Advice for Germany and beyond itinerary

You rightly list 4 feasible options for your 2 windows.

1) Dresden & Berlin
2) Munich & options in Bavaria
3) Cesky Krumlov, Salzburg & Vienna
4) Budapest

Choose your 2 preferences, then decide how to make them work.

I'd lean towards 1) and 4)., with easier logistics - less hotels to book, less hopping about.
Then 2) and 3) combined make an easy trip in the future.

I like options 1 and 3 but would skip CK.

In Option 1 you could include Leipzig too or switch Dresden for Leipzig, or skip both of them, replacing them with a smaller town instead, Weimar, Meissen, Naumburg an der Saale, Jena, or Halle.

Personally, Berlin is my favorite city in the world, that I've been to. I prefer Hamburg over Dresden. It is a much shorter train ride as well, if you would consider a Berlin-Hamburg over a Berlin-Dresden, but anything with Berlin will be great. Then Budapest for your second window, or Vienna-Salzburg. I recommend train for all. I've only been on a bus once in Europe, and it was long, too long. The trains are so efficient. I've rented a car in many countries, they frequently have specials for Germany, BUT unless you have more than 2 in your group it's better to take the train. If you want suggestions for things to do in Berlin let me know!

ok --is this cramming too much in??

Arrive in Prague noon Oct 20 and take train to Cesky Krumlov- spend all say on 21 exploring there and either spend night there or leave early evening on the 21 on shuttle for Salzburg.

Salzburg from the October 22-24.(Is this too long?)
Take train to Berlin on 25 (wednesday) Spend evening of Oct 25-Oct 27 in Berlin.
Train from Berln to Prague evening of October 27 or am on the 28th
Prague from October 28-31 (with possible day trip)
Oct ober 31 -travel to Vienna /Budapest (advice on how long at both if traveling by train)
Sunday November 5th Travel back to Prague by train

thanks

Have you already bought round trip tickets to Prague? Not a very efficient way to piece together a trip that should have been booked to fly into Berlin and back from Budapest. Is there some special event that requires you to be in Prague 27 to 30? You'll be hitting Prague 3 times: when you land, middle of the trip, and at the end.

I'd drop Berlin. 8+ hours Salzburg to Berlin. Then 4+ hours to Prague. If you take out Berlin, you'll have more time for Prague, C. Krumlov, Salzburg, Vienna, and Budapest. Travel times are 4 hours for Prague to Vienna, 2 1/2 hours Vienna to Budapest, 6 3/4 hours Budapest to Prague.

yes- our daughter is studying in Prague so we wanted to fly in and out of there. Need to be back in the middle as we are picking up more family who is meeting us for our second week