Budapest, Berlin...or both?

Wife and I not sun worshippers, like city breaks. Last year our holiday was 4 days in Prague, 4 days in Vienna. Thinking of doing another 2 city break, maybe early January and have not been to Berlin or Budapest. Any suggestions? And what would be good as the second city in either case, or is both of them a realistic option - prob travel by train?

Thanks.

munchkin_utd

Berlin and Budapest arent exactly neighbouring cities.
By day train its 12 to 14 hours depending on the connection, which is the whole day gone. And Hungarian countryside is mindnumblingly boring.

IF you are dead set on it then a good option is a night train leaving Berlin at 7.30pm and arriving at 8.30 in the morning. (also goes the other way)
Advance booking prices range from 29 one way in a seat to 79 each in a double private cabin which ye have to yourselves.
If you got the private cabin it'd be a reasonably pleasant journey and you are saving on a hotel room for the night.

As I said, a private cabin would be the way to go. I saved a few euros by booking a shared a cabin with 4 strangers back from Budapest and it was a balls. They were straight to sleep at 8 in the evening so I couldnt even talk to the wife for the few hours before I went to sleep. The little extra for a private cabin would have been well worth it (or even just kip in a regular seat, at least you can have a beer and a chat at 8 in the evening).
Both cities are well worth a visit and if anything probably more to see in Berlin.

If you'd like to travel a little less, then Berlin and Hamburg would be a good combination, only 1h 40min apart with the upgraded railway.
Hamburg is a world onto itself, one half very swish and lovely, and then St Pauli for the seedy end of things where the sailors used to let their hair down. And Berlin is Berlin. There's all the familiar landmarks and the pub/ nightlife is legendary.

rossie1977

yeah berlin and budapest are not close, its a 6 hour drive from budapest to krakow (having done it)

another thing weather will be well below freezing in early january in both places during the day, budapest is a beautiful city but its best seen in late summer, early autumn, late spring

berlin is a great town though, i would recommend to go late december so that you catch the christmas markets and the new years celebration next to the brandenburg gate http://gogermany.about.com/od/eventsandfestivals/p/newyear_Berlin.htm

munchkin_utd

munchkin_utd wrote: »

If you'd like to travel a little less, then Berlin and Hamburg would be a good combination, only 1h 40min apart with the upgraded railway.

rossie1977 wrote: »

yeah berlin and budapest are not close, its a 6 hour drive from budapest to krakow

Thanks so much for all the pointers, from what ye are both saying it seems like Berlin and A.N.Other place for late December/early January, and leave Budapest for now.

As a matter of interest, how far is Krakow by train from Berlin? Is that a 'christmassy' place? Had heard about Hamburg and the Reeperbahn alright, we went to the Red Light District in Amdam before and while it was amusing/interesting not sure we would rush back.

And anyone been to Dresden? Would it be a good 'second city'? Have seen it referred to elsewhere as a nice destination...has always assumed it was flattened.

schemingbohemia

I think using this site would be useful for seeing what's within a reasonable journey time from berlin - it's the german railway site
http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en?rt=1&

Krakow isn't a runner it's 9 hours on the train, Dresden is a lot nearer. To be honest I'd just stay in Berlin, I was there last summer (09) for the first time and found it to be one of the best cities I've been to, it's got everything really good music/arts scene, cool people/bars/markets and amazing museums.

Heard it's great alright, but I think 8 or 9 days in any one place (particularly a city) is a lot, and if I'm heading off like to get in a change of scene.

bills

Berlin is a great city, really recommend it.
Try berlin & then go somewhere else in Germany.

Or else you could choose krakow & also do zakopane from there for a few days.
Its a mountain resort so would be totally different from Krakow city.

schemingbohemia

Deleted User wrote: »

Heard it's great alright, but I think 8 or 9 days in any one place (particularly a city) is a lot, and if I'm heading off like to get in a change of scene.

if you'd actually said it was 8/9 days in your OP that would've helped.

saywhatyousee

what about copenhagen it not a million miles from berlin?

Kewreeuss

conor74
did you go to berlin? did you like it and what was your hotel like?
Planning to go shortly. Thanks

Four of a kind

Having been in both, I'd recommend both! If you have 8/9 days then of course both are possible.

Budapest was ridi cheap when I was there 4 years ago and I presume little has changed.

Berlin has excellent everthing imo and for that I would choose Berlin over Budapest if I had to.

Gemma01

Dresden would be a nice city for a side trip for a day or two but I would spend more time in Berlin. Dresden is only 2 hours away by train and it's quiet different to Berlin so would make for a nice contrast.