But the neighborhood wasn’t without its charms: To insiders, it was always known as a great place to explore. You could come across amazing finds (with prices to match) at one of its many dusty second-hand stores, as well as a great place to find roomy, dirt cheap apartments.

A lot has changed since then. The dusty old stores have mostly given way to boutiques and artsy cafes; the ones that remain are well versed in terms like “mid-century” and lay in hopes of snagging an expat hipster willing to dig deep into their pockets. Long gone are the days of easy apartment searches and rent prices are today among the highest in the city.

This said, a trip to Neukölln is still a must for every traveler who wants to experience Berlin’s special brand of coolness. Here is our guide to the neighborhood’s best budget-friendly restaurants and bars, complete with several tips on where you can still get a taste for old-school Neukölln. We’ve broken it up into three main districts, Kreuzkölln, Rixdorf, and Schillerkiez.

Related: 10 Day Germany itinerary through Berlin, Potsdam, Hamburg, and Munich

Kreuzkölln

On the border to Kreuzberg, this part of Neukölln is especially popular with the hip, younger party crowd. The major streets are Weserstrasse, which extends from Hermannplatz, Reuterstrasse, Hobrechtstrasse, Pannierstrasse and Maybachufer, which runs along Landwehr canal, and Sonnenallee, also known as “little Lebanon.”

Food & drink under €10 in Kreuzkölln

With dozens of cafes, bars and restaurants, you’ll find plenty of places to chow down in Kreuzkölln. However, many of the places come and go at the whim of gentrification and prices are on the rise. Here is a list of a few tried and true tips, with good grub for under €10.

Wochenmarkt am Maybachufer
Maybachufer, Tuesday and Fridays, 10 to 6:30

Also known as the “Turkish” or “Oriental” market, this market has many cheap eats on offer mixed in with the produce and textile stands. Be sure and try a Gözleme, a traditional savory Turkish stuffed flatbread, served hot off the griddle.

Mae Charoen Thai Imbiss
Sonnenallee 134

An authentic Thai place with scrumptious curry dishes for €5 and under.

Croissanterie Cocina
Pannierstrasse 56

An old-school Neukölln establishment, this funky café bakes up what some call the best croissants in the city. It also serves great coffee and a small selection of other baked goods.

Fräulein Frost
Friedelstrasse 39

Great ice cream place with exotic flavors mixed in with the basics. Indulge your inner six-year-old and order a Spaghetti Eis, vanilla ice cream shaped like pasta with strawberry sauce and ground nuts posing as parmesan and marinara.

Ä
Weserstrasse 40

One of the first bars to open in what was then the newly dubbed Kreuzkölln, Ä is a smoky, no-frills watering hole that attracts a student-aged crowd. The place gets packed pretty fast, so come early if you want a seat.

Nathanja und Heinrich
Weichselstrasse 44

Here’s another “smoker’s bar” (you’re still allowed to smoke in bars if food is not served) with vintage furniture, a big store front window, exposed brick walls and a youngish crowd.

Soulcat
Pannierstrasse 53

This is a 1950s and ’60s music bar with a vinyl-only policy. Plenty of live music and cheap drinks guarantees an out of sight night for any hepcat.

Karl-Marx-Strasse and Rathaus Neukölln

Although plenty of hipsters abound in this part of Neukölln, it’s not quite as gentrified as Kreuzkölln and is still home to many Turkish and working class German families. When you’re there, be sure to check out Richardstrasse and Richardplatz near the U-Bahn station Karl-Marx-Str.

Known as Rixdorf, this area was once a Bohemian village and still is home to many historic buildings you won’t see the likes of anywhere else in Berlin. Comenius Garten (Richardstr. 35) is a small green oasis dedicated to the teachings of universal scholars. Stroll along the “life cycle” path and think deep thoughts with locals and stray expats alike.

Food & Drink near Karl-Marx-Strasse and Rathaus Neukölln

Café Rix
Karl-Marx-Str. 141

Tucked away in a leafy green courtyard off of gritty, bustling Karl-Marx-Strasse, Café Rix was here way before the hipster invasion and will still be there once they have moved on to the next big thing. Although the food gets mixed reviews and is a bit on the pricey side, it’s still worth it to pop in for a Pils and enjoy this café’s old school, opulent veneer.

Tabibito
Karl-Marx-Str. 56

Don’t let the shabby, run-down, hole in the wall atmosphere fool you: Tabibito serves some of the best sushi in Berlin at a nice price complete with friendly service.

