Berlin is an electric city. It’s not only the largest city in Germany but it’s also the country’s capital. It’s charming yet gritty. Berlin is filled with culture, fascinating architecture, pockets of cool neighborhoods, and a variety of incredible cuisines. Some describe it as the NYC of Germany and I can definitely see why.

Towards the end of 2022, my cousin and I did a European Christmas markets trip and Berlin was our last stop. We spent two fun-filled days experiencing all of the best things that Berlin has to offer. My cousin actually lived in Berlin for a while so getting to explore it with her was really special and she was a wonderful tour guide.

I found most of our European destinations very affordable and Berlin fell somewhere in the middle. We weren’t necessarily budgeting ourselves on this trip or being overly conscious of what we were spending but we weren’t going crazy either. With that being said, we had an amazing time, did as much as we could fit into two days, and didn’t break the bank.

In this post, I’m going to do a full cost breakdown of how much money we spent during our time in Berlin. You’ll also get a great overview of how we spent our time there as well. If you’re looking to travel on a budget and you’re trying to get a feel for what’s affordable, this will hopefully come in handy. Just to verify, I will be quoting at purchases in USD. Let’s get to it!

Day 1 in Berlin

The day we arrived in Berlin we were actually coming from Poland. That morning we took an uber to the train station in Warsaw to catch our 5:30 am train. It was an early wake-up call, but thankfully we were able to nap on the way. The train from Warsaw to Berlin was about 6 hours with no transfers. Taking the train is a very affordable, efficient way to get from one European country to another and I’d highly recommend this over other forms of travel. Our tickets cost us just $38 a piece. 

Once we arrived in Berlin we bought the U-Bahn (underground) day pass for $9 each and took it to our hostel. Since Berlin is such a big city- the biggest in Germany to be exact- it makes the most sense to use the U-Bahn to get around. Many things you’ll want to see in Berlin may be miles from each other, but their public transport system makes it much easier to get to where you’re going.

Getting Settled in in Berlin

We stayed at The Circus Hostel. It’s a very affordable, lively hostel with dorm-style or private rooms. It’s located in a great neighborhood within walking distance of various restaurants, bars, parks, and museums. We went with a private room which cost us $86 each for two nights.

They thankfully accommodated us with an early check-in, which was really helpful! We got changed into some fresh clothes and headed out for the day. Hopping back on the subway, we went to Friedrichshain, a fun neighborhood with an eclectic vibe. Our first stop was Umami F-Hain for lunch. This Asian fusion restaurant has it all! Beautiful decor, a super cozy atmosphere, and an incredible menu. I highly suggest the Bao Dai’s dinner, which is served family style. There’s even a vegetarian version. We went for the traditional option though, paired with two mint teas, and spent only $18 a person.

Exploring Berlin 

From there we walked to the Berlin Wall, an obvious must-do when visiting the city. The wall is decorated with incredible murals, some famous ones that will always hold their place, and others that get changed out frequently. It’s really inspiring walking along the wall, admiring the diverse array of art. While we were doing this, my cousin, a big history buff, gave me a really great history lesson on the Berlin Wall. We also took some time to walk along the water and checked out Oberbaum Bridge. 

Since we were visiting during the holiday season, the Christmas markets were a big part of our trip and Berlin was no exception. The first Christmas market we went to was in Alexanderplatz, a more modern area known for its 365-meter TV tower. Entering the Christmas markets in Europe are all free so you only need to pay for what your purchase. We spent some time walking around, enjoying the energy of the market, and then eventually got some mulled wine and a big pretzel to share. 

There was one other Christmas market my cousin wanted to check out so from there we split a taxi for $5 a person and headed to Charlottenburg. This Christmas market was one of my favorites. It started snowing out right before we got there, which made it feel even more magical. We started off with a delicious flatbread pizza and then we split a traditional German sausage. For dessert, we got a couple of Italian pastries, which really hit the spot. Everything was so tasty!

Getting to walk around these markets and see all of the different options is such a fun experience. Getting to taste a little bit of everything in one place is even more fun! By this point, we were pretty full and starting to get cold so we split an Uber back to our hostel and called it a night.

Day 1 Cost Breakdown:

Train ticket to Berlin- $38

U-Bahn day pass- $9

Hostel private room for 2 nights- $86

Lunch at Umami F-Hain- $18

Mulled wine- $4

Big pretzel- $3

Taxi to second Christmas market- $5

Flatbread pizza- $6

German sausage- $3

Desserts- $6

Uber back to hostel- $8

Total: $186

Day 2 in Berlin

We spent our second full day in Berlin checking out historical landmarks, eating as many delicious things as we could fit in, exploring one of the best museums in the city, and feeling fully emersed in the energy.

