There are some city breaks that look good on paper, and then there are the ones that work beautifully in real life. Our recent trip to Prague and Berlin definitely fell into the second category.

Flying from Newcastle, spending four nights in Prague, taking the train to Berlin, then flying home direct from Berlin, made this a really enjoyable and surprisingly straightforward European city break.

It also reminded me why I like combining two cities in one trip. You get the excitement of arriving somewhere new, the contrast of two very different places, and the feeling that you have made the most of your time away without turning the whole holiday into a overly stressy military operation!

Flying from Newcastle to Prague with Lufthansa

We flew Lufthansa from Newcastle to Prague via Frankfurt, and the whole experience was pretty hassle-free.

Newcastle Airport is always an easy airport to leave from. It is one of the reasons I keep recommending it for clients in the North East. It is manageable, familiar, and rarely feels as draining as some of the larger UK airports.

Frankfurt was busy, as you would expect, but perfectly fine. The only real downside was the long queue at German immigration (although this was still far shorter than some destinations I’ve heard of), which was not ideal, but also not enough to spoil the journey.

Arriving into Prague was smooth, and the views as we came into land were a lovely introduction to the city. We took an Uber into central Prague with a very cheerful driver, which always helps get things off to a good start.

Where we stayed in Prague: Almanac X Alcron Prague Hotel

In Prague, we stayed at the Almanac X Alcron Prague Hotel, which had excellent reviews and lived up to them in many ways.

The rooms were huge by European city hotel standards, and the renovated bathrooms were excellent. It felt comfortable, well located, and very easy for exploring the city.

There is one useful tip, though. If you are given a street-facing room, you may hear some noise from the Irish bar down the street. We were on the third floor and could certainly hear things at night. The hotel does provide in-room ear plugs, which tells you they are aware of it, but my advice would be simple: request a room that does not face the street.

Other than that, it was a very strong choice for a Prague city break.

Seeing the best of Prague

Prague is every bit as stunning as people say it is, but it is also VERY popular! We travelled in May and purposely avoided the UK school holidays, but Charles Bridge and Old Town Square were still quite busy. That is worth knowing if you are expecting quiet early summer streets.

That said, it is busy for a reason. Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, Old Town Square and the lanes around the centre all have that “yes, this is why people come here” feeling.

The Astronomical Clock was a real highlight. It is one of those sights that can feel over-familiar from photos, but seeing it in person is still special. The clock dates back to 1410 and sits on the Old Town Hall. On the hour, the figures of the Apostles appear, while the astronomical dial shows the position of the sun and moon. It is part clock, part theatre, part medieval engineering flex.

We also visited Café Louvre, where Franz Kafka used to go. It is one of those grand European cafés where you can easily imagine people sitting for hours over coffee, newspapers and big ideas. We also saw Kafka’s rotating head sculpture, which is a very modern contrast to the older parts of the city.

Another favourite was the tower of books inside Prague’s Municipal Library. It is a clever art installation that uses mirrors to make the tower appear endless. It is simple, fun, and definitely worth popping in to see if you are nearby (and yes, there will be a queue to see it but it’s not too bad).

Prague by river and underground

One of the best decisions we made was taking a two-hour river cruise. After walking up to Prague Castle, it was exactly what we needed. A chance to rest the feet, enjoy the views and have a drink on a sunny day.

We also did a tour of underground Prague, which was fascinating. Parts of the old city were effectively raised over time because of flooding, leaving cellars, passages and older street levels underneath today’s Prague. It gives you a completely different perspective on the city.

It is easy to look at Prague and only see the postcard version. Going underground reminds you that there are layers of history beneath your feet.

Czech beer, dumplings and a near food coma

The beer in Prague was ridiculously good value. We had large glasses of excellent beer for as little as €3, which is the sort of thing that makes you question every pub bill you have ever paid in the UK.

Czech food was interesting to try, and I am always glad to sample local dishes, but I will admit that if I had eaten one more dumpling, I might have slipped into a food coma for the rest of the trip.

Good? Yes. Hearty? Absolutely. Light and breezy? Not exactly.

Prague to Berlin by train

After four nights in Prague, we took the train to Berlin.

It cost around £40 one way, non-stop.

And no, let’s not ask what that same journey might have cost in the UK.

