East Germany options

[Drakecula]

The one event I planned my entire Europe trip around got cancelled and of course being a super nerdy planner, everything else around those dates have been booked and paid for. I'm organising a refund for the event, but I am now contemplating options of filling 3 nights in East Germany. I've got one night in Berlin, then 3 nights to fill, then 3 nights in Berlin again. I'm considering a loop trip Berlin - Dresden - Leipzig - Quedlinburg - Magdeburg - Berlin.

Has anyone been in that area before, suggestions for how to fill these days are welcome.

 

[RB]

We have spent a bit of time around there. Not sure of your interests but fairly close to Dresden you will find this (didn't think I would be all that interested but it was amazing)
Terra Mineralia

 

[Cossie]

If going by train, I'd consider spending the 3 nights in one place, probably Dresden, or possibly the whole time in Berlin with side trips.

I really like that part of Germany, if you do want to do a loop, my suggestions are Goerlitz, Dresden, and Leipzig. Quedlinburg is a pretty town, but we prefer Goerlitz.

What do you want to see and do, can you let me know more?

 

[Drakecula]

What do you want to see and do, can you let me know more?

Not entirely sure. I do have a friend who lives somewhere near Magdeburg so hopefully she replies to me with some ideas. Was mostly thinking of just wandering and seeing what we can see. Castles would be awesome, the photos of Quedlinburg sucked me right in.
Alternate options could be going into Poland somewhere, or even Prague for a few days. I just figured there'd be enough to feast our eyes on in that part of Germany though.

 

[jase05]

Definitely plenty to do that part of Germany. I would definitely be renting a car and driving the area. Frankfurt Oder and Cottbus are not bad to towns/cities aswell and if you did decide to go to Prague the drive is quite nice

 

[Cossie]

If you do go to Magdeburg, Wolfsburg isn't far from there, you could visit the VW factory to see where your much loved beetle came from.

Wartburg castle at Eisenach is worth a visit. Wartburg - Wikipedia

You can also stay in Colditz castle, you don't have to be interested in the WW2 aspect for that, it's worth seeing as a structure on it's own. Colditz Castle - Wikipedia

 

[Drakecula]

The VW factory! Maybe...

What's it like to hire a car around there - I have not driven overseas except NZ, which I think is as close to Australian driving as anything. I'm a nervous driver in new areas, so I might have to rely on MrD to do the driving, but I'm unsure he'd be keen, especially if it's on the other side of the road. I hadn't looked into transportation yet, was just thinking of using trains.

Colditz Castle sounds interesting.

 

[jase05]

The VW factory! Maybe...

What's it like to hire a car around there - I have not driven overseas except NZ, which I think is as close to Australian driving as anything. I'm a nervous driver in new areas, so I might have to rely on MrD to do the driving, but I'm unsure he'd be keen, especially if it's on the other side of the road. I hadn't looked into transportation yet, was just thinking of using trains.

Colditz Castle sounds interesting.

LH drive is a piece of cake. I drive everywhere in Europe even in snow and Germany is so easy to drive in. Mrs Jase had never driven LH drive before our last visit and I finally convinced her to have a go after many trips and she ended up loving it. She wouldn’t drive in the big cities though and when we got about 40km out of Berlin she pulled over and let me drive.

 

[Wanderlust_tim]

I enjoyed my time in Dresden immensely. If you are outdoorsy, the Malerweg is well worth exploring for a day or two. I walked stage 2 from Wehlen to Hohnstein and it was easily accessible on public transport.

My partner has a passion for Boleslawiec pottery so next trip we will head into Poland. It is a couple of hours drive from Dresden.

 

[Drakecula]

LH drive is a piece of cake.

And yet my brain is making me anxious just thinking about it already.

 

[luxury-lizard]

I can also recommend Dresden - we spent a few days there back in March and can recommend the castle in the city - amazing restoration as well as:-

A bit of a big day out - off to Kirnitzchtalbahn by tram and S-bahn - a local tourist area with scenic towns and many hiking trails. We had a nice day - taking a ferry across the river, riding a vintage train and having lunch.

On the way back we stopped at the Dresen Panometer - an amazing exhibit in an old gas works with 360ᵒ pictorial on a 1:1 scale of the city after the Allied bombing in 1945 which destroyed the city in one night.

 

[Cossie]

Ahhhh pottery, I forgot Meissen near Dresden. Porcelain Manufactory MEISSEN you get to see pottery being made, the town has an interesting castle as well. Meissen - Wikipedia

Driving is easy, but for a first timer it can be daunting on the autobahns, whilst not all autobahns have unrestricted speed limits, there are a quite a few rebuilt ones in this area that do. Looking in the mirror and ahead at the same time becomes second nature. On the whole German drivers are very courteous, however they can be be a little impatient in towns, I know from recent experience if you are not sure exactly where you are going.

Also many.many trucks, except on Sunday. Off the autobahns. I find the smaller roads to be a pain, many changes in speed limits, many fixed cameras and the speed drops to 50kph in towns once you see the yellow town sign.

The local transport system is great, and I'd be very happy just to get trains as a first time there.

 

[Katie]

Dresden! We enjoyed some tours there, I bought an awesome pair of shoes that's made me fall in love with a new shoe brand. The museum of hygiene is interesting (probably more interesting when you're not dragging a sick spouse with you - ended up having to call a doctor for him later that night).

 

[Cossie]

Any further thoughts about where you will fill the time?

 

[Drakecula]

Any further thoughts about where you will fill the time?

Looks like my initial reply got eaten, so apologies if this appears twice.

Yes - we're going to Hannover instead of Dresden. Why? Because MrD realised there was someone in his gaming community he could catch up with who is in Hannover, so we're off to visit there. One night there, then two nights in Quedlinburg. Good thing I hadn't booked anything by the time MrD realised this.
I thought I could squeeze one more city in, but figured it might be nicer to have a more relaxing weekend instead. My friend who's somewhere near Magdeburg (I think) has said they can meet us at Quedlinburg which will be great.

 

[Cossie]

If you go from Hannover to Magdeburg on the autobahn, there is a museum at the old East/West checkpoint near Helmsted, which is worth a look.

Helmstedt–Marienborn border crossing - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Went through there twice when it was a border crossing, it was a pain, but in typical German style, it was very efficient. You can see where the old border/wall was, in fact you can cycle the entire length now if you want to.

You will enjoy Quildlinburg.