Throughout the city, you’ll have no problem finding delicious meal deals, like a döner kebap piled with fresh toppings for under €3! Armed with a €1 beer from the next-door “Späti,” you’ll enjoy every bite and look like a local while hunched over your food on the nearest bench.

So grab some extra napkins and belly up to the bar. Here’s a primer on Berlin’s best street food.

Döner

Döner is ubiquitous in Berlin, and most Berliners’ “favorite” döner shop is either the one closest to where they spent their evening partying or the most convenient to the tram, train or bus stop on the way home. While plenty of döner are enjoyed during normal daytime hours, for an authentic döner experience try ingesting one on any random street corner at 2 AM. Don’t feel the need to over plan your döner purchase, as döner will always, always come to you when you least expect it and most need it.

That said, if you prefer to flock to your döner, you can join the long lines forming at:

Mustafas Gemüse Kebap
Kreuzberg, right outside the U6/U7-Mehringdamm station.

Grill and Schlemmerbuffet
Located in Mitte at U8-Rosenthaler Platz.

Hasir
Six locations across the city.

Tadim
Located in Kreuzberg at U8/U1-Kottbusser Tor.

Know before you go: With/out onions “mit/ohne Zwiebeln,” with/out garlic “mit/ohne Knoblauch,” with/out chili sauce “mit/ohne scharfe Sauce.”

Currywurst

If you get to Mustafas (above) and decide the line is simply too long to wait, luckily relief is just up the block: Curry 36 serves up some of Berlin’s best currywurst virtually all hours of the day and manages to handle its line a lot more quickly than Mustafas. The Kreuzberg location is its most popular, but you can get the same food at its Zoologischer Garten outpost (U9, S-Bahn, and trains).

Konnopke’s is your currywurst destination in Prenzlauer Berg (U2-Eberswalder Str.).

Wittenbergplatz, located at the junction of the U1, U2, and U3 lines and at the foot of KaDeWe, is a handy place to grab a currywurst, as there are kiosks on each of its four corners serving up traditional or organic varieties (as well as, you guessed it, döner!). Nearby Dolores offers fresh, delicious, made-to-order California-style burritos.

Know before you go: With/out natural casings “mit/ohne Darm.”

Falafel

While Berlin isn’t as famous for its falafel as, say, Paris, fans of the food will greatly savor the offerings at DaDa Falafel (U6-Oranienburger Tor) or Habibi (two locations in Schöneberg, either U7-Eisenacher Str. or U1/U2/U3/U4-Nollendorfplatz).

Eating your way through Berlin’s markets

Like many European cities, Berlin hosts a variety of weekly indoor and outdoor markets with a wide selection of traditional and ethnic options on offer.

Winterfeldtplatz market has open stalls specializing in local cheeses and produce, perfect for an afternoon snack. Photo: Apler C

Winterfeldtplatz

This open-air market is recognized for fresh local produce and locally-crafted, high-quality meats, cheeses and other specialty foods. It’s held Wednesdays 8 AM to 2 PM and Saturdays 8 AM to 4 PM, a short walk from U1/U2/U3/U4-Nollendorfplatz or U7-Kleistpark.

Maybachufer

This market has the feeling of a Turkish bazaar, with as many cheap things as foods for sale. It’s held Tuesdays and Fridays from 11 AM to 6:30 PM and can be reached from U8-Schönleinstr.

Markthalle Neun

Popular with foodies from the slow food movement, the covered Markthalle Neun in Kreuzberg offers a weekly market of locally-produced and high-quality foods on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 AM to 6 PM, and a daily lunch special in its canteen from 12 to 4 PM (closed Sundays).

Every Thursday night between 5 and 10 PM, the hall hosts “Street Food Thursday,” where an ever-changing cast of cooks offers up tacos, BBQ sandwiches, dumplings and everything in between! Markthalle Neun can be reached from U1-Görlitzer Bahnhof.

Streets with great outdoor dining

Friedrichshain is a popular area for al fresco cafes and eateries. Photo: La Citta Vita

Friedrichshain’s Simon-Dach-Str.

If it’s restaurant dining en plein air you’re looking for, there are two Berlin streets where you can’t go wrong. First is Friedrichshain’s Simon-Dach-Str. The atmosphere here is lively—even celebratory, as scores of stag and bachelorette parties seem to have an obligatory evening stop here. Weekend brunching is also popular in the area, which is easily reached from U5-Frankfurter Tor or S-Warschauer Str.

Related: A Walking Tour of former East Berlin: Hanging out in Friedrichshain

Kreuzberg’s Bergmannstr.

Second go-to address is Kreuzberg’s Bergmannstr., equally as visited on summer evenings as the Simon-Dach-Str., but by a more relaxed crowd. Cafes, bars and restaurants line both sides of the streets between Mehringdamm and Zossener Str. The popularity of both Simon-Dach-Str. and Bergmannstr. have led to similar development in neighboring streets, so feel free to wander a bit till you find the right place to sit.

Schöneberg’s Akazienstr.

A third option with a plethora of restaurant styles and comfortable places to enjoy a drink (but avoid tourist crowds) is Schöneberg’s Akazienstr. It has plenty of options including Vietnamese food, falafel and relaxed outdoor cafes perfect for hanging out for an afternoon.

And for dessert?

Caffe e Gelato at Potsdamer Platz Arkaden shopping center serves up a tasty bowl of ice cream. Photo: Olivier B

Within a stone’s throw of many of these establishments are some of Berlin’s most popular and delicious homemade ice cream shops.

For more information, read our previous post on the scoop on Berlin’s best ice cream options.

The post Berlin cheap eats: Döner, currywurst, and outdoor dining appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Best of all, it is possible to visit Bremen’s top highlights in just one day!

And with bus fares as low as €1 from Berlin, it can make for a super cheap excursion in Northern Germany. To get the most out of your visit, we’ve come up with the ideal itinerary to guide you through the city, so you get a taste of what you’ll find in this charming gem.

