Berlin/Dresden/Prague?

In a few weeks I%26#39;ll be flying to Berlin and plan to take the train to Prague for three or four days. This will be my first trip to this region, though I was in Bavaria quite a few years ago. I have a total of six nights at my disposal, not counting flight time and I am considering a stopover in Dresden.

Questions:

1.Should I consider another itinerary? 2.Would a detour to Weimar or Gorlitz,or some other smallish place(instead of spending 24 hours or so in Dresden) be preferable or would it complicate things too much?

3.Are train reservations essential or could I rely on seats usually being available at the last minute?

4. Would lodging in the Alexanderplatz area of Berlin be a good choice for a first time visitor to that city?

Any other advice?

(also posted at Fodor%26#39;s)

Thanks very much,

Runcible

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Runcible,

We took the 9:42 a.m. train from Berlin to Prague this past summer and there were lots of seats available, although not knowing that ahead of time we did make reservations because we wanted a guaranteed seat in first class so we could keep our luggage with us. The trains leave Berlin for Prague every two hours throughout the day. Alexanderplatz is a great area to base yourself in. Our hotel (the Lux 11) was about a three minute walk away from the Alexanderplatz station. There are tons of things to do in that area...lots of cafes, restaurants, galleries and shops, and you%26#39;ll also only be about a ten minute walk from Hackescher Hoff. Berlin is a fabulous city... we were there a full week and only scratched the surface. The Berlin public transportation system is so fantastic it really doesn%26#39;t matter where you stay...you can get from anywhere to anywhere very easily and quickly. As for Prague, you should be able to see most of the top sites in three full days because it%26#39;s much smaller than Berlin. Prague is fairy tale beautiful with amazing architecture. Can%26#39;t advise you about Dresden because we didn%26#39;t stop there. I%26#39;m sure you%26#39;ll enjoy both Berlin and Prague. Let us know how your trip goes.

Jo

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1. I have a hard time understanding people who travel to an interesting place they%26#39;ve never visited before (Berlin) with certainly much more to see there and nearby for over a month, and then want to spend a good share of their time traveling to far destinations to spend a little time there. I also want to see everything, but in Germany and lots of other places in Europe it is impossible. Germany has over 30,000 palaces and castles alone which would take you a lifetime to visit if that%26#39;s the only thing you do. On this short trip, why not spend your time seeing Berlin in an enjoyable fashion.

Some time in the future you could base yourself in an European city that is a hub for inexpensive flights around Europe and visit plenty of remote cities easily, and then you don%26#39;t have to wonder about stopping to see places along the way.

3. I would always have a train reservation because the cost is so cheap. I%26#39;ve been on train cars where I%26#39;ve been the only person, and others so packed with people that the aisles were filled with standing people. Trying to manuever through crowded aisles carrying luggage looking for a seat is no fun.

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Thanks for your kind responses, osumom 311 and marcopolko.

I agree with the point about leaving one interesting city for another but by the time I purchased my flight I found that I could fly into Berlin for little more that half of the cost of a direct flight to Prague, so I thought I may as well get a glimpse of Berlin as well.

runcible

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Assuming you are flying in and out of Berlin TXL on a SkyTeam member airline (e.g. Delta Air Lines, Continental Airlines, KLM, Air France, Alitalia etc.) you could check if Czech Airlines (CSA) offer a suitable connecting flight (Berlin TXL %26lt;%26gt; Prague) since they are a member airline also. Then call the airline you are flying in/out of Berlin with if they could check you through to your final destination (TXL is not the typical transfer hub plus you have two different tickets).

Lowest airfare for round trip ticket between Berlin and Prague starts at 103 EUR incl. tax if bought online with CSA. You then could fly into Berlin, stay a couple of days in Berlin, use first segment to fly Berlin to Prague. For your return journey use second segment of ticket and connect in Berlin for your final flight(s) home.

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P.S. I agree with the other reviewers that you should concentrate on Berlin and Prague. Stopping in Dresden (or even any of the other places you mentioned) would eat up too much of your valuable time in Europe. Minimum stay in Berlin should include at least three overnights to see the essential things (better would be four or five).

Alexanderplatz is a very good base because of its central location in the east of the city. It%26#39;s a transfer hub with very good connections to many sights, mainly to be found in the east (10-15 mins, some of them walkable), very good connected with Tegel and Schönefeld Airports. Big department store close by and night life (Oranienburger Strasse, Hackescher Markt) in walking distance, other places in e.g. Prenzlauer Berg borough (must for nightlife) within easy reach by public transport.

Train reservations are not essential but it%26#39;s cheap if bought from the ticket machines at the train station or online www.bahn.de (1,50 EUR).

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Thanks very much, Berlin 112. I%26#39;m considering your good advice and may have more questions soon. Now I think that I will spend 3 or 4 nights in Prague and 3 or 2 in Berlin. Perhaps I should have planned a longer stay, but this was a spur-of-the-moment thing.

runcible

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Hi,

3 nights in Berlin are perfectly fine. It%26#39;s enough time to see the most important things...and maybe you want to come back one day.

For a first-timer Alexanderplatz is a perfect area to stay. From there you reach almost every point of interest within a few minutes. Beside of that there are loads of restaurants and bars in proximity.

;-)

I%26#39;ve never been to Prague so I can%26#39;t help with that...

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There is a 5:40am train from Berlin to Prague. You can sleep for the first three hours and then wake up and marvel at the scenery once you%26#39;re near the Czech-German border.

I didn%26#39;t stop in Dresden on my trip to Berlin and Prague. A friend that went at the same time we did thought Dresden was the highlight of his trip.

If you take the 5:40 train book second class and don%26#39;t bother with reservations. You%26#39;ll be able to have a compartment al to yourself. On the ride back to Berlin you may consider a reservation. The afternoon train was pretty packed.

We spent 4 days in Berlin. Some people love it, Some people don%26#39;t. It all depends on what you%26#39;re looking for and what you expect.

Good luck and have a great trip.

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I%26#39;ll agree with the others ... it%26#39;s best to concentrate on Berlin and Prague. Dresden is definitely worth a visit but if you try to squeeze Dresden in as well than you will be doing more travelling than staying in one place.

Alexanderplatz is a good area to stay. You%26#39;ll be easily reach the sights but also will be able check out some areas for restaurants and bars.

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Thanks again for all the helpful information.

For Berlin do any of you have any opinions of the following hotels:

1. Park Inn Alexanderplatz

2. Savoy

3. Derag Hotel Grosser Kurfuerst

4. Courtyard Berlin City Center

5. Art%26#39;otel Berlin Mitte

runcible