Berlin may still be one of the best-value cities in Europe but, for visitors, those euros can start to add up after days of museum-hopping and nights of clubbing. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to stretch your budget further by cashing in on some tip-top freebies.
Get 360 degree views of Berlin from the Reichstag Dome ©Nikada/Getty Images
Catch a ride to the Reichstag’s dome
The Reichstag is home to Germany’s parliament, the Bundestag, and a free lift ride to its roof terrace offers spectacular views over Berlin and close-ups of the glass dome, designed by Norman Foster, powering from the historic building. Pick up a free audio guide and learn about surrounding sights, the building and the workings of the parliament while moseying up the dome’s spiralling ramp. The glass aims to create a sense of political transparency. Book way ahead or hope for no-shows on the day of your visit.
Stroll the East Side Gallery
A colourful memorial to freedom, the East Side Gallery sits along the Spree River and is the longest remaining section of the Berlin Wall. Shortly after its fall in November 1989, more than 100 artists from all over the world turned it into an open-air gallery covered in declarations of peace and other, often politically minded murals.
Get a view of the whole city
It’s easy to get a panoramic view of the whole city at costly attractions like the Fernsehturm or Panoramapunkt, but for travellers on a budget there are free ways to take in the German capital. Rooftop bar Klunkerkranich sits atop a multi-storey car park in Neukölln, offering beautiful views and delicious drinks. For a more idyllic setting, take a walk up the hill at Viktoriapark and enjoy a sprawling view from atop the peaceful waterfall, or make the trek out to Teufelsberg, a man-made hill constructed from the rubble leftover from World War II which was used by the Americans as a Cold War listening post.
Admission for Museum Island on the Spree river is free for under 18s ©Jonathan Stokes/Lonely Planet
Marvel at the architecture on Museum Island
At the tip of Spree Island, Museum Island is complex of five museums – Pergamonmuseum, Bodemuseum, Neues Museum, Alte Nationalgalerie and Altes Museum – that collectively enjoy Unesco World Heritage status. While you’ll need to pay entry to peruse artefacts within, strolling the island to take in the magnificent architecture costs you nothing.
Pay your respects at the Holocaust Memorial
The haunting Holocaust Memorial, which commemorates the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust, consists of a giant field of stelae – 2711 sarcophagus-like concrete slabs varying in height on undulating ground. As you walk through, an unsettling atmosphere is created from the audible whispers and footsteps of others close by.
Sample Berlin’s comedy scene
The English stand-up comedy scene in Berlin has been exploding in recent years. While many shows are easily affordable with low entry costs, some open mics are small events are just as good with a donation-only cover charge, so you can pay whatever you want. Check out beloved stand-up hubs like Bar In A Jar or Comedy Café to see what’s on offer.
Take advantage of Berlin’s affordable public transport and take a tour of the city whenever you want © Sean Gallup/Getty Images
Get the bus
Many of the city’s guided bus tours are affordable, but to save a few pennies you can take the 100 bus, which is covered by regular transit tickets and travels through many of the key sites and attractions like the Siegessäule, the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, Zoologischer Garten, and Alexanderplatz.
See the city on foot
To get some insight on the city from the experts, many free walking tours are available focusing on specific districts, interesting parts of the city’s history, or Berlin’s iconic street art scene. The tours are free, but it’s expected to offer a tip to the guide if you enjoyed the experience.
Locals often use Berlin’s abandoned airport for picnics, cycling, jogging and more © Christina Webb/Lonely Planet
Picnic in a park
In summer Berliners flock to their favourite parks to tan, picnic and knock back a few beers. The Tiergarten is the sprawling central city park with lots of paths, ponds and romantic corners. Or, for something unconventional, head to Tempelhofer Feld, a former airport turned public park. Grab a disposable BBQ at the supermarket and grill your bratwursts next to the former runway. Mauerpark, which was forged from the ‘death strip’ once dividing the two Berlins, is another great hangout, especially on Sundays when a flea market and outdoor karaoke kick into action.
Feast your eyes at food markets
Check out what gets cooked up in local kitchens by taking in the gourmet delights at a farmers’ market. One of the best happens at Kollwitzplatz in Prenzlauer Berg, has an artisanal vibe and takes place on Thursdays and Saturdays. Kudos for being the most colourful goes to the Turkish Market held on Tuesday and Friday along the canal in Kreuzberg. Nearby, Markthalle Neun is a historic market hall that hosts produce vendors on Fridays and Saturdays but is most fun on Thursday evenings when fashionable foodies invade for a celebration of international street food.
Street art artist El Bocho’s colourful artwork in an underpass at the Holzmarktstrasse © Paul Zinken/dpa/Getty Images
Dip into Berlin’s vibrant street art scene
Berlin is one of the world’s street art capitals with plenty of international players having left their mark on local facades, including Blu, Pure Evil, ROA, JR and Os Gemeos alongside local talent like El Bocho and Alias. Keep an eye out as you walk around, especially in eastern Kreuzberg, around Boxhagener Platz and the RAW Gelände in Friedrichshain, Kastanienallee in Prenzlauer Berg and Haus Schwarzenberg in Mitte.
Reflect on Germany’s darkest period at the Topography of Terror
Right where once stood the most feared government institutions of Nazi Germany, including the Gestapo headquarters, the Topographie des Terrors exhibit documents the horrific chronology of the Third Reich. From spring to autumn, outdoor panels highlight how daily life changed for Berliners after the Nazi takeover. For an even more in-depth experience, take the self-guided tour around the chilling grounds.