More Germany travel articles:

• 50 Ways to save on a trip to Germany
• 7 Free things to do in Munich
• 10-Day itinerary in Germany: Berlin, Potsdam, Hamburg, Munich and Neuschwanstein

Budget travel guide to Bremen

Arriving at the main train station

No matter how long you’re staying or where you’re coming from, you will almost certainly arrive in town at or near the city’s main train station. This fabulous brick building with its stripes and ornate detailing is worth examining more closely. Take a few minutes to enjoy the facade and get a quick taste of the city’s history from the giant tile mural in the station’s entry hall. Here you’ll find a Rossmann drugstore, while at the rear of the station are two grocery stores (Edeka and ALDI), in case you need to replenish your supplies before continuing onward.

A small branch of the tourist information office, located on the left side of the entry hall, can outfit you with a basic town map. Just beyond this are the station’s lockers, where you can stash your luggage starting at just €3.

Stroll past a towering windmill

From here, it’s a short walk to Bremen’s old city center. You’ll pass first by a beautiful, gray windmill, in the spring and summer surrounded by flowers, which (believe it or not) is the most photographed site in the city. You’ll know you’ve headed the right direction when you pass the sculpture of a herd of pigs!

Following the pedestrian zone will lead you straight to the old and new city halls, the St. Petri and Liebfrauen churches, the Roland statue and the Bremen Town Musicians sculpture, all of which is sandwiched between two weekday markets.

Take a tour of City Hall

The only way to see the luxuriously decorated city hall inside is to pay for an hour-long tour from the tourist information. Guides speak both German and English. Your €5 entry fee grants you admission to the staircase area, a ballroom and the main council hall, including its golden room. The free and Hanseatic city’s long history is recounted on the hall wall, while statues, intricately carved woodwork, stained glass, hanging ship models and artwork round out the display. Tours are held multiple times per day and can be purchased in advance online.

Make a wish on the donkey’s legs at this statue based on the Brothers Grimm folktale Town Musicians of Bremen. Photo: Paul Koch

Make a wish on a playful sculpture

On the west side of city hall is a sculpture of the Town Musicians of Bremen — a group of four scrappy animals, as the Brothers Grimm would tell us, who scared off a thief by standing on each others’ backs to appear larger. Hold onto both of the donkey’s legs to make your wish. In front of the city hall, you’ll find Germany’s largest Roland statue, a popular symbol of personal and economic freedom.

In temperate months, it is possible to climb the St. Petri tower for a view of this central area. Entrance to both churches is free, but the buildings’ highlights — mosaics, stone carvings, sculptures, detailed iron doors — are visible on the exterior.

Enjoy a picnic lunch with market-fresh food

On the northern side of the cathedral, there is a fountain and some wooden benches which make an excellent place to enjoy either a picnic lunch or fresh food from the daily market held here. Alternatively, a small sculpture garden situated behind the Bremer state legislature (the most modern building in this space, facing Roland) offers another quiet reprieve.

Wander the unique pedestrian zone along Böttcherstrasse

Down a well-marked alleyway toward the river (when in doubt, follow the sounds of the changing cast of street musicians parked here) is the Böttcherstrasse, a tiny, quaint pedestrian zone that was saved from Nazi destruction by the street’s patron, Bremen caffeine-free coffee magnate Ludwig Roselius. Here you’ll find specialty shops, a few restaurants and bars, two museums, an hourly glockenspiel and even a hotel — but also lots of adorable details. Give yourself a little more time to find all the hidden extras in this street.

From here, you can either:

1. Cut southeastward to wander the alleyways of the Schnoor district, taking the long way back to the train station by walking along the river on the wide riverside promenade.

2. Head along the northernmost edge of the Schnoor to visit Bremen’s Kunsthalle, a respectable collection of art with rotating exhibits of contemporary artists (€12), then following the Wallanlagen park back toward the train station.

3. Or head straight back toward the train station to visit the Übersee Museum, an excellent and extensive ethnographic and natural history collection (€7.50).

With an extra day in the city, plan in a visit to one or both of the museums you might have missed and, if it’s the right season, an excursion to the Rhododendron Park to visit its 3600 varieties of azaleas and rhododendrons.

The post Exploring Bremen: One day in this charming and affordable city appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

More recently, Germany started loosening rules on how bus companies could operate, resulting in incredibly cheap fares for international bus travel. The latest development here happened just weeks ago, when two of the country’s big budget bus companies announced they were merging together.

So how is Germany’s national railway, the Deutsche Bahn (DB), reacting to the current travel landscape? What does this mean for the other rail operators in Germany? And what does this mean for your upcoming travel plans?

Unfortunately, it mostly means cuts to service. Read on…

Good Night, Nachtzug

Germany’s night train service, the “Nachtzug,” saw dramatic cuts in the new train schedules which went into effect last December. DB no longer offers overnight trains from Germany to Paris, Copenhagen, or Vienna, and decreased overnight service to Amsterdam.

The company has also reduced their Autozug offerings, which allow passengers to travel with their car to their vacation destination without driving it there.

The company claims that these routes have been losing millions of euros for years, despite the apparent popularity of certain routes (I’m looking at you, Berlin-Paris sleeper train!). However, the rising costs of right-of-way, the company’s lack of high-speed, long-distance locomotives (which required expensive rentals from the French and Danish), and the unwillingness to invest in improving their aging fleet of sleeper cars are among the reasons DB cites for the decision. They’ve promised to reexamine the issue for travel in 2016 and beyond.

Passengers’ rights and environmental groups see this development as a major setback and are looking into ways to support cooperation between rail companies and the growth of investment in European-wide night train networks as a carbon-friendly alternative to flying.

One bright development, as reported last week by hidden europe: Russian Railways (RZD) plans to begin operating a Paris-Berlin service this June.