Starting The Day Off Right

Our first purchase of the day was once again a U-Bahn day pass for $9. We took the U-Bahn to Friedrichshain area and started our day off with an incredible Turkish breakfast at a restaurant called Sumak. Located on a corner, in a really pretty building, Sumak has both indoor and outdoor seating. The inside is cozy yet authentic feeling. The menu isn’t at all in English so it takes a little deciphering, but the food is incredible! I went with shakshuka, a more traditional egg-baked dish made with Turkish spices and topped with cheese. Paired with some bread for dipping, it’s such a satisfying, tasty meal. We also shared some tea and an appetizer for the table. In total, breakfast cost around $20 a person.

From there we started our exploring for the day. We took a bus to Treptower Park. At 84 hectares, Treptower Park is the second largest park in Berlin. It’s a beautiful, calming place to go for a walk. Especially if you want a break from the busy hustle of the city. There are plenty of paths and beautiful monuments to check out. It’s also a completely free activity. 

More Exploring in Berlin

After walking off our breakfast, we decided to explore some of the important historical landmarks in Berlin. Our first stop was the Reichstag Building. This beautiful neo-Renaissance style building is a historic government landmark, which houses the lower house of Germany’s parliament. It was initially constructed in 1894. However, it was burned down in 1933 while the Nazis were in power. Reichstag was re-opened in 1999 as the building we see today.

Not too far from there is the Brandenburg Gate. This 18th-century monument is one of the most famous in the city. It was once a symbol of German division during the Cold War. Now it stands as a national symbol of peace and unity. The architecture is really remarkable and while walking through it you can really feel how gigantic and moving this structure is.

By this time the cold was starting to get to us, so we decided to stop for a little coffee break. We stumbled into a cute cafe. I got tea and a croissant for $6 and we spent some time warming up.

Once we were reading to start moving again we headed for Museum Island. This small island in the Spree River is home to five renowned museums. You could easily spend an entire day or two just exploring here. As we were short on time, we decided to check out one of the most highly rated ones, the Pergamonmuseum. The Pergamon specializes in Roman and Greek art collections, as well as ancient Babylonia and Persian artifacts. It was truly fascinating! And extremely affordable to visit at just $12 a ticket. Checking your coat and bags/purses is mandatory at this museum. There are free lockers available to store your belongings.

Our Final Meals in Berlin

One thing my cousin was hellbent on us eating while in Berlin was a doner kebob. After experiencing one for myself, I completely understand why it was so necessary. After we left the museum we made a pit stop to a restaurant called Kebap With Attitude. This hip, trendy restaurant has a menu filled with different doner kebabs options. I went with the O.G. wrap, which was pretty traditional. Made with beef, grilled peppers, tomato, yogurt, parsley butter, and pickles, this was a winner. And for only $10, you can’t beat it!

After getting our doner kebab fix we went back to our hostel to change, relax for a bit and get ourselves ready for dinner. We took the train to a fantastic Mediterranean restaurant called Lawrence. Located in a bustling area filled with fun bars, cafes, and a variety of restaurants, this was a perfect place to have dinner and a night out. I was really taken with the beautiful decor in Lawrence and the homey vibe, but the food is what really blew me away. We shared a mezze platter which had an amazing variety of traditional Mediterranean things like hummus, tabbouleh, falafel, musakaa, baba ganousch, and more. Everything was so delicious. Paired with a glass of wine, dinner came out to around $45 a person.

Once we finished up with dinner we hung out in the area, bar hopping a bit and enjoying the night life of Berlin. This was a great way to end our evening and our final day in Berlin.

Day 2 Cost Breakdown:

U-Bahn day pass- $9

Breakfast- $20

Cafe Break- $6

Museum- $12

Doner Kebab- $10

Dinner- $45

Going out Drinks- $10

Total: $112/ Grand Total: $298

Thank You For Reading

Berlin is such a fun, unique, fast pace city! And getting to experience it over a few days was such a blast! Although it was quick, we definitely made the most of our time and we managed to do so much for under $300. I hope this post is helpful and informative, giving you a little insight on how you could spend your own time in Berlin and what to expect as far as costs. Please feel free to leave any questions or comments below and as always, happy travels!