Berlin or Prague: a comparative city guide for 2023

48hours in Prague
Spending two days in Prague allows for a perfect balance between exploring its historical wonders and delving into its vibrant urban life. The enchanting Old Town and the imposing Prague Castle splendidly represent the city's rich history, while trendy districts such as Žižkov offer opportunities to enjoy coffee and scour through the markets.

Day 1: Start your weekend right in the heart of the city at the expansive Old Town Square, the central hub of Prague's historic quarter. It remains lively throughout the year, bustling with visitors meandering between significant landmarks such as the Old Town Hall and the Church of Our Lady before Týn. Notably, the church is renowned for its striking black Gothic turrets, towering over 80 metres tall.

Meanwhile, the Old Town Hall boasts stunning Gothic doors and gargoyles, and is home to the unique Prague Astronomical Clock. This 15th-century timepiece is the oldest functioning astronomical clock worldwide, drawing crowds every hour to witness its charming chime and the procession of apostles.

Continue east through the Old Town's intricate alleyways until you reach the riverside, leading directly to the iconic Charles Bridge. Adorned with statues of saints, it offers picturesque scenes, especially in the misty winter mornings. Cross over to Malá Strana, Prague’s oldest district, filled with traditional beer taverns such as the popular U Hrocha.

After a refreshing beer, it's time to ascend to Prague Castle, conveniently located steps away from the tavern. Dedicate your afternoon to exploring this vast complex, ranging from the magnificent St. Vitus Cathedral to the quaint workshops of Golden Lane.

The Dancing House may be one of Prague’s most distinctive buildings, but being in the heart of the old town its unique design was extremely controversial

Day 2: Treat yourself to a hearty breakfast in boho Žižkavárna Café. It's loved by the locals for its strong coffees and homemade cakes but is also a fantastic intro to the stylish neighborhood of Žižkov itself. The landmark at the heart of that district of the soaring Žižkov Television Tower in Tower Park Praha. Be sure to take in its futuristic architecture from below before going inside. Then, it's straight up to the observation decks to enjoy sweeping views of the city.

You'll also want to drop by the National Memorial on Vítkov Hill. It's an important spot in the annals of Czech history. It was once a hops plantation but now hosts the colossal equestrian statue of Jan Žižka (a revered Czech military general) and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a symbolic monument to resistance to Nazi occupation.

Keep going north across the river to Prague 7 and you'll find stripped-down hipster cafés like Kavárna Liberál. For dinner, try the multi-ethnic stalls of Hala 22 closer to the waterside, where everything from Rajasthani curry houses to Chinese noodles are options. Finally, get your beer drinking hat on, because Gyllene tigern – a legendary microbrewery – beckons with its hoppy unpasteurized tipples back in the Old Town.

The Klaus synagogue and cemetery, in the Jewish quarter of Prague

48hours in Berlin
Does the perfect 48 hours in Berlin even exist? With so many museums and vibey neighbourhoods to get through, it's hard to pack the highlights of the German capital into just two days. Still, the Berlin itinerary below gives it a go, offering everything from ancient Greek artefacts to cool pavement drinkeries and more.

Day 1: Morning in Mitte. As its name implies (Mitte = Middle), it's the hub of Berlin. You can settle in for a refined breakfast in the hidden courtyards of the Hackescher Höfe. The area is brimming with independent boutique stores and elegant tearooms. A few steps to the south take you beneath the needle-like Berliner Fernsehturm. A relic of Communist times, it's home to the fastest elevators in the world, while the lookouts at the top have jaw-dropping panoramas of the city (tickets cost €16.50).

A quick people-watching session on bustling Alexanderplatz and then move west to Museum Island. Culture vultures should take their time here. The Pergamonmuseum is a real highlight, with its priceless Assyrian statues and even the blue-tiled gates of Babylon. A pitstop at the nearby German Historical Museum is one for those who want to unravel the tale of the nation, with particular highlights in the collections that chronicle the world wars of the 20th century.

From there, walk down Unter den Linden to encounter the main artery of Mitte. That takes you to the world-famous Brandenburg Gate, which stands next to the glass-domed Reichstag Building. A picnic lunch in the Tiergarten park can be followed by a sobering walk through the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. Past that is Checkpoint Charlie – a onetime gateway between East and West Berlin – and then the lively streets of Kreuzberg, with their ramen restaurants, jazz bars, and multicultural kitchens.

