Hoping that someone can suggest a couple of charming east german small towns to visit as we will be in Berlin for 5 nights. It'll be my fifth trip to Berlin and I've been to Spandau, Postdam and Quedlinburg/Wernigerode in the Harz. Thanks

Very close to Berlin, infact a suburb, is Kopeneck. It is situated on a rather large lake and has a delightful old town. It is also the site of the old imperial palace where Frederick the Great grew up. A little further afield is the Spreewald area - a rural marshland with numerous canals (boat trips possible)- a slavic enclave which has been able to retain at least some of its heritage. Lubenau is the main town and definitely worth a day trip. Enjoy!

Thanks Charlie, I'm familiar with Berlin's suburbs such as Kopenick, Steglitz & Spandau. I am planning to visit Leipzig so I'm wondering if Luckenwalde, Lutherstadt, Dessau or Halle is worth a visit along the way. Anyone has been to any of them? Thanks.

This same question was posted fairly recently and the short answer is that there is very little outside greater Berlin that is attractive to the tourist.

The Spreewald down near Cottbus is perhaps an exception if you are into nature-walks, boating and the like, but not having been there I can not say if the facilities are up to scratch from the point of view of the tourist from the West.

Harzer