So is it a worthwhile investment for budget-conscious travelers? To answer this question, let’s break down the costs by looking at a few examples.

Related:
•Cheap hotels in Berlin under $100 per night
•15 Free and affordable museums in Berlin under €10
•Berlin: Tips for saving on shopping

Details of the Berlin WelcomeCard All Inclusive

Cost

Although the benefits sound great, the card is a bit on the pricey side. The Berlin WelcomeCard All Inclusive costs:

• 2 days: €95 (€49 for children 3-14 years old)
• 3 days: €109 (€54 for children)
• 4 days: €129 (€59 for children)

(See all prices for the All Inclusive card)

Comparatively, the regular old Berlin WelcomeCard is much cheaper. A 2-day WelcomeCard is €19.90 and a 3-day is €27.90. A three-day WelcomeCard with entry to Museum Island museums is €44. (See all options.) Remember, however, that the normal WelcomeCard only covers transportation and discounts of up to 50% at attractions.

Sightseeing and tours included

The Berlin WelcomeCard All Inclusive includes dozens of perks not included in their other “WelcomeCard”. We’ve chosen a few sightseeing offers to help you break down the costs:

Berlin on Bike

You can choose either a 3.5-hour guided bike tour that includes a bike rental or a 48-hour bike rental.

Regular full price: €21 for tour, €10 for 24 hours per adult, prices for children depends on age and transportation needed (bike, bike seat, trailer bikes, etc.)

City Circle Sightseeing

(BBS, BEROLINA, BVB, BEX): Includes a Yellow ticket for the hop-on-hop-off bus tour.

Regular full price: €22 for a day ticket or €26 for a 2-day ticket per adult, €11 for a day ticket or €13 for a 2-day ticket per child ages 7 to 14

Original Berlin Walks Tour

Discover Berlin is a 3.5-hour walking tour in English.

Regular full price: €14 per adult or €12 for people 26 and under

Stern und Kreisschiffahrt Boat Tours

River Spree city tour (1 hour) or Havel World Heritage Tour (2 hours).

Regular full price: Between €11-14

Museums and attractions included

The Berlin WelcomeCard All Inclusive also grants you free admission to 19 different museums, including museums on Museum Island, like the Pergamon Museum, art museums like the Gemäldegalerie, and museums of history, such as the German Historical Museum.

Without the card, ticket prices for most of these museums range between €12/€6 (Pergamon Museum), €10/€5 (Gemäldegalerie) and €8/€4 (German Historical Museum). For most state museums, admission for children 18 and under is free of charge.

Several attractions are also included in the card, such a trip up to the top of the Berlin TV Tower (regular price €13 for adults, €8.50 for children age 4 and up), free entry to Olympiastadion Berlin (regular price, €7/€4) and a trip to the Berlin’s Madame Tussaud’s (regular price to €16 to €20, depending on when you book).

Theater ticket discounts and more

The Berlin WelcomeCard All Inclusive also provides 25-30% discounts off tickets for theaters such as Friedrich-Stadt Palast and Wintergarten Varieté, various restaurants and shops.

Notably, it also includes the price of a day ticket for regular public transportation (€7/€4.70 within Berlin, group discounts available).

Is it a good deal?

So is the Berlin WelcomeCard All Inclusive worth the dough? The answer really depends on what type of tourist you are. If your goal is to hit as many museums and sights as possible, take walking or bus tours, and maybe even check out a Vegas-style show, this card will most likely help you save.

If, however, you’re really just looking for a card that will cover public transportation plus admission to the top museums on Museum Island, we’d forget the “All Inclusive” ticket and consider the WelcomeCard “Museum Island” ticket, good for three days at the five museums located on the island.

Meanwhile, there are cheaper (and in our opinion, sometimes better) ways to save than just falling in line with every other tourist. Here are some cheapo alternatives:

Biking

If you’d rather just rent a bike and explore on your own (instead of a bike tour), you can find bike rentals lower than the €10 per day that Berlin on Bike charges. Check out our guide to cheap bike rentals in Berlin.

Transportation

Since they follow more or less the same route as Berlin’s Bus 100 line, in our opinion, the hop-on-hop-off buses are are not worth the added price. A trip across one of Berlin’s many rivers is admittedly a delightful experience, but to save, you can also take a ride on one of the regular public ferries that travel from Wannsee to several locations. These public ferries are included in the price of a regular public transportation ticket.

Museums and entertainment

As for museums, most offer nicely priced tickets to begin with, as well as free admission for children 18 and under. As mentioned above, the Berlin WelcomeCard “Museum Island” ticket covers admission to those five museums and is much cheaper.

The ticket price for shows at variety, music and cabaret shows will still be on the pricey side even with the discount the card offers, and the restaurants listed are mainly overpriced tourist traps.

Last but not least, in our opinion, there’s absolutely no reason to go to Madame Tussaud’s in Berlin — unless the kids insist.

Final thoughts

So, in a nutshell, if you’re a really ambitious tourist, go ahead and spring for the Berlin WelcomeCard All Inclusive — the 4-day card offers the best deal and will allow you to pack in tons of sights and activities. We’d be much more likely to buy the WelcomeCard “Museum Island” ticket — and use it for discounts at museums and attractions not covered by the card.

And if you’re more of a relaxed tourist who would like to pick and choose your activities or find alternative ways to explore Berlin, then hold onto your wallet, as this card is probably not for you.

For a full list of all the benefits and discounts the Berlin WelcomeCard all inclusive offers, click here.

The post The Berlin WelcomeCard All Inclusive: Is it a good deal? appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Berlin is also massive. Biking makes it possible to get between sights, restaurants and bars relatively quickly. Seriously, in many cases it’s the fastest way to get around. And you’ll get to experience the city like a local to boot!

Related: 12 Simple ways for saving big on your Berlin trip

Tips for biking in Berlin

Ready to hop on a bike? Here are helpful tips for biking in the city as well as ideas on how to save when renting a cycle.

General biking tips

Navigating bike lanes
As we just mentioned, most streets in Berlin have bike lanes. Sometimes they’re directly on the street, but most often they’re integrated directly into the outer edge of the sidewalk in red or grey bricks. Although you may see the occasional bicycle stenciled onto the bricks, most sidewalk bike lanes are not marked (the ones in the street usually are).

