I am considering visiting Berlin for 4 full days in early September. This would be my first visit to the city. Is 4 days enough time to get a good sense of Berlin? Ideally, I would have more time to spend in Berlin, but I'm hoping that I can get a good overview of the city in just 4 days. Thoughts?

Many thanks in advance.

It's enough time to get an overview. The more time, the better, as even a month wouldn't exhaust Berlin, but I think you can do well with four days.

I think you can see quite alot in four days. You might want to have a hotel in the eastern part. We did the opposite -- had a hotel in (what was) West Berlin and spent a lot of time making our way to the eastern side for the many historic sites. It would have saved much time to be there in the first place. Just a thought for what it's worth.

I agree with Kristinelaine. You should stay in East Berlin, somewhere near the Brandenburg Gate/Museum Island/Reichstag Building.

I can highly recommend the Sol Melia on Friedrichstrasse. It is a new hotel and you can walk to many sights from this hotel. The Friedrichstrasse Bahnhof is across the street.

Thin

We are booked at Melia Berlin in November - I am a fan of their hotels.

The Sol Melia is very nice for the price. The bathroom floors are heated and the rooms are spacious. You also need you press your room key up against a metal scanner on the elevator to go to your floor. This prevents anyone from just walking in and breaking into your room.

If you walk right around the corner, you will be at the Pergamon Museum in about 4 minutes.

I stayed at this hotel in December of 2007.

Thin

Yes, four days DEPENDING on how much you want to see.

As to location..how are you planning to get around? By U-Bahn, etc.? If so, you might want to stay within easy walking distance of a stop...the U-Bahn is EXTENSIVE and can take you about anywhere you want to go....it isn;t as if everything worth seeing is in the former East Berlin by any means..even Thin knows the shopping is better elsewhere.

Thin does not think the shopping is better elsewhere. Galleries Lafayette and many designer stores (Hermes, Chanel) are on Friedrichstrasse. Near the Helmut Newton Bar you will also find many fine shops and restaurants. Lots of shopping in Prenzlauer Berg, too.

Thin

I've had two four day visits in the last couple of years and 4 days will give you a decent amount of time to pack in he major sights. The city is very spread out so staying in Mitte should cut down the amount of travel time. Again planning your itinerary around particular areas should also cut down the time you spend on travel. Look out for bus service 100 and 200, they run on a loop service around the city and take you past many of the highlights and is very frequent.

September is a nice time to see this fanatastic city, I'm sure you'll love it.

Its