Fly to Frankfort - train to Berlin

You can go by train from Frankfurt (am Main) to Berlin. The 35€ fare from Frankfurt to Berlin must be an advance purchase, discounted, SparPreis fare. It's dangerous to use that kind of fare right after arriving, since flights are often late, and that ticket, on the day of arrival, is non-refundable and has limited exchangeability.

If you want to stop on your way, stop the first night in Frankfurt, then go to Berlin with a SparPreis ticket the next day when you can depend on making the required train.

If you'd like to stop somewhere along the way from Frankfurt to Berlin, you might consider Erfurt, which has a nice, half-timbered Medieval old town and where Martin Luther spent his youth. There are direct trains hourly, taking about 2.5 hours from Frankfurt Airport. You could spend a night here, then head to Berlin the next day, which is about 2 hours by frequent trains. See this website for schedules and ticket prices - https://ricksteves.raileurope.com/us/rail/point_to_point/triprequest.htm

Looks like you can actually get that Frankfurt-Berlin ticket for 19 EUR if you buy an early morning departure from Frankfurt Hbf exactly 90 days before your departure date.

Thank you for your prompt responses. Erfurt sounds like a good possibility.

Apologies for the typo, but having lived in KY, "fort" is a muscle reflex.

Thanks, Sam. I looked at July prices that were coming up 29Euro and estimated that would about $35 USD. If I decide on going directly to Berlin, will mark my calendar for 90 days pre-departure.

If you stay overnight in Frankfurt, do some sightseeing, get a good nights sleep, you can catch the early morning train the next day to Berlin with that great price.
Think about if you really want to hang around the airport for a while using up that cushion of time that needs to be scheduled between flight and train, then sit in the train for another 4 hours after a trans-Atlantic flight.

Frankfurt offers a ton of historical sites, as well as good food and probably a fest depending on when your travel dates are.

Thank you, Ms. Jo.

What area of Frankfurt would be a good place to spend the night?

Another vote for Erfurt. Really striking architecture. Berlin is wonderful--I spent 6 days there last year and didn't have time for a lot of things I wanted to do--but it sure as heck doesn't look like Erfurt.

I think the Hamburger Hof which is located right outside of the north exit of the main train station is a great place. In August, you are going to want a place with AC because sometimes it can be really hot here.

Other hotels to look at might be Adina Apts, Ibis on the Friedensbrucke, Holiday Inn Express, Concorde Hotel, or Hotel Monopol.
If you prefer a hotel in a residential neighborhood, check out Alexander am Zoo.

Thank you for the recommendations!

Just wanted to say that if you decide to spend the night in Frankfurt, the Intercity Hotel, just outside the main train station, basically on the back side, would be a great location. We have stayed here for the last 2 years and have been really pleased. Clean, comfortable rooms, excellent breakfast buffet, good prices, love that our stay includes local transportation ticket, helpful staff and great location for taking the train to Berlin (which we have done) or getting to the airport.

A river cruise was a lot of fun for us last year. We love to walk from the main square up to the farmer's market to get lunch. We also went to one of the local cemeteries this year and walked around. If you enjoy that kind of thing I would highly recommend it. I was amazed at how beautiful some of the stones and plots were, a lot different from what you find here in the States (at least in the south).

Thank you for the suggestions on exploring Frankfurt!

Look carefully at hotel rates before you book. I just randomly checked the Hamburger Hof and the Ibis Centrum (a 5-6 minute walk from the station). The Hamburger Hof shows rooms in August as low as €60 on the weekends until August 21, but then €93-105 through the end of the month. The Ibis rates also vary from day to day, but prices seem to vary between €59-75 in late August. You can get a 30% discount by paying in advance (non-refundable) and a little more by joining their free loyalty program. I've stayed twice at the Ibis, no complaints, great beds, AC worked fine, windows opened.

There is a big trade fair the last weekend and week in August. It is also when Frankfurt has its biggest and best fest, the Musueum Riverbank Festival, 26, 27, 28 Aug. If your trip here is during that time period, best is to book through the Tourist Info as they set aside some more reasonably priced rooms for that weekend. Otherwise the rooms are priced sky high. Great fest though, if you are here then.

Y'all are the best! Thanks!