Is Berlin Worth 6hrs Driving in Bus?

Hi,

We are doing a Baltic Cruise next year and one of the stops is Warnemunde where we can get a trip to Berlin. I understand that it is a 3hr. trip there, 6 hours in Berlin and then another 3 hours back.

Being a tall person, (6' 4") I do not always fit in bus seats and I am wondering if being possibly uncomfortable on a a 6hr. bus ride is worth putting up with to see the sights of Berlin.

I would be interested in hearing from someone who has done this excursion telling how they found the journey and if it was worth it. Thanks.

well we're pretty short people so cant comment on comfort level for a guy your height on a bus. However hubby was in need of his second hip replacement so can relate on another comfort level!

To us it was worth it-we saw a lot in the 6 hours with a guide[we went with SPB]

Particulary the area that was behind the "iron curtain" for so many years has some really interesting buildings

the 3 hour coach journey went pretty quickly-I believe we made it in 2 and a half hours[ in fact bus driver was pulled over by transport police for speeding!]

Also there was a comfort break at a service station so gave everyone a chance to stretch their legs

other friends stayed in the Warnemunde area and enjoyed it-however to us Berlin was one of the highlights of our cruise

We did this tour from Rostock via train rather than bus. 3 hours there; 6 hour city tour including a nice German-style lunch; 3 hours back to the port. The countryside and villages/small towns we went through added interest to the tour. We were in Berlin on a Saturday and most of the sites we visited were packed with people; it was truly a whirlwind tour. It was interesting to see many places that we have read or heard about and I am glad that we had the experience. Returning to the Eurodam, we were exhausted, but satisfied with our experience.

If there is an option to do this tour via train rather than bus, I would recommend the train. We traveled in 2nd Class rail cars with 5 seats per compartment. The seats were comfortable with adequate legroom. Restroom facilities were available in each car and we were provided with a boxed breakfast and dinner including beverages. (Alcoholic beverages upon our return from Berlin were extra cost.)

I would be pretty sure you will be going by train, not bus.

"Worth" is a totally personal opinion, but yes, it is worth it.

There are other posts on Berlin. Based on my research we concluded that if this our only trip to the area, go for Berlin. Search posts for Berlin. we go in July and booked tour to Berlin, I believe it is a bus

Hi,

 

We are doing a Baltic Cruise next year and one of the stops is Warnemunde where we can get a trip to Berlin. I understand that it is a 3hr. trip there, 6 hours in Berlin and then another 3 hours back.

 

Being a tall person, (6' 4") I do not always fit in bus seats and I am wondering if being possibly uncomfortable on a a 6hr. bus ride is worth putting up with to see the sights of Berlin.

 

I would be interested in hearing from someone who has done this excursion telling how they found the journey and if it was worth it. Thanks.

Hi,

Whether or not the trip to Berlin is 'worth it' is totally subjective and depends on your personal travel desires. If you are more 'into' a relaxing day, wandering around Warnemunde or Rostock might be a good option for you. If you want a little more sightseeing, a trip to Schwerin with its lovely castle might be a nice option. If you are 'up' for a full day (approximately 12 hours of sightseeing & driving time) and are interested in Berlin, then that is a good option for you.

We book our European cruises for the ports visited and like to see as much as possible.

We booked the trip from Warnemunde to Berlin in 2011 with Alla Tours and realized a very nice savings because we booked both St. Petersburg and Berlin with Alla. The trip was definitely 'worth it' for us because my BIL is a WWII history buff and had never been to Berlin and this would probably be his only opportunity to visit.

Our guide and driver met us right at the port and we were driven by small coach (seated 20) to Berlin. The drive was pleasant and comfortable and our guide told us a great deal about Germany on our trip into Berlin. We also had a comfort stop along the way to use restrooms and purchase beverages.

We were comfortable on the bus ... my BIL is 6'2'' and I am 5'8" ... so although not as tall as you, we are not small people.

Once in Berlin, we were joined by our Berlin guide (he was excellent). As previously posted, it was a whirlwind tour with photo stops. Among other things, we saw the Brandenburg Gate, Kaiser Wilhelm Church, Charlottenburg Palace, Tiergarten, Reichstag, Halocaust Memorial, Berlin Cathedral, Checkpoint Charlie, Berlin Wall & Museum Island.

Additionally, I had made arrangements with Alla to drop us off at the Pergamon museum while the others in our group had lunch. We spent about an hour and a half in the museum as I dearly wanted my BIL to see the Pergamon Altar & Ishtar Gate (it is a fabulous museum). We just grabbed a sausage & drink at a kiosk outside the museum.

The drive back to port was very quiet as pretty much everyone in our group was tired. :)

We went with SPB Tours and definitely thought it was worth the trip. The 6 hours in Berlin was about as much time as we had in some of the other ports. We generally don't like doing guided tours but realize that we saw a lot more than we would have seen if we had tried to do it on our own. If you are concerned about the bus ride being uncomfortable our ship (Norwegian Star) offered excursions via train. Most of them do.

We went by bus with SPB tours, a little over 2.5 hours each way. We enjoyed a whirlwind tour, guide was great. You will only get a taste of Berlin but it was enough to encourage us to go back for an extended visit this year.

Thanks everyone that replied. I appreciate your confirmation that the trip is worthwhile. I also feel that it may be a once in a lifetime opportunity to see Berlin so should avail of it.

I am still flipping the coin to see if we are up for a 3-6-3 day at the front end of a port intensive trip. We have done a similar day in the Dominican Republic and it makes for a long day... not sure if I won't save Berlin for another trip.

