MichTraveler

I am traveling with my 16 year old son (mom/son trip) and we just arrived in Berlin today for the last leg of our Germany trip (at least until next time). Since rain and thunderstorms is in our future most of this week, I am trying to figure how to handle this week.
Although it was going to be a lot of travel time on trains, we were planning day trips to:
Dresden
Leipzig
Potsdam
and the free New Berlin Tours (the 3 1/2 hour one).
We also have one free day to explore - any ideas?

Not that rain is going to stop me from sightseeing (we have had rain almost everyday since arriving in Germany), I want to just make sure it will still be worth our while to visit these areas even with the rain. Does anyone have any suggestions or recommendations? Originally we were going to stop over in Dresden for a night but because of the "fun" we have been having transporting our luggage (and finding out that some stations don't have any escalators or elevators that we could find), we decided to just keep Berlin as a base station for the last few days of our trip.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Michael

I think that you will feel rushed by going to Dresden for a day trip. I would reconsider staying overnight in Dresden. But if the weather is really bad, a day trip might suffice to see the Green Vault and the armory in the Zwinger.

To whet your appetite:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...7623230920764/

treplow

Obviously, Potsdam is the easiest one. You can go there by train or S-Bahn on a BVV card that covers regions ABC. There, I took a tour that you either can buy in the tourist information office on the main concourse of the Potsdam station, or - it wasn't raining - right outside of the station. It was well worth it.

Dresden is also worth a trip, although a day trip from Berlin doesn't give you muich time there. The old part of the city is very compact. Dpending on how much time you give yourself in Dresden, a bus ride to the Koenigstein castle would probably be fun for your son. There are also opportunities to go by boat and return to Dresden by train, but these outings take more time.

To my chagrin, I have not been to Leipzig. But everyone who has been there loved it.

As for touring Berlin: I took the 4 hour sightseeing boat trip, and on the next day the roundtrip from Alexcanderplatz on BUs 100 to the Gedaechtniskirche and return on Bus 200 to the Alex. The bus tours can be done on BVG Region AB tickets.

danon

Would you and a 16 old be interested in seeing a reconstructed church and opera house, some stunning jewelry and art effects, a large collection of painting by the old master ?
if the answer is : yes..then Dresden is for you.

danon

masters

annhig

Obviously, Potsdam is the easiest one. You can go there by train or S-Bahn on a BVV card that covers regions ABC. There, I took a tour that you either can buy in the tourist information office on the main concourse of the Potsdam station, or - it wasn't raining - right outside of the station. It was well worth it.>>

just resurrecting this thread for a trip we are taking in late September which will give us a night and just over half a day in Potsdam.

Treplow- can you buy tickets for this tour in advance,o or just on the day? do you know what they call it? the website shows tours one and and two, but the other details are a bit hazy. also, do you HAVE to take a tour or can you just buy a ticket and go in?

thanks for any help you can give,

ann

Kyliebaby3

Annhig: How did you like Potsdam? A friend and I will be in Berlin in just over a week. She has never been to Berlin before, however, I have. I was thinking a visit to Potsdam might be nice for both of us since it's so close. Curious what you thought!

annhig

Kylie - we loved it. if you can, do an overnight - this time of year the day length will mean that you are really pushed to see it all on a day. otherwise get a nice early start.

we were warned that it was really difficult to get tickets for the Sanssouci palace, because they are timed and they only let a few people in every 10 minutes or so, but we bought ours at 10.35 for the 10.45. slot.

DO buy the ticket that lets you into all the palaces - we thought that we wouldn't have time to see them all but in fact we did and were too mean to pay again! it's only an extra €5 and well worth it.

if at all possible go on a dry day - one of the main attractions is the garden at the front of the sanssouci which would be better in the dry.

BTW, if you click on my screen name you can read my TR about where we stayed and ate, etc.

have a great time in Berlin!

bilboburgler

no worries
sans soucci

FoFoBT

danon: "Would you and a 16 old be interested in seeing a reconstructed church and opera house, some stunning jewelry and art effects, a large collection of painting by the old master ? if the answer is : yes..then Dresden is for you."

He might also be interested in trying his hand at steering container ships along the Rhine through state of the art simulators at the transport museum (located on the same square as that reconstructed church) or in watching cars being made during a tour of VW's "transparent" factory.

Kyliebaby3

Thanks Annhig! Appreciate your insight Doubt we'd do an overnight, but it sounds promising to pop out there even for just the day.