Bye Bye, InterConnex

The December schedule change ushered out another familiar train route: the InterConnex ran its last trains between Leipzig, Berlin, and Rostock. The independent carrier rode the eastern German rails for more than a decade, offering steeply discounted train tickets on its dedicated routes and schedules. A subsidiary of the larger transportation company Veolia, InterConnex was the first private long-distance competitor of the near-monopolistic DB.

In its announcement that it was ceasing service, InterConnex explained that it was squeezed between the market pressures of the DB, whose control of the railways allows it to demand increasingly high prices from its competitors for access, and new low-cost bus services. When forced only to compete with DB, InterConnex carved out a discount segment that was quite successful. Yet, the overhead of running a train (even a version as slimmed-down as theirs) was so much higher than a bus that it simply could no longer compete.

Hamburg-Cologne Express cuts back

Germany’s other independent long-distance rail operator, HKX (Hamburg-Cologne Express), has also suffered under the new financial pressures and responded with a two-fold strategy. First, it decreased long-distance service to once per day per direction in order to function primarily as a regional connector (thereby increasing its eligibility for German state funds).

Secondly, it’s cooperating with the former enemy, allowing passengers with DB tickets to travel on its trains, as well as allowing DB to sell HKX-branded tickets at a higher price directly to its passengers.

The Thalys is safe

Perhaps the best-known private rail service in Germany is the international Thalys train, which runs between Cologne, Brussels, (Amsterdam) and Paris. The Thalys, however, is a brand unlikely to be negatively impacted by the same pressures outlined above.

Why? A high-speed train like an ICE or TGV, the Thalys offers a higher quality of service between these European capitals. The majority of its European business passengers are unlikely to switch to lower-cost international bus services, even as these services develop between the same destinations.

The post German train service cuts back, under pressure from cheap flights and buses appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Since the 2013 liberalization of a law preventing most long-distance bus service in Germany, the market for Greyhound-style travel around the country has been booming. Steep competition between new carriers has led to low fares on some routes starting at just €1 as well as a rapid expansion of service to both nationwide and international destinations. Much like the low-cost carrier boom a decade earlier, the uncertainty of the fresh bus market meant lots of cheap travel opportunities and exciting experimentation as these young companies attempted to maximize their profitability and market share.

At the beginning of 2015, the merger of FliXBus and MeinFernbus was announced. Together, these two companies carry 75% of Germany’s long-distance bus passengers. Their merger won’t be complete until August, but it offers both benefits and potential costs to travelers. Let’s have a closer look at what this merger could mean for this travel market.

Same service, more regular scheduling

While the two companies are still in the process of sorting out their overlapping schedules and destination maps, one of their top priorities is to eliminate simultaneous or close departures to the same destination. They have stated publicly that their intention in such cases is not to decrease the number of services to these destinations, but rather to spread them out to offer more regular service on the same routes.

Using a hypothetical example, if there were once FliXBus services between Berlin and Hamburg leaving at 9 and 10 am and MeinFernBus departures leaving at 9:15 am and 11 am, the new company would attempt to offer half-hourly service with the same buses at, say, 9, 9:30, 10, and 10:30 am. This gives the consumer more choice, reliability, and flexibility when it comes to selecting travel times.

More stable (read: higher) prices

At the same time, however, we can also predict that decreased competition between these two companies will result in fewer low-price seats, especially at popular times. Where once (like in the above example) there were two bus companies within 15 minutes of each other vying for passengers with cheap tickets, there will now only be one bus for the merged company to fill.

Price-sensitive passengers may be able to adjust their travel to less-popular times in order to score lower-cost seats, but those who are unable to pick a different departure time will more often find themselves paying a rate close to the “full price” of the ticket – often double or three times the advertised discount price. This upward price pressure will compound if the remaining 25% of the bus market has difficulty holding their share in the face of one behemoth competitor.

Tighter network, more international destinations

Having quickly captured the overwhelming majority of the domestic bus market, these merged companies have the potential to do two things that will be great for bus riders. The first is the opportunity to differentiate their overlapped regular services slightly in order to reach an even greater number of destinations across the country. If we consider again the route Berlin-Hamburg, perhaps every four hours the bus detours from the direct route to also pick up and drop off passengers in Schwerin. Similar tweaks could fill out the map across the rest of Germany, bringing even more travelers into the bus fold and deepening the existing network substantially.

Second, the increased economy of merger means that resources will be freed up to expand its routes further outward, offering additional overnight and international bus routes, thereby expanding low-cost travel opportunities and improving competition (even with train companies) in bordering countries as well.

We’ll keep you posted on the further effects on low-cost bus travel as FliXBus and MeinFernBus finalize the details of their merger over the coming months. In the meantime, grab those cheap €1 euro fares while you can and let us know your thoughts!

The post Bus company mergers in Germany: What does it mean for budget travelers? appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

It pays to think about saving on your ground transportation costs before you even arrive in Germany. In this article, we’ll show you four simple ways to cut the cost of your rail travel dramatically.

1. Book early on the Bahn website.

The only sure-fire method of saving money on German trains is to book your travel as early as possible directly through the website of the German railway, Deutsche Bahn (bahn.de).

You can score deals as low as €19 on long-distance or international connections, if you are among the first to make reservations. When you are certain of your travel dates, there is nothing to be gained by waiting. As time passes and the cheapest tickets sell out, each further contingent costs €10 more for the exact same trip.

If you allow a certain amount of flexibility in your travel times, you may find, for example, an early morning connection that is available at a lower price, so it is worthwhile to search various times of day before booking. The downside to this method: you are stuck with a specific train time and route and these tickets are generally non-refundable.

Related: Why you should book your own train tickets, rather than using an agent.