Louis
Richardplatz 5

Another Neukölln old timer, Café-Restaurant Louis cooks up one of the biggest schnitzels in all of Berlin. If you order the largest size, you could easily feed a family of five. A small selection of German and Austrian specialties are also available on the menu.

Sahara
Reuterstrasse 56

Order the scrumptious Sudanese falafel with peanut sauce — perfect for those looking for the same Turkish and Middle Eastern fare you can get all over the city but with a different ethnic twist. Chicken, halloumi cheese and tofu sandwiches and plates also available.

Klunkerkranich
Karl-Marx-Str. 66

Located on the top floor of the parking garage of one of the world’s dowdiest, most depressing malls, Klunker Kranich — part urban garden and part bar with somewhat surly service — is worth it for the novelty and breathtaking view alone.

Take a wander around the Schillerkiez neighborhood. Photo: Sludge G

Schillerkiez and Hermannstrasse

The neighborhood Schillerkiez is located at the top of one of Berlin’s only hills. Although this area is now as hip and gentrified as its downhill neighbor, you’ll find a slightly older crowd and lots of cool, urban families with Dutch design buggy bikes.

Besides the lovely tree-lined Schiller Promenade, namesake of the neighborhood, you’ll also find three parks: Körnerpark, Hasenheide and, the mother of all urban green spaces, Tempelhof Airport. If you’re visiting Berlin in the summer, Hasenheide also has a Freiluftkino (open air cinema) where they often show movies in the original language.

Food & Drink in Schillerkiez

Café im Körnerpark
Schierkerstr. 8

With its fountains and Neo-baroque garden style, Körnerpark — turning 100 in 2016 — brings a stylish flair to the rougher, somewhat less gentrified streets around S-Bahn/U-Bahnhof Hermannstrasse. Although the food at the café is nothing to write home about, it’s still the perfect place for a spot of Kaffee und Kuchen.

From Hanoi With Love
Hermannstrasse 176

A hipster hotspot with tasty Vietnamese food. Expect big portions and low prices.

Zimt und Mehl
Weigandufer 16

This café, popular for breakfast, has fair prices, friendly service, and tables with a view over the canal —what else could you ask for?

Mmaah
Columbiadamm 160

This little snack bar offers several Korean BBQ dishes in different sizes. Order one to go and jaunt around the corner to Tempelhof Airport to feast on bulgogi or mandu while watching the rollerbladers, bicyclist and kite skateboarders roll past.

SchillerBurger
Herrfurthstrasse 7

A popular burger place with several Berlin locations, including one down the hill at Karl-Marx-Strasse 223.

Froschkönig
Weisestrasse 17

A friendly neighborhood smoker’s bar which shows silent films on Wednesdays complete with live piano music.

The post Berlin’s Neukölln Guide: The ultimate cheapo food and drink guide appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Compared to other major European cities, Berlin is also very affordable (at least for now). Like many visitors that came before, you may find yourself smitten and end up staying here far longer than you planned.

Related: 12 Easy ways to save on a trip to Berlin

But when you arrive in Germany’s capital, make sure and avoid the following rookie mistakes. Both your wallet and reputation as a cool, Berlin-worthy traveler will thank you for it.

Berlin mistakes to avoid on your first trip

1. Only focusing on sights, not neighborhoods

Don’t get us wrong. Brandenburg Gate is lovely, Museum Island is picturesque and remnants of the Berlin Wall are both fascinating and historically important. See our guide about saving at Berlin’s top 10 attractions for more information.

Still, what makes Berlin “Berlin” are its incredibly diverse neighborhoods.

Hip yet gritty Neukölln, liberal and multicultural Kreuzberg, old-school West Berlin glamour in Charlottenburg, slick, design-minded Mitte and Prenzlauerberg — this is what makes Berlin truly unique. A stroll down these neighborhood streets is a must for any visitor.

Berlin is also incredibly spread out geographically. If you’re feeling adventurous, why not go even further off the beaten path and check out Soviet-style architecture in Lichtenberg or Marzahn or the posh villas in Zehlendorf or Wannsee. The possibilities are truly endless.

Those euro coins will come in handy in Berlin. Many businesses only take cash. Photo: dskley

2. Not having enough cash on hand

Most restaurants and cafes still don’t accept credit cards. The same goes for many smaller shops and all street markets. Because of this, it’s important to always make sure you have enough cash on hand or ask if they accept cards before you order.

