Air conditioning is virtually unheard of (including in hotels in Berlin), and the subways and buses start feeling more like saunas. When the thermometer starts rising, try these popular ways to cool down, local style.

1. Bathing: Au naturel

When summer rolls around, half the city heads to the lakes that dot Berlin and its surrounding area. Consult this Berlin swimming map and head out to nature.

And by “nature,” I mean that clothing is optional.

2. Bathing: To see and be seen

But if you’re more the type to lounge than lunge into the water, a quiet lake in a rustic forest just won’t do. Slip into something sexy and head to Badeschiff (pictured, top), a small bathing platform floating in the river smack in the middle of the city.

This is where “scenesters” come to strut their stuff and check out one another. Evening concerts and parties are especially popular. A ticket is only €8, but you have to reserve your time slot online in advance.

Look out for ice cream trucks. “Ice cream makes you happy.” Photo: Scottog

3. Ice cream

You can’t seem to walk a few blocks without walking past an ice cream parlor in the German capital. Homemade, all-natural ice cream is the norm, not the exception — there are countless independent shops that serve frozen treats in all shades and flavors. Here’s a list of some of the best.

Also, keep an eye out for ice cream trucks. On a hot day, you might just come across one for a quick and cheap cool down!

4. Fight fire with fire: Hot Currywurst

Sometimes you need to warm up to cool down. Case in point: currywurst. But where can you find currywurst in Berlin that really turns up the heat?

A glaring omission in my past post about currywurst was Curry & Chili, which has the hottest wieners in the city.

5. When all else fails: Street water pumps

Berlin sits on a huge underground water reserve, and until the 1930s Berliners used hand-operated pumps on the streets to clean, put out fires and even drink. Some 2,000 pumps remain functional today, and though they deliver untreated water straight from the ground underneath, 2/3 of them deliver drinkable quality water. (Berlin’s tap water, by the way, is excellent.)

So pump out some water, splash it on yourself and go on your merry way. It won’t cost you a thing.

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1. Kunsthof
Oranienburger Straße 27
Mitte

On Oranienburger Strasse, where packs of tourists pass ladies of the night, there’s a quiet cobblestone courtyard. Inside, there are a few art galleries of questionable caliber and overpriced cafes. But what I love about this space is how silent it is, especially compared to the around-the-clock noise of the street just outside. This is a great place to take a seat on a public bench and write postcards.

3. RAW Tempel
Revaler Straße 99
Friedrichshain

RAW Tempel, a former train depot-turned-cultural space, isn’t exactly unknown, but not many visitors to Friedrichshain see it, which is a shame. The huge warehouses have been converted into concert halls, skating ramp and clubs. You can catch a film, buy secondhand stuff at the flea market or even rent climbing gear and scale a bunker.

And if you want to get off the beaten path, there are countless hidden gems like these. But that’s for another story…

Also in our guide: We also have recommendations for great hidden hotels in Berlin, all of them visited, inspected and reviewed by our editors. Read more in our Berlin hotel guide.

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Mayor Wowereit, affectionately called “Wowi,” also popularized the phrase “poor but sexy” to describe this bankrupt city. So no wonder Berlin is a Cheapo heaven—even the high glam of gay clubs won’t set you back too much.

Here are a few resources you need for a gay ol’ time in the world’s queer capital on the cheap.

1. Siegessäule

The free monthly queer mag is your one-stop resource for all things gay. You won’t need much German to read the calendar section at the back: S&M, after all, is “S&M” in German, too. You’ll see dozens of events and parties listed every day.

2. SchwuZ
Mehringdamm 61
(030) 6290880

Berlin’s gay scene is largely dominated by small bars. Very few clubs match SchwuZ’s longevity and diversity. Check the calendar before you go–or you might be surprised to find a gay goth night, a ladies-only gathering, or even a foam party (Yes, we’re still reliving the ’90s here. Stop judging us).

