Please sign in to post.

Germany in December (8 days)

I’ll be landing in Berlin in the 6th of December and will be staying til the 9th, where I’ll be taking a train to Munich for 5 nights before flying home.

Starting in Berlin, my thoughts were to kind of go walking around the outdoor sights of the city on my first full day (the 7th). These would include the Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, and the Holocaust Memorial in one general area before taking a taxi (or walking) to the East Side Gallery, maybe stopping for a quick photo at Check Point Charlie somewhere in there. The second day would be dedicated to Museum Island I think. I can see the Berlin Cathedral, the Pergamon Museum, and possibly the Egyptian Museum too.

From Berlin, I would take a train to Munich for my second base. From here, my intention was to spend two of my days outside of the city to visit the Neuschwanstein Castle and Nuremberg for its architecture and Christmas markets. The other two (full) days would be spent in Munich itself, though I will probably be spending a half day seeing Dachau. Time spent in the city itself would hopefully include the Hofbräuhaus, Marienplatz, Viktualienmarkt, and more Christmas markets.

I didn’t count the days when I land in Berlin or when I arrive in Munich so I have time to either relax or be more ambitious about my itinerary. Is too much to try to do in only 8 days?

My goal was to get a good mix of WW2/Cold War history, Christmas, and Bavarian fun.

Posted by
1488 posts

I think you've got enough time to have a good trip. While walking around Berlin make sure you check out the Flaktowers (Bunkerlagen). They're still standing because they can't be economically torn down. But they are the site of a lot of the major fighting in the last days of WWII.

In Nuremberg you can easily visit the Nazi Rally Grounds (Hindenburg Stadium) by train.

Take a tour that includes Neuschwanstein, because just going south to see that is a waste of a day. You need to add to it to make it worth the time. And pass completely if it isn't a clear, bright, day.

Posted by
3008 posts

Berlin has also Christmas markets. Have a look at the one in Alt-Rixdorf (only open on this weekend).

D1: Bus 300 will bring you on a scenic route from stations "Mohnrestrasse" or "Unter den Linden" to EastSide Gallery. No need to waste money here.

D2: Pergamon Museum is looong closed for renovation, only the Panorama is still open.

Posted by
2 posts

Hi,
just one practical aspect: The train from Berlin to Munich always stops in Nuremberg (3 hrs travel time Berlin-Nuremberg).
You could save time and hazzle if you get off and spend the day in Nuremberg, and continue your travel to Munich the next day (another 1 to 1.5 hrs travel time).

Posted by
7072 posts

I agree with sylvana.berger that backtracking to Nuremberg wastes your time. Then again, taking up residence in Nuremberg for just one night also wastes time with checking in, out, unpacking, packing up... I would instead get off the train in Nuremberg, do my sightseeing, then continue to Munich in the evening.

Sample schedule:

Berlin > Nuremberg 8:12 - 10:56

  • stow bags in a station locker; sightseeing, Christmas market, approx. 8 hours

Nuremberg > Munich 19:02 - 20:06

The two trips can be done on one ticket using the stopover feature when you book at https://int.bahn.de/en/

Posted by
680 posts

Regarding Berliln, first, check to see what is open and get your Reichstag reservations. Some of the museums are/were being remodeled. Second, please get out to Postdam to see Museum Barberini. Fabulous impressionist collection and while you are there they have the Maurice de Vlaminck: Rebel of Modernism exhibition.

I am going to agree with an overnight in Nuremberg on the way to Munich. Worth the additional time.

Per Russ's great point about packing/unpacking, do you use packing cubes? I prepack clothes for each city I visit. This means only one cube and a toiletry bag comes out and only the toiletries and a cube with dirty clotes goes back in. When I do laundry during the trip I repack the cubes for my upcoming destinations.

Enjoy your trip!

Posted by
1488 posts

Nuremberg has one of the most heavily visited Christmas markets. You need to make hotel reservations now if you plan to overnight there. I do recommend the overnight, because the markets are best after 5pm.

Posted by
7072 posts

An evening visit to the Nuremberg market does not exclude sleeping in a Munich hotel. The Christkindlmarkt closes at 9 pm. With arrival in Nuremberg at 11 or 12, and sunset at 4:15 pm, you would have 4-5 hours of daylight for sightseeing and the same amount of time after dusk for roaming the market. There are 9 different direct, high-speed ICE train departures between 7:00 pm and 9:30 pm (in the event you are able to stick it out until closing) which will get you to Munich in roughly 60-70 minutes.

I don't know how many visitors actually spend 4-5 hours at this market on a December evening. I'd be lucky to last half that time. But if you are the hardy type of market-goer, or the night-owl type who wants to hang out in a snug pub afterward, there will still be 6 more trains to Munich between 9:30 pm and midnight.

It is this very ample train schedule which makes a one-night stay in Nuremberg very optional in my eyes.

Posted by
7889 posts

I personally think Berlin has much more to do than Munich. I think the Pergamon Museum is closed for years of renovation.