Keep an eye out for red bike lanes painted next to the sidewalk in Berlin. Photo: Eric Sehr

Important note to pedestrians: Do not walk in the bike lane. If you do, don’t be surprised if riders yell at you. Since most Berliners use their bicycles as a mode of transportation, they ride very fast. You don’t want to be in their way.

Slow? Stay on the right: When cycling, if you’re more in the mood for a slow, leisurely ride, make sure you always stay to the right so, any speed demon can easily pass you on the left; otherwise, again, it’s very likely someone will yell at you.

Safety tips

As Berlin cyclists can be an impatient and occasionally aggressive bunch, never allow your children to ride in the bike lane. By law, children are allowed to ride on the sidewalk.

We don’t recommend adults ride on the sidewalk, though. If you do, there is (again) a very good chance you’ll be yelled at, this time by pedestrians. The one exception is the sidewalks next to cobblestone streets — only the grumpiest of grandmothers (and yes, there are some…) would yell at someone for choosing not to take a bone-shaking ride across cobblestones.

Signaling: If you’re riding on the streets, it’s a very good idea to use hand signals when turning.

Locking up: And since bikes often get stolen in Berlin, be sure you always lock your bike to something (a bike rack, tree, fence, etc.).

Bikes on public transit: You can take your bicycle on the U-bahn or S-bahn, except during rush hour. Just make sure you purchase a bike ticket from the station machines (Fahrradticket) for €1.90 for central Berlin or €2.20 for Berlin and Potsdam. Take note that bikes are not allowed in the first train car or the first door of each individual car.

Bike tours and itineraries

If biking around the city sounds too fast and stressful for you, there are also lots of more low-key options for exploring Berlin atop a Fahrrad (“bicycle”).

Exploring parks by bike

With more than 520 acres to explore, Tiergarten park is a natural choice for pedaling around. If you get tired of trees, ponds, and gardens, several major tourist destinations are also close to the park, including Potsdamer Platz, Brandenburg Gate, the Victory Column, and Holocaust Memorial.

To get a glimpse of Berlin’s transportation history, why not bike around the Park at Gleisdreieck. Fairly new, this park includes plenty of old train tracks from the huge train depot located there before the war. Take a break to watch the skaters do their tricks in the skate pool or do a few tricks yourself on the monkey bars, trampolines, and jungle gyms scattered throughout the park.

A group bike tour is a fun way to see Berlin. Photo: Rae Allen

Affordable bike tours

For a taste of Berlin’s most recently formed hipster paradise, take a ride down the Landwehr Canal at Maybach Ufer into the neighborhood known as “Kreuzkölln.” If you’d rather go on a guided bike tour, two companies offer tours at a nice price.

• Free Berlin offers three-hour tours such as Berlin’s Best and Poor But Sexy for €19, price of bike included.
• Berlin on Bike! offers similar tours for a few euros more. Both also give discounts to Welcome Card holders.

Biking in front of the famous East Side Gallery of the Berlin Wall. Photo: Leo G

How to save on bike rentals

Whatever you do, try not to rent directly from hotels or most bike rental agencies in the major tourist areas; if you do, it’s likely you’ll pay twice as much. Either way, make sure the rental price per day is no more than €10.

Super cheap rentals

For bargain hunters, we recommend:

• Prenzlauerberger Orange Bikes (€7 per day plus €25 deposit) or Berlin on Bike! (€10 per day) in Prenzlauerberg
• Rent a Bike 44 in Neukölln (€4 per day)
• M’eierrad in Kreuzberg (€3 per day)

Buy a bike (no joke!)

If you plan on staying a little longer in Berlin, it might make sense, both money and comfort-wise, to buy a cheap used bike. The best places to look online are Craigslist (most likely in English) or eBay Kleinanzeigen (in German).

Happy cycling!

The post Biking in Berlin: Safety tips and how to find the cheapest bike rental appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

From insider tricks for saving money on admission, to free days to visit and ways to make your visit go more smoothly, here are our best tips for saving money and time at Berlin’s top 10 sights.

Related: Our favorite affordable hotels in Berlin

Saving at Berlin’s Top 10 Sights

1. The Reichstag

Long an empty shell in the Mauerstreifen (the military zone between the east and west side of the Berlin Wall), the Reichstag was extensively renovated and modernized when the government moved back to Berlin in 2000.

Today, the Reichstag is home to the German parliament and open to visitors. The building’s glass dome roof, designed by the British architect Sir Norman Foster, offers a great view over the city. To get inside, you need to register in advance. You can learn about the process on the Visit Berlin website.

Budget tips:

• The good news is that visiting the Reichstag is free of charge. Just be sure to organize everything as far in advance as possible, since this is a very popular attraction. Book ahead of time to enjoy this building’s rich history.
• To explore the dome and terrace, book admission at www.bundestag.de.

2. Brandenburg Gate

Nothing says “Berlin” quite like the Brandenburg Gate. Built in 1791, this gate has become a symbol of German unity after years of division between east and west. Take a stroll across swanky Pariser Platz, home to the French and US embassies, as well as the luxurious, upscale Hotel Adlon.

Budget tips:

• Although the boulevard Unter den Linden is definitely worth a stroll, the restaurants and cafes you’ll find there, or anywhere around the Brandenburg Gate, will most likely be touristy and overpriced.
• To save those precious euros for more worthy pursuits, pack a picnic and head to the Tiergarten park to the west of the gate.

3. Berlin Television Tower (Fernsehturm)

Rising to a staggering 1,207 feet, the Berlin TV Tower is by far the tallest building in Berlin and can be seen all over the city. The tower also has an interesting history: It was opened on October 3, 1969, shortly before the 20th anniversary of the GDR, and was designed to be a symbol of the might and superiority of East Germany and other socialist societies over the West. Travel to the mirrored sphere at the top for breathtaking views over all of Berlin.

Budget tips:

• The Berlin WelcomeCard will save you 25% on the price of admission.
• The revolving restaurant at the top is expensive, but you can be a true Cheapo and just order a couple of drinks and an appetizer. The food might not blow you away, but the view will!

