Berlin/Prague/Munich/London

[calf]

Anyone here been to these place? I'm going to be heading over in about 10 days for a two week stint. About 2 days in each of Berlin/Prague and Munich, then another 6 days in London.

I've already got tickets lined up to go to Oktoberfest when I'm in Munich.

I know a bunch of the hilights in London, but am curious about what people here consider their favorites and "must sees". Same with Berlin and Prague.

Cheers!

[StoneCole]

...see you at Oktoberfest (hahahahahahahaha)

[missdpuck]

All of Prague is incredible. I think it might still be the only place you can legally get genuine absinthe. Had some at Radost Cafe FX. Much of the film Amadeus was filmed in the area of town called Mala Strana. Definitely leave time to walk down Nerudova and hang out on the Charles Bridge. There was a bad flood since I was there but I think everything came through okay. If I remember anything specific I'll post it. definitely do a guided walking tour as there are lots of architectural elements and Socialist era art you might miss on your own. The subway system is or at least was a lot more attractive than any in the US,although I used to get lost in it. They also have trams and bus service. Of course check out the obvious tourist stuff like the Castle, Tyn Church and Kafka's house. If you're a fan of his you'll have a new appreciation of the term "Kafkaesque"..the place is a maze.

[Kjesse]

Berlin is a very cool city. Make sure to check out the remnants of the Berlin Wall near Checkpoint Charlie.

Its also one of the rare times I'd recommend you start with a bus tour. They have these huge double decker busses that will give you the tourist overview. I usually shun them but in the case of Berlin it was well worth it, you'll see everything from a macro perspective and then can choose where you'd like to spend a few more hours.

There's so much history to Berlin, it was really neat to see.

As for Munich, well, you're going at the right time of year and have the tickets to the best event in town. But also check out the Hofbrauhaus, a famous beer hall. Here's a review:

"Don't try and pretend that you've never heard of the Hofbräuhaus. Anyone who has even heard the word Munich once in their lives has heard of this pub. Though quite possibly for all the wrong reasons. At least they've removed the Hitler plaque.

Obviously, it's massive with rooms of varying degrees of hugeness. We see the wood, tiles and lasses in dirndls laden with litre glasses that is standard in Munich beerhalls. There's nothing wrong with that. It's the busloads of Japanese tourists gazing bemusedly at the half pigs lying on their plates that make the experience bizarre and slightly disturbing. A lot less interesting than it sounds, but a lot less dreadful than you might expect, as long as you avoid the umpah music. This said, if you find youself on Platzl, I still recommend drinking in Ayingers Speis und Trank."

[getbak]

Went there last year and loved all of them.

London was probably lowest on my list because it's so expensive and was pretty gloomy when I was there. I did a day trip from London to Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, and Bath which was really good. Westminster Abbey is pretty amazing just because it's the final resting place of virtually every significant British person of the last 1000 years. Seeing Newton and Darwin's tombs positioned on either side of the main altar made me laugh in light of the whole Science vs Religion debate.

Oktoberfest will probably occupy most of your time in Munich, but if the weather's nice, go for a stroll or rent a bike and go through the English Gardens. It's a huge inner-city park (I think it's bigger than Central Park in New York, but I could be wrong on that), and there's even a beer garden in it (so you don't have to get too far away from the Munich experience).

Prague is a gorgeous city (full of gorgeous women, if you're into that sort of thing). Cheap beer and no such thing as last call (if you're into that sort of thing). The cabbies can be pretty shady, so make sure you have some idea how much it should cost to get from place to place and make sure you ask the cabbie how much it'll cost before you close the door, and if his number is too high (whether he has a meter or not), get out of the cab. It's one of the few cities that was primarily unscathed during the wars, so a lot of the amazing gothic architecture has survived.

Berlin is incredible. So much of the history of the 20th Century happened in Berlin, everything from the Nazis burning books at the University and Hitler's marches through the streets, to being split up after the war, to eventually being divided by the Wall during the Cold War, to finally being reunited to become one of the most vibrant cities in Europe today. The Reichstag has been rebuilt and is once again the home of the German parliament. It's free to visit and climb to the top of the glass dome. There are quite a few WWII memorials around the city. The Holocaust Memorial is close to Brandenburg Gate and is quite powerful. The East Side Gallery is a small stretch of the Berlin Wall that was preserved and mural artists from around the world were invited to contribute to the display. There's a Berlin Wall museum beside where Checkpoint Charlie used to be (a small booth still marks the spot where WWIII almost started a couple of times). Potsdamer Platz is the big new commercial section, where some large corporations have built their world (Dailmer) and European (Sony) headquarters.

Be sure to go to the Starbucks at Brandenburg Gate and think about the fact that 20 years ago you would have been shot on sight for standing in the same spot where you just bought your Frapuccino. Go capitalism!


If you think there are a lot of construction cranes in downtown Calgary, wait until you get to London and Berlin. Calgary looks positively stagnant compared to those two cities.

