All,
I will be in Berlin for January and February 09 for 6 weeks. I will have a German rail pass and am planning to do some day trips out of Berlin and within Germany.
I have visited the on-line tourist information sites for several cities.
What I would now appreciate is the views of those German/Berlin experts on the merits of visiting the below places in the middle of winter and as day trips outside of Berlin.
Are they worth visiting in winter, which priority would you have on visiting them, what are your top 3?
I have excluded Potsdam from te below list but I will of course be making that a must see whilst in Berlin.
1. Dresden
2. Hamburg
3. Lubeck
4. Weimar
5. Quedlinburg
6. Eisenach
7. Leipzig
Many thanks in anticipation
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Dresden is first, no doubt here. Leipzig is also worth visiting, also in winter. For a third option, I have no opinion, it really depends on your interest as all of these cities are very interesting and none is inappropriate for a winter visit (Potsdam is).
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Hello Cravies,
I have visited Dresden, Luebeck, Weimar and Quedlinburg although only the last two in mid-winter. All of them should provide plenty of sights for a day trip whilst some like Hamburg and Dresden would keep you going for a week.
In Quedlinburg the main place of interest is the cathedral (Dom) and its museum which together can be enjoyed in about 90 minutes, the rest of the time is best spent wandering around the town%26#39;s old streets which are lined with hundreds of half-timbered houses and enjoying a long lunch in one of the towns traditional restauants - the restaurant next to the Schloss is good or the Theophano in the Market Place is recommended although a bit pricey.
If you are staying in Quedlinburg then don%26#39;t miss visiting Halberstadt which has a very interesting cathedral and abbey and is a short train journey away.
Luebeck is a lovely old Hanseatic city with wonderful red brick churches and streets of old merchants houses. It was quite badly damaged in the war and has been rebuilt with rather mixed results but don%26#39;t let that put you off as there is still a lot of the old original city to see. If you like Luebeck you might also like Luneburg which was undamaged in the war.
Weimar is a German cultural icon and although charming enough some of its attractions come from associations which mean more to Germans and lovers of German literature. Otherwise it is a small court-town with pleasant environs. Although not as well known the nearby city of Erfurt is exceptionally attractive and interesting and might be more sustaining to the non-German visitor in mid-winter. It was hardly damaged at all in the war and has a host of interesting houses and buildings including an ancient bridge lined with shops and one of Germany%26#39;s finest cathedrals. Eisenach is closeby.
In a way I would not recommend Dresden for a day trip as it deserves at least three days to a week and if you are spending a day it is probably better to go to the smaller places such as nearby Meissen.
Another place which is within a stone%26#39;s throw of Berlin is Goerlitz which is one of Germany%26#39;s best preserved old towns and not well known outside Germany.
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yes, Goerlitz is really beautiful but it%26#39;s a bit further than a stone%26#39;s throw from Berlin. Meissen is also very attractive.
Hamburg has loads to see, really needs more than a day.
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Another vote for Quedlinburg...we spent a weekend there after our 9 days in Berlin last winter and LOVED it. Authentic, untouristed and just lovely.
You probably would want to stay overnight there, though, as it%26#39;s a bit much for a daytrip. We stayed at the Gaestehaus Toepke (I reviewed it on Tripadvisor), which was excellent.
You may also want to visit Sachsenhausen, the concentration camp just outside of Berlin. You can easily get there by S-bahn. Definitely worth an afternoon or full day.
Gute Reise!
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any suggestions for companies that organize day trips to Dresden in two weeks? or is this an easy to vist place on ones own from Berlin?
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I think that Insider Tours do a day trip to Dresden, but I don%26#39;t know how much notice they need. Look on their website: www.insidertours.com
I know they go to Potsdam and to Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp.
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Hi,
how about going up to the coast for a weekend? You could stay in Stralsund www.stralsundtourismus.de/index.php?id=3%26L=en which will make a change from the pace of Berlin, being a much smaller town. It is UNESCO heritage protected and there is plenty to do to keep you busy such as the new aquarium (http://www.ozeaneum.de/) which will show exhibits and fish from the baltic sea and North Sea. Very fascinating and it only opened last summer. Also, for more fish ;o), visit the the Oceanographic Museum which is the largest museum of natural science in North Germany. It is located in an early Gothic monastery, an architectural gem. www.meeresmuseum.de/english/content/index.htm
Stralsund is really pretty with old hanseatic houses, a harbour and good connections to the islands of Ruegen (by road) and Hiddensee (2 hour ferry, day trips are offered).
There are plenty of restaurants, walks, shopping and sights to keep you occupied and it will make a nice change from big city living. The baltic coast is absolutely stunning and perfect for walks in the winter. It is famous for its historic piers and pretty little villages.
In Stralsund you could stay at the Dorint hotel which is connected to the Hansedom, a subtropical swimming pool with a morrocan themed sauna / steam room area. It is fantastic relaxation at very good value (16 Euros for 4 hours swimming and using the 15 different saunas and steam rooms). A very Germany experience ;o)
If you want any more info, please let me know, happy to expand.
G
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I%26#39;m also planning a trip to HanseDom and I would like some more info regarding this subject.
I%26#39;ve visited their site (http://www.hansedom.de) and I was particulary interesed in their swimming pools, thermal baths and saunas.
Thanks,
Tudor
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Hi,
don%26#39;t go to the Hanse Dom for the swimming pools alone, you would be disappointed. They are nice and it is all nicely done as part of a tropical landscape but there aren%26#39;t that many and they aren%26#39;t that big.
But the saunas and steam rooms are just great. I am not sure how many there are but from memory I would say at least 6 or 7 different saunas inside, a hot room, a special room for rasul treatments and a few steam rooms. Also, different kinds of showers. All nicely laid out as part of a Maroccan town. There is a little Cafe area for food and drinks.
Outside you have at least 3 or 4 more saunas, a pool, and another few hot rooms for other treatments. And a fantastic view over the city.
It is well worth it. I hope you are aware that in German saunas you will not be allowed to wear any swimwear for hygiene reasons. So you might want to bring towels or a robe.
Entrance to the sauna, which includes entrance to the pool area is about 16.50 Euro for 4 hours and just one Euro more for the whole day. You will need at least 4 hours to try just half of what is on offer. The treatments are great too and there are soem which can be booked on the day.
Any other questions, just let me know,
G
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