1 Berlin, 2 Munich. 3 days each. If more time, Dresden, Nuernberg, Wuerzburg, Frankfurt, Cologen, Stuttgart, Duesseldorf, Hamburg, And on and on. Hundreds of places worth seeing in Germany. Very few cities, towns and villages aren't worth seeing. Some take a little more effort.

Berlin, and I'd visit for 4 days if it were my first visit.

Your question is very difficult to answer. Germany has a thousand years of history (actually, back to Roman times ... ) and each section has its attractions. I agree that the best compromise for a first-time visitor is Berlin, but that's simply a practical answer. Most of Berlin's history is inside (exceptionally fine ... ) museums. But the most-visited single monument in Germany is the Cathedral in Cologne. (I'd still put forward Berlin for a first visit.) Perhaps it depends on where else you are going in Europe, and whether you can cover the panorama of Western history along the way. You need to visit some smaller and medieval cities during your travels, if as day-trips from large cities.

"Germany has a thousand years of history (actually, back to Roman times ... )"

German history goes back a lot further than that. There are both museums and archeological sites for the Iron and Bronze Ages, as well as the paleolithic times, with such items as mankind's first musical instruments and art from 35,000 years ago.

Actually, I would say visit almost any other German city before Berlin, as it is spread out, has few centuries old buildings which if present are reconstructed post-War, and much of it has the charm of a building construction site or vacant land, which there is plenty of. For other cities, you can walk around for less than a half day in their centers and see the major sights there if you don't enter buildings.

For me, the best sights in Germany are the actual centuries-old buildings in smaller towns and the countryside which weren't destroyed during the war and may actually be their purported ages, instead of the largest cities which their centers were almost completely destroyed and most historic buildings are post-War re-creations.

November Moon's advice in the first response is right on! It depends on your interests! Look at some travel books, check out some German city websites. You'll get better information and be more likely to have and interesting trip.

If you want to go to a typical fairy tale like German old city you shouldn't be going to Berlin for sure.

Munich might have more to offer but there are plenty of smaller more fairytale like cities.

As the previous posts mentioned, it only depends on your interests. There isn't bad choice for any city/ village or region you would choose. Here are your options:

1- Berlin: if you are interested into German political history and presence including the famous Bundestag, museums, Charlie Checkpoint ---- more on that visit the Berlin forums on TA). Berlin if you are interested in culture and museums (there is an entire area called Museuminsel, literally Museum Island is an "Island" on the Spree river with at least 5 museums worth to see, depending on your interest, again.

A day trip from Berlin would be the Sans- souci palace in Potsdam (not really big but enough impression of the Prussian emperors is what you can get at least)

From Berlin, you can visit Dresden, aka the Florence of Germany. I think the word Florence is just enough for you to imagine how does the city looks like, Really beautiful!

Another day trip would be to the proud city of Hamburg, proud because of their status being the hanseatic city, home to Europe's second largest harbor and their interesting history. The HafenCity is an architectural piece of art if you like modern buildings as well.

2- Munich: Munich lies in the "Voralpenland" at 520 m above sea level, a region in the south of Germany which is located on the foothills of the Alps. This region is particularly interesting because there are many lakes, most of which are reachable withing half an hour from Munich. There are the mountains too famous for their cheese and alpine cuisine as well as outdoor activities such as hiking in the Partnachklamm gorge or going up to Germany's highest peak, the Zugspitze, both are very close to Munich and can be done as day trips. This region is also home to three fairy- tales castles by Ludwig II. Salzburg, the city of Mozart and Austria are about one hour far from Munich too. So you would have the chance to see Austria too! Lakes, mountains, palaces, tradition. Austria... think of all them combined. This is what makes Munich so special compared to other German cities. The surrounding of Munich is not only what makes Munich so special but the city itself is great! For those who like experiencing traditional Bavarian culture (beer halls, cuisine, old architecture, hospitality of the locals...), Munich is a must. Munich is however torn between tradition and modernism. Modern because Munich is home to Germany's most prestigious universities so technology is advanced, also because the city is home to Siemens, BMW and Allianz insurance. There is the Englischer Garten, the World's biggest inner-city garden, which you can walk through and grab a bier in the Chinesischer Turm (chinese tower). Munich is also great location if you would like to visit some other Bavarian cities including Nuremberg, Regensburg, Bamberg, Augsburg...

3- Rheinland: A series of cities and villages located on the shores of the Rhein river. This region is known for being good for wine, full of castles, scenic and very close to the Black Forest if that tells you something. The Rhein river lies in western Germany, beginning as south as Switzerland to as north as Holland. The best part is the stretch from a little north of Frankfurt to Bonn (the former capital of West Germany). If you go there, it is then a must for cruise, wine tasting and castle visit.

I posted for you three different regions in Germany. Depending on your interests, each could appeal to you differently than the other. My favorite is definitely Munich because I like the village- like atmosphere in the big city, which would be totally different than Singapore, therefore interesting for you (a real city with skyscrapers, this is exactly what Munich is NOT but is Germany's third largest city, believe it or not). No other German city beats Munich in its outdoor activities as mentioned few lines above.

Munich and its region would definitely need a week.

Berlin and surrounding also a week.

The Rhineland coupled with some cities in West Germany (which I find too industrial) need about less than one week.... OF course, depending on how fast you are and on your interests, which you did not specify.

There is no bad choice in Germany. Everything is nice to see and experience.

Great that you are coming to Germany!! Enjoy!

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