We have all heard a lot of wonderful things about Germany, such as the magical Christmas market, the gorgeous castles, and many of the famous types of German beers. Although this is not one of the cheapest countries to travel to within Europe, there are many ways to get around on a low budget. Check out these affordable activities that you can do here for free, or with just a little bit of pocket money.
Go for a beer
One of the best things about the nightlife here is that many pubs and clubs offer free or cheap entrance. A bottle or glass of beer in most typical bars in Germany should cost no more than 3 EUR (roughly 3.50 USD). If you are a night person, visit Germany to experience the intensive and alternative party culture.
Go to a church or a cathedral
Churches and cathedrals in Germany are usually free to enter. In almost every city, you can visit many old churches to learn more about the religion of German people, while being enticed by the beautiful architecture and artworks. Check out the most visited cathedral in Germany - the Kölner Dom in Cologne. It’s free to enter the Cologne Cathedral, though not all areas are accessible during the mass.
Try a local cheap-eat
It goes without saying that Germany is the ‘meat country’. The German are well-known for their sausages, like bratwurst and currywurst, as well as their schnitzel - an Austrian dish that you can commonly find in Germany too. The main meat varieties consumed here are pork, beef, and poultry, but you can find chicken, duck, goose, and turkey as well. Bread also plays a significant role in the German cuisine, with approximately 600 types of breads and 1,200 types of pastries produced in thousands of bakeries throughout the country. A bratwurst (sausage with bread) or currywurst (steamed fried pork sausage cut into slices and served with curry and fries) typically costs no more than 5 EUR (roughly 6 USD) per portion. The same price applies to kebab - a dish originally from Turkey that was later brought to Germany. Check out the top specialities for fast-food lovers in Germany at the end of this article.
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Attend a free walking tour
All of the touristy cities in Germany, such as Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Frankfurt, and Cologne offer a free walking tour daily for visitors. One of the biggest walking tour operators in Europe is the Sandemans New Europe. Local hostels also have close relations with walking tour operators in the city. Additionally, ‘Can You Handle It’ tour operator also offers interesting tours in Cologne and Belgium.
Berlin Tour Guide
Matti Geyer
I was born in Berlin the year before the wall fell and thus had the fortune and privilege to grow up in a city that was growing up itself. In 2008, I decided to turn my passion for this amazing city into a career by becoming a tour guide. Both my parents lived in East Germany: My dad became a teacher, until refusal to join the Communist party ended his career, whilst my mom worked as a tour guide for tourists from the Soviet Union. In a way, I am following in her footsteps, although our tours would be incredibly different. For instance, my mom failed her first test tour, when she didn’t refer to the Berlin Wall by its official East German propaganda term ‘antifascist protection barrier.’On my tours, I am always happy to share personal family stories about what it was like growing up in such an exciting and ever-changing city. I have a Bachelor’s degree in English and History from the University of Potsdam and a Master’s degree in European Studies from the Viadrina Frankfurt/Oder.When I’m not guiding, I work as a journalist at one of Berlin’s biggest radio stations or spend time with my wife and son. I have also lived in New York City and in Brussels, where I worked at the Goethe-Institut and the European Parliament, respectively. I speak fluent English with hardly any accent. I am a member of the Berlin Guides Association. I am looking forward to showing you around this amazing city – on and off the beaten track – and to sharing its fascinating anecdotes, stories, and secrets! I am also a big fan of Potsdam, and am always happy to take people there as well!
Tours by Matti
Berlin Tour Guide
Asaf Leshem
My name is Asaf and I am a professional tour guide. I hold a Ph.D. in Dark Tourism and interpretation of history. In Berlin I guide tours on such topics as the Cold War, the Third Reich, Berlin's Jewish Heritage, Berlin and Brandenburg's Prussian History, and more. I also guide in Potsdam, and I am certified to guide in the Memorial and Museum Sachsenhausen. I am also an enthusiastic runner and cyclist. For repeating visitors, looking for unique experiences outside the city, I guide special cycling tours in Brandenburg's northern lake district, and in the Spreewald Biosphere Reserve.
Tours by Asaf
Berlin Tour Guide
Tina
Born and raised in Australia, I studied psychology at the University of Queensland but had always loved reading modern history books. I came to Berlin for a nerdy history vacation in 2017, fell in love with the city and decided to make it home. I offer tours of Berlin and its surrounds which are rich with history and packed with energy. I don’t just show my guests Berlin's sights; I also explain the history behind them in an accessible and engaging way and help my guests to connect with the city’s spirit and uncover its real soul. Not sure what to do in Berlin? In addition to my Tips on Trip101, you can find lots of ideas on my Instagram. Every Thursday I post a highlight Story called "Tina's Tips" where I suggest events in Berlin for the coming week, like comedy, live music, gallery tours, dance parties etc.
Tours by Tina
Visit a castle
Germany is often thought of as a fairy tale land for all the beautiful castles you can see; no longer in just movies. Visiting one of the hot favourites - the Neuschwanstein Castle - can be quite expensive with a guided tour costing you 12 EUR, roughly 13 USD. However, you can enter the Heidelberg Castle’s main yard for free, which is an ideal spot for a panoramic view of the city during sunset.
Get your old passport stamped at Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin
If you would like to know more about German history and take away some good memories, visit the Checkpoint Charlie to get your passport stamped. The checkpoint used to be a central site during the Cold War acting as the Berlin-Wall crossing point between East Berlin and West Berlin. Nowadays, you can get for stamps from the French, British, Soviet and American sectors with only 5 EUR (roughly 6 USD). Note that these are not official stamps, which can invalidate your passport. So I recommend to bring your old, expired passport for the stamps.
Travel cheap within Germany
One of the most costly travel expenses are transportation fees. This budget can be cut down while travelling within Germany. There are many cheap bus deals for commuting between different cities in the north, central, and south of Germany with operators like Flixbus, Postbus, and Megabus. I was surprised to find a 5-hour bus ride from Frankfurt to Munster, which often costs 4 to 5 times more with the Deutsche Bahn train.
History
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