If you will be traveling by train frequently, consider a BahnCard 25. Photo: Namics

2. Research a BahnCard

If you plan to make at least two full-price train trips within Germany, purchasing a BahnCard 25 may well save you money, as it gives you a 25% discount on every trip you book.

However, before buying a card, consider these points:

1. Do the math yourself. Do the savings on your tickets outweigh the cost of the BahnCard at all? A trial BahnCard 25 (valid for three months) is currently available for €15. If there is no trial card available, an annual card costs €62. For the former, you save once your total ticket purchases per person have surpassed €60, but for the latter, you must spend over €248 to see any savings.

2. Be prepared to cancel. The BahnCard is a subscription service, meaning that it automatically renews and is billed to you if you do not cancel it in time (typically six weeks before it is due to expire). At the time you purchase your BahnCard, you should also submit a cancellation notice through the online customer service forms of the DB website. You can find a detailed German description of the process here, including the cancellation request text in German, which you can simply copy and paste into your message. Be sure to include your BahnCard number and use the email address associated with your DB registration.

Related: Is Germany’s “Rail & Fly” a good deal?

3. Buy “group tickets” and save.

Groups of travelers will have their savings amplified by traveling on group ticket offers which utilize regional trains rather than high-speed (ICE) trains. This method is most profitable and least tedious for travel within one German state or region—such as a group day trip from Munich to Salzburg, Austria (€43 for 5 people) on the Bayern-Ticket or from Berlin to Szeczin, Poland (€29 for 5 people) on the Berlin-Brandenburg-Ticket. You can find full details of the regional ticket offers for the states you’ll be visiting here.

If your travel includes more than one state, you’ll likely have to buy a Quer-durchs-Land-Ticket for weekday travel or a Schönes-Wochenende-Ticket for weekend travel. These tickets are valid from 9 am to 3 am the following day for any regional train in the entire country. The QdL ticket starts at €44 for one traveler, but less than double that for up to five people—a five-person group spends around €15 per person to ride the rails. The weekend ticket has better conditions for less money: The price starts at €40 for a single traveler, but five people pay just €12 euros each for travel from midnight of the day of travel until 3 am the following morning.

That said, you should be clear that regional trains have neither the speed nor the service standard of IC/EC or ICE trains. For example, compare the following travel times:

Berlin-Hamburg
ICE: 1:45 hrs. on ICE with o transfers
Regional: 3-4 hrs. with up to 3 transfers

Berlin-Munich
ICE: 6 hrs. with 0-1 transfers
Regional: 9:30-11 hrs. with 3-6 transfers

Berlin-Frankfurt
ICE: 4:15 hrs. with 0-1 transfers
Regional: 8:15-9:15 hrs. with 3-5 transfers

You should consider carefully whether the price difference alone justifies losing most of a valuable travel day to slower trains. If you go for it, don’t forget to pack yourself and your crew enough reading material, food, and drink for the entire length of your journey!

4. Get a refund if you arrive late.

Consumer protection laws in Germany require the Deutsche Bahn to refund part of your ticket costs if your train is delayed over an hour. For any train arriving more than 60 minutes late, you are entitled to a refund of 25% of your ticket price; for trains over 120 minutes late, you are entitled to 50% of your ticket price.

When you arrive at your destination, have your late arrival “verified” (i.e., stamped on your ticket) by the train station service personnel. If it’s not too late, fill out the required refund form (available from train service personnel or at train station service counters), and turn in your ticket for an immediate cash refund.

If you need your ticket for return travel, turn everything in at any other train station service counter later in your trip. While you officially have six months to request your refund, getting your money back becomes more complicated once you’ve left the country, so take care of it prior to your departure back home.

Travel alternative: Hit the road

If train travel is still too expensive, consider hopping on Germany’s newest travel trend: long-distance buses. See how you can travel across the country for just a few euros in our article on riding the budget bus lines in Germany with fares from €5.

The post 4 easy ways to save on train tickets in Germany appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

1. Book your train and flight tickets early for deals.

Hamburg is an inexpensive bus ride from Berlin (starting from fares as low as €9) or train ride from Copenhagen (starting from€29 euros). We recommend booking those train tickets early, and booking them directly through Germany’s rail website: bahn.de.

If you’re flying, use our flight finder tool to find inexpensive intra-European flights. Again, book these as far in advance as possible to find the real deals.

2. Consider staying at a hostel.

Lodging could easily be your biggest expense, but staying in Hamburg doesn’t have to be expensive. Remember that hostels aren’t just for “youth” anymore. All five of the hostels we recommend in this list are central, modern and offer private rooms. If you’re willing to bunk it, you can really find some deals.

At the Hostel am Stintfang, for example, the rooms not only have fantastic harbor views, but breakfast is also included in the price of your stay. Save a few euros by bringing your own towels.

3. Buy a city transportation pass.

Hamburg’s public transportation company, HVV, offers daily or weekly transportation passes, which will save you significantly over purchasing single tickets during your stay. A flexible weekly ticket for one person costs just €26 (less than nine single trips or five “9 AM” day tickets, which are only valid after 9 AM on weekdays or all day on weekends).

Solo travelers will save more by purchasing “9 AM” day tickets at €6 for trips spanning one to four days; pairs and groups up to five people are best served with “9 AM” group tickets for €11 per day.

4. Sightseers can save with a Hamburg CARD.

Whether the widely-promoted Hamburg CARD is a better choice than simply buying a transportation pass will depend primarily on how many paid attractions you are planning to see during your visit and how much of a rebate those attractions give cardholders. The card offers:

• Unlimited free travel by city bus, train and ferry.
• Discounts on city tours and boat tours.
• Up to 50% savings on museum and attraction tickets.
• Up to 26% off theater tickets.
• Up to 25% off in participating restaurants.

