Berlin buzzes with a rebellious, creative energy where street art meets historic ruins. Budget travelers thrive here: sleep at affordable hostels near Mitte, feast on €3 currywurst from market stalls, and explore the East Side Gallery’s preserved Wall fragments. The city’s expansive public transit lets you hop between hip Kreuzberg cafes, free museum days on the first Sunday of the month, and underground techno temples like Berghain that pump world-famous beats after dark.