The journey was smooth, comfortable and a great way to link the two cities. It also made the whole trip feel more interesting than simply flying in and out of the same place. We arrived into Berlin, jumped in a waiting cab, and headed straight to our hotel for the next three nights.

Where we stayed in Berlin: The Hoxton, Charlottenburg

In Berlin, we stayed at The Hoxton, Charlottenburg.

We had previously stayed at The Hoxton in Rome, and Berlin had the same stylish feel and excellent customer service. The staff were great, the hotel felt polished without being stiff, and Charlottenburg worked well as a base.

If I had to pick a winner between the two Hoxton hotels, though, Rome just edges it on room decor. Italian style, what can I say?

Berlin was still a very good hotel choice and one I would happily recommend.

Three days in Berlin

Berlin is a brilliant city for anyone interested in history, politics, architecture and culture. It is not always conventionally pretty, but it is one of the most interesting cities in Europe.

Over three days, we saw many of the major sights, including the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag, Checkpoint Charlie, the Berlin Wall Memorial, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, Museum Island, Berlin Cathedral, the TV Tower, Potsdamer Platz and the East Side Gallery.

One of the absolute highlights was a VW camper van tour of the city with a local resident. He was one of the first people to cross into West Berlin on the night the Wall came down, and his stories were incredible. That kind of tour adds something you simply cannot get from wandering around on your own.

Even better, this is the sort of experience we can book for you, our One Extra Night Travel clients.

We also visited the East Side Gallery, the famous section of the Berlin Wall that is still standing and now covered in artwork by artists from around the world. It is powerful, colourful, moving and very easy to include in a Berlin itinerary.

*“My God, Help Me to Survive This Deadly Love” - By Dmitri Vrubel on The Berlin Wall*

Kurfürstendamm, Luisenstadt and Potsdamer Platz

We also spent time around Kurfürstendamm, Luisenstadt and Potsdamer Platz, which each show a different side of Berlin.

Kurfürstendamm is Berlin’s famous shopping boulevard in City West, with hotels, cafés, shops and a grander feel than some other parts of the city.

Luisenstadt gives you more of Berlin’s layered neighbourhood character, stretching through parts of Mitte and Kreuzberg. It is the kind of area that reminds you Berlin is not just about headline landmarks.

Potsdamer Platz is fascinating because it went from being a major pre-war square to a divided Cold War space, and then into a modern district of offices, restaurants, cinemas and striking architecture after reunification.

That is Berlin in a nutshell, really. You are constantly moving between past and present.

Flying home direct from Berlin to Newcastle

At the end of the trip, we flew home direct from Berlin to Newcastle with Eurowings.

After starting with Lufthansa via Frankfurt, travelling by train between Prague and Berlin, and then flying home direct, the whole route worked really well.

It felt like a proper European city break, but without too much faff.

Our trip highlights

If I had to choose the standout moments, they would be:

Staying in two very good city hotels
Seeing the Astronomical Clock in Old Town Square
Visiting Café Louvre and the Kafka sculpture
Taking the river cruise after walking up to Prague Castle
Drinking excellent Czech beer for around €3
Taking the direct Prague to Berlin train
The VW camper van tour in Berlin with a guide who had lived through history
Walking along the East Side Gallery
Flying home direct to Newcastle

Would I recommend combining Prague and Berlin?

Yes, absolutely.

Prague and Berlin make a really good two-centre European city break. They are very different cities, which is exactly why the combination works.

Prague gives you beauty, history, old streets, castle views, river cruises and very good-value beer.

Berlin gives you scale, culture, modern history, neighbourhoods, powerful stories and a completely different energy.

Together, they make a trip that feels varied, interesting and easy to recommend.

Planning a Prague or Berlin city break?

If you are thinking about a Prague city break, a Berlin city break, or a two-city holiday combining both, One Extra Night Travel can help put it together.

We can look at flights from Newcastle or other UK airports, recommend hotels, arrange train travel between cities, book transfers, and suggest tours that make the trip feel more personal.

That includes experiences like the VW camper van tour we took in Berlin, which was one of the best things we did.

Message Guy at One Extra Night Travel and I will help you plan a European city break that works properly from start to finish.

Prague and Berlin: A Two-City Break That Really Works