4. Gendarmenmarkt

One of the most beautiful squares in Berlin, if not Germany, Gendarmenmarkt is a must-see for any visitor. The square is flanked by two cathedrals, Französischer Dom (French Cathedral) on the northern side and Deutscher Dom (German Cathedral) on the southern side with Konzerthaus (Concert House) behind it. Be sure and say “guten tag” to the statue of Friedrich Schiller, the famous German poet and playwright, located at the center of the square.

Budget tips:

• If you’d like to see the inside of one of the cathedrals, opt for the French Cathedral. Its admission is just €3 (€4 less than the price for the German Cathedral).
• Take free guided tour of the Concert House, designed by the famous German neoclassical architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel.

5. Berliner Dom

Located on Museum Island (see below) directly on the Spree River, the Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral) is Berlin’s largest Protestant church and is a wonderful example of High-Renaissance Baroque architecture. The cathedral is also steeped with history and is tied very closely to the Hohenzollern dynasty. It was closed during the GDR era and reopened in 1993 after extensive renovations.

Budget tips:

• The Berlin Pass offers free entry to the cathedral (normal price €7).
• You can also enjoy it from the outside. Snap a few photos, then stretch out and relax at nearby Lustgarten.

6. Kurfürstendamm

Affectionately called “Ku’damm” by Berliners, Kurfürstendamm was West Berlin’s glitzy main shopping street, and stood for cosmopolitan elegance and sophistication for decades. The street begins at Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church and extends into the upscale neighborhood Halensee. Europe’s biggest department store KaDeWe and Zoological Garten, Germany’s oldest zoo, are both nearby and definitely worth a visit.

Budget tips:

• As with Unter den Linden, you should probably avoid restaurants and cafes directly on Ku’damm.
• But you can find more affordable food nearby: There are many inexpensive Indian restaurants on Grolmanstrasse and cheap Chinese places on Kant Strasse, including the amazing Lon Men’s Noodle House.
• To get a glimpse of student life in Berlin as well as a meal at a very nice price, you can also eat lunch at the TU Mensa, the cafeteria for Berlin’s Technical University.

7. Schloss Charlottenburg

Located just outside of the center of Berlin City West, Schloss Charlottenburg (Charlottenburg Palace) is a beautiful baroque palace located in the middle of a large, picturesque garden at the banks of the Spree River.

Budget tips:

• Unless you’re an absolute palace junkie, it really isn’t necessary to pay the €10 entry fee to go inside the palace. Instead, take a stroll around the beautiful gardens.
• Seek out the bridge over a small lake – a romantic photo opportunity that has been used in numerous films and television shows – as well as the Queen Louise’s mausoleum and the Schinkel pavilion, a small house commissioned by King Friedrich Wilhelm II.

A river boat cruises by Museum Island. Photo: Chas B

8. Museum Island

An UNESCO world heritage site, Museum Island is also home to many of Berlin’s most important museums including the Pergamon Museum, the Bode Museum, Alte Museum (Old Museum),  Neues Museum (New Museum) and Alte Nationalgalerie (Old National Gallery).

Budget tips:

• To save on museum admission fees, you should definitely consider buying either the Berlin Museum Pass or Berlin Welcome Card Museum Island.
• If you’re not one for museums, be sure to take a stroll around the island and soak in the quaint history of the place, which is, of course, free of charge.

The Berlin Wall Memorial contain a preserved guard tower. Photo: Ingo Ronner

9. The Berlin Wall Memorial and Documentation Center

Located between the districts of Wedding (former West Berlin) and Mitte (former East Berlin), the Berlin Wall Memorial honors those who lost their lives trying to cross the Berlin Wall. A section of the wall and a guard tower remain standing, which offers a good feel for what the border felt like for decades. Cross the street and check out the Documentation Center to learn more about the wall’s history.

Budget tips:

• Both the Memorial and Documentation Center are free of charge. Read, listen, and learn about Berlin’s history as a divided city and the tragic consequences it had for the lives of many.
• Keep an eye on your wallet: Pickpockets are often active in this area, so a little extra precaution is advised.

Related: Memorializing the Berlin Wall

10.  Potsdamer Platz

Once a bustling commercial center, Potsdamer Platz became a dormant no-man’s land after World War II and until the fall of the Wall. Soon after, skyscrapers – as well as the Sony Center and the mall Potsdamer Platz Arcaden – sprung up out of the ground practically overnight. In February, the square is also home to the Berlinale, Berlin’s international film festival.

Budget tips:

• Again, it’s best to avoid the touristy restaurants around Potsdamer Platz.
• If you’d like to see a film in English, be sure to check out some of the smaller original language movie theaters in Berlin (check out this list) before shelling out bigger bucks at SonyCineStar.

The post How to save at Berlin’s Top 10 attractions appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Although the saying doesn’t have the same ring in English as it does in German, it still gives you a good feel for the differences between the two areas: SO36 still has a gritty, punky vibe and attracts a younger party crowd while 61 is a quieter, more gentrified oasis popular with hipsters, urban families, and those 30 or over.

Known as the “third largest Turkish city”, Kreuzberg also has a thriving Turkish community, particularly SO36. Here are some budget-friendly travel tips for the two areas of the neighborhood.

Kreuzberg SO36

Getting there: Take the U-Bahn to stations Kottbusser Tor (U-8/U-1 lines), Görlitzer Bahnhof (U-1 line) and Schlesiches Tor (U-1 line)

Free and affordable things to do

The streets Oranienstrasse and Adalbertstraße make up the heart of SO36. They are located directly at the U-Bahn station Kottbusser Tor, which is affectionately called “Kotti” by locals. Take a stroll around the area and browse through the funky clothing stores and Turkish shops. For a little urban culture, check out the street art and graffiti covering many of the walls.

Museums
Two nicely-priced cultural highlights are Museum der Dinge, a design museum for everyday objects from the 20th and 21st century (admission price: €6), and the Kreuzberg-Friedrichshain (FHBX) Museum, a museum chronicling the history of the neighborhood, which is free of charge.

Catch a film
Located around the corner, the Babylon movie theater often shows original language films with subtitles (called “OmU” in German). To save on the regular admission fee (about €8), go on Mondays, when tickets only cost €6.50.

Historic Park
The park Görlitzer Park once housed a large train station, Görlitzer Bahnhof, which was destroyed during the war. You can still see some of the ruins in the main field, popular with Frisbee players, picnicking hipsters and students lounging with a beer and one hand and a cigarette in the other.

