Berlin on a Budget: Free Sights and Smart Choices

Berlin is one of the more forgiving capitals in Western Europe, and many of its heaviest sights cost nothing to enter. The saving comes from planning, not from skipping things.

Which Berlin sights are free?

The Reichstag dome is free, but you must register in advance. The Topography of Terror and the Berlin Wall Memorial on Bernauer Strasse are free, and so is Tempelhofer Feld, which is open from sunrise to sunset. The East Side Gallery is an open-air stretch of Wall you can walk at any time, and the Brandenburg Gate, the Holocaust Memorial and Tiergarten cost nothing. Together they fill a long, serious day or two.

How do I eat well without overspending?

Currywurst and döner are the city's signature street foods, and a döner is a full meal. Bakeries serve cheap breakfasts, and the Turkish markets are good for fruit, cheese and bread. Lunch menus in restaurants are often better value than dinner. Supermarkets sell drinks and snacks, and Spätis stay open late, but bottle deposits mean you can get a little back. See the food guide for where to start.

Where should I stay to keep costs down?

A slightly cheaper room beside a strong U-Bahn or S-Bahn station beats a pricier one in a weak spot, because the saving disappears in taxis and lost time. Look at Friedrichshain, Kreuzberg and Neukölln, then compare with our where to stay guide. Travel in spring or autumn shoulder weeks, when demand is lower than in summer.

Are passes and tickets a way to save?

Only sometimes. A daily transport ticket works better than lots of single rides if you ride several times, and the WelcomeCard helps only if you visit many paid partners. For most budget trips, free sights plus one transport ticket for AB is enough, and the zone rules are in our getting around guide. Our one hard saving tip is to skip the paid viewing platforms if you have already seen the city from the Reichstag dome.