BERLIN ON ANY BUDGET
Whether travelling with a wallet full of platinum cards or nothing more than the innards of your piggy bank, Berlin offers a multitude of cultural riches for any class of visitor. Text by Orion Ray-Jones

Berlin offers numerous accommodations for the budget traveller. Circus Hostels (www.circus-berlin.de), with two locations in the bustling Mitte district, offers a number of sleeping options, with shared bedrooms starting at €13 per night and private bedrooms starting at €28. If you are in Berlin to party, try the Generator Hostel (www.generatorhostels.com), a neon-lit centre for the hippest travellers. Prices start at €14 per night.

If you want the comfort of a hotel, consider Hotel Artim (www.hotel-artim.de), which provides the perfect balance of style and affordability with spacious single rooms starting at only €72 per night. Its central location on the quiet Fugger Strasse makes it an ideal base for exploring the city. Hotel Hackescher Markt (www.hackescher-markt.com) features the understated refinement of English décor, including pinewood furniture and a pub-inspired bar, with rooms starting at €120. Located in Mitte’s trendy Hackescher Markt area, the hotel’s proximity to some of the city’s hottest nightspots makes it perfect for night owls.

If only the best will do, why not get a suite at the aptly-named Hotel Palace (you can check it out at www.palace.de and book affordably at www.octopus4easyjet.com). Rub elbows with movie stars, presidents and musicians while enjoying the hotel’s solarium, massage room, sauna and gorgeous swimming pool. An assortment of luxurious suites caters to the most demanding guests. Right at the very top, the Presidential Suite boasts a grand piano, an elegant 10-person dining room and expansive views of the city. Room rates range from €200-€2000 per night, so be sure to have your boss okay that expense account before booking.

Like most European cities, the dining possibilities in Berlin are limitless. With a sizeable Turkish population, Berlin excels in falafel and kebab stands. Vendors are often open throughout the night, and their stuffed pitas cost only two or three euros. If you desire a sit-down alternative, try a Berliner Frühstück – “Berlin breakfast”. Eggs, sausages, toast and coffee can be found throughout the day in many of Berlin’s cafés, providing a cheap, traditional meal.

For the historic tastes of Prussian food, there is no better place than Marjellchen (Mommsenstrasse 9). The dark, wood-filled restaurant transports your taste buds to the days when Berlin was the capital of the Prussian Empire, ruling over Germany, Poland, Lithuania and Russia. The Slavic-influenced cuisine includes such delicacies as hearty potato soup, marinated elk and pork spareribs stuffed with prunes and will only set you back about €20.

But if you prefer foie gras to falafel and like your meat stuffed with white truffles instead of prunes, visit the gastronomic goldmine that is Lorenz Adlon (www.hotel-adlon.de). One of the city’s most stately dining rooms, Adlon presents the very best in French and German food. This culinary experience comes at a price – be prepared to part with a couple hundred euros per head.

There is plenty to do in Berlin without spending a single euro. Remnants of the wall that once defined and divided the metropolis can still be found intact, providing a concrete reminder of the city’s not-so-distant past. The Allied Museum (Clayallee 135), German Historical Museum (Unter den Linden 2) and Marienfelde Refugee Center Museum (Marienfelder Allee 66 – 80) each presents a free peek into Berlin’s past. If you prefer art to history, try seeing some of the city’s famous collections. The Bauhaus Archiv-Museum für Gestaltung and many museums within the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin (www.smpk.de) and Stiftung Stadtmuseum Berlin (www.stadtmuseum.de) have free admission on selected days. Or venture off the beaten path and discover Berlin’s ever-growing underground art scene, starting with the Radio Berlin gallery (Veteranenstrasse 22). Not only is it free to get in, but many pieces are within the budget of collectors of meagre means.

If you don’t mind adding a few debits to your credit card, Berlin is a treasure chest full of cultural riches. Three major opera houses, seven orchestras and countless theatres, concert halls and other venues make the city an international centre for the performing arts. Under the artistic direction of the renowned conductor Sir Simon Rattle, the Berliner Philharmoniker (www.berliner-philharmoniker.de) sits at the pinnacle of Berlin’s music scene. Seats are priced from €7- €110, and the schedule encompasses choral, chamber and orchestral performances. For ballet and opera, the Staatsoper (www.staatsoper-berlin.org) remains one of Germany’s leading institutions. Here, music director and conductor Daniel Barenbom curates a schedule that sees the highest calibre of all sorts of classical performance. Prices vary with shows and seating, but you can snatch up unsold tickets for a mere €10 just before the show.

Before heading out for the opera, you might want to splurge on that perfect evening dress or three-piece suit. Start your shopping excursion at Quartier 205, 206 and 207, three stunning blocks full of designer fashions, connected by underground passages.

Most notable amongst them is Quartier 206, which contains the department store of the same name (www.departmentstore.de). Whether Gucci and Cerruti or Strenesse and Manolo Blahnik, you’ll find just what you’re looking for at this black marble shopping haven. Quartier 205 is home to Galeries Lafayette (Französische Strasse 23), a sanctuary for Parisian style featuring clothes from designers such as Christian Lacoix and Yves Saint Laurent. To find all your shopping needs under one roof, try Kaufhaus des Westens (www.kadewe.de), Europe’s largest department store. Famed for its sixth-floor food hall (which boasts a selection of over 1000 sausages, 1300 cheeses and 2400 wines), the store offers a fine selection of jewellery, books and clothing and presents regular book signings and fashion shows.

From a free walk through the magical green forest of the Grunewald Park to sipping one of the 150 champagnes offered at the ultra-chic Bar Am Lützowplatz (www.baramluetzowplatz.com), Berlin’s many attractions make it an essential destination. Attracting both jet-set and shoestring visitors, the diverse city offers an abundance of sights and activities for any size bank account.

Airport Berlin Schönefeld is located 22km south of the city centre. The AirportExpress runs every half hour to the centre of Berlin (costing €2.20), with a free shuttle bus running between the terminal and train station. A taxi costs approximately €30 and takes about 40 minutes. www.berlin-airport.de