4 or 5 day city breal

Skip Dublin and Munich try something new.

I'll be honest with you, I really was not at all impressed with Dublin. Loved the rest of Ireland but Dublin ... not so much though Trinity College was pretty cool.

We enjoyed Berlin and didn't find it unfriendly at all. We much preferred Berlin to Bavaria, so many historic sites and memorials to WWII, interesting museums.

Berliners are wonderful! Now if you are fluent in German, you might run into some "Berliner Schnauze", big city snarky slang that you might run into in someplace like Brooklyn. But if you don't speak German, it would be lost on you, so they would be kind to you.

Four to five days are not long enough for three great European cities. And the three cities listed are far apart and don't compliment each other. I suggest two cities.
Visiting Vienna and Budapest would work well with inexpensive flight on Norwegian Air Shuttle to Copenhagem.
Vienna and Prague would also work with Norwegian Air flight. (Prague is a little more expensive than Budapest.)
You cannot go wrong with either. We adore all those cities.

I prefer Berlin to Vienna any day! I found locals to be friendly.

There is plenty to keep you occupied for 4-5 days. The public transport is good and renting accommodation is good value.

I'm told that Berlin doesn't have the same culture and that locals may
not be as friendly or hospitable as those in Munich.

I am really surprised when I read comments like that in which some broad generalization of negativity about people is told to someone and that person then passes it along perhaps wondering if such negativity were true. Come on, Steve07, you're smarter than this.

Perhaps QUESTION when someone says something this laughable to you and perhaps take it as ENCOURAGEMENT to visit that city no matter what!

That two cities have different cultures is why traveling is fantastic. That you are told that locals aren't "friendly or hospitable" would make me question the person or people who feel that way. Not everybody is alike.

I loved Berlin when I visited for a week. I've been to Munich a few times and loved my visits which took place both in the summer (when I lived in Germany) and winter (as part of a ski holiday in Austria).

Yes, stayed at Pension Peters in Berlin, and the proprietor, Euwe, was the single most hospitable innkeeper I've ever run into. Every newcomer to Berlin checking in got a 10 to 15 minute chat on how to get around, good local restaurants. Wife wanted to know where we could see "The Wall" and he directed us to Bernauer Strasse for a self guided walking tour.

I adored Berlin, because I like art museums and World War II / Cold War History. The city itself (excluding Potsdam and no doubt other surrounding places) doesn't have the old German architecture. So if traditional architectural eye candy is what you want, Berlin is definitely not your place. But I'd be glad to go back for 10-14 days. There is that much to do.

Munich I found not as interesting overall, but it does have some old architecture (rebuilt, I think).

Either of those cities might turn out to be rather hot in June.

I, too, loved Berlin. I can't imagine anyone would say the locals are unfriendly or not as hospitable as those in Munich! I spent 10 days in Berlin last May and was so, so sad to have to go home. I felt I barely scratched the surface of things to see and do, people to meet, etc. I truly enjoyed, loved and savored every minute we spent in that lovely city and can't wait to go back someday soon. I have also enjoyed my visits to Munich and Dublin but I'm highly recommending you visit Berlin and enjoy all the city and it's inhabitants have to offer. It's a wonderful city. The place we stayed, Pension Peters (thumbs up, Sam!), fulfills all your requirements for a place to stay.

Given your choices listed above, I pick Berlin.

First of all, forget what you have been told about Berlin, totally irrelevant. I like Munich too, am going back to both Munich and Berlin in May. But between the two, if it has to be only one, then the choice is Berlin...obviously. Relying on public transport in both cities is just fine.

Go to Berlin. Best city around.

The comment about Berlin not having the same culture as Munich made me laugh. No city in Germany has the same culture or feel as any other. They are all very distinct cities with their own history, quirks, etc. That is like saying should I avoid going to New York city cause I heard it doesn't have the same culture as Boston?

I had more fun in Dublin than Berlin. I stayed at Leeson Bridge Guesthouse, not as pricey as the center but still walking distance or a short bus ride, depending on where in the center you're going. It was very nice, quiet, helpful staff and very good breakfast. There's also an airport shuttle bus stop a couple doors down. Locals are very friendly, just take the time to chat with them.

I didn't care much for Dublin, in fact there were a couple of occasions where the locals were quite hostile.

Munich I loved for the surroundings, the nightlife and the beer gardens. Didn't find the city itself to offer much that interested me.

Loved Berlin for the history and the museums. Didn't find the people unfriendly at all, quite the opposite.

I'm not too into the whole crazy nightlife or wild party scene that Berlin has. If I want a low key visit with nothing too wild or extreme, what would you suggest, aside from the sightseeing and tours that I'm planning during the daytime?

I think I've settled on Berlin. Found a hotel not far from Unter den Linden. And put together this quick plan. Any thoughts on:

Day 1:
•Tiergarten
•Brandenburg Gate and museum
•Reichstag (Dome only, Guided Tour with Dome, or Plenary Sitting with Dome)
•Unter den Linden

Day 2:
•Alexanderplatz
•Time clock
•Hofbräu Berlin (lunch)
•Brunnen der Völkerfreundschaft
•Alexa Shopping Mall
•Fernsehturm (Dinner and Observation Deck)

Day 3:
•Checkpoint Charlie
•Topography of Terror
•Deutsch Spionagemuseum
•Potsdamer Platz

Day 4:
•Museum Island:
  oBerliner Dom
  oDDR Museum
•Berlin Wall Memorial

Day 5 (one or two of the following):
•½ Day Walking Tour
•4 ½ Hour Bike Tour
•Hop-On/Hop-off tour with optional cruise (2-day pass)
•4 Hour Highlights & Hidden Sights Walking Tour
•4 Hour Cold War Walking Tour
•4 ½ Hour Evening Food Tour By Bike
•4 Hour Pub Crawl with VIP Entry
•4 Hour Berlin Wall and Cold War Tour
•Craft Beer & Brewery Tour

Any suggestions or thoughts?

Thank you again

I like your Day #2 with the Time Clock (Große Uhr) and Alexanderplatz, very close together and within easy distance of the Fernsehturm. I cannot remember the name of this restaurant in the Alexanderplatz area but it is the oldest restaurant in Berlin serving traditional Berlin cuisine (Berliner Küche) if you so desire. Inquire about it. The place has an outdoor seating area too.