My husband and I are wanting to visit Rome and Berlin this fall. Maybe 4 days in each place, I am trying to decide if there is a better way to travel between these two cities and if anyone would be willing to share their info. We are flying from San Francisco and already discovering no direct flights to either city, that seems weird. Also and suggestions on hotels in either city, not fancy but not dumps either. We are good travelers, easy to please and adventurous...

Your optimal flight routing might be from SFO>LAX>FCO>Berlin>Munich>SFO.

Each city is quite a complex place with many sights of diverse interest. It would be best if you had 4 full days in each place + 1 to get over jet lag + 1 to travel between them + 1 for your departure. That is to say, 11 days total travel time.

Thank you so much, that is a huge help. We are trying to figure out just how to get there, and that is really helpful!We have both been to Rome, but never Berlin, I do agree on your time frame, thanks for your time!

Trains take at least six, usually 6.5 hours fastest ones but there is also an overnight train:

CNL 1247 - CityNightLiner leaving Berlin bout 9:30pm, arriving Munich about 7 am - save daytime travel time and save on the cost of a hotel and experience a European overnight train! (which may not be everyone's cup of tea but useful if you are not a light sleeper - get a private compartment and bring whatever food and drink you want aboard - not all that bad!

For lots about German trains and night trains check www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com. for CNL train info and booking - some discounts can be had by booking way early often: http://www.citynightline.de/citynightline/view/en/

Oops - scratch everything I just posted - I read Berlin to Munich for some reason - not Rome - there is an overnight Munich to Rome train but not from Berlin. Sorry for sloppy reading but I even read it twice - flying is about your only choice unless perhaps you want to add Munich to your stopovers - then trains would be relevant.

Sorry about the brain malfunction!

check Air Berlin

We were happy with our stay at the Albergo Cesari in Rome several years ago based on advice from Fodorites: http://www.albergocesari.it/en/default.html.

Air Berlin has non stop flights from ORD in Chicago and NY JFK and United non stop EWR to Berlin.