Berlin in May I'll have 2 nights & almost 2 days before I meet the group on Monday for 4-5pm. On RS tour we have free time two mid-afternoons with two evenings. I visited Berlin in 2011. With this tour I'll have seen and done quite a lot here. Also, I'll have been traveling for 7 days when I want a laundry drop on Tuesday. This is what I'm thinking based on my reservation at the Bundestag, and waiting to get my Museum Pass from the tour guide Monday/Tuesday. Everything I am planning is FREE. Saturday: Pre Tour Arrival is early afternoon: -Hotel & Check-In: Prenzlauer Berg neighborhood. -Use public transportation to go and walk the East Side Gallery -Make way back to hotel area, buy water, unpack -Light meal around hotel area Sunday: - Catholic mass at Church of Sacred Heart (1030am) - Documentation Center & Rooftop Gallery (closed Monday) - Bundestag reservation confirmed for 5pm Monday -Topography of Terror -Meet the group at hotel Tuesday -Free time: Jewish Museum with pass -Drop off laundry Wednesday
-Free time: Pergamon Museum with pass -Not taking River cruise, already did this/Pick up laundry Any suggestions or tips about this plan? I think the RS tour goes to the Topography of Terror but assume our time is limited there as we are on a walking tour. I've never been there.
Posted by
OP
Westford, MA, USA
567 posts
It is RS 12 day Berlin, Prague, and Vienna. I loved Berlin & the other two places I've never visited. I'm touching on the places I didn't see on my first visit. My overseas travel starts in London(first visit)with 3N;
Fly to Berlin for 2N before tour starts. People say they easily spend 2 hrs at the Topography so if the tour doesn't spend much time there I'd like to check it out some.
Posted by
Frankfurt, Germany
9220 posts
Since you have been there before and your tour is going to cover certain sites, I think I would choose some kind of themed Berlin walking tour. Cold War, 3rd Reich, Jewish Experience, Berlin Underground, Graffiti, etc. Have you been to the top of the Berliner Dom? What about the TV Tower, or the Sony Center. Have a look over on the Berlin section of Trip Advisor where it lists dozens and dozens of attractions and tours. See what interests you the most. Do you want to visit a Stasi prison, go to the Deutsche Museum (I spent 6 hours here one day!), or take a day trip to Potsdam, or the Spree Wald? Does your tour go to Sachsenhausen or Ravensbruck? If not, I would go see those. They are not even mentioned in the RS Germany book, except to say some of the tour companies in Berlin go there.
Posted by
OP
Westford, MA, USA
567 posts
I'm looking to do things NOT covered on the tour & which I've not experienced before. Like the Topography. I don't know how much it's covered on the tour & I want to go there. The musuems I listed are ones I never visited. I'm trying to to be budget concious so I'm looking at what is FREE. Jo, I like your ideas. The tour is going to Dresden after Berlin. I have (1) full day on Sunday. The Bundestag confirmed my reservation for that day so if I leave the city I need to back for 430p to check in for that. Regards to walking tours & looking at RS Berlin-Prague-VIenna tour, is there a walking tour you's suggest that wouldn't br repetitious theme wise?
The tour emphasis is Jewish history. I guess if I knew how much in depth the (2) walking tours are for the RS part, I could make an informed decision. I'll email them for clarification.
Posted by
Calgary
2297 posts
Diane, just give RS's office a call and ask for more detailed information about the Berlin part of the tour, especially about the length of time spent at particular sites. That will help you to make a more informed decision about what to do on your own.