A Complete Trip: My expenses for a two-day midweek adventure in Berlin

In our A Total Trip series, writers share their expenditures from recent escapes. In this installment, Sandie Kestell reveals how far her budget stretched during a midweek stay in Berlin.

As Dinogo Planet’s Destination Editor for Central & Eastern Europe, I embarked on a two-day midweek visit to Berlin with my friend Laura in December. Having lived in Berlin for four years before relocating to Dublin, I’m quite familiar with the city, yet there’s always something fresh to uncover. Our main task was to maximize our time in those two days.

Pre-trip expenses

I visited Berlin as a guest of the recently revamped Courtyard by Marriott Berlin City Center. Nestled in the historic Mitte district, which houses both the Brandenburg Gate and the city’s Museum Island, the renovation has transformed it into a modern European-style hotel featuring natural materials and textiles with a contemporary flair, enriched by local touches that reflect the destination.

The spacious lobby flows into a welcoming lounge with ample seating. The rooms are exceptionally comfortable, featuring recycled vinyl flooring and thoughtful amenities like cleverly designed luggage storage, adjustable desks, and USB charging ports.

Other unique highlights include The Market, a 24-hour convenience shop in the lobby offering snacks and beverages, the Kitchen & Bar restaurant, a cutting-edge fitness center equipped with Technogym gear, and media pods that provide chic and private workspaces.

On the scene

Tuesday

Airport transfer: We landed at Berlin's BER airport around 9 am on Tuesday. The Courtyard by Marriott Berlin City Center arranged a direct taxi ride to the hotel, which took about 35 minutes.

Lunch: Once we settled into our room, we enjoyed a 10-minute walk to Gendarmenmarkt for lunch. We discovered Erdinger am Gendarmenmarkt, a Bavarian restaurant. Having both studied in Bavaria, the hearty regional dishes were appealing. I opted for the very-filling Käsespätzle (cheesy egg noodles) along with sparkling apple juice (€18.90).

Transport: We purchased a 24-hour ticket for the AB zone (€9.50 each), granting us access to all public transport in central Berlin and extending to the city's outskirts.

Activities: After lunch, we walked to the Topographie des Terrors (free), a museum that explores the terror institutions of Nazi Germany. We enjoyed an excellent one-hour audio tour (accessible via QR code) and spent extra time revisiting certain sections, especially the model of the grounds in the foyer for better orientation. Later, we took the U-Bahn to Ostbahnhof and strolled to the East Side Gallery (free) to admire the open-air murals on this preserved segment of the Berlin Wall. We concluded our outing at the charming Oberbaumbrücke bridge, with its stunning arches, towers, and turrets.

Snack: We crossed to the lower level of Oberbaumbrücke bridge to reach Markthalle Neun in Kreuzberg. This historic market hall, dating back to 1891, is filled with local independent vendors. Booths offer a range of goods from fresh produce to artisan cheeses, ice cream, wine, and beer. We refreshed ourselves with a glass of wine at the French wine bar/booth Monsieur Collard (€6 per glass) while people-watching.

Activities: From there, we hopped on a U-Bahn heading to Alexanderplatz. We purchased tickets for the observation deck of the Fernsehturm (€25.50 each), Germany's tallest TV tower. This turned out to be our priciest activity of the day. We debated whether the views would justify the cost, especially at night. However, once we reached the top, we knew we had made the right choice. It truly is one of those must-see attractions that lives up to its reputation. The atmosphere was serene, and the city lights were breathtaking, almost as if they were put on display just for us.

Dinner: We took the U2 U-Bahn to U Haus Hausvogteiplatz and walked a short distance to the Christmas Market at Bebelplatz (entry €2 each). We explored the market looking for food and ended up in line at the Neuburger Marktbackstube stall. We each ordered a Neuburger Rahmbrot (€4.50 each), a tasty flatbread topped with Schmand (sour cream) and chives. I opted for the vegetarian version, while Laura chose the traditional one with bacon.

These delicious flatbreads were served fresh from the oven, and they were so good we had to go back for seconds (another €4.50 each). Afterward, we enjoyed a Glühwein (€4 each, plus a €3 deposit that we received back when we returned the empty cups) before wrapping up our evening and walking back to the hotel.

Total: €74.90

Wednesday

Breakfast: We enjoyed the fantastic breakfast buffet at our hotel. I had a selection of fruit and yogurt, along with a fresh bread roll topped with cheese, egg, and salad. I also treated myself to mini pancakes with Nutella.

Transport: We purchased another 24-hour ticket for the AB zone (€9.50 each).

Activities: We took the U2 to Senefelderplatz to discover the Prenzlauer Berg area in central-east Berlin, renowned for its historic Wilhelmine architecture and vibrant cafe culture. We meandered towards the charming Kollwitzplatz square, a green triangle filled with cafes and eateries. We explored independent shops like Kleid & Schuh for women's fashion and das goods haus for home goods. We also enjoyed a visit to the lovely Cafe Ana Blume, where we indulged in a jumbo hot chocolate (€4.80) to warm ourselves up.

Lunch: We made a stop at the renowned Konnopke’s Imbiss sausage stand beneath the U-Bahn tracks for a quick bite. We both chose the classic sliced currywurst with a bread roll, which was a steal at €3.60.

Activities: We took the U-Bahn and a tram to visit the Stasi Prison. Located in the Hohenschönhausen district of East Berlin, the 40-minute journey is well worth it. We had pre-booked a prison tour online for (€8). Our guide provided a comprehensive history of the facility, described various cells and interrogation rooms, and recounted chilling stories of former inmates. This site is essential for anyone intrigued by Cold War history.

Dinner: I couldn’t visit Berlin without exploring its Vietnamese culinary scene, so we met a friend living here and dined at Fam. Dang near U Rosenthaler Platz. I enjoyed a perfectly spiced tofu curry that exceeded my expectations, accompanied by a sparkling apple juice (€15.50). Before returning to our hotel, we stopped by Mikkeller on Torstrasse for a drink (€6 for cider; €7.70 for beer).

Total: €47.40

Total Amount: €122.30

Overall, we managed our budget quite well. The observation deck at the Fernsehturm was the priciest attraction, but we thoroughly enjoyed it. It provided a serene break during our hectic two days. The food was reasonably priced, with generous portions, and a few free attractions helped keep our expenses low.

Sandie Kestell visited Berlin courtesy of the Courtyard by Marriott Berlin City Center. Dinogo Planet staff members do not accept complimentary services in exchange for favorable reviews.