Related: 7 Ways to make your travel dollar ever stronger abroad

And speaking of cash… be sure to also keep an eye on your wallet in touristy areas or when riding the U-Bahn. Like any major city, you should always watch out for pickpockets.

Tipping your friendly Berlin waiter is not required no matter how big the beers are. Photo: stawarz

3. Tipping American style

In Berlin, tipping is seen as an extra “danke”( “thank you”) for attentive, friendly service. If the service was lousy (sadly, this can often be the case in Berlin) it’s perfectly acceptable not to tip. Otherwise, you should always tip a maximum of 10%.

Most people just round up the bill. For example, if the bill was €4.30, you would give the waiter a five and tell them “stimmt so,” which translates loosely as “keep the change.” To prove you’re not an absolute greenhorn, be sure you always personally hand the tip to the waiter when paying the bill; it’s not customary to just leave it on the table.

4. Not checking out the green or the blue

Berlin is one of Europe’s greenest cities. The many parks are the best place to see locals at play. You’ll find parks in every neighborhood in many different shapes and sizes. Some examples of big parks are Tiergarten and Volkspark Friedrichshain and some which are “klein aber fein” (small but nice) are Körnerpark and Viktoria-Luise Platz.

Berlin also has a lot of water: with two major rivers and a system of canals, it actually has more bridges than Venice. Be sure and take a stroll along one of the many shores or a dip in a lake during the summer, both popular pastimes for many Berliners. Schlachtensee, Krumme Lanke and Strandbad Wannsee are all easy to reach by public transportation.

Related: Four great parks in Berlin for sunny weather

5. Only eating traditional German food

Don’t get us wrong, we love a good currywurst or schnitzel. Especially when paired with a few steins of local bier at a lovely beer garden.

But Berlin also has a thriving scene filled with affordable cuisine from around the world. To get a taste of what locals eat in modern Berlin, you need to expand your palate and dive into the local restaurant scene.

Related: Simple tips to save when dining out in Berlin

Keep the lederhosen at home and don’t mind the stares when you step on the subway. Photo: frosch50

6. Taking the gruffness and staring too personally

Berliners pride themselves on being direct and never beating around the bush. Unfortunately, this “directness” can sometimes seem more like aggressive rudeness: It’s not uncommon to see a grandma yelling at someone for riding a bicycle on the sidewalk or two strangers cussing each other out so strongly it would get them seriously beat up in many other parts of the world.

But true Berliners are an outspoken, thick-skinned bunch. They don’t mean such things personally and also don’t take them personally. If you run into such a Berliner Schnauze on your trip, it’s best to keep your cool and maybe give them a little bit of attitude back. A sarcastic comment goes a long way, and they’ll respect you more for it.

Eye contact is also more socially acceptable than it is in the US, so don’t be unnerved if you find people staring at you. Maybe they’re admiring your shirt, wondering where you got that ham sandwich or are simply bored and you just happen to be sitting across from them. Either way, it’s unlikely they’re judging you or think you’re the hottest thing around. It’s just normal to stare, so feel free to stare back.

7. Wearing your dirndl and lederhosen

Although many visitors assume all of Germany is yodeling like crazy at Oktoberfest and constantly donning dirndl and lederhosen, these are actually traditions from the region of Bavaria (in the south of the country). Wearing a dirndl in Berlin would be the same as decking out in full cowboy regalia in Chicago.

Keep that lovely floral dirndl in your suitcase for a trip to Munich. If you wear it in Berlin, you’ll out yourself as a clueless tourist and people will definitely laugh at you.

What was your first trip to Berlin like?

Share your experiences (both good and bad!) in the comments below.

The post Berlin: Avoid these 7 first-time tourist mistakes when visiting appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

And money-wise dining doesn’t always have to mean eating the same old sausage and pretzels. Following the advice in our Berlin food guide, you’ll quickly realize that with so many diverse options around town, you can try everything from classic German cuisine to kebab sandwiches.

Here are some of our best tips for eating cheap in Berlin.

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

Berlin Food Guide: 8 simple ways to save

1. Avoid restaurants on the main tourist strips

As with any major city, the restaurants and cafés in the center of Berlin’s touristy areas are likely to be overpriced and mostly ho-hum as far as the food goes. If you want to go a little easier on your wallet, it’s important to get off these main strips. Check out some of the smaller side streets or a less touristy neighborhood nearby.

For example, if you’re around Potsdamer Platz, take the bus M85 down the street into Schönberg where you’ll find lots of inexpensive restaurants to choose from.

