Can anybody sell me on Berlin?

I was there 4 years ago for 3 nights and loved it. It has a lot to offer and we did not get to do it all. From RS shows I gather that the east side is an up and coming trendy part of town. It has good museums, WWII historical places, Postdam is not far, palaces, Dresden is relatively close also,... I liked it more that Munich. Check out RS book for all the things to do.

Have been to Berlin 5 times and look forward to going back. it is lively city, always changing, various eras of history to explore, lots of museums to match all kinds of interests, close proximity Sachsenhausen & Ravensbruck Concentration Camp, and beautiful Potsdam is near by where you can easily spend a couple of days. Or head over to the Spree Wald.

For me, Munich was just ok. It was nice and all, but it doesn't draw me back. I just enjoy the more interesting cities like Berlin and Frankfurt. Cities with lots of contrasts.

Every time I go to Berlin, I go on a different themed walking tour. This adds to my trip immeasurably.

Nothing bad to say about Berlin. It is just a fun place to go.

Munich is a minor city, compared to Berlin. Allow plenty of time, because there is more to see than in Amsterdam - including nearby daytrips. It's often easy to fly there too, like Amsterdam. We liked it so much we often spend, say, two additional days there on the way to other trips, like "the former East", and Prague-Budapest. It can be VERY hot in in Europe in August.

We found that even in Germany, commercial air conditioning is not capable of the icebox conditions Americans are used to. I mention that because even the Hilton in Leipzig and a Kempinski in Berlin were unable to keep up with the heat. I shudder to think what it's like in a discount hotel!

You don't explain whether "anything" means night-life or aspects of German culture you're unfamiliar with (say, underdressed swimming pools ... ). We've visited private art collections that require an appointment, the remarkable Grunderzeit Museum in Mahlsdorf, gone to a chamber music concert in the smaller hall at the Philharmonie, searched for Stolpersteine, visited the Neue Synagogue which was saved on Kristallnacht and damaged by Allied bombing, bought fabulous Kwarkbollen from a food truck we've never been able to find again, followed the track of films by Wenders, Fassbinder, and Schlöndorff.

Go to Berlin as soon as you can.

Jeremy,

I would also encourage a visit to Berlin as it's an interesting and vibrant city, with various layers of history to explore. In order to decide whether it will offer activities that interest you, it might be worthwhile to stop by your local Library and have a look at the RS Germany guidebook. If you decide to go, you could also pack along a copy of this..... https://store.ricksteves.com/shop/p/berlin-guidebook

As Jo mentioned, some of the walking tours are excellent, and provide a good overview of the history. The guides are enthusiastic and very knowledgeable. Also as mentioned, you could take day trips to Potsdam or Dresden.

It's an easy trip by train from Berlin to Amsterdam (about 6 hours as I recall, but it's been a few years).

I think it really depends on the kinds of things you like. I strongly prefer Munich to Berlin. For me Berlin has that big city feel, but lacks charm. In full disclosure my husband and I tend to prefer small town charm to the big cities. The only "big" european city that I truly love is London. Not a huge fan of Paris or Rome (I can hear the gasps now:), but I would choose either of those over Berlin. Berlin just has a "cold, big city" feeling to me, lots of really long blocks with huge buildings, but there certainly is a lot of amazing history there. If you do go I would recommend making reservations for the Reichstag. That was one of our most enjoyable experiences there.

I agree with Jill on the physical aspects of the Berlin cityscape. I wouldn't call it "cold", but it was obliterated during the war and mostly rebuilt in modern style. Therefore, it lacks small-town German charm. Nonetheless, I loved the city and was sorry to leave after 6 full days there. In addition to the art museums (many and large) and the Pergamon (large), there is a huge number of World War II and Cold War sites. I happen to be especially interested in those periods and overdosed on them. If you are not, and if you're not much for museums in general, the traditional sightseeing circuit in Berlin may not be of huge interest to you.

Berlin is very youthful and lively city; I think you can easily find opportunities to connect with young local residents and other travelers if you're interested in doing so. It's also a comparatively inexpensive capital city. I figured food cost me about 30% less than in Italy. Granted, the food in Berlin is not as good, but I enjoyed the options offered by the various ethnic restaurants.

