Hey everyone,

we have planned to go to Berlin on 26/Dec and depart 01/Jan. We will be with out 10 year old kids and also my father/mother in law.

After some search we thought to split our trip, between Berlin and Dresden or just Berlin. i.e. if we split it:
26/Dec-30/Dec - Berlin
30/Dec-01/Jan - Dresden.
We read that Dresden is wonderful during christmas (although we dont know how many markets would still be open) and also we dont want to be in Berlin during the last 2 days of the year, as we undertand might be very frightening with the fireworks.
On the other side, i am not sure if it is worth it to spend some hours to change hotels, get the train etc, for such a short trip.

Is the above a good idea? Maybe we should just stay all our trip in Berlin? Any suggestions would be highly appreciated!
Thanks

I don't find changing hotels as big a deal as some seem to on Fodors, and it's only a 2 hr train ride. I'd rather do that than spend all that time in Berlin but that's just me. I like Berlin but 4 days would be enough. But there are several issues:

1) Dresden has fireworks also, so if that's the reason, don't do it;
2) the famous Dresden Christmas market is over by CHristmas;
3) in both places, I guess you'd have to try to stay in a area where you wouldn't get the worst of fireworks noise/crowds. I hate fireworks, also, actually, except watching them on TV.
4) what are your plans for leaving? I don't know where you are from, but if you can get a nonstop home from Berlin, I'd stay there. Do you already have flights? I can't fly home nonstop from Berlin anyway, last time I was there, I had to go home via Zurich (or Munich/Frankfurt probably as I flew United, but I did Zurich for the best deal).

Dresden has a lot of concerts on NY eve in churches and other venues.

See my replies (and those of other posters) over on Rick Steves' forum:

https://community.ricksteves.com/tra...istmas-and-nye

Especially the question about open markets was answered in detail.

We were in Dresden in the Spring, so the Folklore Museum had an emphasis on Easter. No doubt it will have some type of Christmas arrangements in December.