Should you visit Dresden or Berlin?
Should I visit Dresden or Berlin? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Dresden
As towering baroque architecture and verdant woodlands surround your vision, this cityscape works almost as a time capsule of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, untouched by the burdens of modernity. With a melange of cultures and histories, Dresden, Germany stands before you. The capital of the eastern German state of Saxony, Dresden is globally known for its celebrated art museums and classic architecture of its reconstructed Old Town. From the baroque church Frauenkirche to the Versailles-inspired Zwinger palace, the aesthetic value of this Germany city is simply immeasurable. Located on the gorgeous Elbe River, Dresden receives about ten million tourists a year, most of them from Germany. Nevertheless, despite the traditional German culture its most historic buildings exude, Dresden is still touched by the present-day generation with its abundance of restaurants, clubs, shops, and theaters. Whether you wish to gaze at the Raphael's "Sistine Madonna" or simply go for a quick shopping run, Dresden obliges its guests most satisfactorily.
Berlin
Berlin is the capital and largest city in Germany. As such, travelers can expect typical European prices for everything from hotels to food to sights and attractions. While it's possible to experience this city on a cheaper budget, don't expect to get much without paying a decent amount.
With a population of about 4.5 million, Berlin is a very international city that is well known for its high level of tolerance, an eclectic nightlife, an artistic vibe and many historical sights. There are museums, palaces and landmarks spread throughout the city. Despite having a significant amount of damage during the last few years of World War II, Berlin has been rebuilt with an interesting diversity of architecture styles. This is particularly true after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Architecture in the city represents many different historical periods ranging from medieval buildings through modern, glass structures.
Which city is cheaper, Berlin or Dresden?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Dresden is €107, while the average daily cost in Berlin is €110. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Dresden and Berlin in more detail.
Accommodation
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around €48. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Dresden the cost is €96 on average.
The prices for places to stay in Berlin can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is €51, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around €102.
Food
On average, meal and food prices in Dresden cost around €25 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around €10.
In Berlin travelers spend around €41 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
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Food
Meals for one day
Dresden €25
Berlin €41
Typical Food prices in Berlin
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Berlin:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Berlin
For Berlin, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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English Comedy Ticket including Pizza in Berlin Mitte:
$16
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English Comedy Showcase Including Pizza in Berlin Mitte:
$25
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Bitemojo Self Guided Food Tour New To Berlin:
$40
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Dinner Cruise – “This is the CHEF talking”:
$49
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Berlin Kreuzberg - Food Tour:
$53
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Berlin Mitte - Food Tour:
$53
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Berlin Food Tour:
$55
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Withlocals 10 Tastings: Covid-19 Regulated Private Food Tour:
$57
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History Bites: The Berlin History and Food Tour:
$61
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Berlin Dinner Cruise.:
$61
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Fun Dinner and Dancing by Gaiety in Berlin:
$84
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Vegan Food Tour Experience in Berlin:
$87
Local Transportation
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around €8.45 per day to get around in Dresden.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Berlin than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend €14 on transportation in Berlin on average per day.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dresden
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Dresden:
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Private transfer from Dresden to Prague:
$409
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1-way Dresden to Prague - private transfer - Mercedes Benz - up to 8 passengers:
$243
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Private Transfer from Dresden to Prague:
$199
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Private Transfer from Dresden to Prague with 2 Sightseeing stops:
$157
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Private Transfer from Dresden City to Leipzig City:
$156
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Private Transfer from Dresden to Prague, Hotel-to-hotel, English-speaking driver:
$132
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Private transfer: Dresden to Dresden Airport (DRS):
$73
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Private transfer: Dresden Airport (DRS) to Dresden:
$73
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Arrival Private Transfer Dresden Airport DRS to Dresden by Luxury Vehicle:
$52
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Departure Private Transfer Dresden to Dresden Airport DRS by Luxury Vehicle:
$52
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From Hike Through Saxon Switzerland with Transfers:
$34
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Private Airport Transfer: Dresden International Airport (DRS) to Dresden:
$30
Typical Local Transportation prices in Berlin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Berlin:
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Short Trip Metro Ticket
€1.40
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Bahn Ticket
€3.00
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Short Taxi Ride
€20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Berlin
Also for Berlin, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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1-way private transfer Berlin to Karlovy Vary - Mercedes Benz - up to 8 persons:
$662
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Airport/Hotel/Airport Transfer&Tour& Driver Guide:
$218
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Airport/Hotel/Airport Transfer&Tour&Driver&Licensed Guide (DIN EN 15565):
$311
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Berlin Airport Transfers : Berlin Airport TXL to Berlin City in Business Car:
$72
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Berlin Airport Transfers : Berlin Airport TXL to Berlin City in Luxury Car:
$87
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Berlin Airport Transfers : Berlin City to Berlin Airport SXF in Business Car:
$87
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Berlin Airport Transfers : Berlin City to Berlin Airport SXF in Luxury Car:
$118
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Berlin Airport Transfers : Berlin City to Berlin Airport SXF in Luxury Van:
$104
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Berlin Airport Transfers : Berlin City to Berlin Airport TXL in Luxury Car:
$87
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Berlin Airport Transfers : Berlin City to Berlin Tegel Airport TXL in Luxury Van:
$79
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Berlin Airport Transfers : Berlin City to Tegel Airport TXL in Business Car:
$75
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Berlin Airport Transfers : Berlin Tegel Airport TXL to Berlin City in Luxury Van:
$79
Is it cheaper to fly into Dresden or Berlin?
