Berlin or Prague in December

Treplev

Looking to go on a trip for 5 days or so mid-December with my girlfriend. We are thinking about either Prague or Berlin but are open to other suggestions too. Our budget is pretty tight as we are both students. Not too interested in markets more just exploring the city generally, sights etc (also somewhere with nice outdoor ice skating). Any help would be appreciated!

spurious

I've been to both in winter. Prague can get seriously cold.

Ice skating available in both cities, probably more to fill 5 days in Berlin than Prague, unless you go out of the city. Dresden a 2 hour train journey from both and well worth seeing.

There is little to choose between them really. My own personal choice would be Berlin, but that's just because I have been so many times and still find loads of things to do and see.

See how you go choosing flights and accommodation, that may be what decides it.

Jimmy Iovine

Was in both over the summer. Prague is lovely. Would say Berlin though for that length of time. Would highly recommend visiting Potsdam. It's 45 minutes away by train. Also, just before Potsdam is a small village called Schlachtensee. The lake there is beautiful.

What about getting a train down to Prague as well? We did that. There are great views out the window as you follow the river down to Prague. The train was packed because it's a popular inter railing route but it should be quieter during the winter.

If you do Berlin or Prague, go on the Sandeman free walking tour. Give a small donation at the end. The content in both tours is brilliant. Do them as soon a you get there. We were annoyed when we found out just how central everything was in Berlin.

donegal.

why not fly into berlin and home from praque ?

honeybear

Love both cities, but that was in the Summer.

Unshelved

Hard to choose between them - I love both. Prague has a more "fairy-tale" quality than Berlin which is lovely in December. However, if you're going for five days I think you'll find more to do in Berlin. Plus, I think that Berlin is better value for money. Can recommend renting an apartment in both cities. In Berlin we used Old Town Apartments - http://www.ota-berlin.de/ - and in Prague we used Apartments in Prague - https://apartments-in-prague.org/ (stay in the Mala Strana area for a real taste of Old Prague).

Both cities will have Christmas Markets - but Berlin's are better. It's worth booking a tour of the Reichstag Parliament Building and taking a walking tour in Berlin. Prague is smaller so you can find your own way around easily enough. Go to the Strahov Monastery for beautiful libraries plus they have their own brewery! The view from there over the city is fantastic.

Both cities can get extremely cold in winter so dress for the weather!