Verdict first: with 5+ days pick Berlin (big scale, rewards slow exploration); with 3–4 days pick Amsterdam (compact and walkable). Budget: Berlin runs €50–80/day versus €90–130 in Amsterdam. Amsterdam's big three — Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank House — require advance online booking in peak season; base yourself in the Jordaan or De Pijp. Berlin highlights: Museum Island, the 1.3km East Side Gallery, and the food and nightlife of Kreuzberg/Neukölln. Direct trains take about 6 hours and budget flights under 2 hours (€30–60), so 7–10 days covers both.