Extra cheapo tip: No one wants to be seen there too early, but the cover’s cheaper before midnight. Here’s how locals do it: Pay first, get your hand stamped, then take a seat in the popular ground floor bar for a drink before heading into the club. I repeat: stop judging us.

3. Die Busche
Warschauer Platz 18
(030) 296 08 00

No one ever admits to going here, but mysteriously the place gets packed as the night wears on. It may be the lowest rung in the hierarchy of queer establishments, but the unabashedly tacky atmosphere makes for a fun, down-to-earth evening out. (Brace yourself for top 40 hits… from a few years ago.) Also, it may be the only queer place in town where girls outnumber boys.

4. GMF
Alexander Straße 7

If Die Busche is low, GMF is as high as it gets–literally. The decadent Sunday party radiates thumping music from the dizzying heights of a high-rise at Alexanderplatz. By Berlin standards, the €10 cover is hefty, but if you’re planning on staying out all night, the rooftop seats are probably more plush than your hostel bed.

Also in our guide: We don’t just stop at clubs and bars; we also have great recommendations for the most affordable hotels in Berlin, all of them visited and inspected by our editors. Read our reviews (and see our photos) in our Berlin guide.

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Some streets in Berlin are so jam-packed with cheapo establishments that they deserve their own blog post. Falckensteinstrasse, in the fast gentrifying Wrangelkiez, is one of them.

This Kreuzberg street, which intersects with the hoppin’ Schlesische Strasse, has a number of budget eateries worth checking out. Here are my favorites:

Basilikum / Eis Aldemir / Thymian
Falckensteinstraße 7

The holy trinity of budget eateries is owned by the same Turkish family. Basilikum and Thymian each serves two to four daily specials that range from Mediterranean (pasta) to German (Spätzle)–all for between €2 and €4.50. Eis Aldemir, which is flanked between the two, is a good ice cream parlor with average prices (€1 a scoop).

Les Enfants Gatés
Falckensteinstraße 33
Web site

Cute cafe that serves real French pastries. At €3, the pastries may not seem like such a bargain for Berlin, but considering the quality and atmosphere, it’s a good deal.

Café am Kamin
Falckensteinstr. 18

This tiny cafe has a fireplace. Luckily, they keep it off in summer.

Buddha’s Kitchen
Falckensteinstr. 42
Web site

The Vietnamese community in Berlin has perfected the art of budget-friendly, fresh Asian food. Buddha’s Kitchen serves standard Berlin Asian fares–Vietnamese noodle soup, salad or meat in curry. It’s nothing you’ll write home about, but the €5 lunch deals definitely do the job. Best of all, there are two more Vietnamese-run places nearby, and they’re all pretty much interchangeable.

The main thoroughfare of Schlesische Strasse has an endless choice of bars and clubs, as well as snack bars. Cheapo night owls can do very well here.

Also on EuroCheapo: If you’re planning a trip to Berlin, check out our no-nonsense reviews of budget hotels in Berlin. We’ve visited and inspected hotels throughout the city, and recommend the best central cheapies. Read more in our Berlin guide.

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Among the many beer garden options the city offers, these four stand out:

Prater

Kastanienallee 7-9, Prenzlauer Berg

The one and only Prater is a mandatory summer stop for locals and tourists alike. Said to be the city’s oldest beer garden (dating back to 1837), this Prenzlauer Berg institution can accommodate up to 600 guests in its garden and indoor restaurant. Forget Oktoberfest–this is the real deal.

Schleusenkrug

Müller-Breslau-Str. 1
www.schleusenkrug.de

Located near the Tiergarten, right on the river, this small bar/kiosk fires up the grill in summer for brats and other goodies. Cold beer, good views, nice people–it doesn’t get much better than this.

Come to Golgatha after the sun goes down. Photo: Eugene Kim

Golgatha

Viktoria Park, Kreuzberg
www.golgatha-berlin.de

Kreuzberg’s answer to Prater, this beer garden inside a public park really gets going later in the evening. Beach chairs complement picnic tables. If you’re feeling anti-social, they offer Wi-Fi. But if you feel like mingling, there’s also dancing.

