Is it better to take the Train or the Bus from Goslar to Berlin?
We are family of 4 including 14 and 16 years old teenagers. Will be arriving Hannove Airport on July 10 at about 2 pm. Have checked the German Rail and my plan is to take the hourly train from the Airport say at 15:06 to Hannover Hbf to change for the direct train to Goslar. Total travel time about 2 hours. On July 13, will need to be in Berlin. It seems there are two choices:-
1- Take a train with a change at Braunschweig Hbf or Hannover to Berlin. Duration 2.30 hours.
2- Take a direct Berlin Linien Bus to Berlin. Departure at 10 am arrivals at 15pm. Total 5 hours. Therefore, my plan is to take the Train.
My question is should we consider the bus due for example to special scenery... OR to concentrate on Rail travel only. Appreciate your suggestion and advice..with thanks.

We did a similar reverse trip last year and travelled by train. You still take in the scenery on the train, but it's much faster. I would recommend sticking with the train.

The bus will travel along the highway, I suppose, so there won't be much scenery to enjoy either. The countryside along the highway is rather flat and nothing to die for. As soon as you leave the Harz, things will become boring.

Five hours stuck on a bus vs. two and a half hours on a much more comfortable train where you can get up and walk around, use the facilities, have a coffee etc. whenever you want - that seems an easy choice to me. Take a local train to Braunschweig (say hi to my hometown for me if you do) and change to the ICE there.

Many thanks pavfec and quokka for the assurance. Now for sure will take the train and say hi at Braunschweig. Tomorrow will call DB to book the seats since it seems on Friday 13 the ICE train will busy especially from Hannover to Berlin. We do not have much experience from taken long distance buses. Though, 5 hours is too much. It is like flying again from Bahrain to Frakfurt but with less compfort...and without the chin and tonic or whatever one is drinking at the time ....Cheers

While you can take the train to Berlin from Goslar, you'll be better off renting a car in Goslar to sightsee the Harz mountain (the driving is easy through the former east german forest & villages). It would be hardship to get to Quedlinburg from Goslar by train (3 hour train& bus ride from Goslar). Driving in the Harz mountain is the best way to enjoy the scenery. From Goslar you can also drive to Wolfensbuettel in the north to view the morning market scene in an attractive small town square.

Good idea. I do enjoy driving in the country side and mountains but not in the City. I have just booked Europcar Pick-Up Hanover Airport at 15h00 on July 10 and return on 13 at Berlin City Tiergarten- Huttenstrasse 50 at 15h00 where then will take a taxi to Grand Hyat hotel. I have requested Navigation System which I hope is changeable to English. My current car BMW335i has one but I've never use it since Bahrain is so small. Though my 14 years old son know how to use it.

Yes, hiring a car for those three days is a great way to enjoy the Harz and then see something of the quaint towns on the north-eastern side of the mountains, such as Wernigerode, Quedlinburg and Halberstadt before you join the autobahn to Berlin at Helmstedt, itself worth a quick visit,
too.

Harzer

Just to update and further ADVICE if possible. I have now updated to return the car on 13/7 to Kurfuerstenstr. 101 which is nearer to Grand Hyatt Hotel. Since we will be staying in Berlin from 13/7 to 19/7. Then 19/7 to 23 will be staying in Dresden. Does it worth or make sense to keep the car till end of Dresden 23 July. Parking the Car at Hyatt is at least 20 euro. It is OK if I will be using the car. Or should I stick to my booking and return the Car at Berlin and use the public transport. I would prefer to retun the car in Berlin mostly due to traffic and I also I like to feel free to drink when I like. I do know this is personal choice but you probably have the experience to suggest your view.

Thanks in advance for any suggestion/comments. On 23 I have now booked to go by airplane from Dresden to Munich instead of train which would take about 6 hours with one change. The cost by air is very reasonable and only 55 minutes. Much cheaper than Train without worrying about the Rail Strike where then we will be stuck !!

>The cost by air is very reasonable and only 55 minutes.

Wrong. The travel time by air is between 3 1/2 and 4 1/2 hours.
Or is the airport in Munich your final destination?

>Much cheaper than Train

This may be, but have you already taken the way to and from the airports in consideration?

As to retaining a car in Berlin - there are cities where a car is even less useful than in Berlin, but not many.

You absolutely don't need a car in Berlin or Dresden. Buy the 3 day welcome card or 7 day transportation pass.

When you are in Dresden, you should consider making a short outing to the unique Saxon National Park to see the Bastei. My son & I really enjoyed it.

Here's a quoted advice from our gracious local Dresdner fodorite Ingo:

The fastest way to get to the Bastei is by taking the S-Bahn train to Pirna, bus to Bastei (depends on the day you're travelling, 1:05 - 1:40 h) or S-Bahn train to Kurort Rathen (35 min.), ferry to the other bank of the river and hiking up (45 min.).

We did the Pirna route since the hike is downhill and easy from Bastei to the Rathen ferry. We made a brief tour of Pirna since it was painted by Canalletto. We hiked down from Bastei and returned by taking the Rathen ferry and then the 35 minute S bahn to Dresden.

There's also wine tasting in the wine country surrounding Dresden if you have time. 16 is the legal age for drinking in Germany.

Thanks all for your suggestions. Considering the current Train disruption/strikes in Germany should I try to find out an alternative travel for both these days:

1- On 19 July Berlin to Dresden. &
2- On 27 July Munich to Zurich.

Sometime ago I have booked train seats for both the above days. Though, my plan is to get tickets when we are in Germany from the 8 of July. My question is should I try as soon as possible to find out about Bus travel or other mehods or is it just to early to worry about where the Train strike will be sorted out very soon. What would you do for those two days noted above. We are four travelling.

>My question is should I try as soon as possible to find out about Bus travel

hardly existing within Germany (except on local level, and one connection Berlin-Hamburg)

>or other mehods or is it just to early to worry about where the Train strike will be sorted out very soon

It IS too early. Just 2 days of strikes (Mo and Tu) and the railway is already negotiating again. I don´t think it will take longer than this week to sort it out. In any case, you can still rent a car on arrival if necessary. There are 1-2 buses daily between Munich and Zürich but they are not even cheaper than train. In any case you only need to get to the border (Lindau), after which the train will run just fine in any case.

Noted with thanks. Looking forward on my arrival next Sunday for a good pint of german beer.

FYI: If you plan to return the car at Kurfuerstenstr 101, it is actually far from Grand Hyatt, however you can walk one block south toward Wittenbergplatz where you can take the U bahn back to Pottsdamerplatz. The well known Kadewe dept store is also at Wittenberplatz. From Kadewe you can walk passing the Kudamm shopping area towards the landmark bombed church Kaiser Wilhelm tower. The golden mosaic on the church floor/wall is worth seeing.

Thanks DAX. Point noted. My plan is to arrive Berlin on time for the 3 pm car return. Since we will be with the 4 suitcases, will take a Taxi to Grand Hayyat hotel. Tonight we will be leaving to Frakfurt airpot and then to Mainz for couple of days. It seems the weather from tomorrow will be wet. It will be a change for us from the heat.

Bye and regards to all