Berlin on a budget

NiciD_2

Hi, Am off to Berlin for a couple of days in December with the other half and wondered if anyone had any money saving tips for things to do and see while we're there?

nikibella

Hi,
Berlin, is very big so the first thing you need is transportation. As soon you arrive get a Berlin transport card for unlimited travel on the public transit system.
There was another thread on Berlin on this forum not long ago, so you may want to check this, the places to see are the same.
Enjoy it.

GlennTheBaker

Check out using the train to get from the airport to your hotel and back again. We did this and it only cost something like 8,50 Euro in total for two of us for both trips. All of the public transport systems are integrated and tickets can be used on trains, U-Bahn, trams and buses.

Bokken_2

The Europe shopping centre in the mitte(centre )of Berlin is good and free,the zoo next door to it is excellant but there is a fee.
There are lots of museums to see,the opera house,the Teir garden near the Brandenburg Tor(Gate),The Reichstag building the home of the new German governmant do guided tours worth it just to see the pictures of how the building finished up at the end of the war.
There are lots of parks in Berlin all worth a strole around.
Charlottenberg Palace amazing,a strole along the Lake Grunewald and a stop at one of the moored boats they have as a cafe is excellant.
Strole along the city centre roads the Kudamm (Kurfursterndamm) eat or just sit at the street cafes or look in the shops the Ka De Fe is very expensive and on par with Harrods but amazing non the less.
Strole around the Havel lake and visit the Kleinglienicke Palace and come out and walk across the Kleinglienicke Bridge where the Russians and the Allies used to exchange cold war spies including Gary Powers the U2 Pilot.
have a great time ,
Visit Bernauer Strasse and follow whats is left of the wall,
Visit Check Point Charlie museum and marvel at the many ways to escape the Old East Germany.
Want a beach visit the Wannsee in the south of Berlin.Take a boat trip over to Peacock Island and visit the white castle.
Visit the Russian memorial to the fallen soldiers who took Berlin at Treptow park .Take a river cruise or walk along the banks of the river Spree throught the centre of Berlin.View the water features near the Europe centre and the sculptures throughout the city.
Is that enough for you?
There is Spandau the oldest part of Berlin,The Grunewald Tower,I'll stop now.

NiciD_2

Cheers guys. Will take your advice.
Bokken, I reckon you must work for Berlin tourist board!!

Bokken_2

NiciD wrote:

Cheers guys. Will take your advice.
Bokken, I reckon you must work for Berlin tourist board!!

It is a amazing place it has old history, modern war damage,poor architecture in the East,amazing old world architecture and ultra modern,and some really sad history.if you get the chance travel out of the city to the Bergan Belsan extermination camps to get your world into perspective it can be overwhelming but worth the trip.
enjoy.
I lived there for 5years and was on the wall on the 9&10th Nov 89 and most days after that.But I never worked for the tourist board.

budgetflyer

My unofficial ryanair destination guide to Berlin
has lots of info you may find usefull including airport info, busses, eating out and day trips etc

o_t_e

Hi - if you are looking for accommodation I can recommend Circus Hostel:

http://www.circus-berlin.de/1/homepage.html

I stayed in a top floor appartment for £50 a night but I think they have private ensuite rooms for less.

The Reichtag is definately worth a visit for the view of the city - in fact go during the daytime and again at night as it's free, though there a sizable queues for that reason. Nearby are the Brandenburg gate and the holocaust memorial which are definately worth seeing.

Apparently some of the Nazi bunkers were opened up during the world cup so it may be worth asking if they can be viewed.

The cathedral is worth the entrance fee, especially if you time your visit to get inside before a service, for which all the lighting is turned on, higlighting the baroque interior - it's not very well signposted but you can climb to the top of the dome.

I'd second the the notion of getting a travel card - more info here:

http://www.bvg.de/index.php/en/Bvg/Index/folder/709/name/Fares+Overview

There are plenty of companies offering walking tours of Berlin and surrounding places like Potsdam, Sassenhousen etc:

http://www.insidertour.com/
http://www.brewersberlintours.com/
http://www.berlinwalks.de/
http://www.newberlintours.com/nbt/

The massive TV tower you can see from everywhere can be climbed and nearby Alexandraplatz (Train/S/U-bahn station) has a couple of inexpensive asian eateries

Doing a walking tour might be a good way of introducing yourself to the city - have fun!

Winifred

The Christmas markets will be on and add to the atmosphere and will be useful for cheap snacks.