Itinerary Sanity Check - Amsterdam & Berlin

For me this is OK but you lose a lot of the very limited time you have available by travelling to Berlin. If you want to maximise your time, don't travel so far away (example: Rotterdam, Den Haag, Utrecht, Antwerp). But if you are set on Berlin, then OK. Can you get an open jaw ticket (into AMS, out of BER)? That would give you a little more time. In Amsterdam you will have to book tickets and a timeslot for the bigger sights (Anne Frank House), not sure about your museums in Berlin.

Lavandula

I don't see a problem with taking a 4 pm train to Berlin, There are later trains with a connection. I think more time in Berlin is worth it.

You could also store your bag in a locker by Amsterdam Centraal, Now at a building next to the west side of the station.
https://www.seat61.com/stations/amsterdam-centraal.htm#Left_luggage

Lavandula - Yes, I am set on Berlin. The ticket is open jaw, going through AMS on the way home because the ticket I'm looking at is on KLM and clearly, AMS is their only hub. No direct flights between BER and IAD on any airline. Thanks for the reminder on reservations. I'm aware, but noted.

Sam - Thanks for the vote of confidence on the train and the decision to spend more time in Berlin than Amsterdam. Noted on the luggage storage.

I vote thumbs up because this itinerary will allow you to see two fantastic cities in one trip. That said, it will be rushed, with not much wiggle room.

A few suggestions:

Do everything you can to get as much sleep as possible on your flight (for me it would be melatonin, ear plugs, and a good neck pillow). Arriving exhausted could ruin your whole week.

Choose your accommodations with care so you don't waste time getting to the things you want to see. Amsterdam is fairly compact so you could definitely find something within a reasonable walk or tram ride to Museumplein AND the Anne Frank House. But Berlin is huge, and while public transportation is stellar, it can be time-consuming to navigate from one sight to the next (sometimes just finding the right platform can be a challenge). I would try to find accommodations that are reasonably close to the things you most want to see.

The Reijksmuseum is vast (I call it the Yikesmuseum) and if you just walk in and browse, you could easily spend all day there and still not see all the things you'd like to see. Spend some time beforehand mapping out a way to see the pieces most dear to you so you'll still have time to visit the Van Gogh Museum on the same day.

As others mentioned, advanced tickets are sometimes required and sometimes the best option so you don't waste time standing in line. I highly recommend visiting the Reichstag Building in Berlin (advanced tickets required) and the easy-to-miss Monument to the Murdered Members of the Reichstag right outside it.

As Rick always advises, make a note of the things you won't have time to see so you can plan to return.

Best wishes!

• Change in carbon footprint: If it makes you feel good, fine. (IAD to AMS = about 2,000 pounds / AMS to BER = about 300 pounds)
• 5.5 hours: Often at least as good a time choice as a flight, but you would have to measure and time it both ways to know for sure.
• Hotels will hold your luggage. I haven’t found one to say no yet.
• Easy not to miss the train, show up a little early.
• Connection at Schiphol would be 2.75 hours: yes, its enough unless something goes wrong.
• More time in Berlin or Amsterdam: In September I would rather be in Amsterdam than Berlin.