Although the park has had drug problems in recent years, the Children’s Farm is still very popular with kids and families. Hang a right when you get off at the U-Bahn station Schlesisches Tor for more cafes and bars with a hip, 20-something crowd.

Cheap Eats

Luckily, you’ll find many cheap eats around Oranienstrasse, Wienerstrasse (near Görlitzer Park) and Schlesisches Tor. Some of the best options under €5 euros include:

• Tadim (Adalbertstr. 98), a Turkish fast food restaurant with great kebab and Lahmacun, a.k.a. “Turkish” pizza
• Maroush (Adalbertstr. 93), a Lebanese place with great falafel and chicken shwarma sandwiches
• Spätzleexpress (Wiener Str. 11), a small restaurant serving Spätzle and Maultaschen, two tasty noodle treats from the Swabian region in Southern Germany
• Rissani (Spreewald platz 4-6), another great Lebanese restaurant which is more of a sit-down place than Maroush.
• If you’re jonesing for a burger and fries, check out Burgermeister (Oberbaumstr. 8), conveniently located under the elevated u-bahn tracks at Schlesisches Tor.

Nightlife

If you’re in the mood to party, then SO36 is the place to be. Dozens of bars and cafes line the streets around all three U-bahn stops.

If you’re in the mood for an urban, industrial vibe mixed in with a little kitsch (there’s a weeping Virgin Mary projection on the wall) all packed in a gay-friendly atmosphere, then check out Möbelolfe (Reichenberger Str. 177).

Franken (Oranienstr. 19a) is an unpretentious watering hole with a punky edge and Wild at Heart (Wiener Straße 20) is a well-known punk rock and rockabilly bar.

The club SO36 (Oranienstr. 190) on Oranienstrasse offers live shows as well as regular events like a Monday after work skate night and Kiezbingo (neighborhood bingo).

Kreuzberg 61 (aka “Bergmannkiez”)

Getting There: Take the U-Bahn to stations Südstern, Gneisenaustrasse and Mehringdamm (U-7 line) or stations Hallesches Tor and Prinzenstrasse (U-1 line)

Playing bocce in Kreuzberg’s Viktoriapark. Photo: Eugene K

Free and affordable things to do

If Oranienstrasse is Kreuzberg’s punk rock wild child, then Bergmannstrasse is its tamer, older sister. Popular with tourist, the street is lined with shops, restaurants, and cafes.

Cemeteries
At the quieter, leafy green section of Bergmannstrasse (close to U-7 Südstern station) you’ll find the large cemetery, Friedrichswerder Friedhof II. The cemetery has many old graves from the 18th and 19th century with impressive statues and headstones. Head up the hill and you’ll also find many mausoleums in a glorious state of gothic decay.

The cemetery at Hallesches Tor has many beautiful Art Nouveau graves and is the final resting place of the classical composers Mendelssohn and Brahms, and the German poet E.T.A Hoffmann.

Canals and window shopping
A walk along the Landwehrkanal is also an absolute must. In the summer, the banks along the canal are full with young people picnicking or popping open a beer or two. It also leads to Gräfekiez, the upscale, stylish part of 61. Although the designer boutiques are not priced with the budget traveler in mind, Dieffenbachstrasse and Gräfestrasse are still worth a peek and a little window shopping.

Parks
Kreuzberg 61 is also home to two parks, Volkspark Hasenheide and Viktoriapark. Located on one of Berlin’s only hills, Viktoriapark is also home to the Nationaldenkmal für die Befreiungskriege (National Monument for the Liberation Wars), which offers great views over the city.

Cheap Eats

Like SO36, Kreuzberg 61 has a wide range of cafes and restaurants, although they tend to be a bit more expensive. But there are still plenty of great cheap eat options.

• The Marheinike Markthalle (Marheinekepl. 15), a large market hall located at the corner of Bermannstrasse and Zossenerstrasse, has plenty of food stands where you can get lunch or dinner at a nice price.
• Curry 36, (Mehringdamm 36) a snack bar near U-7 Mehringdamm has arguably the best curry wurst and fries in the city and is just up the street from the ever-popular Mustafa’s Vegetable Kebab stand (Mehringdamm 32).
• The King of Falafel (Urbanstr. 68) also has fabulous falafel as well as lesser known vegetarian and vegan treats.

Related: Best Berlin cheap eats from currywurst to falafel

Nightlife

If you’re in the mood to party, SO36 is a better option. Still, Kreuzberg 61 does have a few highlights:

• Bad Kreuzberg (Blücherstr. 17) is an unpretentious dive bar which offers free pretzels and peanuts with drinks.
• Junction Bar (Gneisenaustr.18) is a basement club for jazz and blues with a no-frills pub on top.
• Minibar (Graefestr. 77) is a small-but-cozy option in Gräfekiez.
• Die Legende von Paula & Ben (Gneisenaustr. 58) is a nice neighborhood place with a friendly vibe.

Sleep for cheap

Looking for a hotel to be near the action in Kreuzberg? Check out our Kreuzberg listings for local hotels and hostels with rates starting as low as $39 for a double room.

The post Berlin: Kreuzberg’s best affordable sights, bars and restaurants appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Related: 12 Simple ways to save big on your trip to Berlin

That said, there are still plenty of free or relatively cheap museums in Berlin. We’ve put together a list below, and included some additional tips for how to get more cultural bang for your buck.

Free museums

Nearly 50 museums and historical sights in Berlin do not charge an entry fee. Here are some of the highlights.

Allied Museum
Housed in the Outpost Theatre, a former movie theater for American soldiers in the heart of the former American sector, the Allierten Museum (Allied Museum) traces the history of Allied forces in Berlin from 1945 to 1989. (Address: Clayallee 135)

The Berlin Wall Memorial is a powerful experience. Photo: Craig Nelson

Berlin Wall Memorial
Located on Bernauer Strasse in Berlin’s Mitte district, the Berliner Mauer Gedenkstätte (Berlin Wall Memorial) has preserved a section of the wall to offer a historical glimpse at Berlin’s divided past. (Address: Bernauer Straße 111)

Daimler Art Collection
Daimler’s contemporary art collection presents works across a wide spectrum of major 20th-century art movements up to the present. (Address: Alte Potsdamer Straße 5)

District Museums
Each Berlin district also has its own admission-free museum tracing the neighborhood’s history and development. Some examples include the Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg Museum (Address:Adalbertstraße 95A), the Wilmersdorf-Charlottenburg Museum (Address:Schloßstraße 55) and the Mitte Museum (Address: Pankstr. 47).

