Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Berlin

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Berlin - Is it worth a visit?

I'll be traveling to Europe in October with my tour stopping in Vienna, Prague, Budapest and Salzburg. I'm considering staying on a few extra days and taking in Berlin on my own. Is it worth a visit? Will it be any different than the cities I'm already seeing? Any must-sees in Berlin? Any advice on a nice, reasonable-priced hotel that would be in a safe and convenient location for two middle-aged women? Thanks for any advice!

I haven't been to Berlin since 1983, when it was certainly a fascinating, if sorry, place, but this month's National Geographic Traveler Magazine has a feature article on it that makes we want to go back.

Margo, I've never been to Berlin, but there's a good website you might want to check out: berlin.de/home/English. A friend of mine who went to Berlin three years ago loved it. Hope you get more responses.

I'm curious as well if Berlin is worth a visit if I'll be making stops at these other cities. Is Berlin have anything to offer that is different than the rest, or will it just be so similar to the rest that it's not worth the effort of extending my trip to take in the sites?

It has never been this easy or enjoyable to prepare a reply on this forum, quite like this one. I just briefly screened about 150 posts, retrieved by a search of Berlin - - 50 listed as "most relevant" and 100 listed as most current. And I would like to cite the following five as having a lot of opinions and information. I will refrain from qualifying what is useful or well-written. Oh, and if you want my personal opinion about Berlin - - yes, by all means go - - though I haven't been thre since 1992. Berlin & Munich Experts http://www.fodors.com/forums/messages.cfm?fid=2&tid=393463& Berl in or Munich? http://www.fodors.com/forums/messages.cfm?fid=2&tid=104773& Muni ch or Berlin? http://www.fodors.com/forums/messages.cfm?fid=2&tid=72285& Day Trips In Berlin and Cologne http://www.fodors.com/forums/messages.cfm?fid=2&tid=1279677& Hot els suggetion in Berlin and Hamburg http://www.fodors.com/forums/messages.cfm?fid=2&tid=1278978& Lon g Weekend in Berlin http://www.fodors.com/forums/messages.cfm?fid=2&tid=1275863& I am curious as to whether this might happen: the ability to cite specific threads may bring a reduction in the perceived "Rex dominance" on this board. Suddenly, it has become a lot easier to assemble very useful answers by "mining" this board. I will have no unique ability to do it, and I suspect that there may come a lot more "good Samaritans" out of the woodwork, putting together compilations - - because they can, because it's fun, educational, and - - generally - - helping other people is a popular thing to do. If you think that the board needs an "antidote" to "me" - - all of a sudden, Fodors has given you the tools to "combat" me - - all it needs is "you"! ============================== Until further notice, I am attaching the following to every message on which I list a "clickable URL" (whether to an old post or to a web address off the Fodors site). You can go directly to this old message thread by clicking the link listed above. No more need to top messages! Best wishes, Rex

if you are even slightly interested in WWII, or the Cold War, or just history in general - GO GO GO GO GO GO GO. I loved it. I have not ben since 1993 (my bad) but I found it fascinating. Please go, post your report. thanks Beth

Rex - While you think it's helpful to just have us read a bunch of old posts, they often aren't relevant to the question at hand. For instance, I have no interest in going to Munich (been once and didn't enjoy it), so there's really no need for me to read a debate about Munich vs. Berlin. I'm interested in finding out the worthiness of seeing Berlin if I'm also traveling to several other central European cities.

On behalf of all readers, Rex, please don't do this. If you must attach a message just say that "a search here will bring up more information". This is an active forum and I think most posters are looking for personal replies and don't wish to be bombarded with files that they can pull up as easily as you. I know you will not see it this way and you usually don't heed anyone's advice, but I've said my piece.

I agree that personal replies are the heart of the forum, and these five posts (sifted from a much larger number) may or may not be interesting reading. I personally think that it counts for something that the first 150 old posts on this forum contained so little directly useful information. If I learned something in sifitng through them, isn't that worth sharing too? It is NOT harder to scroll past a 40 line entry than a 4 line one. These were not the most earth-shattering examples of how the ability to cite a previous post will enhance this forum. It is the first day of a new toy. Restraint will be useful, as will use of the tool. In some cases, that "old post" will help a brand new overwhelmed user get quickly to that direct personal experience that is so richly provided here.

Berlin is a fascinating place - - monumental and surprisingly neoclassical for the most part. Great art, great architecture (be sure to visit Sans Souci), plus a rapidly changing urbanscape. I spent 5 days there in '97 and look forward to returning.

I look forward to returning to Berlin....there is much to see and do..Plenty of nightlife..shopping on K'damm...the history ....the museums...are great...If ya have the time this is not a multiple choice question..with all of the construction taking place in Berlin..it is destined to be the center of Europe in the 21st Century...If you have time go for it..

Berlin is ABSOLUTELY worth a visit. It is the history of the 20th Century--from Brandenburg Gate to Reichstag to Potsdam to the Wall to Templehof Airfield. That doesn't count the Pergamon Museum with entire ancient ruin. The Berlin Philharmonic is one of the best in the world. The opera, art museums are top rate. The people are very friendly, the mass transit easy, food excellent. Try nethotels.com for info on hotels, events, etc. Your other cities are fun as well.

Which city would you eliminate off of my itenary if I can only make it to 4 of the 5 cities? 1)Berlin 2)Prague 3)Salzburg 4)Vienna 5)Budapest And why would you eliminate it vs. the others? Thanks!

I picked up a copy of the latest National Geopgraphic Traveler and read the article on Budapest. It seemed to be centered around the youthful population vs. actual travel suggestions for the city. Is Berlin a city for youthful travelers or would my wife and I (in our mid 60's) find much of interest?

I am stretching beyond my area of expertise, but I would have to say, regrettably, take off Salzburg. The problem for me with the other four is that you have big city, big city, big city, big city - - and are missing some of the best of Europe in the process. And Salzurg might have given you a little taste of that contrast. How many days are you planning to spend? I would strike two or three of the five, but then, that's me. At least Salzburg fits well with some other destinations, like Bavaria, Venice and northern Italy, so it's easy to save it for another trip -- more so than the others. Best wishes, Rex

Rex - Just out of curiousity, which two would you consider to be must see cities on my list? We're planning on spending 4 days in each city, not including travel time.

I would drop Salzburg as well. There is a line--Berlin-Prague-Vienna-Budapest. Yes, they are all big cities but each is different and the contrast is one of the interesting things. My favorites are Berlin and Vienna but Prague and Budapest are not to be missed. Prague's architecture is outstanding and the Charles Bridge very romantic at night. Budapest has that charm, spas, not so many tourists, with the refined feel but tarnished by years of being in the east and just starting to come back so very appealing. Prague and Budapest are less expensive as well. I couldn't cut any of the four.

Well, I don't know how well yo uknow me, but I typically make a game of twenty questions or more before I advise anybody on anything - - in the where to go arena. What season? Is money a factor? Do you speak any of the relevant languages, or anything close? Who else is going with you? Where have you been before, and what did you like? Is jazzlover integral to your personality, or only a part - - love ALL music? what else? and perhaps above all else - - why did YOU think you wanted to go to these detinations? What did you THINK you would find there? In alphabetic order - - even without knowing the answers to any of the questions, I would propose: Berlin-plus-other-Germany (Weimar, Dresden, Wurzburg, others) Vienna-Budapest-with two days rural somewhere Vienna-Melk-Salzburg-other-surrounding but there are fifty different other answers to your question. Best... R