As with all tourism cards, you will need to do a bit of math to make sure this option in fact saves you anything over regular transportation passes and normal entrance fees. The Hamburg CARD is sold to individuals and groups of up to five. Prices are:

• Individual card: 1 day €9.50; €3-day 22.90; €5-day €38.50
• Group (up to 5): 1 day €15.50; €3-day 39.90; €5-day €64.90

A solo traveler in the city for one day will pay €9.50 for the card, which is €3.50 more for a Hamburg CARD than a HVV 9 AM day ticket. If she buys a five-day pass for €38.50, she’ll pay €12.50 more than for a 7-day HVV ticket, and might not see the additional value of such a card, especially if she doesn’t visit many paid attractions. However, she’s likely to make up the €5 difference in discounts on the 3-day card.

Groups up to five people may indeed save, especially if they are always traveling and sightseeing together—the additional cost of €4.50 (1-day), €7 (3-day), or €10 (5-day) could easily be reclaimed in discounted admission prices over the course of their stay.

Ferry line 62 is a classic route that is included with the Hamburg CARD. Photo: Reading Tom

5. Take a “free” harbor boat ride.

Once you’ve got either your Hamburg CARD or your HVV day ticket, you’re covered on the numerous ferries plying the waterfront. The classic #62 heads from Landungsbrücken to Finkenwerder and back every 15 minutes. The journey takes around an hour without disembarking. From the ferry, you’ll have great, close-up views of the riverside docks, including the Blohm + Voss repair stations, as well as any large ships also sailing into town. The 62 also takes you past some of Hamburg’s most amazing villa homes.

It is recommended, however, to hit land whenever the mood strikes you—whether for a beach walk for refreshment to the Strandperle cafe from Neumühlen/Övelgönne or at Dockland/Fischereihafen for a climb up the ship-shaped Dockland office building for the view from its rooftop terrace.

View a map of all available ferry services here.

6. Eat like a local by hitting up the grocery store.

When (or preferably before) hunger or thirst strikes, pop into a grocery store rather than purchasing the same items from a restaurant, cafe or kiosk. While Hamburg is no London when it comes to convenience foods in grocery stores, the selection available at most grocers is more than enough to sate your appetite with a plenitude of options.

• pre-made salads with assorted toppings and dressings (and even plastic silverware) cost €1-3
• a variety of sandwich buns and pastries start at 10 cents a piece
• sliced meats and cheeses start at  €1 for 100 g
• two servings of cooked chicken breast cost around €1.50
• yogurt, cottage cheese or pudding cost 30-40 cents
• snacks such as pretzels, chips, gummi bears or chocolate from 40 cents to €1
• beers are around  €1 with deposit and wines start at  €2
• bottled water (1.5 L) is just 35 cents including deposit!

Grocery stores are really an adventure in themselves, letting you see and sample the widest variety of products available at the lowest cost. And it’s way easier to “splurge” in a grocery store, knowing that whatever you’re buying costs at least half of what it would cost in a cafe or restaurant!

For travelers, it’s useful to know about the centrally-located supermarkets in Hamburg’s train stations. They’re not only convenient because you’ll likely be passing through on your travels, they are also notably open on Sundays when all other shops are closed! Edeka at Hauptbahnhof (inside the station above the trains) is open daily from 7 AM to 11 PM, and Lidl at Altona train station (on the middle level between the train and S-Bahn platforms) is open Monday-Saturday 7 AM to 10 PM, Sundays 10 AM to 8 PM.

Read more about our infatuation with German grocery stores here.

7. Know where to eat out and drink on a budget.

Erikas Eck is famous for their giant portions, Erikas has daily weekday lunch specials at low prices. But Erikas really shines after midnight, when every sandwich is only  €1 euro—a perfect pit stop on a long night out on the town.

Conveniently located near Hamburg’s main train station is Lades, which serves up some of Hamburg’s best Döner Kebap (under €4) or rotisserie chicken and sides (under €6) and many varieties of tea for just €1.

You’ll find our recommendations for inexpensive places to grab a beer or cocktail in a variety of Hamburg’s coolest neighborhoods here.

Your tips for saving in Hamburg

What’s your secret for reducing spending in Hamburg? Share your tips in the comments!

The post 7 Budget tips for saving on your trip to Hamburg, Germany appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

There’s a lot to discover during 48 hours in Hamburg—let’s get to it!

Saturday

9:00 AM: Hamburg’s most popular attraction

Beat the crowds by showing up early at Miniatur Wunderland, the model railway display to end all model railway displays. This  incredibly detailed model world is the city’s most visited spot, and attracts over 1 million people a year. Plan at least two hours to take in all the intricate details in this magical attraction. (For much more about this, including a video, check out our previous post on the wonders of Miniatur Wunderland.)

11:00 AM: Quick tour of the warehouse district

Meander over the bridges and through the alleyways of the Speicherstadt, the brick waterfront warehouse district where Miniatur Wunderland is located. These modest facades now store the world’s largest selection of Persian-style carpets, as rug dealers fleeing Afghanistan with their inventories in the wake of recent wars have joined the Iranians long resident here.

11:30 AM: Strolling through Deichstrasse & Michel

Cross back over to the city and stroll through the Deichstrasse on your way to the Michel (also known as St. Michael’s Church), which has become one of the symbols of Hamburg. The Deichstrasse is Hamburg’s oldest street; its half-timbered houses are the only ones that survived the fire of 1842, which broke out at its northern end.

12:00 PM: Concert and a view from the church tower

The Michel holds a short prayer service, followed by an organ concert, daily at noon. Entrance to the gorgeous yet understated church is free, but you’ll want to pay for a ticket to climb the Michel’s tower (€4) to get the best views over the entire city. Because the tower also has an elevator, this is a fantastic option for those with limited mobility or traveling with children.

1:30 PM: Lunch in Schanze & Karo

Walk along the Ludwig-Erhard-Strasse and Millerntordamm until you reach U3-St. Pauli. From here, you can catch the subway two stops northward to Sternschanze, where you can grab lunch at your restaurant or cafe of choice in the unique Schanze- and Karovierteln. Not sure where to go? You can check out recommendations for the area here.