The mock gothic Oberbaum Bridge connects the eastern and western sides of Berlin and is prominent icon of the city’s unity.

Day 2: If you're lucky enough to escape a hangover courtesy of the Kreuzberg bars, then an early morning start in the area of Friedrichshain is in order. It's brimming with graffiti-scrawled coffee bars and breakfast joints.

On the south side of the district is the striking East Side Gallery. Once a bland concrete section of the Berlin Wall, it's now an artist's homage to the fall of the great divider in 1989. From there, go north to the green lawns of Volkspark Friedrichshain. Chilled and leafy, it's actually the oldest public garden in the capital. And it's got monuments to the Spanish Civil War next to volleyball courts and picnic tables.

Hugging that is the enchanting area of Prenzlauer Berg. This is the perfect place to end your 48 hours. It's not bursting with sights and attractions, but it's got a classic Berliner neighbourhood vibe. If you're unsure where to begin, check out Kulturbrauerei – an all-in-one complex of cinemas, theatres, clubs and beer halls.

The Victory Column stands at the centre of Tiergarten Park, and at the viewing platform 285 steps up provides some of the finest views over Berlin

The Václav Havel Airport Prague is the main entry point to the Czech capital. It's also the largest international airport in the Czech Republic. That means short-haul flight connections arrive there from all over, and you can usually bag some wallet-friendly bargains on carriers like Ryanair and EasyJet

For a European capital, Prague is very walkable and bikeable. The whole Old Town is actually best explored on foot, and the same goes for the castle district. For longer trips, the uber-efficient Prague Metro and tram network combine on the PID ticket to offer easy hops from A to B.

The basic ticket costs 24 CZK ($1) and allows access and transfers for 30 minutes. Buy them via the Prague transport mobile app, in local newsagents, or at the tram stops themselves. Don't forget to validate your ticket at the yellow machines on board.

The Gothic Saint Vitus Cathedral lies within the Prague castle complex

All the usual crimes and scams of a European capital are present in Prague, though the town is generally very safe for visitors. Be vigilant of pick pocketers in busy areas and on public transport especially. Also try to dodge picking up taxis straight off the street – tourists are often prime targets for inflated rates. Prague's currency exchange points are notorious for being rip offs, so get your koruna before touching down.

For proximity to the main sites and bars, there's really nowhere better to bed down than in the Prague Old Town. Hotels will usually cost the most there, however. Something quieter and equally as atmospheric is available in the Malá Strana. But the New Town district and Žižkov are also both good options.

If you're arriving on a low-cost airline to Berlin, then it's likely you'll jet into the old GDR hub of Schönefeld Airport. That's in south-east Berlin. Reach it on regional train lines or via the S-Bahn, which go directly to a station in front of the terminals. Tickets cost €3.40 each way.

The larger Tegel International Airport is where most premium carriers like Lufthansa and BA will land. If you're going there, you certainly don't want to take the train to Tegel – that won't get you into the heart of Berlin. Instead, choose the frequent bus link to Hauptbahnhof or Alexanderplatz. The fare is €2.80 € and journeys take between 35-50 minutes depending on traffic.

The Berliner Dom cathedral, with its 100m high dome and grand Neo-Renaissance architecture

Getting around Berlin is a cinch. The capital has a super-efficient and well-linked public network of trams, trains and underground lines. You can purchase tickets at any S-Bahn or U-Bahn station, or at any establishment with a BVG sign. Daily and weekly passes for all public transportation are also available with slight reductions. A new smartphone app allows digital purchasing of tickets (search: FahrInfo Plus). All other tickets must be validated before use.

Violence of any sort in the capital is rare and police can be relied upon. Still, have your wits about you, especially if travelling through Berlin's lesser-known or rougher areas, like the ones bordering Kreuzberg, or the nightlife hubs of Alexanderplatz and Friedrichshain.

When it comes to searching for a hotel, there's a hard choice to be made. There are oodles of neighbourhoods here that are worthy of attention. It's really up to you to decide what you want. Generally speaking: Sightseers can't go wrong in Mitte, Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain are perfect for bar hoppers and foodies, and Neukölln offers something more local.