Sightseeing in Berlin: Budget Travel Guide

Recently, Visit Berlin introduced a new discount card for tourists: The Berlin WelcomeCard All Inclusive. This new card is different from Berlin’s other, scaled back “WelcomeCard” (which offers free transit and discounts at attractions), in that the new “All Inclusive” card offers you free entrance to over 30 Berlin attractions, free public transportation, a free » Read more

There’s no question about it — one of the best ways to see Berlin is on two wheels. Nearly every street in the city has a bike lane, and many locals pedal as their main form of transportation come rain or come shine. Berlin is also massive. Biking makes it possible to get between sights, » Read more

One of the hottest tourist destinations in the world right now, Berlin is happily also one of the most affordable European capitals. Still, there are always extra costs to consider and some sights are so popular that a little advance planning is advised. From insider tricks for saving money on admission, to free days to » Read more

Located in former West Berlin, Kreuzberg is one of the city’s most popular and exciting neighborhoods. When the wall was up, the district was divided into two postal code areas, Kreuzberg 61 and SO36. Although these postal codes are no longer officially used, locals still use them to define the neighborhood’s two very distinct faces. » Read more

With hundreds of museums and historical sights to choose from, Berlin is truly a museum lover’s paradise. The good news is Berlin also isn’t likely to burn a hole in your pocket. Most museum entries range between €8-15 for adults, which is quite a bit less than what you’ll pay to enter Florence or Paris’ » Read more

There are many corners of East Berlin that have undergone significant transitions since the GDR era. On this 4 km self-guided walk through Friedrichshain, you can sample some of this district’s finer and rougher edges, with city highlights for both day and night. These sights will be more crowded on the weekend, but for good » Read more

This November, the world celebrates the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Berlin has spent a quarter of a century reconnecting, rebuilding and redefining itself around this painful historical scar. While Berliners long sought to forget this period, thankfully numerous museums, exhibitions and tours have developed to help younger Germans and foreign » Read more

When the pavement and bustle of Berlin starts to get to you, just hop on any southbound M44 bus from S-Hermannstrasse and be transported into another world. It’s only a 10-minute ride away, but it feels like an eternity once you find yourself wandering this scenic public space. Located in Berlin’s Neukölln district, this is » Read more

The German capital, known for its large Turkish immigrant community, has heaps of Turkish culture on offer. Supermarkets, outdoor markets, shops, restaurants, and bakeries across the city cater to this population, their language, and their specific needs and preferences. Those of us who can’t afford a warm winter getaway to the Black Sea coast know » Read more

There is something incomparable about seeing a city from the water. Though no city may ever top Amsterdam in this respect, Berlin’s regular cruises – traveling along the Spree and its canals throughout the city – provide visitors with an unparalleled view of many central sights. City Tour There are numerous boat companies plying the » Read more

Although its official title is the “Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe”, the massive field of gray stelae located a short walk from the Brandenburg Gate or Potsdamer Platz is commonly known as the “Holocaust memorial”. Architect Peter Eisenman’s 2,711 concrete pillars were installed over a period of two years, and the memorial opened » Read more

It all began in 1997 with the very first Lange Nacht (long night) for Berlin‘s museums. The idea is a simple one: nearly 100 museums, archives, memorials and the like team up with one communal ticket for one night, throwing the doors open until the wee hours of the morning and offering visitors the opportunity » Read more

Berlin’s two local rail networks (respectively called the S-Bahn and U-Bahn) are more than merely functional ways of getting around the city. They are destinations in their own right and — as Baedeker might have put it — certainly worth a detour. From art nouveau to art deco Swedish architect Alfred Grenander designed the showpiece » Read more

As there are just a handful of days every summer when Berlin’s temperatures surpass the 30° C / 85° F mark, air conditioning is virtually non-existent. If you’re not content to sweat it out like the locals, you have two options: dark and cool (movies and museum visits), or sunny and wet. Thankfully, a large » Read more

Picasso may have been from Spain and spent most of his life in France, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find some of his best works in Germany. With the recently renovated and expanded Museum Berggruen reopening, there are a number of great modernist museums in the Charlottenburg neighborhood of Berlin. Thanks to these collections, there » Read more

Berlin is a museum-lover’s dream—it even has its own island dedicated to these institutions of art, history and culture. But while museum-hopping makes for a fun and educational itinerary while in the city, steep admission prices can make it a costly one as well.  Luckily there are ways you can save on admission and keep » Read more

Things have changed a bit since our last post on visiting Berlin’s Reichstag. Here’s an update: 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 » Read more

Don’t let it be said that the people have no voice. After numerous press reports (including our own from May 22nd) on the negative developments for the popular Sunday open-air Bearpit Karaoke event in Berlin’s Mauerpark, Pankow’s elected officials took note and changed their tune. Karaoke fans and stars will now be guaranteed their Sunday » Read more

Ask many visitors what drew them to Berlin this summer and the chances are that they will mention “the Wall.” Odd, is it not, that one of the major attractions of the German capital is a wall that is no longer there? Dark tourism Berlin is a standard stop-off point on Europe’s dark tourism circuit, » Read more

On my first trip to Europe I was young, full of energy and not yet “churched out” (if you’ve visited Europe a few times, I’m certain you understand this phenomena). I’d approach each house of worship with the same gusto, taking in the stained glass, altar and vaulted ceilings before promptly paying my nominal fee to climb the » Read more

Sunday Karaoke in Berlin’s Mauerpark has become somewhat of a weekend institution. Major newspapers worldwide have written articles about the “Bearpit Karaoke” phenomenon. Tourists have given it their TripAdvisor seal of approval. YouTube explodes with Bearpit Karaoke videos. Even Flickr groups have been created, all dedicated to spreading the word, sound, and image of something » Read more

“A tourist trap is an establishment, or group of establishments, that has been created with the aim of attracting tourists and their money.” Wikipedia’s definition nails it on the head. Indeed, tourist traps aim to attract tourists—or to be exact, their wallets. Although Berlin is renowned for its diversity, creativity, and rich (if complicated) history, there are » Read more

I love Berlin for all its obscure corners and strange places. And some of the best “hidden” spots are actually out in the open, right on the beaten path. As my time in Berlin comes to a close, allow me to share some of my favorite urban oases. 1. Kunsthof Oranienburger Straße 27 Mitte On » Read more

You’ve deciphered the Pergamon’s ancient Greek paintings, gazed at the Neue Galerie’s Expressionist works, and even rode a Trabi at the kitschy DDR Museum. Now what? According to the city’s official website, Berlin boasts a whopping 175 museums—one for every taste. For those of you who want to go off the beaten path, let me » Read more

Amid Europe’s frenzied political turmoil of 20 years ago, there were all manner of landmark dates that were stepping stones en route to a new order. And August 31, 1990 was one of the most significant. For it was 20 years ago today that representatives of the governments of East Germany and West Germany met » Read more