I am from Israel, and I am planning a 7 days trip to Germany in January.
I got the idea from some awesome German people I met while on a trip to Japan , and they convinced me to visit!
Thing is , I don't know any good spots for the early winter in Germany , I know I will be going to Berlin though.
Any advice for a Germany newbie?
I had 6 nights in Berlin and didn’t run out of things to see and do. Take a day trip to Potsdam that I didn’t have time to see.
I agree with Jennifer. Seven days is a good amount of time for Berlin and environs. The city is large and there is no central historic center, so sites are spread out all over. It takes a lot of time to take it all in.
Potsdam is definitely worth a day trip. There are also day trips to Sachsenhausen if this is something you'd be interested in.
If you absolutely want a second city to visit, I'd suggest Dresden because it's a short enough train ride that you won't lose an entire day. Dresden is also easy to explore because, unlike Berlin, the main sites are within an easily walkable area. And it's fascinating because it was basically leveled during World War II and almost entirely rebuilt by the Communists, so there is a combination of beautifully recreated Baroque architecture and very stark modernist shopping and residential areas.
Berlin is super popular with Israelis right now and that's because it's an amazing city. It's very international and not particularly "German" but that's part of it's charm - like NYC or London.
I've been to Berlin I think 5 times now and there are still major sights I haven't seen (like Potsdam). Weather-wise, it will be cold so it helps if you're someone interested in museums (Berlin is a fantastic museum city).
That said, I really enjoy Berlin in the summer. If you're set on winter travel and you want something very different from Israel, you might want to consider the Bavarian Alps with Munich as your base. While the culture is unique in Germany (i.e. most Germans find Bavarians distinct the way most Americans find Texans distinct) if you want to see the big beers, alpine huts, and snow-capped peaks basing your travels around that region might make sense.
But I'm not trying to talk you out of Berlin! It just depends on which kind of Germany you're interested in seeing.
You don't specify your interests, which makes recommendations hard. In January you probably won't be doing the typical "wander" around town looking at buildings from the outside (it will be wet and cold, or dry and cold). There are enough museums, galleries, restaurants, etc to fill a week easily... But Berlin alone is not "Germany" for all of the cosmopolitan reasons already mentioned. Nuremberg is 3.5 hours south on the new fast train, and Munich is an hour further south (the Schnellstrecke fast train is great)... An overnight or two in either of those cities would give a broader view of the new/old Germany with many fascinating sights and Museums.
Hi,
If you don't mind very cold weather (presumably), I would suggest spending all that time as a Germany newbie in Berlin with trips to Potsdam.
Of course, lots of other cities and towns are worthy of your time...Cologne, Dresden, Düsseldorf, Heidelberg, Lüneburg, Celle, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Leipzig, Weimar, Naumburg an der Saale, Munich, etc, etc.
I think if you are up in Berlin, then stay north. Visit Hamburg, Potsdam, or perhaps some smaller towns like Quedlinburg or Lubeck. There is no reason to spend your very short vacation going south.
Some possibilities here - https://www.atlasobscura.com/things-to-do/germany/places
