Berlin hotels add a 7.5% city tax, and the airport is outside the zone most visitors buy tickets for. Transit tickets, museum passes and the TV Tower are what push most trips past the plan.
Starts with a sample trip. Change any number to match yours.
Compare hotels in central Berlin →The sample is 2 travelers for 4 nights. Your plan ($3,180) covers the main costs most people budget for, the ones you enter on the left. Costs people forget ($752, about 24% more for this trip) are the fees, taxes, tips and extras listed in the calculator. Prices were last checked on October 17, 2026.
Share of the $3,932 real cost. Nights and travelers multiply most of these costs, so changing either one moves the total the most.
7 of this trip's numbers link to a published price or rate. The rest are our estimates, and each one says what it is based on. You can also read how we calculate every trip.
| Cost | Default | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Airfare per person | $900 per traveler | Our estimate for a typical round-trip economy fare to Berlin from a major US airport; fares swing widely by season and departure city. Our estimate |
| Hotel per night | $170 a night | Our estimate for a mid-range double room in central Berlin; rates rise during trade fairs and summer. Our estimate |
| Food per person, per day | $70 per traveler, per day | Our estimate for cafe breakfasts, casual lunches and a sit-down dinner per person in Berlin. Our estimate |
| Cost | Default | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Checked bag fees Off by default | $90 per traveler | Most economy fares to Europe include one checked bag, so this is off by default. Basic economy fares charge extra. Source |
| Passports Off by default | $165 per traveler | A new adult passport costs about $165 and can take weeks. Our estimate |
| Airport transfers | $23 for the trip | An ABC single ticket is 5 euros, so four airport rides for two people come to about $23. Source |
| City tax | 7.5% of the hotel | Berlin's overnight tax has been 7.5% of the room rate since January 2025. Source |
| Transit tickets | $40 per traveler | A 24-hour AB ticket is 11.20 euros and a single ride is 4 euros; our $40 covers a few day tickets and rides. Source |
| Museum Pass Berlin | $36 per traveler | The 3-day Museum Pass Berlin is 32 euros, about $36, and covers more than 30 museums. Source |
| Observation decks | $30 per traveler | TV Tower Fast View tickets start at 27.50 euros, about $31. Source |
| Tips | $5 per traveler, per day | Our estimate for rounding up or adding 5 to 10% at cafes and restaurants, about $5 per person a day. Our estimate |
| Restroom fees | $10 for the trip | Many station and public restrooms charge a small fee. Our estimate |
| Card fees | 3% of your plan | Foreign transaction fees are usually around 3% of each purchase on cards that charge them. Source |
| Phone data | $30 per traveler | An international plan or eSIM. Our estimate |
| Travel insurance | 6% of your plan | Squaremouth says a comprehensive plan averages about 6% of the trip cost, usually 4% to 10%. Source |
| Pre-trip shopping | $60 for the trip | Our estimate for travel-size toiletries, sunscreen and small things bought before a trip. Our estimate |
| Pet boarding or sitter | $50 a day, if you check Pets | Dogster puts regular kennel boarding at about $35 to $85 a night. Overnight sitters at home cost more. Source |
For 4 nights with flights, a central hotel and food, plan on about $3,200. Once you add the costs most visitors forget, like the city tax, transit tickets, museum passes, the TV Tower and travel insurance, it's closer to $3,950. Use the calculator above to change any number to match your trip.
Berlin adds a city tax of 7.5% to the room rate. Since 2024 it applies to business stays too. On a $170 room, that's about $13 a night. Source
Trains run from BER into the city. The airport is in fare zone C, so you need an ABC ticket, which is €5 for a single ride. A cheaper AB ticket is not valid for the airport. Source
The Museum Pass Berlin costs €32 for 3 days and covers more than 30 museums, including those on Museum Island. It pays off if you visit two or more museums a day. The Pergamonmuseum is expected to stay closed until 2027. Source
The Reichstag dome is free, but you must register online in advance with your passport details. The Brandenburg Gate, the East Side Gallery and the Holocaust Memorial are free to visit any time.