My husband and I are planning a 10 day trip. Our thinking is 4-5 days in Berlin, 2 days in Dresden and then 2-3 days in Vienna. Is it better to take the bus or train from Berlin to Dresden? What about Dresden to SXF (we would fly to Vienna)? Any comments on a full day guided bus tour of Dresden leaving from Berlin as opposed to an overnight in Dresden? Would love recommendations for good walking tours and other guided tours for Berlin and Vienna. Our interests are Cold War, art, and Jewish sites. We are leaving June 30 and are set with air and hotels.

Thanks!

why not Prague instead of Vienna? it's got loads of jewish sites, plenty of cold war references and is very easy to get to from Dresden.

I loved Vienna, but Prague seems a better fit for your trip, IMO.

and definitely spend at least one night in Dresden - it's a lovely place. if you want a day trip from Berlin, try Potsdam.

The train ride from Berlin to Dresden is about 2-2.5 hours on the intercity train (which continues on to vienna). I don't know anything about the bus or a bus tour around dresden that leaves from Berlin, but the ICE train from Berlin to Dresden is very comfortable. Once in Dresden we took a bus tour around the town that was very worthwhile. There's not so much to do and see in Dresden, so I would think one night and a full day would be fine.

https://picasaweb.google.com/stuartt...lin2005Edited#

Redwood..I don't do trip reports per se'..I thought perhaps these "famliarization" pics of my most recent Berlin visit will give you an idea of the city sights. I'll also send some Prague and Vienna pix (from 1990's and 1980's).

stu tower

Redwood...I totally agree that Prague wold be the better place to visit after Berlin and Dresden. Jewish sites all over town, including the ghetto and the Precious Legacy displays, the ancient Jewish cemetery, some of which you'll see in these pix. Also, Theresienstadt K-Kamp is an easy day tour for you.
https://picasaweb.google.com/stuartt...cenesOfPrague#

Stu Tower (Redwood: if you wish to google me you'll see the results of some decades of research in Central and Eastern Europe)

Not wishing to slight venerable Vienna:

https://picasaweb.google.com/stuartt...nna1980S1990S#

Thanks for the suggestions about Prague. Visited that city on a prior trip (as well as Budapest,Cracow and Warsaw). Tower, I'll look at your pictures. Thanks to others regarding Train comments and Dresden.

Redwood...while in Berlin, take in the little known but powerful deportees monument. See pix of railcar replicas...one of the most moving holocaust memorials.

Take a taxi or bus to the corner of Levatow(v) and Jagow(v) Strasse in the Moabit district. It's residential area and the monument os on the grounds of a destroyed synagogue.
Stu Tower