Note: If you’re inspired by the picks in that article and would like to do some shopping in these neighborhoods, note that Saturday is the only day to do so, as stores in Germany are generally closed Sundays. The area’s many unique shops offer a full afternoon’s worth of happy perusing, as well as plenty of cafes to grab a seat for relaxing and soaking up the neighborhood. It’s easy to tack on the following ferry ride at the end of your shopping, or, if you prefer, to your Sunday afternoon.

3:00 PM: Ride a ferry across the Elbe

Head down to Landungsbrücken and hop on the Cheapo harbor cruise (okay, it’s a ferry) plying the Elbe River to Finkenwerder and back (#62, departures every 15 minutes). The city’s ferries are the same price as a regular public transportation ticket; if you’re getting around town with a day ticket or HamburgCard, you ride for free. Plan at least one hour for your round-trip ride.

3:45 PM: Cafe break along the harbor

Depart the ferry at Neumühlen/Övelgönne for an afternoon refreshment break. Exit the ferry platform area and walk westward toward the sand beach. Take off your shoes and keep strolling westward on the beach; you’ll eventually reach the classic Strandperle beach cafe, an excellent spot to enjoy a beer or coffee while soaking up the sun and some of the best atmosphere Hamburg’s harbor has to offer.

4:45 PM: Back to Landungsbrücken before a night on the town

Pick up the ferry again and head back to Landungsbrücken. From here it’s a quick hop on the S-Bahn to Altona train station, where you can pick up picnic ingredients at Lidl (the discount grocery store) and start our Cheapo’s night out in Hamburg itinerary! This plan guides you through some of the best and most affordable of Hamburg’s night life, with options for both early birds and night owls.

Sunday

Breakfast at the Fischmarkt

The morning begins with breakfast at the Fischmarkt, either 5:00 AM for true night owls or 8:00 AM for the early birds (although the earlier you can plan to be here, the more fun you’ll have at the Fischmarkt). Night owls will want to head back to their hotel and sleep it off—they can simply push the following itinerary back as necessary.

The dramatic Dockland building has a rooftop terrace open to the public. Tobias Mandt

9:00 AM: Climb up a rooftop terrace for free

From the Fischmarkt, take the ferry one stop westward to Dockland/Fischereihafen. Climb the outdoor steps of the ship-shaped Dockland office building for a fantastic (and free!) view of Hamburg’s harbor from the building’s modern rooftop terrace. 

9:30 AM: Fun boat trip

Catch the ferry back to Landungsbrücken, then take the S-Bahn eastward to Jungfernstieg. From here, you can hop on the Alster boat trip of your choice: the Alsterkreuzfahrt (€12, departs quarter past every hour, 2-hour round trip) and Alsterrundfahrt (€14.50, departs every half hour, 1-hour round trip – limited service also in winter) are crowd pleasers, aren’t too long and are relatively inexpensive. With the former, it’s possible to disembark 1-2 stops before arriving at Jungfernstieg, if you’d like to enjoy a stroll along the Alster shoreline.

11:15 AM: Explore city hall

Make your way to Hamburg’s Rathaus (city hall), an impressive neo-renaissance structure finished just before the turn of the 20th century. In order to see the highlights of the interior, you’ll need to join an English-language tour, offered at a quarter past every hour (between 10 AM and 4 PM Sundays) for just €4.

12:00 PM: Meal break in Sternschanze

From the U3-Rathaus station, catch the subway to Sternschanze for brunch or lunch. Early birds or night owls who didn’t make it there the night before might head to Erikas Eck for gigantic portions of German classics (not the best option for vegetarians).

1:30 PM: Relax in a botanical garden or museum

Spend the afternoon lost in Hamburg’s lovely Planten un Blomen park. There are numerous gardens to explore, a free “old” botanical garden (open Sundays from 10 AM to 5:45 PM in summer, 3:45 PM in winter), water-spray games that are fun for kids and adults alike, regular concerts and events (check the schedule here), and even surprises like a radio-controlled boat rally! If you missed it on Saturday, catch the water organ concert at 2, 4 or 6 PM.

If the weather’s bad, a trip to one of Hamburg’s many excellent museums might be in order. You can find a basic list (in German) of all current exhibitions on in the city here. Further information in English can be found on each museum’s website.

Final bite before heading home

Before catching your train onward or to the airport, stop by Lades, just a short walk from Hamburg’s main train station, for some of Hamburg’s best Döner Kebap (under €4) or rotisserie chicken and sides (under €6) and many varieties of tea on offer for just €1. If you’re spending the evening, try the Flammkuchen at Jimmy Elsass (open from 6 PM Sundays).

The post Weekend in Hamburg: A budget-friendly itinerary appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Every hostel on this list offers free Wi-Fi for its guests along with a few other fantastic perks at little or no extra cost. Solo travelers, couples and small groups will all find pocketbook-pleasing options in this list, including private rooms at low prices.

But as with every bargain that’s not too good to be true, you’ll want to book early to get the best prices and save yourself from last-minute disappointment.

Hamburg’s best hostels and budget hotels

Here’s our overview of our favorite centrally-located hostels and hotels in Hamburg:

Jugendherberge Auf dem Stintfang

Alfred-Wegener-Weg 5 (Map: A)
Rates: From €20 (shared room / person); €70 (private double)
Booking and Reviews | Official site

Jugendherberge Auf dem Stintfang is one of Hosteling International’s (HI) premiere properties. The hostel’s 8-bed panorama dorms offer a harbor view at a bargain price. Expect the amenities typical to most hostels, including facilities for cooking and communal public spaces for leisure activities such as foosball or TV.

