Two Full weekdays in Berlin, what to do?

[johnnychips]

Thanks for your advice, which got me to a late night arrival by bus to my hotel with no problems.

I'm here now and wondered if you had any recommendations for a day out by DB. I was thinking about Magdeberg, Cottbus or Frankfurt an der Oder, or maybe Dresden though it's dear. Not particularly to watch trains, but just somewhere nice or interesting.

 

[30907]

Depends on tastes, but Magdeburg is probably the most interesting of those. Is it covered by a BB ticket though?
I've not been to Brandenburg, but that's a little nearer.

If you want something less urban and the weather is good enough, you could try the seasonal train to Rheinsberg with its Schloss, or on Tuesday you could head up to Pritzwalk and sample the Putlitz and Meyenburg branches, one with a Schienenbus and the other with a double deck 670 if you're lucky. Check timetable first though! Using bus Rheinsberg to Neuruppin you could probably do all 3 in a day for 20 some Euros.

See my earlier post re Potsdam etc.

 

[johnnychips]

Thanks. I've got an ABC ticket for the week so that should cover me to Potsdam at least.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

DRESDEN !

Apart from a well restored centre - there is an extensive tram network , 2 steam NG lines - paddle steamers on the Elbe.

 

[johnnychips]

DRESDEN !

Apart from a well restored centre - there is an extensive tram network , 2 steam NG lines - paddle steamers on the Elbe.

I think you've convinced me. The direct EC trains are €40 single and cheaper and quicker than ICE with a change, so it's not as expensive as I thought

Meanwhile, sat on my apartment balcony, drinking beer that tastes like bad dandelion and burdock, watching the trains go into Berlin Zoo - another bit of luck.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

I think you've convinced me. The direct EC trains are €40 single and cheaper and quicker than ICE with a change, so it's not as expensive as I thought

Meanwhile, sat on my apartment balcony, drinking beer that tastes like bad dandelion and burdock, watching the trains go into Berlin Zoo - another bit of luck.

Been to Dresden 4 times ! - first time in 1988 before the Wall came down - never had anything but a good time. Loads to see .....the tram system is excellent so buy a day pass - out to the Blue Wonder bridge - and to Redebeul is good - the trams have a snug section in the rear - a sort of semi-circular settee !

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

There's the Parkeisenbahn too, for a bit of fun... http://www.parkeisenbahn-dresden.de/index.php?snav1eng&index_eng
It has strong links with the Ravenglass and Eskdale.
But the rebuilt Frauenkirche takes your breath away among many restoration projects.
I first saw it as a pile of rubble, just as the RAF and USAF left it in 1945.

 

[davetheguard]

I think you've convinced me. The direct EC trains are €40 single and cheaper and quicker than ICE with a change, so it's not as expensive as I thought

Meanwhile, sat on my apartment balcony, drinking beer that tastes like bad dandelion and burdock, watching the trains go into Berlin Zoo - another bit of luck.

This is from the book "Good Beer Guide Germany", produced by Camra:

The local beer style/speciality unique to Berlin is Berliner Weisse: sour wheat beer with a low alcoholic content of around 3%.

When ordering you'll probably be asked "rot oder gruen" (red or green) as
most Berliners drink it with a dash of either raspberry syrup (red) or woodruff syrup (green) to mask the sourness. Ask for it "ohne Schuss" (without a dash) if you want to drink it in its natural state.

If you're used to something darker to drink look out for Dunkel (dark beer); Schwarzbier (black beer); or Altbier (literally "old" beer), originally only from the Dusseldorf area, but now more widely available.

 

[johnnychips]

Had a grand time in Berlin, thanks for all advice which really helped. Highlights were the train from Frankfurt an der Oder (a surprisingly nice place where you can walk across the river to Poland) to Eberswalde - single carriage train better than a 153, and Radebeul with its steam railway and DDR museum near Dresden.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

I too have just returned from my recent visit to Berlin (& Koln), it went well in spite of getting caught up in the recent DB rail strikes, however in Berlin the most of the U & S Bahn services did still have some trains running. I was delayed going out from STP to BER owing to the ICE from Bru to Koln being cancelled, although I don't think that was due to the strike, they put on a bus from Liege to Koln, when I travelled on a later ICE to Berlin.

In the City, I did many of of the main sights and followed suggestions on this thread. thank you for that. The technician museum was fascinating. I also did a three hour cruise along the river and canals which was a nice relaxing way to start my trip there, the day after my long & delayed out bound journey. It goes from the Charlottenburg Bridge. I had a good lunch on board too. There is a great model shop near the U-Bahn Station, however it was on the day I went, I was amazed how expensive the models were though. (I am trying to get 2 or 3 CIWL carriages, but where ever I look, these do seem very highly priced.)

Again, many thanks fo ryour suggestions and advice.