munich, prague, krakow, and berlin

I am going to travel to these 4 cities in the fall. While I have accomodations already, I still need help on tours and day trips. I would welcome any recommendations.

I recommend Fat Tire bike tours in Berlin. The city is pretty flat and an easy ride. I also enjoyed a stop at KaDaWe, the big department store and the Charlottensburg Palace.

If you're in any of the cities from Late Oct on, the Christmas markets with mulled wine are fun.

Cheers

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Well, Prague Palace, and in/near Krakow, a day trip out to Auschwitz, the World Heritage site of Cesky Krumlov- (drink some awesome beers), the czech salt mines at Wieliczka. Here's an outfit that will bundle the tours. http://www.withouthorizons.com/poland/the-wieliczka-salt-mine-auschwitz-and-prague-in-a-day/ We were there in the '90's just after the wall came down. My memories of Munich are 50+ years old, so you're on your own, and in Berlin, last time I was there, there was this wall through the middle of town. They do some great classical concerts in Prague- much like Vienna but cheaper. My DW, a horn player, bought an old Post Horn in an antique store there. There are some enjoyable river dinner cruises on the Vltava river that flows through Prague. Not much remains of the old Soviet days except the Metro, which is a great one.

Enjoy!

Jim

x3 skier said:

I recommend Fat Tire bike tours in Berlin. The city is pretty flat and an easy ride. I also enjoyed a stop at KaDaWe, the big department store and the Charlottensburg Palace.

If you're in any of the cities from Late Oct on, the Christmas markets with mulled wine are fun.

Cheers

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I disagree with KDW. Why go to a country with so much to offer only to spend your time in an overpriced department store?

Spent an early Fall morning just wandering around Old Towne in Krakow taking pictures of all the church spirals .. early the better .. as few of people as possible. I had them blown up and hung 7 of them on my bedroom walls.

When friends where going there several years ago ... I insisted that they actually STAY in Krakow instead of doing a 1 day (no night) run thru to Auschwitz .. stayed 3 nights. Claimed it was the most favorite city & fun time for the trio (2 50+yo sons with their elderly father) 3 week Fall tour of Eastern Europe. Love the Jazz club scene in the basements around the Square. This was just a Father & sons trip ... money not limited (they were going to charter a plane in & out of Krakow) ... told my friend, how much I loved the city and how enjoyable my 3 days were there. I know I told them about the Salt Mine tour ... don't know if they did it or not ... would recommend that also (but not in the summer . too crowded).

Pompey Family said:

I disagree with KDW. Why go to a country with so much to offer only to spend your time in an overpriced department store?

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It sounds like you've not been to KaDeWe. When I'm in Berlin, I make a point of visiting the top floor to see the thousands of varieties of cheese (!) and enjoy lunch at one of the many kiosks where they prepare fresh food. This is not your normal department store. It's more similar to Harrods in London than any I know of in the States. It doesn't need to be a long visit, is in close proximity to other sites along the Ku'Damm, and very very close to an U-Bahn station (Wittenburgplatz).


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Ken555 said:

It sounds like you've not been to KaDeWe. When I'm in Berlin, I make a point of visiting the top floor to see the thousands of varieties of cheese (!) and enjoy lunch at one of the many kiosks where they prepare fresh food. This is not your normal department store. It's more similar to Harrods in London than any I know of in the States. It doesn't need to be a long visit, is in close proximity to other sites along the Ku'Damm, and very very close to an U-Bahn station (Wittenburgplatz).


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I've been there, it's an overpriced department store, nothing more, nothing less. I feel the same about Harrods, why go to London with all that it has to offer and visit a department store!

If you're happy to spend an hour or two being jostled about trying to get a glimpse at hundreds of different cheeses, hams, sausages etc and then sit down and eat an expensive meal whilst people constantly squeeze past and knock into you then fine, personally I prefer a more enjoyable eating experience.

Pompey Family said:

I disagree with KDW. Why go to a country with so much to offer only to spend your time in an overpriced department store?

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Never bought anything there (or Horrid's) but I like to see what's on offer a flagship stores in major cities for ideas on what I might get on-line at a more reasonable price.

Cheers

When we travel, we enjoy going into the marketplaces where local people actually shop. Now HUGE, department stores have no real attraction. Seen one, you've pretty much seen 'em all. They're a nice break from seemingly endless museums, cathedrals, theatres, palaces, and throngs of tourists with selfie sticks.

Passepartout said:

When we travel, we enjoy going into the marketplaces where local people actually shop. Now HUGE, department stores have no real attraction. Seen one, you've pretty much seen 'em all. They're a nice break from seemingly endless museums, cathedrals, theatres, palaces, and throngs of tourists with selfie sticks.

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You'd enjoy the Christmas markets if there're open when you're there.

Cheers

Pompey Family said:

I've been there, it's an overpriced department store, nothing more, nothing less. I feel the same about Harrods, why go to London with all that it has to offer and visit a department store!



If you're happy to spend an hour or two being jostled about trying to get a glimpse at hundreds of different cheeses, hams, sausages etc and then sit down and eat an expensive meal whilst people constantly squeeze past and knock into you then fine, personally I prefer a more enjoyable eating experience.

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Perhaps you misunderstand. I never said this should be the reason to visit a city but if you're there, and it's close, and you have already experienced good food and other sites, then why not see what you can't see at home? The top level at KaDeWe is, to me, worth a quick stop. I say the same about Harrods for those who haven't been. Of course this isn't for everyone, and it's got absolutely nothing to do about the historical culture, which seems to be a prime reason to visit a European city, of Berlin. FWIW, a visit to KaDeWe wouldn't even make my top 20 things to do in Berlin.

Related story: I was studying in Berlin in early 1990. I was walking thru the Zoo (in the west) with friends and three teenagers approached us and asked for directions to KaDeWe. It was obvious from their clothes that they were from East Berlin (which they confirmed, as I recall) and the only directions they wanted was to KaDeWe. The zoo was close to a main train station which they likely took from the east, went directly to the zoo, and then wanted to shop. It was a rather interesting time for many reasons, and the human factor couldn't be ignored. But in the end, KaDeWe is really just a department store.


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