Holocaust Memorial
You’ll be amazed how disorienting and moving it is wandering through the concrete pillars erected on uneven terrain in the beautifully haunting Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. (Address: Cora-Berliner-Straße 1)

Knoblauchhaus
Erected in 1760, this house lets the visitor delve into the world of the Biedermeier period by exploring the original furnishing and objects owned by the Knoblauch family. (Address: Poststraße 23)

Topography of Terror
This museum, located at the former SS headquarters, documents Nazi institutions of terror during this dark chapter of Germany’s history. (Address: Niederkirchnerstraße 8)

Tränenpalast
Until 1990, this building located at Berlin’s Friedrichstrasse station was the departure hall for border crossing from the GDR to West Berlin. The scene of many heartbreaking goodbyes between Germans from the West and those from the former East, Berliners soon aptly dubbed the place “Tränenpalast” (Palace of Tears). (Address: Reichstagufer 17)

Museums under €10

Here’s a list of museums in Berlin with tickets for under €10 and also offering free admission to those 18 and under.

Berlinishe Galerie
A Museum of modern art, photography and architecture, Berlinische Galerie presents art from Berlin from 1870 to the present day. Adult admissions: €7 (Address: Alte Jakobstraße 124–128)

Märkisches Museum
Take a stroll through Berlin’s history in the permanent collection of Berlin’s city museum. Adult admission: €5 (Address: Am Köllnischen Park 5)

Mies van der Rohe Haus
Located far off the tourist beat in a residential neighborhood in Berlin’s Hohenschönhausen district, this house was designed by the famous Bauhaus architect Mies van der Rohe. Adult admission: €5 (Address: Oberseestraße 60)

Museum für Kommunikation
The Museum für Kommunikation (Communication Museum) is worth a visit for the three robots in the atrium alone. Adult admission: €4, free admission for children 17 and under (Address: Leipziger Straße 16)

Museumsdorf Düppel
This open air museum is a reconstructed medieval village where you can briefly live like its 1259.  Adult admission: €3 (Address: Clauertstraße 11)

Museums entry packages

If you’re a true culture nut and plan to hit Berlin’s museums in a major way, you can also save on admission fees by purchasing a Berlin Museum Pass, which grants free admission to 50 museums and exhibitions over three consecutive days.

The three-day pass costs €24 for adults and €12 for students. If you’re not quite that ambitious, you can also purchase other passes for a shorter period of time, such as the one-day pass for Museum Island.

Related: Which museum pass in Berlin makes the most sense for your trip?

The post Berlin: 15 Free and affordable museums under €10 appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

These sights will be more crowded on the weekend, but for good reason:  well-priced brunches, weekend-only flea markets and Friday and Saturday nightlife make this an attractive destination for residents and visitors from across Berlin.

Start at Ostbahnhof Train Station

Start your tour at Berlin’s Ostbahnhof train station. Over its lifetime this train station has had more name changes than any other in the city—it served as (East) Berlin’s central train station, and was known as “Hauptbahnhof” between 1987 and 1998, when it was renamed “Ostbahnhof”. While the station entrance has undergone major renovation and modernization, erasing most evidence of the periods before under a mall-like facade common to most German train stations, the wide, gritty station hall with numerous platforms and tracks wows with its massive steel and glass construction and eerie quiet.

As with any major train station in the city, it’s easy to grab a quick snack or drink here at one of the many small eateries or from one of the two large supermarkets in the basement. This is also one of the city’s only locations with grocery stores open on Sundays, if you’ve forgotten to stock up in advance.

Swing by the Postbahnhof

To the east of the station lies Postbahnhof am Ostbahnhof. As its name suggests, it was used as a postal sorting and storage facility until the 1990s, at which point mail was transported by trucks and airplanes rather than by train.

It has since become a location for concerts, events, and temporary exhibitions, and houses FritzClub, a nightclub popular with students and younger night owls.

Stroll along the East Side Gallery

Toward the river, you’ll spot your first glimpse of the East Side Gallery, one of Berlin’s longest sections of extant Berlin Wall. This strip owes its existence and popularity to a post-Wall 1989-90 art project that brought together artists from around the world to decorate it in a series of murals, most touching on the historical and social aspects of the Wall’s fall. After years of decay and obfuscation by graffiti, many sections were repainted in 2009.

Related: 10 ways to explore the Fall of the Wall, 25 years later

This borderland area has undergone a tremendous amount of development in the interceding 25 years. This section of the Wall, once obscuring industrial eyesores from the sight of official state visitors traveling the road between Schönefeld airport and Ostbahnhof, now neighbors parks, beach bars, and hotels.

The riverside and East Side Gallery are threatened by development. In 2013 David Hasselhoff made international headlines by appearing alongside Berlin protesters attempting to thwart the removal of sections of the East Side Gallery in the name of long-approved public and private development projects. As you walk eastward, don’t forget to look at the development on the other side of the street as well—everything here has been built since the fall of the Wall, most notably Berlin’s stadium event hall, O2 World.

Take in (but don’t cross) the Oberbaumbrücke

Walking to the end of the Mühlenstr., you’ll reach one of Berlin’s most recognizable landmarks, the Oberbaumbrücke. This double-decker bridge with its two brick towers is a highlight of any Spree boat tour. Visitors may remember it from its appearance in the films “Run Lola Run” or “The Bourne Supremacy.” During German division, U1 subway service into the East was interrupted, and the bridge served as a pedestrian border from West (Kreuzberg) to East (Friedrichshain) Berlin.

Walk up Warschauer Str.

Turn left and walk up Warschauer Str. toward the U- and S-Bahn stations. Directly under the U-Bahn station (and accessed from the rear, or Warschauer Platz, side) is the dance club Matrix. One of Berlin’s largest, Matrix expands over ten “underground” vaults and is open to visitors over 18 years old, seven nights a week from 10 PM.