Visit Sachsenhausen concentration camp memorial
The horrors of the Third Reich become all too real when walking around Sachsenhausen, one of the first Nazi-built concentration camps on German soil. The most sobering stop is Station Z with its execution trench, crematorium and gas chamber.
The parts of the Berlin Wall that still stand today are free to view ©turtix/Shutterstock
Get the full picture of the Berlin Wall
Germany’s central memorial to the victims of the Berlin Wall, the Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer (Berlin Wall Memorial) stretches for 1.4km along Bernauer Strasse, along the actual course of the Wall. This is the best place to learn how all the elements of the hated barrier and the death strip fit together, how the border fortifications were enlarged and perfected over time, and what impact they had on the daily lives of people on both sides.
Rummage around a flea market
Seek out one of the many flea markets that set up around town on weekends. Whether you’re after vintage threads, GDR kitchenware or retro lighting, you’ll find a flea market to your fancy. Our picks are Arkonaplatz for vintage finds, Nowkoelln Flowmarkt for Berlin fashion and designs, and Mauerpark for its eclectic selection, beer gardens and people-watching.
Stand in the crosshairs of the Cold War
Although Checkpoint Charlie has mostly degenerated into a tourist trap, it’s still an essential place to visit. The principal gateway for foreigners and diplomats between the two Berlins, it was here where the world stood on the brink of WWIII when US and Soviet tanks faced off in 1961. A free outdoor exhibits chronicles milestones in Cold War history.
Many of Berlin’s best-known landmarks, like the striking Brandenburg Gate, can be viewed for free ©canadastock/Shutterstock
Behold the majestic Brandenburg Gate
Berlin’s most iconic landmark, the Brandenburg Gate, was erected in 1791 as the royal city gate, but spent the Cold War years abutting the Berlin Wall and thus becoming a symbol of the divided nation. Crowned by an elaborate sculpture of the winged goddess of victory piloting a chariot, it now serves as an potent symbol of German reunification.
Explore the charismatic Hackescher Höfe
A charismatic warren of eight beautifully restored courtyards in central Mitte, the Hackescher Höfe is the perfect place for an afternoon coffee, shopping for indie Berlin fashion and design, taking a few Instagram pics with the eclectic street art, or picking up an idiosyncratic gift for the folks back home. Be sure to explore every little nook and cranny so you don’t miss something wonderful.
Enjoy sounds for free
Every Tuesday at 1pm, the foyer of the famous Berliner Philharmonie gets packed with classical music fans for free lunchtime chamber music concerts. Students of the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler also show off their skills at free recitals several times weekly. Jazz haunts A-Trane, b-flat, Quasimodo and Kunstfabrik Schlot host free jam sessions on different nights. Also check the listings magazines for free rock concerts at venues around town.
Belt out a tune at Bearpit Karaoke
Karaoke crazies can have their rock-star moment in Mauerpark on summer Sundays. Be prepared for a capacity crowd cramming onto the bleachers of an outdoor amphitheatre to cheer and clap for the brave singing souls performing in the ‘pit’. It’s a great spectacle and easily combined with a spin around the Mauerpark flea market.
Tegeler See lake is a great spot for cooling off © PEER GRIMM/dpa/Getty Images
Escape to a lake
On a warm day, join locals and jump on a train, lugging your swimsuit and a six-pack of beer, to cool off at a nearby lake. Schlachtensee lies on the fringes of the Grunewald Forest, 30 minutes from the city, with clear water and plenty of picnic spots. Just behind the Tegel airport is the beautiful Tegeler See, with its steamboat cruises and row boats for hire. To lose the crowds, get your own wheels and venture 40km northeast to woodsy Bernsteinsee.
Ponder the futility of war at the Soviet War Memorial
Venture into Treptower Park to explore the massive Soviet War Memorial which commemorates the 5000 Soviet soldiers who died in the final Battle of Berlin. Designed by Soviet architect Yakov Bolopolsky, it incorporates a statue of Mother Russia, a red marble entranceway flanked by kneeling soldiers and a 13m tall statue of a Soviet soldier holding a child.
Admire the Berliner Dom
Stand in awe of the lavish exterior of the Italian Renaissance-style former royal court church, the Berliner Dom. The interior brims with artworks but admission is free only during services.
Dance the night away at a free club
While almost all of the nightclubs in Berlin’s iconic music scene charge an entry fee, a little digging can provide a few free options for the budget music fiend. Dunckerclub and Süss war Gestern are typical haunts for dancing on a shoestring.
Some more Berlin money-saving tips:
- Check out popular hostels like Circus Hostel and East Seven Berlin, or look for short-term apartments in cheaper neighbourhoods like Moabit, Wedding or Weissensee.
- A steal for culture vultures, the Museumspass Berlin buys admission to the permanent exhibits of about 50 museums for three consecutive days. It costs €24 (concession €12) and is sold at tourist offices and participating museums.
- Shop at discount supermarkets like Aldi, Penny, Netto or Lidl for cheap groceries (not to mention beer!) to cook at your apartment or hostel.
- Head to Thaipark on the weekends for cheap but delectable Asian food and a burst of culture.
- Rock up to one of the city’s many brunch buffets on Sunday for a perfect all-you-can-eat hangover breakfast. Our favourites are at Südblock, Schiller Bar, and Pasternak.
- Berlin’s public transport system offers a lot of cheap options which are valid across trams, buses, trains and ferries, from a €7 day ticket to the €30 7-day ticket. Welcome Cards offer countless discounts for tourists, and the monthly 10-Uhr-karte offers a reduced cost but only allows travel after 10am.
First published in September 2013. Check out adventure tours for every traveller from our trusted partners.