Visiting Berlin on a Budget

Let me set the scene for you; I’m taking my first-ever solo trip outside of the country, I’ve got my guidebook in hand and my backpack clamped to my back and I’m ready to explore Berlin, Germany!  I get to the hotel, ready to dump my stuff and get to exploring and I go to pay for my hotel and realise…I’d left my bank card at home!

Panic set in and I’m forced to scrape together all my Euros to make just enough to pay for the hotel (we’re talking all my change and everything) but I am now left with just 20 euros cash left for my trip.  Not ideal!  Especially as all guidebooks had warned me that Berlin was very much a ‘cash is king’ economy with most places not set up to take cards, so I was forced to try and get away with spending as little as possible (I found out during my trip that thanks to the pandemic most places actually now take contactless which meant I could pay for most things in my phone thankfully.).  Now I’m not a lavish spender when I travel any way but now I really had to be careful with how and where I chose to spend money, so here’s my somewhat unexpected guide to Visiting Berlin on a Budget

Every guidebook will advise you that with Berlin being very large and sprawling that you must take public transport everywhere, and I don’t really agree that that is the case.  Sure, I did take a train or two for time efficiency but for the most part, I walked everywhere.  Berlin is very flat and as such walking around the city is a breeze.  I’m a big walker and my favourite way to explore a city is on foot as you get to see so much more than just the prominent tourist attractions.  I think more of Berlin is walkable than people think as long as you have the time.

Thankfully Berlin’s public transport is pretty cheap anyway when you compare it to London’s if you do need to use it but if you download the BVG app in advance you can get cheaper deals by buying tickets directly through the app.  Not only that but you can check out the deals where you can buy a certain number of trips in advance for a cheaper price or unlimited travel deals for 24 hours.  The app is easy to use, faster than buying a ticket in person and cheaper so it’s a big win for me!  You can also travel from the airport to central Berlin really quickly and cheaply using their train service which is a great way to save money.

From visiting the Berlin Wall and the Berlin Wall Memorial Viewing Platform, to the Brandenburg  Gate, to walking down the East Side Gallery and taking in the street art or viewing the Typography of Terror, to Checkpoint Charlie and visiting Museum Island to take in the architecture; there are plenty of things you can do in Berlin that come at no cost at all.   There are even a bunch of free museums to visit in Berlin on a budget and plenty of parks to wander through if you want to take it easy.

Whilst Berlin is a great place to check out a germanic restaurant or two, its street food game is elite!  Berlin is a real mixing pot of cultures which lends itself perfectly to great street food options from around the world.  There are street food places everywhere at really great prices and the Markthalle Neun (market nine) on a Thursday is a real highlight.  Not only that but the vegan options throughout Berlin are some of the best I’ve seen anywhere and especially in the street food vendors where it’s almost always an option.  It says a lot about Berlin’s eating vultures that one of their top ‘must try’ foods is a German Doner kebab, making visiting Berlin on a budget a breeze when it comes to food!

Most large European capitals have great free walking tours (you just need to give your guide a tip at the end) and Berlin is no exception.  It has a great range from Berlin under the Swastika, to a Communist and Socialist Berlin tour, a Beautiful Lakes of Berlin tour and so many more to cover all tastes.  I did the Alternative Berlin tour which crossed Berlin over 3 hours and covered various things from its political history, to the incredible street art scene and lots more.  It’s one of the best things I did on my visit and I highly recommend it.

Berlin is a large city and relatively new, which means there are great options for places to stay.  I used booking.com for my stay at  Motel One Berlin Spittelmarkt as it meant I didn’t need to pay until I arrived but there are loads of great hostels if you don’t mind sharing and you can get some great deals mid-week.

I highly recommend travelling to Berlin on a budget if you are looking for a cheap city break.  There is so much to see and do without breaking the bank.  Let me know what your budget travel tips are if you have them!