If you’re on Kurfürstendamm, make your way over to Kantstrasse for plenty of cheap Chinese.

At Savignyplatz, turn into Grolmannstrasse or Knesebeckstrasse for many nicely priced Indian places.

The Wedding neighborhood is also a cheaper dining alternative than a lot of what you’ll find in Mitte or Prenzlauerberg.

Currywurst and beer is the ultimate cheap pairing in Berlin. Photo: James C

 2. Go for some German-style fast food

If “greasy” is a word you equate with “yum”, why not check out some of Berlin’s finest fast food? The city has amazing quick-and-cheap options, including Turkish döner, gözleme and börek, German currywurst and bratwurst or Lebanese falafel.

Related: Döner, currywurst and other classic Berlin cheap eats

Although you can find tasty street eats all over town, the best rock bottom prices (sometimes less than €2!) can be found on the main thoroughfares in Berlin’s grittier neighborhoods. These include Hermannstrasse, Sonnenallee and Kotbusserdamm in Neukölln and Kreuzberg, Turmstrasse in Moabit and Müllerstraße in Wedding.

If you’re still hungry, grab a scoop of ice cream at one of these Berlin dessert shops.

3. Go out for lunch, not dinner

Another classic dining-on-a-dime tip is to eat out for lunch in Berlin when the prices are cheaper. Many restaurants in the city center offer a “business lunch” option or set menus, and a lot of sushi places, like those on Oranienstrasse in Kreuzberg, offer half-off happy hour deal until 5 pm.

4. Pop into a bakery for sandwiches and savory snacks

If you’re staying in a hotel, why not do as the Germans do and enjoy a little Abendbrot (evening bread)? Pop into a bakery and pick up a belegtes Brötchen, a simple sandwich made up of a bread roll, cheese or cold cuts and maybe some lettuce and a few slices of cucumber.

But don’t wait too long: Most bakeries close by 7 pm. Here are three bakeries for your daily bread.

5. Get your fill at Sunday brunch

Berlin is a big brunch town and many cafes offer an all-you-can-eat buffet on Sundays and sometimes Saturdays. Although the price might not seem too nice at first glance (usually between €10 to 25 euros, drinks not included), you really get a ton of food and can lounge, chat and people-watch to your heart’s content, while filling you plate as often as you like.

For a list of some of the less expensive places, check out EuroCheapo’s picks for brunch and a guide to a cheapo Sunday morning in Berlin.

6. Check out a cafeteria

Although little known to tourists, all of the government buildings in Berlin and most of the universities have kantine (cantines) or mensa (cafeterias) that are open to the public. Although the food probably won’t blow you away (mostly standard German meat and potato dishes), we’re still big fans of the cafeteria scene in Berlin. There is also usually a large salad bar and a range of desserts, including the enigmatic quark, a specialty German dairy product that’s like a mix between Greek yogurt and sour cream.

The best thing about kantines and mensas, however, is that they are cheap, cheap, cheap! Plus, you get to taste a side of Berlin few tourists ever experience. Please note: These are all only open for lunch, not breakfast or dinner.

7. Tip German style

If you do as the locals do, you’ll also luckily save on tips. In restaurants, the standard tip amount is a maximum of 10% and is seen as an extra “thank you” for good service. If the service was truly terrible (sadly, this is not uncommon in Berlin) it’s perfectly fine not to tip. Most locals just round up the check.

But don’t just leave the money on the table. To tip, you need to tell the waiter the amount you would like to pay with the tip included. For example, if the bill is €4.30 you can hand him or her a €10 bill and say five, please, or “fünf (foon-ph) bitte” if you’d like to try it in German.

8. Don’t overdo do it when ordering drinks

One of the classic “dining don’ts” of any Cheapo is to remember not to order fancy drinks with dinner.

If you need something to quench your thirst after that spicy curry, you can always order water. When you do, make sure the waiter understands you want leitungswasser (Light-toons-vahsser), which is tap water. Although they may grumble a bit (it’s not standard to order tap water in restaurants in Berlin), it will spare you the nasty surprise of an overpriced mineral water put on the bill later.

For something tastier, go for a German beer. It’s probably as cheap as mineral water and is the perfect pairing with spicy meal. Want a meal with that beer? Swing by one of Berlin’s great beer gardens.

Happy dining — or, as they say in Berlin, guten Appetit!

The post Berlin Food Guide: 8 ways to save on dining out appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.