Berlin is, by all accounts, a modern metropolis but it has also found itself at the heart of some incredible moments in history; from the nightlife to the monuments, the museums and the food this is a city you shouldn’t do by halves, and when things like club entry and museum admission are unavoidable here are a few sights and activities that’ll require little more than pocket change.

To do/see

Monuments

In the western part of the city centre there are three great spots to hit and all conveniently within walking distance of one another.  Start at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe (more commonly known as the Holocaust Memorial).  Inaugurated in 2005 and designed by American architect Peter Eisenman, this strange undulating landscape of concrete slabs has attracted much controversy over the years.  Admittedly I couldn’t quite understand what it was supposed to represent, but once you get amongst it and find yourself swallowed up by what feel like 7ft tomb stones you can begin to appreciate the atmospheric concept.

One block north of this is the iconic Brandenburg Gate.  Modelled on Athens’ Acropolis it’s a pretty stunning piece of architecture, and a great place for a few snaps – though you will be fighting many other tourists for a prime spot, so get those elbows out (kidding, kind of).

Looking west from the Brandenburg Gate is the Berlin Victory Column.  Standing an impressive 67 metres tall this resplendent pillar commemorates the Prussian victory in the Danish-Prussian wars of the 19^th century.  Inside the base is a small museum but that’s not why you pay the €3.  For this small fee you can climb the 285 steps for some unparalleled views of the city.  Early morning is great to avoid the tourist rush.

Tiergarten is a sprawling park in West Berlin, seriously it’s huge!  Much wilder than our typical UK parks Tiergarten submerges you in a peaceful rural setting.  Spend an afternoon strolling the grounds or rent a row boat on the Neuer See lake which, if split between a couple of you, won’t set you back more than a few euros.

Parks & Zoos

Another great outdoor space to explore is Tempelhofer Feld.  Formerly an airport the city reclaimed this space in 2008 and repurposed it into a pretty awesome park.  Evidence of the pre-existing airport still remains; the runway now functions as a 6km cycling, jogging or skating track.  The park is also peppered with, somewhat bizarre, art pieces as well as a twee eco-garden where you can sit at tables cobbled together from recycled materials for a picnic.

The Berlin Zoo will set you back €16 (€20 if you want to visit the aquarium too).  But why go there when you can head to Neukolln and to the Tierpark Hasenheide; a miniature zoo where you can check out all sorts of cute creatures from pigs and goats to dopey lamas, ostriches and some bedraggled camels for free.  Certainly not as impressive as the Berlin Zoo it’s a great one for kids or adults with a childish sense of humour.

 

Street Art

An iconic Berlin attraction that won’t cost you a cent is the East Side Gallery, a remaining stretch of the Berlin Wall that runs along the river Spree.  Take the tube or the train to Warschauer Stasse and you’re but a short walk from this fascinating mural and slice of revolutionary history.  You’ll soon realise a must for any tourist is to wack a filter (I recommend sepia) on your iPhone camera and take the most hipster-y pic possible against the backdrop of street art – because why shouldn’t history also make for a great profile pic!

1989 marks the fall of the Berlin Wall and since this liberation a huge artistic and cultural scene has blossomed over the city.  This experimental movement has seen some of the most talented street artists and graffitists make their mark on Berlin’s streets.  Check out the Mitte and Kreuzberg districts to see works by street artists BLU and Jimmy C.

Museums

You might have noticed the lack of museums or historical buildings on this list and that is because in truth, we didn’t visit any.  Whilst the Reichstag is free you have to register in advance (and we forgot, oops!) most other museums do charge an entry fee.  My advice would be to pick one or two that appeal to you, otherwise you could easily spend your whole trip and your whole budget on Berlin’s plethora of museums.

North of Berlin is the Sachsenhausen concentration camp, a stark reminder of the atrocities committed during WWII.  Built in 1936 Sachsenhausen is considered to be the prototype for the camps that followed, and whilst only a few buildings remain it is enough to provide a rather harrowing history lesson.  This insightful museum has free admission and is a 20min walk from Oranienburg train station which shouldn’t cost more than a few euros to reach from Berlin city centre.

Food/Drink

You can forget the diet, eating out on the cheap in Berlin isn’t about calorie counting.  Delicious kebabs from proper Turkish vendors or a hot and saucy plate of currywurst won’t set you back more than €4.  Alternatively if you have access to a kitchen during your stay you can get cheap groceries from shops like Lidl and Aldo; pack yourself a picnic lunch or whip up some schnitzel before you hit the clubs.

Let’s face it, we’re not talking about OJ when we say ‘drink’.  The rules are much more relaxed in Berlin where you can pick up a cold bottle of beer for less than a euro from a corner shop and the cashier will open it for you so you can enjoy a tipple on the go.

Transport

Berlin is made to be walked so pack some comfy shoes.  Each district in Berlin serves as its own social and cultural hub and if you plan it right you shouldn’t have to walk more than 20mins between each one.

Depending on which zones you’re travelling from subway tickets can cost up to €3.30 one-way but if you purchase 4 tickets at once you’ll only be paying €8.60.  Always remember to stamp your ticket before you get on the train – there’ll be a €40 euro fine waiting for you if you come across a ticket inspector (trust me!).