how long in Berlin, Vienna?
 

Hello.

I'm thinking of taking two short trips, one to Berlin in December and the other to Bratislava and Vienna in January (or vice-versa) from London.

If I spend 5 days in Berlin (including Potsdam), then 1 in Bratislava and 4 in Vienna, is this enough time? I move quickly and am young.

You can see a lot in five days in Berlin and Potsdam, but of course there will still be much left to see. I can't comment on the others, but I think those amounts are in line with general recommendations.

I really recommend this Berlin walking tour. It is quite exhausting, even for the young, but really worth it. This is the best value tour I have taken in Europe.
http://tinyurl.com/gomsx

I would agree with the four to five in Berlin, depending on your interests. Potsdam can easily take up a lot of your day, especially if you decide to see both the Nieuw Palace and Sans Souci which are a walkable distance from one another.

Thanks. I think some of the palaces in Potsdam will be closed in December (can anyone confirm this?) but the big ones will be open.

If I were you, I'd reconsider a visit to Potsdam in December. IMHO most of the attraction of the palaces come from the magnificent park they are situated in. This loses much of its charm and is much less overwhelming than during sprinäg or summers.
Otherwise, I think your time frame will allow you to really take things in.

Thanks. Yes, I'm worried about this, but it seems like anywhere I want to visit in the Winter would have this problem in terms of gardens, palaces, etc. Berlin actually seemed like one of the best places "on my list" to avoid this problem.

I agree that the gardens, especially those around Sans Souci are something to see, especially in the warmer months. I didn't get a big thrill when I walked between SS and the Nieuw Palace, however.

The interiors are still wonderful, regardless of the season and I cannot speak for opening times although the last time I visited the two it was late November and both were open.

If you are at all into the whole "Christmas Market" thing there will undoubtedly be the Berlin one in operation near the Zoo Station AND by all means visit the Ka-De-We department store in Berlin whether you are "into" shopping or not. The decorations are a sight to behold in and of themselves and the food hall is legendary no matter when you go there.

For Berlin & Vienna, those are pretty good amounts of time to see the big stuff and a few smaller things that catch your attention. Haven't been to Bratislava, but from what I've heard, 1 day will be plenty.

Thanks for the tips. Really dumb question, but what are Christmas Markets? I've heard about them a lot, also in places like Munich or Salzburg.

Ditto on the Brewers Tour in Berlin. Just fantastic. btw, I spend three days in Berlin and two in Vienna. You could spend more, but I didn't feel like I missed much.

Have been to Vienna on many occasions and always find more to see and do. Spend your time on your trip in Vienna, settle in and enjoy life there. Last two times we were there we rented an apartment--much cheaper and a hell of a better experience than staying in a hotel or B&B. Vienna is a jewel, to be savored and enjoyed.

Thanks, I think that 5 and 4 days respectively would be a good amount of time for me. There are so many museums I'd want to see, so I think I'd need more than the 3 and 2 days recommended, but thanks for that advice.

Do you remember how long the Brewers Tour lasted and what you saw? I'd want to try not to duplicate things, especially if it's an all-day tour. I might try for that on Monday since the museums will be closed, although I may also be leaving on a Monday which could make me not want to take the tour then if I'd have to rush things like crazy.

Hi Joe,
I think your time lines are very realistic, altho I spent longer in both Berlin and Vienna when I was there last year. As you probably know, there are ALWAYS heaps more things to see and discover in holiday destinations. When I was in Berlin I took a few different walking tours; 2 were Berlin in general, another was the Third Reich Tour. The reason I took 2 Berlin tours was because I couldn't absorb all the history in the time I was there. I found them to be a really good starting point for things to see and do. And the best bit for me was that they were free!! A big help when the Australian dollar was sliding downhill in exchange rates. I have the web address if you want it - I don't want to seem to be advertising, or representing this company - but I did have a good time in each tour.

cheers

I'd be interested in those tours. Thank you.