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.

What hasn’t changed: The building is as historically and culturally significant as ever. It still affords some of the best free views of the city. You will have to queue and go through security to get inside. The dome is closed four times per year for window cleaning and the plenary chamber is closed during parliamentary sessions.

Big change: Register in advance before your visit

Due to security reasons, you must now register in advance online prior to your visit. Individuals and groups are admitted entrance every 15 minutes between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. In order to complete registration, you must provide first and last name and date of birth for every person in your group.  

* Don’t forget your passport: You must show ID proving your identity when you arrive at the main entrance.

Free audio guides

If you don’t have your own personal Berliner, there are now free audio guides available on the terrace level in 10 different languages; there are also special versions for children and people with disabilities.

Free lectures

If you’d like to learn more about the functions of the Parliament as well as the history of the building, you can register for a 45-minute lecture, which includes a visit to the plenary chamber as well as the opportunity to visit the dome. These are offered in German daily between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., in English Tuesdays at noon only, only during periods when the Bundestag is not in session, and must be booked in advance.

Free group tours

If you have a group of at least six people, you can request a free, 90-minute tour of the complex. Tours are available of the Reichstag building generally (for adults and for groups with children), the art and architecture of the Reichstag building, and the art and architecture of the neighboring Paul Löbe, Marie-Elisabeth Lüders, or Jakob Kaiser buildings. If your German is up to snuff, these tours take place regularly on weekdays and weekends; check this page for further details. Again, requests must be made in advance.

Both the lecture and the tour, if available, can be booked or requested via the online registration service.

Last-minute reservations

If you forget to plan ahead or find nothing available online, you can check at the Visitors’ Service Centre (across from Tiergarten, next to the bus stop) to register for any free spots within the next three days. You must provide the same information as above for each member of your group and provide identification when required.

And if all that fails, it may still be possible to snag a table for lunch or dinner at the Käfer restaurant, located on the terrace level. Reservations can be made by emailing kaeferreservierung.berlin@feinkost-kaefer.de. Restaurant guests enter the Reichstag via the West C portal.

Special bonus for visitors through October 2012

An installation of film, light, and sound, representing historical events which have played an essential role in the Reichstag building and in the development of democracy in Germany, is projected nightly onto the Marie-Elisabeth Lüders building. The projection starts at sunset each day and lasts approximately 30 minutes.

Best views are from the area between the Reichstag and the Paul Löbe building; grab a seat on the stairs along the Spree. And in case you’re a little late and miss the beginning, the film is repeated once. This installation will be shown until German Reunification Day, October 3, 2012.

The post Visiting Berlin’s Reichstag: The new rules appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

As the official seat of the German Parliament, the Reichstag building in Berlin affords you (at no cost!) one of the best views of the city from its famous dome and roof terrace.

Quick history of the Reichstag

The Reichstag was built in 1894 and housed the Parliament until a fire destroyed it in 1933. Consensus has it that the blaze was started by the Nazis in an attempt to stomp out Communism, cut back on civil liberties, and usher in totalitarian rule. Today, the Reichstag celebrates openness and transparency: Visitors climb a dome atop the Parliamentary chamber, and can look down at their legislators in action. How things have changed!

Visiting the Reichstag

While guided tours of the Reichstag can be set up in advance (see comments section below for more info), we recommend nabbing a Berliner (as we did… thanks Hilary!) or taking advantage of the free explanatory brochure, available just past security.

Once in, you’ll take a quick elevator ride to the top of the building, inside the dome. Snap photos of the dome and its surroundings, and start working your way up the dome’s interior ramp, reading the historical explanations along the way. If you grabbed the free brochure downstairs, it’s a helpful guide to the 360-degree city view from the dome’s top. (So, that’s where the new train station is!)

And of course, don’t forget to turn around, away from the city, and look down into the Parliament. (See photo above.) If you’re visiting at night, of course, you may only catch sight of some cleaning personnel.

More information

Check out the Bundestag (German Parliament) web site for details and opening times.

Also, review our list of more free things to do in Berlin.

You can also try this great step-by-step guide available from DK Travel.

Stick with us, Cheapos, and stay tuned for more free tips tomorrow. Next stop? Bratislava!

The post Berlin: Free visits of the Reichstag appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Here are six of our favorite freebies in the German capital:

The Reichstag

The official seat of the German Parliament, the Reichstag affords you (at no cost!) one of the best views of the city from its famous dome and roof terrace. Wait times can be hefty, so we’ve found it’s best to visit at night (the building stays open until midnight, although the last entry is at 10 PM). Take a quick elevator ride to the top and snap a bunch of photos. A free brochure, available as you enter the building, offers a pictorial guide to the Berlin skyline. (So, that’s the new train station!)

Brandenburg Gate

This majestic gate, called “the trademark of Berlin” by the local authorities, was built by King Wilhelm II in 1788. The Gate has seen a lot. It has survived conquests, bombings, and oppressive regimes. The monument sits at the end of the mighty Unter den Linden, and has recently received a city-sponsored cleaning. We think the best time to view this beauty is at night, when its majesty shines under soft lights.

Checkpoint Charlie

Checkpoint Charlie, the name for the passport control for visitors going between East and West Berlin, is today a major tourist draw. There’s no charge for hanging out next to the original booth once manned by Soviet and American soldiers. Located along busy Friederichstrasse, today guards smile, pose for photos, and answer questions from tourists. Across the street, several creative vendors charge €5 for a “legitimate” stamp for your passport. Ah yes, nostalgia… (Watch out for the Segueways—see photo above.)

The Wall

There are two good spots to see what’s left of the infamous Berlin Wall. The East Side Gallery (in Kreuzberg), where artists like Keith Herring have painted over old pieces of the Wall as part of a public exhibit, is the cheerier of the two locations. This part of the Wall bursts with color, celebrates freedom and shows off the graffiti talents of many Berliners and friends of Berliners. For a more somber and realistic take on the Wall, visit the piece that’s still up near the Topography of Terror exhibit (below), in Mitte near Checkpoint Charlie.

Topography of Terror

OK, it sounds ominous (and well, it is), but this exhibit—in Mitte—is one of the most comprehensive one-stop shops for facing the magnitude of World War II, Berlin’s role in it, and the Holocaust. Placards with black and white photos show Hitler’s rise to power, the resurrection of the Wall, and many more key historical moments. Explanations and timelines accompany the photos and follow a clear path that leads you parallel to old S.S. Nazi police baracks. It’s a tad creepy, if you really let your mind go there. But, well worth a visit.

The Holocaust Memorial

The newly-opened “Monument to the Murdered Jews in Europe,” designed by architect Peter Eisenman, opened in 2005 and consists of 2,711 concrete slabs arranged on sloping ground. Walking through the enormous memorial can be somber, disorienting, and dizzying. An underground information center is open daily (except Monday). The outdoor monument is open and free to the public at all times.

Cheap eats

Berlin is full of cheap eats. You can hardly walk down the street without bumping into a bargain-priced doner-kabap. In any case, save a couple of euros for a good currywurst and Beck’s beer at the end of the day. You’ll need a breather after a day of intense sightseeing.

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