Across from the U-Bahn station, the gray building you see is the so-called Industriepalast. Built in the early 20th century, the building housed one of the GDR’s most prominent refrigeration and cooling compressor manufacturers. Since renovations in the early 1990s, the landmark-protected building now houses a hotel, a hostel, small shops and eateries, and Monster Ronson’s, one of Berlin’s best karaoke bars.

Cross the bridge over the train tracks (avoid stepping on the punks and their dogs!), pausing to capture an excellent photo of the Alexanderplatz TV tower, another of East Berlin’s icons.

Coffee or beer break at RAW-tempel

At the next intersection, turn right into the Revaler Str. On your right side, you’ll come to the questionable looking entrance of the RAW-tempel. RAW is an acronym for Reichsbahnausbesserungswerkstatt (don’t you love German?), a really long word for a train repair facility—in use here until 1995—which explains both the RAW-tempel’s location as well as its size.

What started (and continues) as a non-profit organization promoting a free space for cultural activities now houses numerous popular clubs and bars, an art gallery, an open-air cinema, a circus school, and a weekend flea market. This expansive creative space definitely warrants a wander or perhaps a coffee/beer break! Come back at another time of day to experience a completely different atmosphere.

Simon-Dach-Str is filled with cafes and bars offering plenty of outdoor seating. Photo: La Citta Vita

Turn left onto Simon-Dach-Strasse

Continue eastward on the Revaler Str., turning left into the Simon-Dach-Str. At this end of the street, you can understand what this residential area felt like before post-Wall development took hold. Starting from the intersection with Kopernikusstr., you’ll discover one of Berlin’s most popular streets for going out, lined on both sides with restaurants and bars offering thousands of outdoor seats.

If you’re looking for something a little quieter, head just a bit further east (literally and figuratively) to Datscha (one of our recommended brunch locales) on the corner of Kopernikusstr. and Gabriel-Max-Str.

Hang out at Boxhagener Platz

Heading northward along the Gabriel-Max-Str. or eastward from the Simon-Dach-Str. along Grünberger Str., you’ll soon hit Boxhagener Platz. A popular neighborhood gathering space, the place comes alive on weekends for its Saturday open-air food market or highly-trafficked Sunday flea market. The square was the focus of a recent German film set in East Berlin in 1968 of the same name.

Walk north to Frankfurter Allee

From here, head northward on the Mainzer Str. until you reach Frankfurter Allee. Mainzer Str. was home to one of Berlin’s most famous post-Wall squats. Houses 2 through 11, 22, and 24 were occupied for seven months before being violently cleared in November 1990. Gentrification remains a central issue in the area. Today, most houses in this street, like those in the surrounding streets, have been renovated, leaving no trace of this alternative history.

Turn left on Frankfurter Allee. During the 1950s, this wide boulevard was renamed “Stalinallee”. Walk toward the Gendarmenmarkt-inspired twin towers marking Frankfurter Tor and the start of the socialist classical developments built by the GDR between here and Alexanderplatz along the Karl-Marx-Allee. The street, with its monumental architectural backdrop, was regularly used for GDR May 1st (Labor) Day parades. It has retained its popularity as a shopping street, albeit with less prestige than in it held the GDR.

Then choose your own adventure!

From here, you’ve got choices! You can:

• head back to the Simon-Dach-Str. or RAW-tempel for some well-earned refreshment.

• head out for a night of techno at the nearby Berghain, one of Berlin’s most legendary clubs, in a former power plant back toward Ostbahnhof (Am Wriezener Bahnhof).

• catch the U5 subway to Alexanderplatz and continue your city sightseeing from there.

Or, catch the M10 tram northbound toward Nordbahnhof:

• getting off after four stops (Paul-Heyse-Str.) to explore Volkspark Friedrichshain.

• getting off after 10 stops (Husemannstr.) to explore the Kollwitzplatz area of Prenzlauer Berg.

• getting off after 12 stops (Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn Sportpark) to explore Mauerpark, visit the Mauerpark flea market, or enjoy open-air karaoke.

• getting off after 14 stops (U8-Bernauer Str.) to explore the Berlin Wall Memorial, walking along Bernauer Str. to Nordbahnhof.

The post A Walking Tour of former East Berlin: Hanging out in Friedrichshain appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

With the big milestone coming up, we’ve compiled a list of 10 ways to explore the history of the Wall, its construction, dismantling, and the reunification of Germany. And good news for budget travelers, almost all of these are free to visit!

1. Visit the Berlin Wall Memorial

Starting point for any deeper understanding of the Berlin Wall is the Berlin Wall Memorial, near S-Nordbahnhof. Before exiting the station, study the informational displays in the stairwell and station foyer telling the story of the Bahnhof and others like it which became “ghost stations.” (The GDR blocked access for its citizens to certain sections of Berlin’s S-Bahn network which could have served as a direct escape route to West Berlin.)

Above ground, you’ll find indoor and outdoor informational displays, including historical films, original documents and numerous broadcasts and interviews detailing the events leading up to the the Wall’s construction, reactions and dramatic events—including numerous escape attempts—around its construction in August 1963, what the division of the city meant for its residents (especially those in the shadow of the Wall, as here in Bernauer Str.), and what the city looked like in the days and months after the Wall came down.

The Memorial also reflects on the short history of its own existence, including the struggle to maintain the existing section of border strip with original Wall pieces given residents’ animosity, the interference of neighboring parishes and the profit-driven desire to develop as much of this newly open land as possible.

From a specially constructed viewing tower, you can look down into the memorial for a better sense of the entire border complex, view the small chapel constructed from the rubble following the 1986 destruction of a church which stood on the same spot, enveloped by the Wall for nearly three decades and imagine the current memorial park landscape in its former militarized state.

The interpretive park ends at U8-Bernauer Str., but you may choose to extend your walk to Mauerpark, the meeting point of three Berlin districts. On Sundays, this lively strip is host to a popular flea market, chock full of original Berlin souvenirs; in the afternoons, free and friendly karaoke steals the show on the amphitheater stage.

Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer, Bernauer Str. 119. Outdoor displays accessible at all times, indoor displays 9:30 AM to 7 PM (summer), to 6 PM (winter), closed Mondays, free admission. S-Nordbahnhof, U8-Bernauer Str.

