 6.21 pm with 2 changes. Or get an early start at 7.46 am to Ostrava where you change to an Express Bus, arrival at 1.25 pm.
The time allocated to the respective cities depends on your interests. I hate one-nighters, and I am biased in favour of Dresden, so I'd say deduct one night from Berlin and add it to Dresden. Not a fan of Berlin anyway. Others will disagree, of course.
Oct 17th, 2016, 12:16 PM
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Berlin has lots of day trips- easy ones:
2 weeks
Berlin 4-5 days yes - no problems on your own
Dresden - Florence on the Elbe
2 days
Train to Prague
3 days
Train to Krakaow
3 days
There is also an overnight train Prague to Krakow
Book your train ducats in advance at www.bahn.de/en for those involving Germany and nab nifty discounts if you book far enough in advance to get those limited in number tickets.
For lots on trains including overnight trains pros and cons check www.seat61.com- great info on discounted tickets; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.
2 weeks
Berlin 4-5 days yes - no problems on your own
Dresden - Florence on the Elbe
2 days
Train to Prague
3 days
Train to Krakaow
3 days
There is also an overnight train Prague to Krakow
Book your train ducats in advance at www.bahn.de/en for those involving Germany and nab nifty discounts if you book far enough in advance to get those limited in number tickets.
For lots on trains including overnight trains pros and cons check www.seat61.com- great info on discounted tickets; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.
