How Much Does a Trip to Berlin Really Cost in 2026? Your Complete Budget Guide
Is Berlin expensive? This is one of the most common questions travelers ask when planning a
trip to Germany's vibrant capital. The good news? Berlin remains one of Europe's most affordable major
cities, offering incredible value whether you're backpacking on €30/day or enjoying luxury experiences at
€300+/day.
In this comprehensive 2026 guide, we'll break down exactly how much you'll spend on
accommodation, food, transport, and activities – with real prices for budget, mid-range, and luxury
travelers. Plus, we'll share insider tips to help you save money without sacrificing experiences.
Quick Answer: A budget traveler can explore Berlin for €40-60/day, mid-range travelers
should budget €100-150/day, and luxury travelers will spend €250-400+/day. Read on for the complete
breakdown!
Berlin Trip Cost Overview: Budget vs. Mid-Range vs. Luxury
| Category |
Budget |
Mid-Range |
Luxury |
| Accommodation |
€20-35/night |
€70-120/night |
€200-400+/night |
| Food |
€15-25/day |
€40-60/day |
€100-150+/day |
| Transport |
€8-10/day |
€10-15/day |
€30-50/day |
| Activities |
€5-15/day |
€20-40/day |
€50-100+/day |
| TOTAL/DAY |
€48-85 |
€140-235 |
€380-700+ |
1. Accommodation Costs in Berlin (2026 Prices)
Where you stay will be your biggest expense in Berlin. The good news? Berlin offers excellent value compared
to other European capitals like Paris or London.
Budget Accommodation (€20-40/night per person)
Hostels: Berlin has some of Europe's best hostels, with prices ranging from €20-35 per night
for a dorm bed. Many include free breakfast, saving you €5-8 daily.
- Generator Berlin Mitte: €25-32/night – Modern, social atmosphere
- Wombat's City Hostel: €22-30/night – Great location near Alexanderplatz
- Plus Berlin: €20-28/night – Pool, sauna, and bar included
Budget Hotels & Guesthouses: Private rooms start at €40-50/night (€20-25 per person if
sharing).
Money-Saving Tip: Book hostels with free breakfast and kitchen access. Preparing just
one meal per day can save you €50-70 over a week!
Mid-Range Accommodation (€70-120/night)
For couples or those wanting more comfort, mid-range hotels offer excellent value:
- 3-Star Hotels: €70-90/night – Clean, comfortable, central locations
- Boutique Hotels: €90-120/night – Unique design, often in trendy neighborhoods like
Kreuzberg or Prenzlauer Berg
- Airbnb Apartments: €60-100/night – Great for groups or longer stays
Best Neighborhoods for Mid-Range Stays:
- Kreuzberg: Vibrant, multicultural, excellent food scene
- Friedrichshain: Young, artsy, great nightlife
- Prenzlauer Berg: Quieter, family-friendly, beautiful architecture
- Mitte: Central, walking distance to major attractions
Luxury Accommodation (€200-500+/night)
Berlin's luxury hotels rival any European capital:
- Hotel Adlon Kempinski: €350-600/night – Iconic, next to Brandenburg Gate
- The Ritz-Carlton Berlin: €300-500/night – Modern luxury
- SO/ Berlin Das Stue: €250-400/night – Boutique luxury in Tiergarten
2. Food & Dining Costs in Berlin
Berlin's food scene is incredibly diverse and affordable. From €3 döner kebabs to Michelin-starred
restaurants, there's something for every budget.
