Discovering Eastern Germany

We visited Eastern Germany last two weeks of September. Rick Steves’ guide book on Germany, woefully inadequate for this area, was supplemented with Lonely Planet to plan an itinerary. Using Airbnb.com and booking.com stayed at centrally located pensions and small hotels.
Berlin: 3 nights
Stay in the city center, the “Mitte”, for easy walking access to most sites.
Listen to RS walking tour (available on the Rick Steves app) from the Reichstag to Alexander Platz.
Make an online reservation to visit the Reichstag.
Take a RS recommended boat tour on the Spree River.
Visit the East Side Gallery of the Berlin Wall.
Visit the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe.
See the Brandenburg Gate after dark.
Buy a Berlin Welcome Card if you expect to use a lot of public transportation and take advantage of some discounts.
Endless museum opportunities if desired.
Bautzen: 2 nights
Leave Berlin early to stop at Lübbenau, have a nice lunch (including assorted local pickles and mustard at the Biergarten am Spreeschlosschen). Consider taking one of the local boat tours or walk to Lehde.
Bautzen is a beautiful small city worth exploring.
We stayed in one of the medieval towers in a lovely Airbnb (or book direct): Mühlbastei Turmzimmer
Use the Bautzen city map to follow a walking tour around town.
Visit Bautzen II, a former Stasi prison.
From Bautzen make a day visit to the divided town of Görlitz/Zgorzelec. An inexpensive booklet at the TI has a self-guided walking tour around town.
Meiβen: 1 night
After an early departure on the way to Meiβen visit Festung Königstein, a huge impregnable fortress. English audio guide.
Arrive mid-day in Dresden and visit the Zwinger and Historic Green Vault and the recently reconstructed Frauenkirche. Obtain Historic Green Vault tickets online in advance.
If you want to visit one or more of the Zwinger museums, you might want to overnight in Dresden for a couple nights.
Overnighting in Meiβen allows for an early visit to the Meiβen Porzellan Manfaktur for an excellent demonstration (English audio) of porcelain making followed by a large museum display of Meiβen porcelain.
Erfurt: 2 nights
On the way to Erfurt stop by Colditz Castle. Visit the museum (as we did) or consider taking a more in depth tour (consider advance arrangements).
Take a relaxing day to explore Erfurt on foot using the RS Germany book walking tour and just wander.
Quedlinburg: 1 night
Early arrival at Wartburg Castle (English audio guide).
Explore cutsy half-timbered Quedlinburg on foot on the day of arrival and more the next day before driving to Wörlitz. Don’t miss the Stiftskirche St. Servatius in Quedlinburg.
Wörlitz: 2 nights
In Wörlitz use the Wörlitz Park tourist map to walk around the park and visit the follies. Take the boat tour starting near Schloss Wörlitz.
Visit the Bauhaus Museum in Dessau.
Potsdam: 1 night
On the way to Potsdam stop in Wittenberg. In Wittenberg walk from one end of the historic town to the other, visiting the Schlosskirche, the Stadtkirche St. Marien and the Luther House (English audio guide).
In Potsdam consider splurging a little and staying in the family run Villa Monte Vino for a close 10 minute walk access to Sanssouci Palace and a phenomenal hotel buffet breakfast.
Walk to Sanssouci well before opening time to have the vast park all to yourselves along with local joggers. Reserve entry time to Sanssouci Palace online well in advance. Walking from Sanssouci to the Neues Palais (combo ticket) is also recommended. English audio guides included. Take all the time you can to explore this vast park even it means an extra day.
Berlin: 1 night
Late afternoon or evening arrival in Berlin mostly for easy access to Tegel Airport for flight out the next day. Consider staying in the Mercure Hotel MOA with easy access to TXL by bus or taxi and a huge Asian buffet restaurant.