Berlin, Dresden, Munich itinerary help

In general Berlin has a lot of sculpture and haptical art - a lot of them free in public.

A very emotional meaning for the people have "Goldelse" (winged victory on Victory Column) and the Quadriga sculpture on the Brandenburg Gate. Also the sculpture at Platz der Luftbrücke reminds to one of the most critical times of Berlin - if you ask elder locals it was not the war, it was the blockade. The other part of the sculpture stands near aiport Frankfurt Rhein-Main to remember the air bridge in 1948.

A special collection of sculptures is hosted in fortress Zitadelle Spandau - these collection of Brandenburg-Prussian rulers was standing formerly along the destroyed Siegesallee leading to the Victory Column when it was standing infront of the Reichstag Building. Speaking of it, it is worth a visit (reservation recommended).

Not far away from Reichstag in the middle of the street is the sculpture "Der Rufer (the caller)"; calling for peace. So important since centuries.

There is a new exhibition in Bode Museum: "Sculpture and Painting 13th-18th Century".

Also: Sculpture Collection and Museum of Byzantine Art

Also: list and map of memorials in Berlin (German).

Normally I would recommend the Bauhaus Archive but it is under reconstruction currently.

In Berlin you will find also Buddy Bear sculptures in same shape but various colors.

I could write for hours but want to close here with my personal highlight from my teen age years: "Die Hand" stands infront of my former high school - not far from Victory Column. In the 80s a young upcoming avantgarde pop band showed it in a music video. The band was Depeche Mode and the sculpture can be seen at 3:13 minutes in the video of "Everything Counts" which is somehow a time journey to West-Berlin in the 80s.

Have a nice journey.

Thank you so much, Markk. What helpful suggestions.

I forgot to say that my trip will be from late April into early May. That may influence any additional replies I get.

Suggest taking in Berchtesgaden, near Salzburg. The view from the Eagles Nest is amazing.

Also, Garmish is nice, taking the cable car up to the top of the Zugspize.

For me (lover of art, decorative art and 20th-century history), Berlin calls for considerably more time than Munich, but you may plan multiple side-trips from Munich and only the single side-trip to Potsdam from Berlin.

I assume you have long since uncovered the existence of the Historic Green Vault and Green Vault in Dresden. One of the nearby museums has quite a lot of porcelain as I recall. I don't remember the details, because it's not my thing.

I found the Kunstgewerbemuseum in Berlin impressive for its collection of beautiful objects.

I think Munich is over-rated, but it's loaded with excellent museums. I think the Bavarian National Museum has a lot of decorative art, which I think you're interested in. I understand that paintings are not your thing, but among many things, it's amazing that Dresden has two long galleries of nothing but the Cranach family. Note that there is a "new" or renovated Dresden, as well as the old Dresden of museums. National Military Museum (U-Bahn ride) is nationally important to Germany history, as well as military artifacts.

We enjoyed Leipzig a lot, with history (including the end of the Soviet era) and art. The UNESCO WHS Gartenreich Dessau-Worlitz won't be that green in April, maybe, but has nice mansion-museums all through it. Are you interested in a detour to Erfurt (unusual oldest surviving synagogue property in Germany, deconsecrated 100 years ago), or less visited Jena, for the Karl Zeiss science and optical museum?

I'm ashamed to say we didn't go, but the porcelain collection in Meissen is probably the most important in the world.

Food in Berlin: Watch for (trucks?) with Oma's [grandma's] Quarkbollen, fresh from the donut fat frier.

my trip will be from late April into early May

I like to raise your attention for the Gallery Weekend at the end of April.

The Berlin Design Week will happen during your stay.

So, maybe 1-2 days longer can be an option.

Two nights in Dresden mean only one full day, plus probably the afternoon of the arrival day. That's too short IMO.

The Historic and the New Green Vault were already mentioned, but these plus the rest of the Royal Palace call for one full day alone (if that is not too much museums in one day!) You would not have time for much else in the old town alone and other musts are e.g. Frauenkirche and catholic cathedral (Hofkirche), Semper opera house (interior!), the art collections in the Zwinger.

Another must, especially in spring, is Pillnitz Palace (Museum of Decorative Arts) with its very beautiful gardens. The best (most scenic) way to get there is a paddle steamer trip on the Elbe river. These historic paddle steamers are a sight themselves and you will pass by vineyards, castles and lovely hillsides dotted with beautiful villas/historic homes.

You might consider an excursion to Moritzburg (slightly more than a half hour by bus) with its Baroqu hunting palace on an island in the middle of a small lake (fantastic interior) and the cute Pheasant's manor, the lighthouse and an overall beautiful landscape with ponds, forests, historic restaurants ... horse-drawn carriage rides available (famous for horse breeding) and there is also the option to ride a narrow-gauge steam railway.

Same distance away, but by suburban railway, is Meissen with its historic old town, very beautiful castle and Gothic cathedral, famous porcelain manufacture and wine tasting.

You mentioned you are not interested in hiking when abroad, but I highly recommend at least a day trip to the National Park Saxon Switzerland, a wonderland of bizarre sandstone formations, canyons, cliffs with stunning views, picturesque villages, small towns, castles ...

You have to set the priorities here given your limited time schedule.

Much as I like Munich, with your time limit I would suggest staying up north and east. Lots of sites to visit and explore in Berlin and Potsdam, all depends on whether you want the typical overview or visits with more focus and depth.

I suggest Jena, very important in German history, Leipzig, and above all, regarding cultural history, Weimar. Compare with Weimar with Potsdam, these two extremes.

Given your situation, I would take the night train Berlin to Munich or Berlin to Linz, then change to Salzburg to squeeze out another travel day. I've done this numerous times on this route.

Good that you're setting aside 6 full days for Berlin in your first visit to that fascinating city

The day to Potsdam...take one of the guided bus tours. They will try to enlist your participation as you exit out of Potsdam Hbf.

If you're into more esoteric exploring in Potsdam, I suggest the serene lovely river cruise on the Havel, the river running through the city and beyond. You'll see a good deal of salient sites in Prussian history...Schloss Babelsberg, etc.

I finally got around to taking this Havel river cruise last summer, absolutely peaceful, historic, serene, not crowded. Arrange this in the Tourist Office on the top floor in Potsdam Hbf.

Because of some great suggestions to my request, I did more research and have made major changes to my itinerary. Munich is being saved for a future trip that will include Vienna. Now I will spend 5 days in Dresden at the beginning. There is so much to see in that area as was pointed out. And then 12 days in Berlin. There is enough in the park with Schloss Charlottenburg to keep me happy for two full days including a decorative art museum and a porcelain exhibition.

Thank you all for your kindness in making suggestions. My trip will be much better because of your input. If you ever want suggestions about travel to the Western portions of Oregon or Washington in the US, please ask me.

With 12 days in Berlin you can consider the Grunderzeit Museum, if interested. S-Bahn plus long walk or taxi.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Am_My_Own_Wife

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte_von_Mahlsdorf

I'm glad to see that you're extending your stay in Dresden! There is a lot to do in a compact tourist zone.

I don't run across many trip reports that include Dresden, and mine has been a few years (2019) but there are tips for transit to/from Schloss Pillnitz, a mention of the porcelain museum at the Zwinger Palace, and a dinner splurge that was worth the taxi ride.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/trip-report-3-5-days-in-dresden-the-jewel-box-of-eastern-germany