[missdpuck]

Yes about the women in Prague! I'm a completely heterosexual female but I couldn't get over how beautiful the women there are. And yes also about the cabbies. I forgot about that. And for some reason the best ice cream and yogurt I've ever had was there. Can't figure that one out.

[Bagor]

When in Munich try and make time for a visit to Dachau. A short train journey if I recall rightly.

A very sobering (no pun intended) experience.

[C-Four]

This company: http://www.neweuropetours.eu/ offers free walking tours in many of those European cities. I only had 1-2 days in each city when I was over there and they definitely cover most of what there is to see in the cities. All the tour guides I was with were young 20's too, all very enthusiastic and full of energy. I'd highly recommend these...the pub crawls that they put on are fun too if thats your thing.

[ricosuave]

sounds like a great trip, and lots of great advice here for when I get to go in a couple of years!

[BlackEleven]

I've been to all four. There's some great advice above. Those free walking tours are really great (Prague especially). I would consider Dachu, as mentioned, to be a must see when you're in Munich. Very emotional experience. The Charles bridge and old town in Prague is definitely worth seeing. As is Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin.

[icarus]

PM sent.

[simmer2]

See you at Oktoberfest as well!

[Eric Vail]

I am going to repeat some of what was said, but I think if you hear it over and over, you'll get the idea that you can't miss it.

London: take in some theatre and be sure to get your tickets at the half price ticket booth. Go to the museums as they are impressive and free.

Munich: Dachau is a must. If you want to learn a bit about concentration camps before or after visiting, I recommend reading Viktor Frankl's, Man's Search For Meaning - it is the best book I ever read. I visited the BMW plant in Munich and thought it was fun.

Berlin. I have been there three times and think it is a great city. Take a bike tour. You'll get around faster than a walking tour and be able to see more, but you still will able to see the sites from the street and not out of a bus window. The history is amazing and you need someone to explain it to you or you'll miss most of it. My favourite museum in all of Europe is the Checkpoint Charlie museum. They detail many ways that people escaped from East Berlin into the west. They also spend considerable time talking about non-violent resistence and give many examples that went on during the cold war.

Prague - never been there, but would like to.

[icarus]

Wow, if I count you guys I know like 8 people who will be at Oktoberfest this year (including my girlfriend). I am so jealous. Anyone who changes their mind is welcome to take my place in Sydney and I'll go to Munich instead.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by icarus

Wow, if I count you guys I know like 8 people who will be at Oktoberfest this year (including my girlfriend). I am so jealous. Anyone who changes their mind is welcome to take my place in Sydney and I'll go to Munich instead.

Kinda funny how it's a big world and a small world at the same time. I know a few people going to Oktoberfest as well.

[getbak]

As has been said, Dachau is a sombre experience. I had a lump in my throat the whole time I was there. The most amazing thing to me was how quiet it was, there weren't even birds chirping. The term deathly silent seems appropriate.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by getbak

As has been said, Dachau is a sombre experience. I had a lump in my throat the whole time I was there. The most amazing thing to me was how quiet it was, there weren't even birds chirping. The term deathly silent seems appropriate.

Funny you should say that. A buddy of mine visited Aushwitz a few years ago and said the same thing. I've long believed that animals have a different kind of 'awareness'. Stories like this re-enforce that belief.

As for the question in the OP, I can only give tips on London. Here goes: bring money.

[Knut]

Prague:

Take the tour out to Kutna hora.... It is a real interesting small town, with the famous Bone Ossuary (look it up). Definitley worth the cheap ticket.

The Karlovy __?_ bar is amazing.... 5 levels, each one with a different type of music and people from all over the world there. Plus it is open until 6 am. You can get Absinthe and Red bull if you want.... one thing i will never combine again. it is right by the castle bridge.

One tip for Oktoberfest.... go early. if you want to get into the big tents you have to get there before 10 am. AFter that there is a huge lineup. You can still drink in outdoor beer gardens at any time. But if you want the real experience go early and drink lots. Hackner- Pschorr tent is my recommendation. All the locals tell me that it is the youngest tent and the craziest and i had a great time from 9 am until 9 pm (at which point i was 8L deep and had to go home). Oh and the white powder people are snorting is not cocaine.. it is mint powder that wakes you up in a hurry if you are starting to wane.

[tete]

Originally Posted by Hesla

Prague:

Take the tour out to Kutna hora.... It is a real interesting small town, with the famous Bone Ossuary (look it up). Definitley worth the cheap ticket.

For sure. The Ossuary is technically in a town called Sedlec, almost like a suburb of Kutna Hora. My friend and I spent the day out there, it was a neat town that basically stopped growing when the silver ran out in the mines in the 1800's. So there's a ton of neat architecture there, plus you can do a tour of the silver mines.

Here's a pic from the ossuary:

[The Ditch]

I've been to Munich multiple times it is a really neat place and is quite different from where I was living at the time (Stuttgart). Next time I go, I am definitely going back to the Deutsches museum http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deutsches_Museum. Being an engineer I spent hours there.

I've been to Dachau and it was quite depressing but a good history lesson.