Fair prices in Germany — what things really cost

A metered taxi from Brandenburg Airport to central Berlin runs roughly this range for the 30 km trip. Use only the official ranks at Terminal 1 and 2, check the meter is running, and note the small BER pickup surcharge is legitimate.

The FEX reaches Berlin Hauptbahnhof in about 23 minutes and the S-Bahn serves more stops. Both need a single ABC ticket, far cheaper than a taxi. Buy from a machine or the BVG app before boarding.

One ticket covers a journey across the U-Bahn, S-Bahn, tram and bus in the central AB zone. There are no barriers, but plain-clothes inspectors do check, so always buy and, where required, validate a ticket.

A day ticket pays for itself after a few rides and lets you hop on and off freely until 3am the next day. For airport trips choose the ABC version so it covers BER as well.

Berlin is affordable for a capital. A main course at a casual restaurant sits in this range; street food like doner or currywurst costs far less. Tipping is modest, usually rounding up by 5 to 10 percent.

A half-litre (0.5L) draught in a bar or beer garden is good value. Bottled beer from a Spati (late-night corner shop) is cheaper still and legal to drink in most public spaces.

The classic Berlin snack from an Imbiss stand is cheap and filling. Prices are broadly similar across the city, so you are rarely overcharged; pay at the counter and eat standing at the shelf.

A single adult ticket for the central zones A and B covers the whole inner city and the airport line. Buy it from the machines or the HVV app; a day ticket pays off after about two rides, and short hops have a cheaper Kurzstrecke fare.

The all-day ticket gives unlimited travel on U-Bahn, S-Bahn, buses and harbour ferries across the city and is the best value if you plan more than two journeys. A 9 Uhr day ticket, valid from 9am, is cheaper if you skip the morning rush.

A metered taxi from Hamburg Airport to the centre is quick but far dearer than the train. Use the official rank outside arrivals, insist on the meter, and expect a fare in the region of thirty euros. The S1 S-Bahn is a fraction of the price.

Adult entry is a fixed price and children pay less. Always reserve a timed slot online before you go, as walk-up queues at this hugely popular attraction can eat an hour or more of your day.

Standard one-hour harbour tours from Landungsbrücken are good value; German-language tours are cheapest and English tours cost a little more. A budget alternative is public ferry line 62, a normal HVV ferry that runs the same stretch on a transit ticket.

A main course at a mid-range restaurant is fair value, and tap water plus a service that is already included keep costs predictable. Rounding the bill up by five to ten percent is the usual tip. Harbour-front tourist spots charge more than neighbourhood places.

A fresh fish roll from a harbour or market stand is the classic cheap Hamburg snack. Prices are similar across stalls, so pick a busy one with quick turnover for the freshest fish, and eat it looking out over the water.

This buttery cinnamon pastry is a Hamburg speciality sold in every bakery for a euro or two. A traditional bakery version is far better than a supermarket one, and it is best eaten fresh in the morning with a coffee.

Munich publishes a fixed taxi rate of about EUR 96 between the airport and the main station, roughly 45 minutes away. It is far dearer than the S-Bahn; worth it only for groups, late arrivals or heavy luggage. Use the official rank.

The S1 and S8 lines link the airport with the centre in about 40 minutes. A single fare is around EUR 13.60, but the Airport-City-Day-Ticket (about EUR 17.50, or EUR 32.60 for up to five) is better value and covers the whole day.

One ticket covers the U-Bahn, S-Bahn, tram and bus across the central Zone M. Validate before boarding where required, and note that a day ticket pays off after roughly three rides.

The single-day ticket for Zone M lets you ride freely all day and, from 2026, children travel free on it. It is the simplest option for a day of sightseeing across the centre.

Beer is sold by the litre (a Mass) in beer gardens and halls, and at Oktoberfest the price is higher still. Buying a half-litre or a beer from a shop is cheaper; a garden Mass is part of the experience, not a rip-off.

Munich is among Germany's pricier cities. A main course at a traditional Wirtshaus sits in this range; a shared pretzel and beer is far cheaper. Round the bill up by 5 to 10 percent as a tip.

Castle entry is about EUR 21 for adults with a small online booking fee, and tickets are timed and sell out. Guided day tours from Munich cost much more but bundle the transport, guide and entry together.