Classic East Germany Cities Rail Journey
Travel west by train from Berlin, connecting Dresden, Leipzig, Weimar, Erfurt, and Wartburg Castle.
This car-free itinerary relies entirely on trains, with each journey taking under two hours. You will stay two to four nights in each base city, eliminating the need for a rental car. The first part of the trip covers Berlin's Cold War relics and Prussian palaces; the middle section focuses on Saxon Baroque and Bach; and the final leg enters the world of Goethe and Luther in Thuringia. Compared to the one-week version, this adds Potsdam and Saxon Switzerland, making it perfect for first-time visitors seeking an in-depth tour of East Germany. The trade-off is skipping Meissen and Bauhaus Dessau.
In December, the cities host beautiful Christmas markets, but hiking in Saxon Switzerland depends heavily on trail conditions and weather.
Day by day
Day 1 · Arrival in Berlin & Government District
Berlin（Brandenburg Gate、Reichstag Building、Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe）
Take the Airport Express (FEX) into the city center (about 30 minutes). Spend the afternoon exploring the Government District in Mitte on foot.
Visiting the Reichstag Dome is free, but you must reserve a time slot online in advance.
Stay: Mitte
Day 2 · Museum Island & Old Berlin
Berlin（Museum Island、Berlin Cathedral、Humboldt Forum、Berlin TV Tower & Alexanderplatz）
Spend the day walking from Museum Island to Alexanderplatz; all sights are within 2 km of each other.
The Pergamonmuseum is closed for renovations until June 4, 2027.
Stay: Mitte
Day 3 · Berlin Wall & Cold War Memories
Berlin（Berlin Wall Memorial、Checkpoint Charlie、Topography of Terror、East Side Gallery）
Use the S-Bahn and U-Bahn to connect Bernauer Straße, Checkpoint Charlie, and the East Side Gallery (20–30 minutes per trip).
Stay: Mitte
Day 4 · Potsdam Palaces Day Trip
Berlin（Sanssouci Palace, Potsdam、Cecilienhof Palace、Glienicke Bridge）
Take the S7 or a regional train from Berlin to Potsdam (about 40 minutes). Use local buses and walk within the palace park.
Sanssouci Palace requires timed-entry tickets; booking in advance is highly recommended.
Stay: Mitte
Day 5 · South to Dresden Old Town
Dresden（Frauenkirche & Neumarkt、Procession of Princes、Brühl's Terrace）
Take a direct train from Berlin to Dresden (under 2 hours). Depart in the morning and explore the Old Town on foot in the afternoon.
Stay: Altstadt
Day 6 · Zwinger & Royal Palace Treasures
Dresden（Zwinger、Dresden Castle & Green Vault、Dresden Cathedral (Hofkirche)、Semperoper）
Spend the day walking around the Old Town. The Royal Palace, Zwinger, and Semperoper are all within a few minutes' walk of each other.
The Green Vault is closed on Tuesdays. Timed-entry tickets are required for the Historic Green Vault.
Stay: Altstadt
Day 7 · Saxon Switzerland: Bastei & Fortress
Saxon Switzerland（Bastei Bridge, Saxon Switzerland、Königstein Fortress）
Take the S1 to Kurort Rathen (about 40 minutes), cross the river by ferry, and hike up to the Bastei. Then take the S1 to Königstein to visit the fortress.
Following storms in 2026, some trails around Rathen remain closed. Check the national park website before setting out.
Stay: Altstadt
Day 8 · In the Footsteps of Bach in Leipzig
Leipzig（St. Thomas Church、Bach Museum、Old Town Hall & Market Square、St. Nicholas Church）
Take the train from Dresden to Leipzig (about 1 hour 15 minutes). The Old Town is a 10-minute walk from the station.
Stay: Leipzig Old Town
Day 9 · Leipzig Monument & Spinnerei
Leipzig（Monument to the Battle of the Nations、Stasi Museum (Runde Ecke)、Spinnerei）
Take the tram to the Monument to the Battle of the Nations and the Spinnerei art district in the west (about 20–30 minutes one way).
Stay: Leipzig Old Town
Day 10 · Weimar: Goethe House & Library
Weimar（Goethe's House Weimar、Duchess Anna Amalia Library、Park an der Ilm）
Take the train from Leipzig to Weimar (about 1 to 2 hours). Arrive in the morning and explore on foot for the rest of the day.
The Duchess Anna Amalia Library limits daily visitors; booking tickets as early as possible is recommended.
Stay: Weimar Old Town
Day 11 · Weimar to Erfurt Old Town
Weimar（Bauhaus Museum Weimar） → Erfurt（Krämerbrücke、Erfurt Cathedral & St. Severus' Church、Old Synagogue Erfurt）
Spend the morning visiting museums in Weimar, then take a 20-minute train ride to Erfurt in the afternoon.
Stay: Erfurt Old Town
Day 12 · Wartburg Castle in Eisenach
Eisenach（Wartburg Castle、Bach House Eisenach）
Take the train from Erfurt to Eisenach (30–60 minutes), then take a local bus up to Wartburg Castle. Depart by train in the evening.