However, if dirndl, lederhosen, beer gardens and quaint Fachwerk houses are what you expect on a trip to Germany, you’ll find little of this in Berlin. Dirndl and Lederhosen are Bavarian traditions and, although you’ll find beer gardens in Berlin, they’re nothing like the ones you’ll find in Munich.

And still, Germany has a lot more to offer than just these two cities.

To get the best feel for what Germany has to offer on a 10-day tour, we suggest you delve into Berlin’s uber hip vibe, Potsdam’s regal elegance, Hamburg’s maritime magic, and Munich’s ritz and glitz (and beer gardens!).

Below we’ve outlined an itinerary to help you see the best in each place, along with tips on how to save. But first a couple of budget basics for your trip to Germany:

1. Choose your own adventure. We’ve ordered this itinerary in and out of Berlin, as cheap flights to Berlin are often easier to find than those to Munich (or Hamburg!). However, you can easily rearrange this to fit your needs — fly into Hamburg and then hit up Berlin and Potsdam on your way to Munich (a much more direct route), or start in Munich, head to Berlin and finish in Hamburg.

2. Fly into one city, and home from another. If flying in from the US, also search for tickets into Hamburg or Berlin, and back home from Munich, thus saving you the time and hassle of returning to your point of arrival to fly home. (Just note that if you rent a car, you’ll have to pick it up and drop it off in different cities, which shouldn’t be a problem with most major car rental agencies.)

3. Booking train tickets? Do it through the official Germany railway site: Bahn.de. You can easily switch to English in the top header, and the prices (and special offers on tickets) will be the cheapest you can find anywhere on the web. (Read more tips on German trains.)

Start your adventure in Berlin. Photo: larssteffens

Days 1, 2, 3: Berlin

We’re starting our trip in Berlin, the hippest and biggest city on the list. It’s also, as we pointed out above, the easiest to find cheap flights from the US.

There’s a lot to do in Berlin and a lot of land to cover (historically and geographically), and three days (including your first jet-lagged day, if flying internationally!) will race by. We don’t recommend trying to see the city in fewer than three days.

While in Berlin, don’t miss:

• Visiting the Brandenburg Gate and take a stroll through Tiergarten Park.

• Get a taste of Berlin’s nightlife at one of the many bars and clubs in Kreuzberg, Neukölln or Friedrichshain. (Here’s an excellent overview of nightlife options from VisitBerlin.)

• Receive a culture infusion and experience priceless works of art and antiquities on Museum Island, worth a trip for the quaint, cobblestone streets alone!

• Explore the history of the Berlin Wall at the Berlin Wall Memorial and East Side Gallery.

• Enjoy a bite of scrumptious Turkish fast food, like Lahmucun and Dürüm Döner around Kottbusser Tor.

• Take a bike ride or stroll around Tempelhof Airport and sip a beer in the grass next to the former airstrip.

• Stroll down the swank tree-lined boulevards in Prenzlauer Berg.

• Treasure hunting at one the city’s many weekend flea markets.

• Peek through the gallery windows in Mitte.

• Sample the many cheap eats and finds Berlin has to offer, a city famously dubbed “Poor, but Sexy” by its former mayor. Here are our favorite street eats.

Additional info:

Tips for saving on Berlin restaurants and dining
How to save at Berlin’s top 10 attractions
Tips for saving on a shopping spree in Berlin
10 Ways to ride Berlin public transit like a local

Sleeping in Berlin

Unsurprisingly, Berlin’s hotel scene is also quite hip and very affordable (especially when compared to other capital cities in Europe). We love staying in Prenzlaeur Berg, Mitte and Kreuzberg, as the neighborhoods are still quite central and affordable options abound. See all of our favorite budget hotels in Berlin.

Day 4: Day trip to Potsdam

The former residence of Prussian kings as well as the German Kaiser, Potsdam is one of Germany’s most elegant cities.

Luckily, it is also less than an hour from Berlin and can be reached easily for the price of a regular BC region public transportation ticket. There’s no need to rent a car! Learn more about Berlin public transit tickets.

When in Potsdam, be sure to:

• Stroll around Sanssouci, Fredrick the Great’s iconic castle, and check out his final resting place next to several of his loyal dogs.

• Take in the beautiful green in the large Plant Hall of Orangery Palace, a 19th-century palace located on the grounds of Sanssouci Park.

• Take in the legend of the Miller of Sanssouci at the Historic Mill.

• Do a little window shopping in pricey but quaint downtown Potsdam.

• Check out the famous Dutch Quarter, one of the only places you’ll find Dutch-style houses outside of the Netherlands.

In the evening, head back to Berlin and either catch a little shut-eye or head right off to Hamburg. Another option is to spend the night in Potsdam. (There are about 70 hotels to choose from.)

A historic schooner docked in the Hamburg Port. Photo: Mark M.

Days 5 and 6: Hamburg

After a few days in edgy Berlin, Hamburg offers another side of Germany. It might not seem quite as “cutting edge”, but it’s not all buttoned up, either. This lovely maritime city still knows how to have a good time.

