Berlin and Dresden OR Berlin and Cologne
 

Hi there,

I will be leaving Munich and have 10 days to spend in Germany. On my way out, I would like to spend a day or two in Nurnberg. I would also like to go to Berlin for sure and can’t decide if I should go to Dresden or to Cologne. I was thinking about 3-4 days in each area. I could take the train and could rent a car. Both Dresden and Cologne look very appealing and this is why I am having trouble deciding. I’d love to hear people’s thoughts on each place.

Also, if you think I need more time (don’t we always) or less time in either place, please let me know.

Thanks, C

For me it would be Berlin and Dresden, because of ease of travel. Cologne would be an outlier, Dresden far less so. And I think Dresden is more interesting architecturally than Cologne.
Also, Berlin is a large place, so maybe allocate an extra day and do a day trip.

A day trip from Berlin? To . . . ?

Berlin to Potsdam for instance, or south to the Spreewald.

Lavandula

Munich - Nürnberg - Dresden - Berlin is the logical route, Cologne would be too far out of the way (and there are lots of interesting towns plus a wonderful National Park very close to Dresden.)

Day trip from Berlin? Potsdam for sure.

Berlin and Dresden or Berlin and Cologne
 

I've not been to Cologne, so can only speak to Berlin and Dresden. We were in Germany 2 years ago and LOVED it. We're only sorry we didn't have more time. We spent 2 days in Dresden and thought that it very interesting, with beautiful buildings. In the Dresden area we also visited the Saxon Swiss National Park, which was beautiful. Prior to Berlin, we visited Potsdam (Sanssouci) for a day, we felt it was worth our time. There was so much to see in Berlin. We stayed near Check Point Charlie and spend 4 days/3 nights. We took a museum tour, and a city tour. We could have spent another 2 nights, but ran out of time. Even in a city the size of Berlin, we found the people polite and helpful.

The way you state your options, it looks like cities would be satisfactory choices. I would save the Saxon countryside for another trip. Stick to Dresden, and depending on your tastes, a full day plus most of the next on your way to Berlin might be enough. Highlights would be the Green Vault, the Armory, possibly the Folk Art museum, and doing the center of town and its churches.

https://flic.kr/p/7wv7HW https://flic.kr/p/7ws816 https://flic.kr/p/7wrppD
But Berlin has more important museums, on the museum island and elsewhere. If you like modern art, don't miss the Museum Berggruen and the Brücke Museum.

https://flic.kr/p/W7MbgC https://flic.kr/p/XjFr8A
Berlin needs as many days as you can spare.

I would add time to Berlin (to include a day trip to Potsdam) and would pair it with Dresden, but it really depends on what YOU want to see and experience.

Thank you for replying. I figured Dresden makes more sense, in terms of where Berlin is located. Thank you @Michael for the museum recommendations. They look great!

kp12267 would you and could you recommend where you stayed in Dresden?

Anyone have recommendations for where to stay, area and place, in Nuremberg?

C

linty--We just returned from Dresden this week. My husband goes there often for work, but this was my first time. We stayed at the Gewandhaus, which is where he always stays. I loved it! Super nice hotel, not expensive, and a great location. I can see why he doesn't even consider other places when he goes.

Oh yes, I couldn't agree more! Potsdam is so nice and close to Berlin as well.

The Gewandhaus Hotel is indeed very good. Another excellent option is the Steigenberger de Saxe. If you want to spend less money, check out the Holiday Inn Express e.g.

we stayed at the B&B hotel in Dresden. It was clean, the check in was easy, helpful front desk, parking and budget priced.

@kp Do you remember the name of t?

How much time will you spend in Berlin? I would spend as much time as I could there before I considered going some place else. There is just SO much to see there. I loved Dresden, but only after I'd spent a good chunk of time seeing everything I wanted in Berlin.