Small print: Breakfast and linens here are included at no extra charge. Non-HI members are charged an extra membership fee per day, and adults over 27 also pay a €4 daily surcharge. Credit cards accepted.

Room decor at the Hostel Kiezbude is the wildest of the hostels on our list.

Hostel Kiezbude

Lincolnstraße 2 (Map: B)
Rates: From €25 (shared / person); €56 (private double)
Booking and Reviews | Official site

Hostel Kiezbude has the wildest décor of the five, with rooms befitting its location in the heart of Hamburg’s red light district. Kiezbude has a few 4-bed hostel rooms for solo travelers, but offers a good value to couples or groups seeking private accommodations.

Small print: Note that towels and linens may be charged separately and breakfast is not included. Cash only.

Generator Hostel Hamburg

Steintorplatz 3 (Map: C)
Rates: From €18 (shared / person); €25 (private)
Booking and Reviews | Official site

Housed in a former recording studio the Beatles once used, the Generator Hostel Hamburg has beds in 6- or 8-bed rooms, and women’s-only rooms are available as well as private rooms. The design is very modern with bright colors popping around every corner. Especially notable is the airy lobby with a cafe and bar that is a welcoming place to hang out.

Small print: Inexpensive laundry facilities are available on site. Bed linens are included, but continental breakfast is an additional €4.50. Note that special conditions apply for anyone under 18, and that all guests must show photo ID at check-in. Credit cards accepted.

Each room at the Pyjama Park has been individually designed and screams urban cool.

Pyjama Park Hotel and Hostel

Reeperbahn 36 (Map: D)
Rates: From €22 (shared / person); €55 (private double)
Booking and Reviews | Official site

Pyjama Park Hotel and Hostel doesn’t toss travelers together like most other hostels. Instead, it books rooms of various sizes, more like a hotel, making this a great deal for couples and small groups. The design screams urban cool, and each room is individually decorated with a unique Hamburg theme and comes with a flat-screen TV. Each room has a sink, but WC and showers are communal.

Small print: Linens are included, but the breakfast buffet is an additional €9. Credit cards accepted.

Meininger Hotel has efficient rooms starting at very low prices. Photo: Courtesy of Meininger

Meininger Hotel City Center

Goetheallee 9-11 (Map: E)
Rates: From €14 (shared / person); €30 (private double)
Booking and Reviews | Official site

Meininger Hotel City Center is located near Altona train station and offers 8-bed hostel accommodations in mixed or women-only rooms; doubles and group rooms are also available for great prices. Meininger has laundry facilities for guests and offers bicycle rental.

Small print: Bed linens are included (towels extra), and breakfast is an additional €6 per day. Credit cards accepted.

The post Hamburg Cheap Hotels: Our favorite budget stays appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

This tour takes you on an after-dark adventure that includes a fantastic happy hour deal, a picnic in a park with a free concert, a night cap with a handcrafted cocktail and even a sunrise over the harbor for the true night owls.

The happiest hour

Start your evening with a beer or cocktail at the iconic Turmbar (Rothenbaumchausse 2) located a short distance from Dammtor train station. Choose between their unique indoor seating (up a winding staircase to the top of the tower) or enjoy the late afternoon sun on their outdoor terrace.

Happy hour runs daily from 6 to 8 PM, when select “bartender’s choice” cocktails are on offer for only €5.50-6.50.

Picnic in the park (with a free concert)

From here, cross back through the train station into Hamburg’s gorgeous Planten un Blomen Park. Meander through the various gardens and ponds, ultimately making your way to the grassy areas north of the central lake. Spread out your sheet as close to the water as possible and enjoy your picnic dinner (see details at the end of the article for finding provisions).

This area will begin to fill up about 30 minutes before the free nightly lighted water organ concert. Between May 1 and August 31, the concerts begin at 10 PM; between September 1 and October 5, concerts start at 9 PM. Each concert lasts about 20 to 30 minutes.

Wander the Reeperbahn & St. Pauli Night Market

Early birds will want to exit the park at its southernmost end, near U-St. Pauli. From here, continue southward on Millerntorplatz until you reach the Reeperbahn, Hamburg’s famed red-light district.

Halfway down the Reeperbahn, you’ll come to Spielbudenplatz, a public plaza that hosts events throughout the year. Wednesday nights you will want to check out the St. Pauli Night Market that offers a great mix of food and drinks. Locals come to mingle, sip a drink and enjoy a night out under the open skies. It runs until 11 PM from April through September and until 10 PM from October through May.

Strolling along the boulevard, you will eventually come to Peparmölenbek. Head downhill toward the Fischmarkt, turning left on Lange Str., then right on Pinnasberg.

Fancy a fancy cocktail?

Just beyond the large curve, you’ll find Christiansen’s (Pinnasberg 60), one of Hamburg’s top addresses for cocktails. Finish your evening with a nightcap here, where the drinks (ordered from a menu that goes on for days) are a worthy splurge.

You can make your way home either by catching a ferry from the Fischmarkt (below) back toward the center (S-/U-Landungsbrücken) or walking back to S-Reeperbahn. But do you really want to go home already? Keep reading…

Fish Market sunrise on Sundays

Once you’ve finished your drink at Christiansen’s (open until 5 AM on Saturday nights), it’s a short stumble down the hill to the must-see Fischmarkt (Große Elbstraße 137), which is open on Sundays only at 5 AM (April to October) and 7 AM (from November until March).

Here you can warm yourself with a fresh waffle and coffee (or another beer and fresh fish sandwich, if that’s more your speed). Then dive into the entertaining tumult of ware hawkers and buyers, or simply grab a seat at the adjacent ferry station and enjoy the sunrise over the harbor.

Late-night in the Schanze and Karo districts

Looking for even more ideas? Then night owls will want to hit up two of Hamburg’s coolest neighborhoods packed with restaurants, cafes and bars. You can check out our Schanze and Karo guide or simply try your luck at any place that tickles your fancy.