A memorial dedicated to freedom, the East Side Gallery features restored murals that graced the Wall before the fall. Photo: Antonio Campoy

2. Visit other bits of the Wall

Other places to view original segments of the Wall include Berlin’s East Side Gallery (running along the Spree between S-Ostbahnhof and S-Warschauer Str.) or the Topography of Terror (between Potsdamer Platz and Checkpoint Charlie). There are numerous Wall pieces which have now been sprinkled around Potsdamer Platz and Leipziger Platz, generally not in their original location.

3. Explore the German Historical Museum

To understand better the parallel developments in West and East Germany following the end of World War II, including the events leading to reunification, visit the German Historical Museum’s permanent exhibition. An entire floor is dedicated to this period, and visitors to the well-designed display get an excellent sense of the events leading to the division of Germany, as well as the significance of the erection of the Berlin Wall and the inner-German border for the GDR economy and East-West German relations in the mid- to late-20th century.

Deutsches Historisches Museum, Unter den Linden 2. Open 10 AM To 6 PM daily, admission €8/4. S-Friedrichstr., S-Hackescher Markt, S-Alexanderplatz, bus stop Unter den Linden/Staatsoper.

4. Trace the path of the Wall

Where was the Wall located? Well, in the center of Berlin, the former path of the westernmost element of the Berlin Wall security complex is often marked by a cobblestone line, regularly inset with copper plates stating, “Berliner Mauer 1961-1989.” You can easily pick up this line running behind the Reichstag and around the Brandenburg Gate, past the Holocaust Memorial, up to Potsdamer Platz, then past the Topography of Terror and Checkpoint Charlie to points beyond.

It may be difficult to believe it today, but anywhere you’re standing in the Potsdamer Platz area—now home to the Sony Center and numerous other highrise developments—was once entirely empty, fully contained within the Berlin Wall complex.

In other sections of Berlin, the Wall perimeter wasn’t marked with the cobblestone line. The Wall border followed the sector boundaries between West and East Berlin (which typically followed the borough or Bezirk boundaries which even today divide the city into its various districts), which is why one of the city’s most important stretches can be found in the Bernauer Str., the boundary between the districts of Mitte (East) and Wedding (West).

The truly dedicated can study this map carefully in order to understand whether they are in West or East Berlin at any given moment. If you’ve found a boundary but aren’t sure which side you’re on, you can safely guess that the side closest to the Fernsehturm (TV Tower) on Alexanderplatz is probably the “East.”

5. Cross between East and West Berlin at Friedrichstrasse station

If you find yourself confused and lost by the complicated design of the Friedrichstrasse train station, this is not without reason. One of the city’s transportation hubs, the station was redesigned to maintain separate passenger flows for eastern and western travelers after it became an essential border crossing between East and West Berlin following the Wall’s construction. You can see a giant model of this elaborate system in the bright blue Tränenpalast, or Palace of Tears, just outside the station next to the Spree canal.

It was here that many West Berliners exited the GDR; the name refers to the tears that were shed as families affected by German division were forced to say their goodbyes. The building now houses an excellent historical exhibition on border crossings, with eyewitness accounts from those who left East Germany legally and illegally, those who visited and passed through rigorous controls, those who smuggled, and those performing the controls.

Grenzerfahrungen – Tränenpalast at Bahnhof Friedrichstr., Reichstagufer 17. Open 9 AM to 7 PM weekdays (closed Mondays), 10 AM to 6 PM weekends and holidays, free admission.

6. Look away from Checkpoint Charlie

Checkpoint Charlie remains, however, the most infamous of all Berlin crossing points. The third of three around the city nicknamed by Allied soldiers after the first letters of the military’s phonetic alphabet (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie), Charlie was reserved for foreigners and military personnel entering East Berlin and thus played a role in nearly every East-West spy novel or movie set during this period.

To gain an accurate picture of the crossing, don’t gawk at the replica booth flanked with sandbags and men in costume uniforms; stand instead with your back to the spectacle and stare down Friedrichstr. This entire intersection—everything between the Zimmerstr. to where the highrise buildings begin—made up the historical checkpoint; you’ll note this is an area far larger than the tiny booth would lead you to believe. Today, much of this area is surrounded by fencing covered in an informational historical exhibit which is worth reading further.

Checkpoint Charlie, corner of Zimmerstr. and Friedrichstr. Accessible all hours, no admission. U6-Kochstr.

7. Visit an East German apartment

Traveling on the U5 subway line eastward from Alexanderplatz, you will find yourself driving into the deepest heart of GDR Berlin: through the districts of Lichtenberg and Marzahn, buildings take on the characteristic heights and pre-fab construction styles once (and still) ubiquitous across the GDR. Your ride ends in Hellersdorf, at U-Cottbusser Platz, where one of Berlin’s housing management companies has maintained an original—once highly coveted—three-room apartment with authentic furnishings.

The apartment was typical for the area; more than half of the 42,000 apartments built in Hellersdorf, developed quickly to meet the needs of young families with small children, were perfectly identical to the one on display.

Museumswohnung in der Platte, Hellersdorferstr. 179. Open Sundays from 2-4 PM (other times by arrangement), free admission. U5-Cottbusser Platz.

8. Consider everyday life

Through traditional and multimedia displays, including original media and recent interviews with former GDR citizens, a museum in the Kulturbrauerei in Prenzlauer Berg highlights the chasm between the Socialist utopia promoted by the GDR government and the everyday realities of life for those on the ground, with a special focus on the way the government exerted control over its citizens. The display includes a large collection of original GDR-designed products, including, of course, a pristine Trabi automobile.

Alltag in der DDR – Museum in der Kulturbrauerei, Knaackstr. 97. Open 10 AM to 6 PM (to 8 PM Thursdays), closed Mondays, free admission. U2-Eberswalder Str.

9. Study the Stasi files

To understand the degree to which the GDR exploited its own citizens in the maintenance of control and the methods used to repress and monitor suspected dissidents, you may appreciate the informative exhibition on the state security apparatus known as the Stasi, housed near Checkpoint Charlie. The information center at BStU-Bildungszentrum is curated by the state agency which maintains the Stasi file archive; here historians, researchers, and citizens can request access to the information painstakingly collected and documented by the SED apparatus.

Stasi Exhibition – Bildungszentrum BStU, Zimmerstr. 90. Open daily 10 AM to 6 PM, free admission. U6-Kochstr.