Getting there: The cheapest way to reach Hamburg from Berlin is by bus. The trip takes around three hours and buses run every couple of hours both day and night and can cost as little as €7.90 in each direction on Flixbus. (Read more tips for riding the budget bus lines in Germany.)

Trains: Check out train tickets on Die Bahn. The ride on the high-speed ICE train takes less than two hours. As mentioned above, book these tickets as far in advance as possible to get the cheap seats — from €19.

Otherwise, rent a car from Potsdam or Berlin. Again, booking as far in advance as possible to secure the best deal. The drive takes about three hours.

Activities

When you’re in Hamburg, make sure you:

• Get a glimpse of (and maybe participate in) the all-night-party vibe at the heart of the Reeperbahn red light district at night.

• Enjoy the vibrant nightlife in St. Pauli, the place where the Beatles got their start.

• Stroll along the waterfront past the red brick buildings of Speicherstadt, the largest warehouse district in the world.

• Lounge on the white sandy beach of the Elbstrand on the Elbe river.

• Take the ferry from Landungbrücke — but make sure it’s the regular HVV ferry, not one of the overpriced touristy ferries that basically travel the same route.

• Go for a nice hike through the Blakenese Stairs District.

• Check out artsy shops and little cafes in Karolinenviertel.

• Explore the cool Karo and Schanze Districts.

• Buy at least one souvenir with an anchor on it — believe me, they’ll be plenty to choose from!

More tips

7 Budget tips for visiting Hamburg
Weekend in Hamburg: A Budget-Friendly itinerary

Sleeping in Hamburg

Hotels in Hamburg, like restaurants and shopping, tend to be more expensive than in cheapo-friendly Berlin. But it’s not impossible to find a deal! Check out these five affordable picks in Hamburg and search over 370 hotels. 

Days 7 and 8: Munich

Now let’s head south to Bavaria to experience something totally different! Munich is known as the “world’s biggest village” and the city does have a low-key vibe, with plenty of historic sights and beer gardens to tickle your fancy.

It is also much ritzier and swankier than Berlin, and feels different than Hamburg. It’s a city of contrasts: You can hang out with a high-class crowd in fur coats and designer stilettos, or kick back with a lively beer-happy crowd with sausages and pretzels. Either way, you’ll have fun.

Getting there: There are plenty of ways to get down to Munich from Hamburg.

• Try finding a cheap flight out of Hamburg (although it might be easier to head back to Berlin to find a good price on a flight!).
• If you opt for the bus, it will take about eight hours from Hamburg.
• The train, meanwhile, will take about six hours from Hamburg, and tickets can be booked for under €50 on the Bahn website.
• Driving from Hamburg will take about eight hours on the Autobahn.

Some things you shouldn’t miss:

• A trip to the top the Neues Rathaus where you’ll get a great view over the city — and, on a clear day, see the Alps — all for a €2 admission.

• Have Weisswurst with sweet mustard and a soft pretzel for breakfast.

• Stroll around Viktualienmarkt and have an inexpensive spot of lunch.

• Do a little upscale window shopping on Maximilianstrasse.

• Hang out in the English Garden, one of Europe’s largest urban parks – and make sure you don’t miss the surfers!

• Pop in for a gigantic Maß of Bier at Lowenbräukeller, the less touristy alternative to the Hofbräuhaus.

• Check out Michaelskirche, the Renaissance church that would fight right in in Rome.

• Get artsy on a Sunday, when admission prices are only €1 at the Pinakothek museums.

• Sunbathe on the stony shores of the Isar river.

• Experience the regal beauty of Nymphenburg Palace and Park.

More tips
10 Simple ways to save on a trip to Munich
7 Free and cheap things to do in Munich

Sleeping in Munich

Depending on the season you’re visiting Munich, the city’s hotels can either be pretty reasonable or, if visiting during Oktoberfest, frightfully expensive. Our advice: Come well before or after the big party to avoid crazy prices.

There are a number of affordable places to stay inside the historic center (the Stadtmitte), although you’ll find many more options in the blocks just south of the station. See all of our recommended budget hotels here.

Day 9: Neuschwanstein Castle

Give your whirlwind tour of Germany a fairy-tale ending with a trip to lovely Newschwanstein Castle. The castle, the stuff of Disney dreams, is only about a two-hour drive southwest of Munich in Schwangau, making it an easy day trip.

You could, of course, pack up your things and spend the night in a nearby village, but, as you’ll be heading back up to Berlin, it’s probably easier just to keep your hotel in Munich!

Be sure to check out our tips for visiting Neuschwanstein Castle.

Day 10: Back to Berlin or last day in Munich

Depending on your flight, you’ll either spend your last day hanging out in Munich, or heading back up to Berlin for your last night.

Either way — enjoy yourself, and order one last taste of Germany before flying home!

The post 10-Day Germany Itinerary: Berlin, Potsdam, Hamburg, Munich and Neuschwanstein 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.