Got the late-night munchies? As last call echoes through the Schanze, you can always find safe harbor at Erika’s Eck (Sternstraße 98). Famous for its generous portions of filling German food, Erika’s begins breakfast service each day at midnight. Here, the nighttime special is a large variety of sandwiches, priced at just €1 each.

Tips for getting ready to hit the town

Before you set out on your adventure, you might want to bring a long a few helpful items. Pack along a flat sheet from your hotel, and stock up on picnic supplies at your nearest grocery store. Convenient and central supermarkets are the Edeka at Hauptbahnhof (inside the station above the trains, open daily from 7 AM to 11 PM) and Lidl at Altona train station (on the middle level between the train and S-Bahn platforms, open Monday-Saturday 7 AM to 10 PM, Sundays 10 AM to 8 PM).

Cash will also come in handy, as many small bars and restaurants do not take credit cards.

The post Hamburg: An itinerary for the perfect cheapo night out appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

You’ll find a wide and colorful range of items on offer, from fashion, design and secondhand shops, as well as everyday necessities and luxuries, that you simply can’t buy anywhere else.

To get a feel for this up and coming district, we asked three Hamburg residents to share their tips for visiting this very cool neighborhood.

Annete Rufeger’s boutique offers locally designed fashions in a stylish setting.

Delicious lunch, coffee and shopping in the Schanze

Annette Rufeger has been selling clothing designs under her own label in the Schanze since 1997. A large portion of her fashions are made right in Hamburg in her studio; when she’s not there, you can talk to the designer herself at her retail location at Bartelstrasse 2.

Annette’s Secrets:

• Tasty lunch: Polokantine is my dear neighbor on Bartelstrasse, and serves up the tastiest lunch in the entire Schanze. Katja Ledebrink makes everything from the freshest ingredients: casseroles, a different pasta dish everyday and slow food with seasonal vegetables that please vegetarians and meat eaters alike. Her salads are unbelievably diverse and creatively assembled. Simply fantastic! (Bartelsstraße 26)

• Espresso bar: Juwelier is a comfortable specialty food shop and cafe. I especially love their espresso bar that serves homemade schnittchen (sandwiches), delicious coffee and homemade treats that can be taken away or even packaged as a gift. The restaurant, open evenings, is just as delicious—but due to its small size, reservations are recommended. (Weidenallee 27/29)

• Retro frames: Six Million Glasses is my hot tip for eyewear! This retro-styled shop invites you in to try on their stylish and well-made frames. It’s possible to lose track of time while testing various pairs of glasses from across the decades. The owners are brothers with a true passion for their business. I regularly borrow glasses for my fashion shoots from them! (Schulterblatt 3)

Anna Golightly is a must-visit shop along Marktstrasse.

Italian eats, organic coffee and unique gifts in Marktstrasse

Anna Jakob runs Anna Golightly, a design and accessories store featuring handmade and one-of-a-kind articles. Especially eye-catching are items such as pillows made from colorful textiles, including a number of vintage prints. Her shop just celebrated its eighth birthday at Marktstrasse 147 .

Anna’s Advice:

• Italian food: Guests at Cento Lire are warmly welcomed by their host Antonio. Delicious, fresh Italian food is served in a perfect Mediterranean ambiance, both indoors or out. Reservations are recommended on weekend nights and during convention weeks, and always plan to pay in cash! (Karolinenstrasse 12)

• Organic cafe: De zmarten Panter is a popular neighborhood cafe serving snacks, cakes, sandwiches and good coffee. Their entire menu is organic and their staff is especially friendly. All orders are placed at and retrieved from the counter—come early on sunny days to score a people-watching seat on the beloved wooden benches out front. (Marktstrasse 3)

• Unique gifts: Gisela Aguire’s Kunsthaltestelle offers a rich selection of gifts and items for daily use, from the artful to the kitschy, from jewelry to housewares and decorations. Her shop displays a large number of unique prints and the last Friday of every month hosts an exhibition opening for various local artists. (Marktstrasse 147)

Hallo Frau Nachbar is a monthly flea market with art, food, fashion and more.

Flea markets, cakes and fashionistas in Karo

Dannie Quilitzsch is a sustainability and communications consultant and an organizer of the monthly Hallo Frau Nachbar Market. Bringing together artists, producers and independent marketeers from the district, the market offers regional home- and handmade items as well as delicious gastronomical offerings from local culinary specialists. Neighbors enjoy gathering in the Schanze-Höfe the first Sunday of every month, with live music and special programming for children guaranteeing young and old alike forget themselves and simply soak up the atmosphere. (Lagerstrasse 30a)

Dannie’s Tips:

• Watch out for Sunday: The Karo district is an enduring Hamburg favorite of mine. There are so many little boutiques, cute cafes and comfy bars to fall into! However, be aware that on Sundays most shops are closed, so plan accordingly.

• Casual meals and cakes: Even when I’m just running a quick errand in the Marktstrasse, I cannot help but stop for some delicious cake at Gretchens Villa. At lunchtime, Gretchen serves a small selection of delicious, freshly-prepared meals, making this a great place to meet for a business or casual lunch. It’s not unusual to find me here on weekends, wiling the day away with my girlfriends over a fantastic breakfast. (Marktstrasse 142)

• Fashionistas: Immediately next door is a stop for every trend hunter: Anna Angelina Wolfers has her finger on the pulse of fashion, stocking GOLDIG with the hottest clothes and accessories of the moment. This sweet little store is full of finds—if not for you, then surely for your best friend—but beware that popular sizes sell out quickly, making this the kind of place you’ll want to pop into regularly to check out (and snap up!) the new selection. Every few weeks, Anna organizes a girls’ clothing flea market here, and the store’s annual parties are legendary. To see what’s happening during your visit, take a gander at GOLDIG’s Facebook page. (Marktstrasse 143)

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