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.
• 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.

Currer - Sleep on the flight shouldn't be a problem, I did OK on my first day in London last year on zero sleep (first Europe trip), but I'll put more effort into sleeping this time. Fingers crossed. Hotels - I booked Hotel Nes in Amsterdam (Rick approved) and the Hilton in Berlin (not Rick approved, but just south of Unter den Linden and cheaper than you might expect for a nice room). I've looked at the required reservations...I see that as everyone says, Anne Frank sells very quickly, not so much the Rijksmuseum or the Van Gogh Museum, but I'll book a few weeks out anyhow. Thanks for the reminder on the Reichstag, I'll check on that too. And I'm familiar with how to navigate large collections...I'm from the DC area (grew up at the Smithsonian museums) and did OK at the National Gallery and the Brit in London.

Mr. E - Yeah, I get the argument that the flight over is the worst for carbon footprint, but it's still helpful to take a train once in Europe, and as you said, a 5-6 hour ride is still somewhat defensible given travel time from the airport to city center. Care to elaborate on why you prefer Amsterdam? Interested to hear it.

Hi there, that looks busy but doable! Get some food / restaurant ideas if you can ahead of time.

About Berlin - We took a bicycle tour our first morning, an excellent overview of Berlin's history, architecture & ended at the Brandenburg gate, highly recommend Fat Tire, I think we took the highlights tour. https://www.fattiretours.com/berlin/tours/highlights-of-berlin-bike-tour/

We also took a guided tour of Museum Island highlighting the main attractions, it was a skip the line tour that worked well, as the morning lines were LONG. When we left, our guide pointed out that the lines are usually shorter later in the afternoon. EnjoyI It's a fabulous city.

Mr. E - Yeah, I get the argument that the flight over is the worst for
carbon footprint, but it's still helpful to take a train once in
Europe, and as you said, a 5-6 hour ride is still somewhat defensible
given travel time from the airport to city center. Care to elaborate
on why you prefer Amsterdam? Interested to hear it.

That wasn't my argument, thought the numbers might help you in your decision making. Sorry. Deleted. I forgot to post the train and I thought that would be your question. The train is about 30 pounds.

And I didn't suggest train or plane based on time. I suggested research if you wanted to know the difference in time. I won't do the research but I am going to guess the plane is the same or an hour faster. I would still do the train because of the nature of the two airports (personal preference).

Berlin over Amsterdam? Personal preference.

We're taking the same DB itinerary from Amsterdam to Berlin this September, a few days before your dates, but leaving Centraal at 08:00 (arriving Hauptbahnhof around 13:45). Our rationale was getting into Berlin earlier in the day to gain late-afternoon and evening options, albeit at the expense of a little less sleep our last night/morning in Amsterdam. Nothing a latte can't fix. :)

I've been to both cities and it really depends on your interests.

I always recommend visiting the Berlin Reichstag/Budestag building and dome but it looks like the dome is closed for cleaning the days you are there. You may be able to do a building tour but those reservation dates aren't open yet. If you do, be prepared for airport style security (passport check, metal detectors, etc.) https://www.bundestag.de/en/visittheBundestag/dome/registration-245686

Read up on how to reserve Anne Frank tickets in advance and make sure you're on the official website to purchase them on the Tuesday six weeks ahead of your dates. If you want to go to both the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh I would not do them on the same day (art overload).

I am not clear on your return flights - is the Berlin-Amsterdam-Dulles route all on one ticket? If the Berlin-Amsterdam segment is a separate ticket and you have checked luggage I would extend your layover a little longer as if you miss that connection you're out of luck.

The return flight gets in by 3:30pm. Could you squeeze one more day and go home on Sunday? I really think you're short-changing yourself on Berlin. It's HUGE and has SO much to see and do. As much as I love Amsterdam, I'd be inclined to dedicate the whole week to Berlin.

Great responses all!

Mr E - Sorry if you felt my reply was angry/irritated, maybe "Argument" wasn't the best choice of words on my part. No worries!

Sandancisco - I don't mix with bikes, just ask the folks who treated my broken arm as a seventh-grader, lol. A boat would probably be more my speed and is part of the plan. I'll probably get the Museum Pass for Berlin to deal with some of the lines, appears reasonable at 32 Euro for three days. Good tip on afternoons!

Matt - Nice, let me know how the train ride is for you!

CL - Yes, I saw about the Reichstag last night when I was researching...bummer. Hopefully, I can get to the terrace without being able to climb the dome, which looked like a possibility from the website. Fingers crossed on Anne Frank House, I'll set my alarm for 3:55 EDT on the day the tickets go on sale. Not sure about the flight...I booked it as a multi-city on KLM (Dulles-Schiphol on the way out, Berlin-Dulles on the way back, selected the connection at Schiphol when prompted), so I think it's OK. I plan on going carry-on only, so bag claim should be a non-issue.

G3rryCee - No, I have to be back at work on the following Monday, and I've only been on one Transatlantic flight before, so I want to give myself a little more buffer than a Sunday return. Good to know that you think three days in Berlin is NOT enough...sounds like several others think that Amsterdam is the better destination. Differing opinions are welcome! It's why I asked!

It seems almost unanimous that taking more time would be great, but that darn American work ethic (including mine!) is a bear.

Cheers

Not sure about the flight...I booked it as a multi-city on KLM
(Dulles-Schiphol on the way out, Berlin-Dulles on the way back,
selected the connection at Schiphol when prompted), so I think it's
OK. I plan on going carry-on only, so bag claim should be a non-issue.

As long as you bought the whole shebang from KLM you should be fine with 2.75 hour layover at AMS. They do a bit more pre boarding process for US bound flights (passport checks) so head to your gate area at least an hour before departure.

I'd also splurge on a higher class ticket for your Amsterdam -Berlin trip. If you buy ahead first class prices aren't that much more and you get a meal and nicer seats. More info on options: https://www.seat61.com/trains-and-routes/amsterdam-to-berlin-by-train.htm

BTW, while Museum Island was absolutely jam packed with gorgeous art, (and people) we loved the Gemaeldegalerie. We sat in front of an excellent Vermeer with no one else in the room. https://www.smb.museum/en/museums-institutions/gemaeldegalerie/home/

Pucky, I get a tad thin skinned at times. My apologies. Argument was the perfect word (a set of statements, called premises, arranged in a way that leads to a logical conclusion) and I am well enough educated to have known that.

My limited understanding of the bulit environment of the modern and reconstructed history and the culture of the various Germanic tribes just doesnt light my fire as brightly as does my understanding of Amsterdam's more authentic built environment and what little I understand of the culture of the Dutch and others of the region. Amsterdam is prettier for my interests as well. But my preferences are just those, preferences. Sometimes I find I am wrong in my perceptions. You never know.

Good ...avoid that carbon footprint by rejecting the plane option. I would do likewise. Going by plane is no option.

You have some choices here re: dep. times. No problems for me to do a 5 hr ride daytime but a direct night route is possible here, even if a bit longer, another choice if you want to avoid wasting 5 hours of daytime.

The night route I would take and suggest is to go via Duisburg. Take Berlin Hbf to Duisburg Hbf, arriving in the morning and changing to Amsterdam.

If you end up choosing the 5 hr. day route, just make the adequate preparations.