Prices for flights to both Berlin and Dresden change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Entertainment
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around €7.64 per person, per day in Dresden. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Sightseeing expenses in Berlin, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of €18 per day, per person.
Tours and Activities in Dresden
Here are a few actual costs in Dresden for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Art and Culture Tour in Dresden:
$198
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Best of Bohemian and Saxon Switzerland Day Trip from Dresden - Hiking Tour:
$185
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Best of Bohemian and Saxon Switzerland Day Trip from Dresden- Fantasy Tour:
$185
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Best of Bohemian and Saxon Switzerland Day Trip from Dresden- Winter Tour:
$185
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Big Sightseeing Tour in Dresden:
$23
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Classical Dresden Walking Tour with German-Speaking Guide:
$13
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Discover the old city of Dresden on a private walking tour:
$400
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Dresden Historic Walking Tour & Treasury Visiting:
$440
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Dresden Live-Guided Self-Drive Trabi Safari City XXL Tour 2h15min:
$101
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Dresden New Town Walking Tour:
$440
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Dresden Old Town Walking Tour with a German-Speaking Guide:
$13
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Dresden Private Christmas Market Tour:
$191
Typical Entertainment prices in Berlin
For Berlin, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Tours and Activities in Berlin
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Berlin.
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Rude Bastards tour of Berlin:
$1.87
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Music of Berlin Private Tour: Communist Berlin Exploration Game:
$3.72
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Berlin Private Tour: Third Reich & the Cold War Exploration Game:
$4.96
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Witches, Riots and the Cold War: A Walk Through Wedding Audio Tour by VoiceMap:
$5.48
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Into the Heart of Berlin Self-guided Audio Tour by VoiceMap:
$5.48
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The Dönerkebab: Discover how it changed Germany on an audio walking tour:
$5.48
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In and Around Alexanderplatz Walking Audio Tour by VoiceMap:
$5.48
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Berlin's Centre - Explore the city's modern history with this audio walking tour:
$5.48
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Classic Sights and Hidden Histories of Berlin's Museum Island Audio Tour:
$5.48
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Ku'damm Couture and Currywurst Self-guided Audio Tour by VoiceMap:
$5.48
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Take the U Train: The Story of Berlin's Oldest Elevated Railway Line Audio Tour:
$6.56
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West Kreuzberg: Templars, Bunkers and Prussian Glory Audio Tour by VoiceMap:
$6.88
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Dresden may vary from person to person, on average a person spends €13 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Berlin, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is €13.
Sample the Local Flavors in Dresden
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dresden:
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Dresden on Food! Without wine tasting.:
$50
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Dresden on Food! With wine tasting. Small group tour:
$62
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Adventure day boat trip, wine tasting & wine tasting:
$101
Typical Alcohol prices in Berlin
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Berlin from other travelers:
Sample the Local Flavors in Berlin
Also in Berlin, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Berlin Pub Crawl And Night Life Tour:
$15
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#1 Berlin Pub Crawl:
$25
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Sean's Wine Tasting Events:
$66
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Welcome to Berlin tour! Sightseeing, souvenirs and visit of a German brewery:
$236
When comparing the travel costs between Dresden and Berlin, we can see that Berlin is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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