We decided against it for a couple reasons. First, my mom is going to be with us and she thought it would be too much. I wasn't crazy about the bus ride, and since DH has spent considerable time in Berlin we decided to save it for another trip.

We're doing a Friends of Dave tour of Warnemunde and Rostock instead of going all the way to Berlin.

We are going to the Baltics next summer and I have the question about Berlin too. We are going with 2 children of 9 and 12, will this long trip to Berlin and back be ok for them?

If you think you won't be back, take the kids. Berlin is worth a few days if possible but 6 hours is better than nothing. Prepare the kids for a long ride with some great historical places to visit. They may sleep on the way back but will remember the trip!!

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We didn't but wish we had. :(

LuLu

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Is it possible to do this on a train? With one of the tour companies recommended here?

Ty

Peggy

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Is it possible to do this on a train? With one of the tour companies recommended here?

 

Ty

 

Peggy

 

 

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As mentioned many times here, the cruise line excursions will be on a train. The cruise lines charter a train per ship in port...about 250-300 people on each train.

Is it possible to do this on a train? With one of the tour companies recommended here?

 

Ty

 

Peggy

 

 

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I may be wrong but I don't think any of the private tour companies offer a train trip. I believe they all use buses.

Thank you, CruiserBruce, that is what I thought may be the case. Thanks for confirming.

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We are also doing a Baltic trip next year, but have decided against Berlin. From most of the trip reviews I have read the 6 hours in Berlin are mainly on the bus with photo ops at various sites.

We have decided to do Rostock and Warnemunde, that being said a Berlin trip can be done as a long weekend for us, if you are travelling a distance it may be your only chance.

The other thing to consider is you itinerary, do you have a sea day the following day in which you might have a longer lie and recover a bit?

Either way I hope you have a good day.

We did this last July with Alla.

I am also 6'4".

The bus was adequate.

They have a pit stop about halfway thru the bus ride coming & going, so it's OK.

I REALLY wanted to see Berlin. Yes the sight go quickly. Yes they are worth seeing anyway in my opinion.

We had time for a nice lunch near the Holocaust memorial.

I am glad we went...I don't know about the others, but for me many of the sights we very sobering experiences.

We did this last July with Alla.

 

I am also 6'4".

 

The bus was adequate.

 

They have a pit stop about halfway thru the bus ride coming & going, so it's OK.

 

I REALLY wanted to see Berlin. Yes the sight go quickly. Yes they are worth seeing anyway in my opinion.

 

We had time for a nice lunch near the Holocaust memorial.

 

I am glad we went...I don't know about the others, but for me many of the sights we very sobering experiences.

Thanks for this reply. I know that some of the coaches in Europe do not have much leg-room and the prospect of all that time on a coach without being able to sit comfortably concerned me. Glad to hear another 6' 4" person found it OK. Thanks

I asked the same question about a 6 hour drive for a 6 hour visit before our Baltic cruise in 2010 and I am forever grateful that we took the long drive there and back to see Berlin.

We prearranged a tour with SPB that would focus on Jewish sites and in addition to the Holocaust Memorial, Jewish museum, pre war Jewish neighborhoods and the old synagogue we still had time for the Berlin Wall, Brandenburg gate and other landmarks.

All of the above were seen on foot with our mini bus able to get us where we had to go quickly even though our day trip coincided with the annual Berlin Pride Parade in June.

My advice for what it's worth -

If you dock in Warnemunde and your future travels do not include the Berlin area then find a private tour company and go!

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Thanks for this reply. I know that some of the coaches in Europe do not have much leg-room and the prospect of all that time on a coach without being able to sit comfortably concerned me. Glad to hear another 6' 4" person found it OK. Thanks

Kenato;

For what it's worth, I am 6'4" and 240 lbs. As stated, the bus was 'adequate'...but I really appreciated the pit stops to strech my legs...especially on the way back...leg room is indeed at a premium...but it was tolerable.

In general I like private tours, but based on some comments on other posts I am nervous about not taking a ships tour for Berlin. I am afraid something will happen to delay us. With a ships tour we stand better chance that the ship will wait. Thoughts?

In general I like private tours, but based on some comments on other posts I am nervous about not taking a ships tour for Berlin. I am afraid something will happen to delay us. With a ships tour we stand better chance that the ship will wait. Thoughts?

we went with SPB 2 years ago via coach and they were very reassuring that we would not miss the boat. Several of our party had also booked with them for St Petersberg for a discount so they would have had very unhappy people if they failed to get people back

They have been going as a business for several years now and if there was even 1 case of them causing people to miss the ship the grapevine would have made sure their reputation would be shot

A mark against the ships tours for us was that they use chartered trains which are non airconditioned-Germany get get very hot in summer!

I've been giving going to Berlin or staying local a lot of thought, but have decided to book the 'on your own' tour bus option on Celebrity. The transportation will be through the cruise line but the touring will be up to us.

I imagined if I was on a trip and had an opportunity, possibly my only one, to spend 6 hours in NYC or DC. Sure I wouldn't begin to make a dent, but I would at least been able to soak in the experience. In 6 hours I could go up the Empire State Building, see "Starry Night" at MoMA, eat a hot dog or falafel from a food truck and top it off with a stroll in Central Park. In DC, the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam memorial, Washington Monument and a visit to one of the Smithsonians.

So 6 hours in Berlin, I'll at least see Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie and the Jewish Memorial, plus top it off with a brewski and sausage at one of the summer 'beach cafes' along the river to soak it all in. Maybe we'll be back someday, but I think if I pass up the opportunity I'll regret it.