Budget Eating (€15-25/day)
Breakfast: €2-5
- Bakery pastries and coffee: €3-4
- Supermarket breakfast (bread, cheese, fruit): €2-3
- Hostel free breakfast: €0
Lunch: €4-8
- Döner kebab: €4-5.50
- Currywurst: €3.50-4.50
- Vietnamese Pho: €5-7
- Falafel wrap: €4-5
- Supermarket meal: €3-5
Dinner: €8-12
- Pizza slice: €3-4
- Asian restaurant: €8-12
- Turkish restaurant: €7-10
- Self-cooked meal: €5-8
Budget Foodie's Daily Plan (€20):
- Breakfast: Bakery pastry + coffee (€3.50)
- Lunch: Döner kebab (€5)
- Snack: Pretzel (€1.50)
- Dinner: Supermarket pasta + sauce (€4)
- Beer at Späti: €1.50
- Total: €15.50
Mid-Range Dining (€40-60/day)
Breakfast: €8-15
- Café brunch: €10-15
- Hotel breakfast: €8-12
Lunch: €12-20
- Casual restaurant: €12-18
- Markthalle Neun street food: €10-15
- Trendy café: €15-20
Dinner: €20-35
- Good restaurant (main + drink): €20-30
- Sharing plates + wine: €25-35 per person
Top Mid-Range Restaurants:
- Katz Orange: Farm-to-table, €20-30 per main
- Burgermeister: Best burgers, €8-12
- Cocolo Ramen: Authentic Japanese, €12-16
Luxury Dining (€100-200+/day)
Berlin has 26 Michelin-starred restaurants (2026):
- Tim Raue (2 Michelin stars): €180-250 per person
- Nobelhart & Schmutzig (1 Michelin star): €120-150
- Rutz (1 Michelin star): €150-200
Insider Tip: Many Michelin restaurants offer lunch menus for 40-50% less than dinner!
Tim Raue's lunch menu is €98 vs. €230 for dinner.
3. Transportation Costs in Berlin
Berlin's public transport (BVG) is efficient, extensive, and affordable. The city is divided into zones A, B,
and C.
Public Transport Tickets (2026 Prices)
| Ticket Type |
Price |
Best For |
| Single Ticket (AB) |
€3.00 |
1-2 trips per day |
| Day Ticket (AB) |
€8.80 |
3+ trips in 24 hours |
| 7-Day Ticket (AB) |
€42.00 |
Week-long stays |
| Welcome Card (48h) |
€25.00 |
Transport + museum discounts |
| Welcome Card (72h) |
€35.00 |
3-day trips with museums |
Transport Hack: The day ticket is valid for 24 hours from validation, not until
midnight. Buy it at 2 PM and it's valid until 2 PM the next day!
Alternative Transport Options
Bike Rentals:
- Nextbike: First 30 min free, then €1/30 min
- Full-day bike rental: €10-15
- E-scooters (Lime/Tier): €1 unlock + €0.15-0.20/min
Taxis & Uber:
- Base fare: €3.90
- Per km: €2.00-2.30
- Airport to city center: €40-60
- Budget tip: Take the S-Bahn from airport for €3.60!
Getting to Berlin
Flights:
- Budget airlines (Ryanair, EasyJet): €30-80 return from Europe
- Full-service airlines: €100-250 return
- Long-haul: €400-800+ return
Trains:
- FlixBus from nearby cities: €10-30
- Deutsche Bahn: €20-100 depending on route and booking time
4. Activities & Attractions Costs
Free Activities (€0)
Berlin has an incredible array of free attractions:
- East Side Gallery: 1.3km of Berlin Wall murals
- Brandenburg Gate: Berlin's iconic landmark
- Reichstag Dome: Free with advance booking (2-3 days ahead)
- Holocaust Memorial: Powerful, thought-provoking
- Tempelhofer Feld: Former airport, now a massive park
- Mauerpark Flea Market: Sundays, vibrant atmosphere
- Museum Island exterior: Beautiful architecture
- Tiergarten Park: Berlin's "Central Park"
- Free Museum Thursdays: Many state museums free 4 hours before closing
Paid Attractions (Budget €20-40/day)
| Attraction |
Price |
| TV Tower (Fernsehturm) |
€25-29 |
| Pergamon Museum |
€12 |
| Berlin Cathedral |
€9 |
| DDR Museum |
€12.50 |
| Jewish Museum |
€8 |
| Topography of Terror |
Free |
| Berlin Zoo |
€17 |
| Checkpoint Charlie Museum |
€17.50 |
Berlin WelcomeCard: If you're planning to visit 3+ museums and use public transport, the
WelcomeCard (€35 for 72 hours) offers great value with free transport + up to 50% off attractions.
