How to explore Berlin on a budget

DW (English)

The German capital, Berlin, is a tourist magnet. DW takes you on a thrifty tour of the best things to do in Berlin.

Transcript

00:00Welcome to Berlin, the vibrant capital of Germany.

00:04Are you visiting on a tight budget?

00:05Don't worry, I'm here to show you how to explore this exciting city

00:08while spending next to nothing.

00:12The Brandenburg Gate is Berlin's most visited landmark.

00:15Built in the late 18th century, it was a symbol of division during the Cold War

00:20and later became a powerful emblem of German reunification.

00:24Right next door is the Reichstag, Germany's parliamentary building,

00:27a striking blend of historic architecture and modernity,

00:31bearing witness to the nation's tumultuous past and its democratic present.

00:37You can also go up the Reichstag's dome for free and get a nice view of Berlin.

00:41You just have to make sure to book your spot in advance.

00:44I need something to eat.

00:46I'll show you a way to feel like you're getting the luxury treatment

00:48while spending very little using the Too Good To Go app.

00:53This sustainability-driven app hooks you up with hotels,

00:56restaurants, bakeries and cafes selling leftover food for cheap,

01:00saving you cash and fighting food waste at the same time.

01:04I've reserved a breakfast bag from the Grand Hyatt Hotel for 4 euros.

01:07Let's see what they've got for me.

01:10Speaking of hotels, they can cost between 50 to 150 euros per night.

01:14Berlin also has plenty of hostels from 19 to 30 euros on average.

01:18Perfect, thank you so much. Bye.

01:23Anyway, let's see what the Grand Hyatt vegetarian breakfast has to offer.

01:31Wow, for 4 euros, this is quite a lot and it looks really good.

01:35Fruit, bread, pastries, spreads and dips and cooked cauliflower.

01:39Breakfast in the park.

01:41And Berlin has many historic parks to enjoy for free,

01:44like the former airport park Tempelhoffeld, which is usually buzzing during summer.

01:50Or Mauerpark, a former part of the Berlin Wall.

01:53In the summertime, aside from its flea market,

01:55there is a huge open-air karaoke party on Sundays that's totally free to join.

02:00A walk through Museum Island is a highlight in itself.

02:03And of course, a stroll through this UNESCO World Heritage Site is free.

02:07Check out the Humboldt Forum nearby.

02:09The Ethnological Museum is certainly the main attraction,

02:12an impressive collection of over 500,000 artifacts and cultural historic objects,

02:17many from indigenous communities.

02:20I'm exploring the history of the site,

02:22from swampland to monastery to the East German Palace of the Republic

02:26and today's Humboldt Forum.

02:32Now it's time for a very Berlin lunch.

02:34I want to get a currywurst.

02:37I want to get a currywurst, a classic in Berlin.

02:39But this stand I'm about to show you is a little different than the others.

02:43The curry and chili stand has a spicy twist.

02:46Currywurst is a steamed fried sausage topped with curry ketchup and curry powder.

02:50Here, they've got homemade hot sauces from levels 1 to 10.

02:55I've got to make a decision here,

02:57but I think I'd rather stick to the lower end of the spectrum, probably number 2.

03:02Hello, I'm on currywurst.

03:04Hello, I'm on currywurst.

03:13Currywurst is a popular street food here and often comes at a low price.

03:23Okay, it's spicy, but I definitely played it safe. It's not too bad.

03:28If you're more daring than I am, there's even a wall of fame.

03:31And for €2.60, it's a pretty decent currywurst.

03:36A Berlin must is also, of course, checking out the remnants of the Berlin Wall.

03:41After the fall of the wall in 1989, this section of it became the East Side Gallery,

03:45the longest open-air art gallery in the world

03:48and the longest continuous section of the Berlin Wall still in existence today.

03:52But there's more.

03:55The East Side Gallery is a great spot to take photos,

03:57but if you want to learn more about the Berlin Wall's history,

04:00I recommend the Berlin Wall Memorial, which is essentially a free outdoor museum.

04:05Climb up the viewing point to see the former death strip from above,

04:08the armed no-man's land designed to prevent escapes and enforce division.

04:13There's also a free indoor documentation center, as well as the outdoor memorials.

04:20We've got one last stop coming up, Berlin's nightlife. I'll see you in the dark.

04:24I'm at the Kulturbrauerei in Prinzlauer Berg,

04:27a historic brewery complex that now has exhibitions and clubs, like the Alte Cantina.

04:33Berlin is known for its wild party scene that never sleeps.

04:36Since the pandemic, prices have gone up and sometimes you can pay up to like €25 entrance.

04:41But I found a way to party for a very low price tonight with a little secret.

04:49So I'm actually looking for their secret password that'll let me in for just €2.

04:54It's hidden somewhere on their Instagram page.

04:58Okay, it looks like tonight the password is Harte Wurst, which means heart sausage.

05:05Let's give it a try.

05:12It worked! Alte Cantina's Hungry Mondays party has been around for 20 years with pop, rock and dance music.

05:18There's also indoor table tennis and €3 beers.

05:24This place is cool and I had a great time exploring Berlin today and keeping my spending to a minimum.

05:29So now I think it's time to party!

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