One thing to keep in mind is that Berlin's sights are rather spread out, so you'll need to allot time simply for moving from place to place. The S-Bahn and U-Bahn are very helpful.

Give it a try. For me, it was an exciting city with great nightlife and lots of world class interesting museums and sites. I can't think of anything bad - I even really liked some industrial/gentrifying sites in East Berlin (I'm sure they don't feel like that now). It has a very different feeling from Munich...I liked both for different reasons.

The Pergamum Museum is awesome.

We loved it so much on our first visit that we are returning for a week this year. Berlin is a very young city with a large university population. There are so many diverse things to do from palaces to museums, history, a great club scene - just do some googling - there is something for everyone.

I find it an exciting city to visit. The 20th century history is amazing. The new energy since 1989 is equally amazing. i first visited Berlin as a student back in the 70's and saw the wall and visited the very gray and depressing East. Today you get the feeling that the 35 + years of post-war/cold war Berlin have totally moved into the history books. When I visited the first time, we stayed in the West, of course. I am sure that it was not even an option to stay in the East. Although, we did visit it, including a trip up the TV tower in Alexanderplatz. When I went back I was stunned by the changes in the 15 years since re-unification. The most flabbergasting moment was I realized that there was a Burger Chef in the S-Bahn Station where steely eyed DDR guards had tested and taunted us as we were transferring back to the West after a visit to the East. I love the new buildings--the SONY Center, the new Jewish Museum, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews near Brandenburg Gate. I loved the art museums and, of course, the Pergamon. Explore the whole city. It's worth it.

I totally agree with MrsEB--if a city or country doesn't call to you, for whatever reason, don't force yourself. It may happen later or not at all, and there's so many other places to see that you will be unreservedly excited about. I'm that way about Italy--so many people love it and have strongly urged me to go, but it just doesn't appeal, not in the way the countries of central Europe do.

Thanks everyone! And it isn't that Berlin doesn't interest me, the only issue is that I have interest in visiting every square mile (or kilometer I suppose) of Europe. But with limited opportunities to do so, I'm hoping to make the most logical itinerary I can for our two weeks and Berlin would fit right in. I plan my trips with the intent of going back. Fortunately it sounds like Berlin would be a great time.

Hi

I can heartily recommend visiting Berlin. You're in your mid-20s...good. I first visited Berlin at 21, one of the best decisions I made on that first trip to Europe as a backpacker, skipped Berlin only once in 22 trips to Europe. Look at "The Rough Guide Berlin" to provide you not only with an overview but specifics on what to see. What are your priorities in Berlin?

Some focus on seeing the Cold War sites (not me , an interest but not priority), those sites related to the Nazi period or the war (numerous sites in Berlin that are connected both WW1 and 2...you just have to where to go and track them down).. There are sites on Prussian history, ie prior to 1919, and those on women's history such as on Käthie Kollwitz and Rahel Varnhagen von Ense. Like other cities, you probably can name some things "bad" about Berlin, but who wants to listen to that, when tons of international tourists go to Berlin in the summer (that's when all my trips to Berlin have taken place, between May and Aug.)

On expenses: Berlin is much cheaper than Paris, London. Paying for double at a small hotel or a 3 star one I can bet you will spend less and if it's the same amount, you space will be larger. Of course, there are those small hotels and Pensionen in Berlin with that traditional Berliner Milieu which don't offer AC (if that's important to you), Wifi, an elevator, WC/shower can still found down the hall,

Berlin is very green, spread out, take the S-Bahn from Spandau in the west to Karlshorst in the east, practically the lateral breadth of the city. Go out to non-tourist areas, lots of them....Spandau, Köpenick, Moabit, Zehlendorf, Karlshorst, etc. Take the river tours on the Spree, as in the famous Berlin song, "Durch Berlin fließt der Spree"

Maybe I've convinced you to add Berlin to your itinerary. Once I made up my mind to go ahead with the first trip to Europe, Berlin was without doubt one of the top priority cities on my itinerary to be visited.

I didn't think I would like Berlin but I have been twice and plan to return in 2018. I love it! Great museums, city life, interesting tours - one of my favorite cities.