We’ve from Australia but will be in Europe in August. Family comittments will take up a lot of our time, but we’ve put aside a week for having some fun by ourselves, and we were thinking that Germany would be a nie place to spend some time. (The SO has a degree in German, but hasn’t spoken it for over a decade).
The question is - Munich or Berlin? Help us out. Oh, and for the record, we’re a pretty normal couple, no kids, me in my early forties, she a few years younger.
Thanks!
Michael
Well, it depends on what sort of things you like to see and do. I’ve been to both, but only briefly. I can give you a tourist’s opinion.
Munich is old-fashioned, traditional, Bavarian. If your idea of Germany is lederhosen, sausage and beerhalls, this is the place. (Not that they actually wear lederhosen, any more than Americans still wear buckskins, but it’s that kind of vibe.) There’s old churches and castles. The mountains are only a couple hours away. And there’s the Deutches Museum, a great science and technical museum (kind of a German Smithsonian, if that helps).
Berlin is much more modern. Most of the of what I saw there is related to things that happened during the memory of people who are still alive, some of it during my lifetime. Seeing the sign at Checkpoint Charlie, or what used to be the Death Zone around the wall, is a powerful lesson in modern history. It’s more business-oriented than Munich, but good museums here as well.
I am slightly biased, having lived in Berlin many years - but I also lived in Munich briefly.
I think Berlin is a lot more fun for nightlife - it is the only 24 hour city in Germany. My friends and I wouldn’t even leave our apartments to go out until after midnight! It also has more bridges than Venice with lots of lakes (with nude beaches) and canals and some great parks and forests, plus many interesting museums and plenty of cabarets and shows, a wild music scene, lots of artists and galleries - some great shopping (check out KaDeWe) and, well, I just loved it there.
Munich is certainly anything but boring, but they are a little more provincial. They also have some great parks, neighboring forests, great museums and of course, the beer halls. (Berlin has Kneipen - aka local bars - that are just as much, if not more, fun.)
Someone once told me “if you like New York, you will love Berlin - if you like San Francisco, you will love Munich.” There is some truth in those comparisons - although I don’t know how much sense that makes to an Australian.
But to be honest, no matter which of the two you pick, you will have a great time!
IMHO, Berlin is a way more interesting town. I was there in 2001, so things have probably changed a ton. The juxtaposition between East and West Berlin was striking, although it’s probably considerably subdued these days. When I was there, it was a ton cheaper to stay in East Germany and the funky hostel was charming in its Iron Curtain construction. I’m sorry about sounding maudlin, but the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche or Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church is a striking reminder of the destruction of war. The Mirrored Dome passive air conditioning system addition to the Reichstag has to be seen to be believed. The Brandenburg gate and Checkpoint Charlie (and the museum) are fascinating, especially to this child of the cold war.
The Pergamon Museum is completely mind blowing. The site describes the following:
The nightlife is world class fun.
This is not to diminish the charms of Munich. Munich is a modern city with a great transportation system and all the conveniences of a modern first world city. What am I saying, Berlin is also! There’s still charming bits of the old city, but when It didn’t have the down and dirty weirdness of Berlin. If you like car history, the BMW museum is a bunch of fun. If you like a world class drunken party, Octoberfest in Munich completely lives up to it’s reputation (sophisticates would probably frown upon my near catatonic behavior). I was not nearly the drunkest person around, although upon inspection of my camera the next day, there was considerable flashing of boobs.
Neither. Try Amsterdam or Prague instead. Or Brugge.
But if I have pick one, I’d go to Munich ahead of Berlin.
I’d vote for Munich. In fact, I am going there (again) instead of Berlin (again) myself. I think that DMark’s line about New York/Berlin and San Francisco/Munich is probably accurate. Thinking about it, though, I have no idea why; I don’t like SF, but I love Munich and I’ve never been to NYC.
I like the slower pace of Munich (though the beerhalls closing early is a bit irritating, but it does mean that I wake up at a decent hour) and Berlin was far too large and fast for my liking.
My $0.02 touristy suggestions, with some seconds: The Deutsches Museum is incredible (provided science/technology museums are your cup of tea); the BMW Museum is pretty neat, if you’re into cars, and is right next to the Olympic complex which has a small lake you can walk around; the interior of the Asamkirche is stunning; the Alte Pinakothek has a massive collection
Oh, why not go to both? It looks like it’s only about 6 hours on the train from Munich to Berlin. You can look at schedules and prices on the DB website
Thanks everyone - really good advice. Based on your feedbacj I think we’ll actually spend the majority of our time in Munich, but have two days and Berlin going there by train.
Thansk again!
Michael
Munich: Beer
Berlin: Sex