Tours & Experiences
- Free Walking Tours: €0 (tip €5-10 if you enjoyed it)
- Bike Tours: €25-35
- Food Tours: €60-90
- Pub Crawl: €12-15 (includes drinks)
- Sachsenhausen Tour: €15-25
5. Sample Daily Budgets for Berlin
Budget Traveler (€55/day)
- Hostel dorm bed: €25
- Food (self-catering + one meal out): €18
- Transport (day ticket): €8.80
- Free activities + one paid attraction: €5
- Total: €56.80
Mid-Range Traveler (€165/day)
- 3-star hotel (per person): €45
- Food (3 meals at restaurants): €50
- Transport + occasional taxi: €15
- Attractions + tours: €30
- Drinks/entertainment: €25
- Total: €165
Luxury Traveler (€450/day)
- 5-star hotel (per person): €200
- Fine dining (3 meals): €150
- Private transport: €40
- Premium experiences: €60
- Total: €450
6. Money-Saving Tips for Berlin
- Visit in shoulder season (April-May, September-October) – 30% cheaper accommodation
- Book accommodation early – Save 20-40%
- Use Too Good To Go app – Restaurant surplus food for €3-4
- Shop at discount supermarkets – Lidl, Aldi, Netto
- Take advantage of free museum days – Thursday evenings
- Drink tap water – Berlin's is excellent and free
- Buy day tickets after 2 PM – Valid until 2 PM next day
- Join free walking tours – Excellent way to see the city
- Visit Spätis for cheap drinks – Beer from €1-2
- Eat döner and currywurst – Delicious and cheap (€3.50-5)
7. Weather Considerations & Costs
Berlin's weather significantly impacts your trip costs. Always check CheckWetter.de before planning your day!
Winter (Dec-Feb): Cold (0-5°C)
- Lower accommodation prices (30-40% off peak)
- More indoor activities (museums, cafés)
- Christmas markets (free to enter, €3-5 per drink)
- Need warm clothing budget
Summer (Jun-Aug): Warm (20-25°C)
- Higher accommodation prices
- More free outdoor activities
- Beer gardens and parks (cheap entertainment)
- Longer daylight = more sightseeing time
8. Complete 3-Day Berlin Budget Breakdown
Budget Trip (€170 total)
- Accommodation (3 nights): €75
- Food (3 days): €54
- Transport (3-day ticket): €23
- Activities: €18
Mid-Range Trip (€495 total)
- Accommodation (3 nights): €135
- Food (3 days): €150
- Transport: €45
- Activities: €90
- Entertainment: €75
Luxury Trip (€1,350 total)
- Accommodation (3 nights): €600
- Food (3 days): €450
- Transport: €120
- Activities: €180
Final Thoughts: Is Berlin Expensive?
Compared to other European capitals, Berlin is remarkably affordable. You can have an
amazing experience on any budget, from backpacking at €50/day to luxury travel at €400+/day.
The key to managing costs in Berlin is:
- Taking advantage of free attractions
- Using public transport instead of taxis
- Mixing cheap street food with occasional restaurant meals
- Booking accommodation in advance
- Visiting during shoulder season
Pro Tip: Always check CheckWetter.de for Berlin's hourly weather forecast. Plan indoor activities
(museums, cafés) for rainy days and free outdoor activities (parks, walking tours) for sunny days to
maximize your budget!
Ready to explore Berlin? With this guide, you now know exactly how much to budget for your
trip. Whether you're a student on €50/day or a luxury traveler spending €500/day, Berlin welcomes you with
open arms and incredible experiences.
Happy travels! 🇩🇪✈️