Loretta am Wannsee

Kronprinzessinnenweg 260, Wannsee
www.loretta-berlin.de

For a day trip, Wannsee, one of the largest and most popular lakes around Berlin, offers a sandy beach, shallow water and Loretta–a beer garden with a good wine selection. Watch the sailboats (or nudists, depending on where you’re looking) pass by as you kick back with a drink.

Other beer gardens

Have another beer garden in Berlin to recommend? Tell us about it in our comments section. Prost!

Also on EuroCheapo: If you’re planning a trip to Berlin and looking for affordable places to sleep, swing by our city guide to read reviews of our recommended hotels in Berlin, all of them visited, inspected and reviewed by our editors.

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Here are some vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Berlin worth checking out:

Yellow Sunshine
Wiener Straße 19
Tel: 030 695 987 20
Web site

You can have your döner and eat it too. Kreuzberg’s vegetarian/vegan fast food joint does Berlin staples meat-free. Currywurst? Check. Hamburgers? Of course. Don’t let the title “fast food” fool you, though. The wait can be quite long–it’s that popular.

Die Rebellion des Zimtsterns
Schlesische Straße 38
Tel: 030 612 888 98

This tiny bad-ass cafe on action-packed Schlesische Strasse is vegan. Grab that butterless, dairy-free apple strudel and down it with soy latte. Daily lunches are €5.

Samadhi
Wilhelmstrasse 77
Tel: 030 224 888 50
Web site

Samadhi serves vegetarian Thai and Vietnamese dishes–whoop de doo, you may say. But, notice the prime location–right by the Brandenburg Gate.

Yoyo Foodworld
Gärtnerstraße 27
030 49 787 384
Web site

This 100% vegan joint is a stone’s throw away from the Boxhagener Platz flea market in hip Friedrichshain.

More advice: If you’re also hunting down the perfect hotel for your trip, be sure to swing by our city guide to read our reviews of our favorite cheap Berlin hotels, all of them inspected and photographed by our editors.

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1. Another Country (Bookshop)
Riemannstraße 7, Kreuzberg
Tel: (030) 6940 1160
Web site
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m.–8 p.m.;  Sat. 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Don’t be fooled by the rocks it ain’t got. This shabby used bookstore in the stately Bergmannstrasse neighborhood is a gem. The fiction section may need a thorough re-cataloging, but the real highlight is the owner’s lovingly curated personal sci-fi collection. Many of the obscure titles are for borrowing only.

2. Saint Georges English Bookshop
Wörther Straße 27, Prenzlauer Berg
Tel: (030) 8179 8333
Web site
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m.–8 p.m.; Sat. 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

As Germans would say, klein aber fein (“small but fine”). The Saint Georges offers a reading series and a good selection that mainly caters to the expat crowd.

3. East of Eden
Schreinerstraße 10, Friedrichshain
Tel: (030) 423 93 62
Web site
Hours: Mon.-Fri 12 p.m.–7 p.m.; Sat. 12 p.m.-4 p.m.

I don’t know about Eden, but this indy shop certainly is on the eastern side of the city. Most books are used, except for new reprints of classics (read: cheap!).

4. Dussmann – das KulturKaufhaus
Friedrichstrasse 90, Mitte
Web site
Hours: Mon-Sat 10 a.m.–midnight

What am I doing writing about this mammoth corporation when I should be promoting small local bookshops? Well, just look at the newly built English section, tucked away in the back—it has plenty of seating and an up-to-date selection. Plus, it’s open until midnight, for those late night book cravings.

More planning advice: Are you planning a trip to Berlin? If so, be sure to stop by our guide to the best budget hotels in Berlin. Our editors have visited, inspected and reviewed affordable hotels all over central Berlin and recommend their favorites. Read more in our Berlin guide.

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That means almost every night, you have three productions to choose from. They can run the gamut from the usual suspects (yes, Figaro, I’m looking at you) to more obscure choices (this season, we have two separate productions of a modern piece about Carmelite nuns during the French Revolution).

