Hello from a Newbie!

hope u do not find Munich over rated

Welcome Brian.

What do you plan to do in Berlin and Munich? The official tourist pages for Berlin and Munich contain a lot of meaningful information and tips.

Do you need any general information about traveling to and in Germany?

Have a good journey and stay in Germany. Feel free to ask everything on forum or by pm.

Yes, welcome Brian.
You've probably already found much information on this site on both your destinations. And don't hesitate to ask questions.

Hello and ENJOY !!

We'd love for you to let us know how it went when you get back.

Thanks everyone!

Right now working on planning on reviewing my maps and scheduling what I want to get in, mostly museums. I'm not the kind of traveler that enjoys a constant schedule when I visit someplace new, I'd rather go somewhere and just be there.

This trip I am doing a walking tour of Berlin to just kind of get myself acquainted with the city. This will be the first time I've ever gone by myself to Europe.

I'll let you guys know if I come up with any specific questions, and I'm sure I will.

You will love the Pergamon Museum in Berlin.

Hello and welcome! I can’t tell you how much I used information found on this forum for my trips. This winter I have another trip planned for Amsterdam and Prague and even though I have traveled to Europe at least 20+ times, I still value advice from others. I was in Munich several years ago in late January and had a great time. Yes, it was cold but beautiful. Have a great trip!

I am a big art history buff, I have to be careful or I would spend every second of my trip in a museum, and I definitely don't want to do that.

So far the museum plans are

Berlin - Checkpoint Charlie Museum, Pergamon Museum, Boros Bunker and Schwules Museum.

Munich - Residenz and Alte and Neue Pinakothek.

Plus, Christmas Markets! My idea of traveling to Europe is to just go and be there, I try not to plan every second. Though with that being said I do have a list of things I don't want to miss ;)

Hi. Don't know your dates, but something different is the Krampuslauf in Munich. Google this for dates. I was there last year for Christmas markets and caught the Lauf. Fun.

I like Munich - studied there in college - and have always been able to find something of interest. Last December I also visited the Krippen (creche) museum, the medieval christmas market with real Feuerzangenbowle (perfect while snow flurries danced around), and stocked up on the special Christmas chocolate bar from Dallmayr which is heavily in demand by my friends and neighbors. And, I never miss out on the Nürnberger Bratwurst at the Viktualienmarkt.

Enjoy.

Bravo that you're going solo to Germany ! My first time over including going to Germany for 7 weeks was also solo...fantastic.

If you have the time, Berlin is a great place to walk in, some lovely areas in Berlin but I've only been there in the summer. Familiarize yourself with taking the S-Bahn to go laterally from west to east and vice versa., say from Spandau to Karlshorst or Köpenick.

Historic Berlin is east of the Brandenburg Gate. Numerous sites on Prussian history, plus those obviously connected with the Nazi period, and commie regime...all can be tracked down depending on knowing where and your priorities The British WW1 and WW2 military cemeteries, the three Soviet WW2 memorials, and other poignant, moving memorials are located in Berlin.

Sounds like you’ve got a great trip planned at a wonderful time of year in those 2 cities. In Berlin recently we also enjoyed the DDR Museum on the Spree River. In Munich if you are an art museum person, don’t miss the Lenbachhaus Museum featuring Der Blaue Reiter artists; Franz Marc, Kandinsky, Macke and Klee.

Three tips for Berlin:

A) The ultimate collection for art history buffs: https://www.smb.museum/en/museums-institutions/museum-fuer-asiatische-kunst/exhibitions/detail/humboldt-forum-highlights.html

B) A very local art history you will find at Zille Museum: https://www.visitberlin.de/en/zille-museum

C) Pergamon Panorama (new from mid of November): https://www.asisi.de/en/panorama/pergamon/

You might enjoy a food tour in Berlin; we did -- it was a highlight of our time there. We recommend this one:

https://www.berlinfoodtour.de/tours/berlin-mitte-food-tour/

Sebastian is the best tour guide!

Hi, Brian! Welcome to the forum. I think Munich and Berlin are excellent choices for a trip to Germany. I'm partial to Berlin, but there are many things to do in both. Enjoy!

@padams: Your posted link delivered a time-out. Did you try the link / website before posting?

Even if provider shall be out of business Berlin offers a lot of other food options.

I was disappointed with the Checkpoint Charlie Museum - overpriced and badly organized. More interesting was reading the billboards along what used to be the Berlin Wall. On the other hand, I got a lot out of the small DDR Museum, a hands-on experience of East Germany under the Soviets; it's opposite Museum Island. Around the corner from the Pergamon is the Neues Museum - wonderful Egyptian collection and other antiquities - well worth 2-4 hours.

Hi Brian! Based on my experience in Germany, and especially Berlin, I would say it's a great (and easy) place to travel solo, especially as your first solo trip. I've been to Europe solo five times now, though on some trips I met up with friends for part of the time. I love traveling solo for many reasons, and I hope you have a great experience.

The recommendations above for activities and museums are all very good, so I would only add that as someone who is also interested in history, I very much enjoyed my walking tour that was focused on Cold War Berlin. I can't remember the name now, but I imagine you could find it with a quick Google if interested.

@MarkK -- the link for the Berlin Mitte Food tour was copied directly from the page and worked for me. Not sure why it didn't work for you.

Brian,

Welcome to the group!

Is this your first trip to Europe, or your first trip to Germany? In any case, I'd suggest that you pack along the appropriate Rick Steves guidebook as that will be a really helpful resource during your trip. If this is also your first trip to Europe, have a look at Europe Through The Back Door prior to your trip. That provides a lot of good information on how to travel well in Europe.

Thanks for all the great advice, I should have been asking questions months ago. Okay, in reality I only booked this trip in September.

I do have Rick Steves' Germany book, plus Berlin and a few others. Some in hard copy and some on my Kindle. At the beginning of this adventure I went to the local library and checked out every book on traveling in Germany.

I'm currently reading Europe Through the Back Door and I have Rick's European christmas coming this weekend.

This is my 3rd trip over to Europe.

:)

Brian,

Sounds like you're all set then. Are you only interested in art history, or would some of the WW-II sites also be of interest. You might have a look at this website, as they offer excellent tours and their guides are exceptional - http://www.berlinwalks.de/public/ .

In Munich you could have a look at - https://www.mikesbiketours.com/munich/all-tours/wintertours/winter-neuschwanstein-linderhof-castle-tour-by-bus.html OR https://www.radiustours.com/en/english-tours.html .

Gute Reise!

I enjoy WWII history as well. My first full day in Berlin I am going to do the BerlinWalks Discover Berlin tour.

I am also considering doing the Hitler's Germany tour.

Will definitely be doing some of Steve's walking tours, via the app.

I haven' made up my mind completely on Munich tours yet, I am only there three full days.