Hello! We are cruising the Baltic's and stop in Warnemunde. We'd love to see Berlin. I know it's a bit far and a lot for 1 day but we're up for it. Should we rent a car? Train? Please help with any thoughts/ideas. Thank you.
Sue
Posted by
Gangelt, Germany
101 posts
I recommend you take the train. It's 2-3 hrs by car IF there are no traffic jams (there are always traffic jams). Depending on what time you depart, it appears to be 3-4hr train ride. But, once in Berlin you don't have to worry about parking or getting back to your car at the end of the day. And, public transportation is great! We never drive in the city.
Berlin is huge and a great city to visit. I've been there about 8 times and see something new on every visit. Plan well and enjoy your day!
Posted by
Calgary
2297 posts
If you take a taxi from the cruise to Rostock train station a train can get to you Berlin in just under 3 hours. Still you're looking at a total of almost 6 hours in transportation alone! How much time do you have left to see Berlin to make sure you're not missing your cruise in the evening????? You can save an hour or a bit more if you rent a car - but that's risky if you end up in a traffic jam.
I'd suggest to explore some of the sites a bit closer to port. How about Wismar? It's a UNESCO World Heritage site:
http://www.germanplaces.com/germany/wismar.html
Unfortunatly, Rick Steves doesn't address much of East Germany but that doesn't mean there is nothing worthwhile to see. Take a look at some other guide books that cover more of this area and see if something of interest comes up for you.
Posted by
San Francisco, California, USA
446 posts
If you think you just have to see Berlin, probably your cruise offers a shore excursion. It might be more expensive than doing it on your own, but at least you won't have to worry about missing the boat.
I did a Baltic cruise that stopped at Warnemunde, and they did have a shore excursion to Berlin, but I ruled it out as too long a trip in one day to be worth it to me.