Though the competing directors seem to incessantly complain about budget cuts, all three operas, the Staatsoper, Deutsche Oper and Komische Oper, seem to be thriving, dutifully putting on new productions and old favorites from September through June. Luckily for us, that means there is a glut of seats to fill, so tickets are sold at heavily subsidized prices.

Here’s a guide to divas, deception and drama—all so unglamorously affordable.

Classic Card
www.classiccard.de

If you’re under 30, you’re in luck. The excellent Classic Card lets the cardholder buy any seat in any of the opera houses for €10. That’s right—center orchestra seat, close enough to see the singers quiver. Just one good seat pays for the card, which is €15 and valid for one year. Since it’s also valid at ballets and symphonies, this tiny piece of plastic has saved me thousands over the years. Buy at the box office and start using it right away.

Komische Oper
Behrenstraße 55-57
030 47997400
U-55/S-Bahn Brandenburger Tor or U-6 Französische Str.
www.komische-oper-berlin.de

Young, cool and cheeky, the Komische Oper on Unter den Linden puts on productions that are daring even by Berlin standards. You get individual subtitles, which also come in English, so you can at least try to keep up with the story lines. The cheapest top balcony seats can be had for €8 to €12 (premieres are always more expensive). Except for premieres, students under 30 and seniors over 65 get 25% off all tickets as well.

Staatsoper im Schiller Theater
Bismarckstraße 110
030 202683
U-2 Ernst Reuter Platz
www.staatsoper-berlin.de

While its sumptuous, cathedral-like home base is being renovated, this former East German crown jewel has fled to the West. In its temporary (and smaller) home at the Schiller Theater, tickets can be had for as low as €14, but students and seniors get 50% off all seats; or, they can risk it until an hour before curtain call and grab whatever is left over for €13. But the best deals are for kiddies: for designated children-friendly matinee performances, tickets are €3.

Deutsche Oper
Bismarckstraße 35
030.343 84 343
U-2 Deutsche Oper
www.deutscheoperberlin.de

The West Berlin opera is a mammoth black box of acoustic wonder. Nosebleed seats are €14, and as the theater is much bigger than the other two, you may actually struggle to see everything from up there. Students under 30 get 50% off all tickets one week before the performance, and pay no more than €13.50 one hour before performance.

One word of warning: There are two older box office attendants whose brusqueness is legendary. (I once saw a Spanish tourist reduced to tears.) Don’t take it personally. We’ve all been abused by them, but we keep going back for more.

Extra cheapo tip: Sometimes your opera ticket doubles as a public transportation ticket from and to the theater, so check the fine print on the ticket. If you have Berlin Welcome Card, you also get 25% off certain tickets at all of the three operas.

More unsolicited advice: I once saw a poor thing arrive in what seemed like a very uncomfortable prom dress. This is Berlin, so you really don’t need to dress up. You’ll see society folks in haute couture and students in jeans side by side. So just be yourself and enjoy the music.

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Here are five weekday lunch deals that won’t set you back more than €5:

1. W – Der Imbiss
Kastanienalle 49, Prenzlauer Berg
Open noon-midnight
Web site

Since we’re on the topic of fast food: The tiny restaurant’s symbol, a W, may look conspicuously like an upside-down McDonald’s emblem—for a legitimate reason. W is a bizarro-world Mickey D’s: Everything served here, including the naan, is freshly prepared and complimented by seasonal ingredients. An artichoke/chipotle wrap will set you back €5, but it won’t cost a dime to stare out the window at Kastanienalle, also known as “Casting Alley” for its fashionable denizens.

2. Marheineke Markthalle
Bergmannstraße 102, Kreuzberg
Open: Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; closed Sun
Web site

Ideal for the indecisive, this market hall in Kreuzberg’s picturesque Bergmann neighborhood has dozens of food stalls offering everything from German to Greek, Thai to Tibetan. Popular among locals, the newly renovated hall is bright, spotlessly clean, and best of all, has plenty of seating. Think food court, except with that old European charm. There are also plenty of cheese and fruit vendors.