10. Take a guided tour of the Berlin Wall

Rent Mauerguide, a GPS-guided audio tour providing comprehensive information on the Berlin Wall and nearly every location discussed in this article. €10/day (€8/4 hours), students receive €3 discount. Pick up/drop off at Bernauer Str., Brandenburg Gate, or Checkpoint Charlie.

Berliner Unterwelten e.V. offers a two-hour Under the Berlin Wall (M) underground walking tour for €13/€10. Starts near S-Gesundbrunnen at 3 PM on Fridays and Sundays, with tours every weekday at 3 PM during the summer.

Fat Tire Bikes offers a five-hour Berlin Wall and Cold War tour for €24. Starts from S-/U-Alexanderplatz at 10:30 AM on Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays (summer).

Berlin on Bike offers Berlin Wall or Wall Eyewitness tours—the former €19, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 11 AM; the latter €25, Saturdays at 10 AM Both 3.5-hour tours start at the Kulturbrauerei (U2-Eberswalder Str.).

The post 10 ways to explore the history of the Berlin Wall appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

It does cost €2 to enter (€1 for children), but it’s well worth it to help support this important urban gem for future generations. Plus, since dogs and bikes are not allowed inside the gates, the fee lets you enjoy a little extra peace and quiet than in other city parks.

Unique architecture in Britzer Garten along the lake in April. Oleksandr Dantsiger

History and background

Britzer Garten was created in 1985 for Germany’s yearly national garden show event and has only gotten prettier with time. There are numerous landscapes and various garden groupings with something for everyone—trained roses, fountains, a central (man-made) lake, plenty of play areas for children, a small zoo of domesticated animals and even an overlook to climb! On weekends, the park is popular with families, and attractions such as mini-golf or the park’s own small-gauge railway are overfilled.

The lush rose garden. Photo: manu

Three peak seasons

Three times per year, the park shines with an inordinate number of blooms: in early spring, the fields and hillsides are covered with different kinds of daffodils, and about a month later the park explodes in special plantings of tulips; early summer finds the rhododendrons at their peak, followed then by roses; and in late fall, the leaves around the park have turned a beautiful range of shades and the special planting areas are instead filled with dahlias, some as large as dinner plates! While it can’t beat, say, the Netherlands’ Keukenhof for the spring, the garden is nevertheless a highlight any time of year.

A classic springtime scene in Britzer Garten. Photo: visitBerlin

Small entry Fee

The small admission fee (€2 /€3 during bloom events) guarantees that the park is safe, quiet and well-maintained. There are a number of small cafes spread throughout the park, offering everything from freezer ice cream to a full dinner menu. During the week, the number of visitors is refreshingly low, making it an excellent excursion to recharge overwhelmed tourist batteries.

The post The €2 urban oasis: Enjoy blooms year-round in Berlin’s Britzer Garten appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Related story: Where to go swimming in Berlin

This is perhaps nowhere more true that in Berlin’s hamams, or Turkish-style baths, where the doldrums of winter are sloughed off like so much old skin under silk gloves in the warm, moist air and congenial atmosphere. Berlin offers two such bathhouses to refresh both body and spirit.

Sultan Hamam

For both men and women, Sultan Hamam is the only option. Open from noon to 11 p.m. daily, for men only on Mondays only, women from 9:30 a.m. Tuesday-Saturday, and families (with bathing suits) Sundays.

It is possible to book the traditional kese and sabunlama treatments, as well as massages and cosmetic treatments from facials to pedicures. You can also rent towels and bath shoes for a small additional fee. Located in a warehouse side entrance just a short distance from U2-Bülowstr. Or S1/S2/S25-Yorckstr. Entrance €16 for three hours, €21 for five hours.

Women-only hamam

Women also have the option of visiting Germany’s first Hamam, located in the women’s center Schokoladenfabrik. Open until 11 p.m. from 3 p.m. Mondays, noon Tuesday-Sunday; Thursdays are the only days children are also allowed to visit. Bathing suits not recommended.

Here you will find a similar array of services on offer, including the opportunity to rent or buy any necessary items. Located in the heart of Kreuzberg, a short distance from U1/U8-Kottbuser Tor. Entrance €16 for three hours, €11 between 12-14 Thursdays.

Treatments or massages are only possible in combination with a hamam visit, and booking by telephone in advance is highly recommended. Contact information for each hamam is easily located on their websites (linked above).

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City Tour

There are numerous boat companies plying the central waterways on sunny summer days. Such tours typically last one hour and take passengers past the city’s major sights: Haus der Kulturen der Welt, government quarter including Chancellery and Reichstag, Hauptbahnhof, Berlin Cathedral, Museum Island, and Nikolaiviertel.

Boat companies include: Stern & Kreis and Reederei Riedel. The most convenient location with regular departures is Friedrichstrasse station. Cost: Around €10

• Cheapo tip: Have a local friend or host with a transportation ticket subscription? Such “Abo” customers are eligible for 2-for-1 tours on BWSG boats. Print the coupon here.

Canals Tour

Stern & Kreis offers a “bridges” tour through Berlin’s canal system, taking you through Mitte, Friedrichshain, Treptow, Kreuzberg and Charlottenburg, before returning through the center of the city. It’s an excellent three-hour excursion. Wait for a fine day and slap on sunscreen! Click for departures from Friedrichstrasse or Jannowitzbrücke. Cost: 20€.

• Cheapo tip: Score 20% off your ticket price with a coupon from the Berlin Stars booklet, distributed with paid admission by participating attractions (Fernsehturm, Madame Tussaud’s, SeaLife, Legoland, etc.).

Ultimate Cheapo Tour

For the price of a regular AB public transportation ticket or included in any day or week ticket, Cheapos can take the ferry F10 across Wannsee to Alt-Kladow. The harbor is a quick walk from Wannsee station, located 20-30 minutes from Friedrichstrasse (S1/S7) or Zoo (S7) stations.

The ferry ride takes 20 minutes in one direction; either enjoy a stop in one of Alt-Kladow’s harbor-side biergartens for an hour, or disembark and immediately join the line reboarding for Wannsee. Consider stopping on an excursion to or from Potsdam. Cost: 5.20€ (or free). More information.

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