Hello, everyone I have a block of time from 8/3-4 to 8/12 for part of my Germany trip, and here's what I'm thinking: Berlin (4 days)Museums, Potsdam, city walking tour, cruise Dresden (3 days)Museums, city walking tour, cruise east on Elbe to Rathen through Swiss Saxony, maybe day trip to Meissen Weimar (2 days)Museums, maybe trip to Erfurt Fly out of Frankfurt (I have a 1PM flight, and am considering a train that morning from Weimar, but could also go in the evening to stay overnight in Frankfurt). RS gives 2 days for Berlin in his book, but I really like museums (in case you couldn't tell), and the art available in this part of Germany is blowing my mind. I do like to be outside, though, too, so I'm looking at bike/walking tours and cruises in these areas. I'd welcome any comments or suggestions on my general itinerary or your favorite places to see in these cities or nearby. Thanks,
Lexey
Posted by
Breckenridge, CO
239 posts
Lexey, We spent 3 days in Berlin without any museums or even making it over to the old West Berlin and loved it!! There is so much to do and see and just enjoy the cafes and history. Go to the top of the Reichtag, boat cruise is a wonderful few hours, Checkpoint Charlie, Many squares around the city and I'm sure a bike tour would be great. You will wish you had longer! Even my 10 year old is dying to go back :-))
Posted by
San Francisco
14980 posts
Hi, I really suggest that you use the Rough Guide Germany in planning what to see in this part of Germany. Your itinerary is good. I did a day trip to Meissen last summer, not enough time but it served as an introduction for return visit later on. You can catch the tours of Potsdam across the street from Potsdam Hbf. or book on at the Tourist Office in Potsdam Hbf. Ask there if cruises on the Havel are done. After the morning tour do a walking tour on you own in Potsdam. Especially this year is one of historical significance for Potsdam. It's one of my favourite small towns in Germany, where I'll be back at the end of June. Weimar is definitely worth a two day visit if you're interested in the major figures in German lit., see the houses/museums of Goethe, which you can see in Frankfurt, not that far from Frankfurt Hbf., Schiller, Wieland, etc. in Weimar. I found Weimar fascinating, it didn't experience very much war damage. Depending on your time, you could do Weimar as a day trip from Dresden, but staying in Weimar for two nights is better.
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
Getting to and from Potsdam and seeing most of Sanssouci park takes the better part of day, so make sure on your sight-seeing priorties, you budget an entire day for this. 4 days total for Berlin should give you an adequate amount of time.
Posted by
OP
Hays
104 posts
Thanks for the advice, everyone, and the positive feedback on my timing. I'll check out the Rough Guide for suggestions, and I did plan a full day for Potsdam, so I'm glad to hear there is more there than Sanssouci. Thanks for the tips on tours from the Potsdam Hbf; I'll check out their city website too. I figured I'd stay in Weimar rather than doing a day trip from Dresden because I'm flying out of Frankfurt and so heading west anyway. Also, I teach literature, so I'm quite excited to see Goethe sites in particular, including some of the places mentioned in Faust! Not to mention the museums... And isn't that always the problem: not enough days! As it is, this is part of a German odyssey from July 1 to August 12 :-). (I'm teaching a class sort of in the middle of that, which is why I have blocks of time, instead of one 6-week stretch to travel). Any other recommendations in this area?
Posted by
Sydney
275 posts
You will be interested to know that the Rathaus in Erfurt has murals depicting Faust. The city of Erfurt is a nice place and well worth a day trip.
Posted by
San Francisco
14980 posts
Hi, Yes, Potsdam is not just Sans Souci but also Neues Palais, which is included in the tours. Afterwards, try to get back to it using the tram way in front of the Hbf. There's also the Military History Research Center in Potsdam. "What else in the area?" If you extend another day to Berlin, do a day trip to Lutherstadt Wittenberg, not very far from Berlin, very doable, on the way to Leipzig.
Posted by
Breckenridge, CO
239 posts
We also did a detour between Dresden and Berlin to Gorlitz (right on Poland's border and you can walk across). It's in RS book. One of our favorite little German towns! Did see many tourists at all, which made it really special. Interesting history how the town was divided after the war, beautiful architecture, friendly people, cheap accomodations, etc. It's about a 2 hr drive from both Dresden and Berlin if I remember.
Posted by
Calgary
2297 posts
If you are interested in places connected to Goethe then a stop in Leipzig would be interesting as well. It's half way between Berlin and Dresden. Scenes of Faust were written in the "Auberbachs Keller". Leipzig also used to be a major publishing centre for German literature. Not so much anymore but it still holds one of the biggest book fairs every spring which has become the biggest festival in Europe geared to the reading public. And Leipzig is just a great city to visit for any reason ;-) http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/helpline/index.cfm/rurl/topic/80632/should-i-go-to-bachfest-leipzig.html