3. Esstaurant
Michaelkirchstraße 17-18, Mitte
Open: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Web site

Esstaurant’s German and Mediterranean cuisines are popular among nearby office workers—so popular, in fact, that DaimlerChrysler’s employees are known to have their meals delivered. Situated between Mitte and Kreuzberg, the restaurant has a constantly changing roster of offerings like gnocchi with vegetables, which goes for €4.95.

4. MS Hoppetosse
Eichenstraße 4, Kreuzberg
Web site

Pull into port at MS Hoppetose, a boat/restaurant that used to ferry passengers across the Nordic Sea. Today, it stays afloat by the popular Treptower Park and serves vegetarian and meat dishes for €5 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday, by the way, is “Schnitzel Day.” (Closed through April 2011.)

5. Istoria
Kollwitzstrasse 64, Prenzlauer Berg
Open: Sun-Thur 9 a.m.-2 a.m.; Sat 9 a.m.-3 a.m.
Web site

Right on the trendy Kollwitzplatz, Istoria serves Italian feasts. Penne, farfalle, spaghetti… whatever your fancy, every plate of pasta and pizza costs €4.90. Or, for an extra euro, you can treat yourself to a meat dish. Buon appetito!

Extra cheapo tip: Berlin boasts excellent tap water, so don’t be shy about asking for “Leitungswasser” (LIE-toongs-vah-sir).

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1. Train ride from Berlin for €14

Interconnex, a private train line that links the Baltic Sea to Saxony, offers tickets as low as €14 from Berlin to Leipzig. From Potsdamerplatz, the direct ride takes just over an hour.

Deutsche Bahn tends to be pricier, but the Schönes Wochenende Ticket on weekends allows up to five people to travel anywhere on regional trains for €37 for a day—a total bargain, though at a sluggish pace (two and a half hours, one way).

2. Classical music for €2

Not to drop names, but perhaps you’ve heard of Johann Sebastian Bach or Felix Mendelssohn? Their careers are inseparable from Leipzig, where they led the world-famous St. Thomas’s Boys Choir (Thomaskirchhof 18). Don’t let the prepubescent singers’ fame intimidate you. The weekly service featuring the choir is open to public and will only set you back €2.

The Gewandhaus Orchestra (Augustusplatz 8), the world’s oldest symphony, is also worth a visit.

3. Historic places

In its ten-century history, Leipzig has seen its share of historic moments. Völkerschlachtdenkmal (Straße des 18 Oktober 100, Admission €6, €4 reduced), or the “Monument to the Battle of the Nations,” is a hefty stone temple that commemorates Napoleon’s defeat in Leipzig. Climb the over 500 steps up its intricate façades for a view of the surroundings.

St. Nikolas Church (Nikolaikirchhof 3) was the epicenter of the democratic protests that eventually brought down the East German government. Toward the last of the church’s Monday night vigils, word of mouth was bringing in up to 70,000 anti-government protesters. Today, it remains a Lutheran church, but its role in bringing down the Iron Curtain merits a visit.

4. Tasting Goethe (and more)

Restaurant Auerbachskeller (Grimmaische Straße 2-4) dates back to at least the 15th century, and young Goethe frequented it as a student in the 1700s. In his play Faust, Goethe uses the basement wine bar as the setting for Mephistopheles’s black magic. Today, it’s just an innocuous restaurant frequented by the well-heeled and tourists alike.

For a more budget option, head down to the district of Südvorstadt, populated by students and young artsy types. Along Karl-Liebknecht-Strasse, budget eateries and bars abound. L’arte della cucina italiana (Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 56a), for instance, sends out delicious €4 pizzas and equally affordable daily specials from its open kitchen. From Südvorstadt, follow the crowd farther south to Connewitz for more underground nightlife fun.

More on Leipzig

Want more ways to save on your trip to Leipzig? Be sure to check out our Leipzig budget travel guide.

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