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wants to eat something at fmd_goodPizza Vita
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Who is still using the orange scooter-sharing company regularly? A lil rant for y'all
I also wonder who uses their "turbo" abo which costs 199€ (!) each month (!) but then only gets you 50 minutes per day, after which you'll need to pay a hefty minute-based price again (!).
As a comparison: You can currently get a leasing abo of a nice Schwalbe E-Roller (which orange scooter sharing startet out with, and which by the way is a MUCH superior product than their current tiny little plastic scooters) for only 33€ per month!
Of course there's the convenience of availability wherevery you are with orange people, but, let's be honest, that fluctuates a lot depending on your location.
NOW Please orange scooter people listen up: I like your scooters, I love riding them, I've previously done a fair share of kilometers on them and I'd be more than happy to pay a lil extra for a minute-package IF valid for a whole year but your scooters simply are an OPTIONAL means of transport (and in my experience simply not a reliable source of getting around quickly) to justify one of your ridiculously priced Abos.
Thank you everyone for listening - does anyone else feel that way? :(
yeah the turbo abo is a total scam, who actually signs up for that? 200€ a month for 50 mins a day is wild when you can get a whole ass scooter lease for 33€
honestly what got me was the quality drop. remember when they had those big sturdy Schwalbes? now it's those tiny plastic ones that feel like they'll snap if you hit a cobblestone on Oranienburger. and the battery life is a joke, half the time i unlock one it's at 20% and i gotta hunt for another
the minute-package thing really was the killer tho. 65€ for 500 mins felt fair because you could stretch it over months. now they want you to commit monthly like it's a gym membership. i just use them for the occasional one-way trip from Mauerpark to my place and pay as i go, no way im locking into a sub
I stopped using them when they ditched the minute-packages too. That 500 for 65 deal was actually solid if you used them a few times a week, especially in summer. Now you're paying more for less and the clock keeps running even when you're stuck at a red light on Torstraße.
The leasing option you mentioned is worth a second look. I know someone who got a Schwalbe through Dance for 39 a month and they barely touch shared scooters anymore. The orange ones also seem to cluster around Warschauer and then vanish if you're further out in Neukölln.
If you really want the flexibility without the monthly pressure, maybe just buy a used e-scooter outright. You can find decent ones on Kleinanzeigen for around 300 and then you're done paying.
the real issue is the hidden cost of time. even with the old minute packages, you were paying for every second the scooter was unlocked, including when you locked it to run into a späti. but at least then you could buy a bulk pack and use it over months. now the abos punish you for not using it daily, which makes no sense for an optional mode of transport.
i've actually started just walking more in the ring. between the scooters being scattered and the battery anxiety, it's often faster to just hoof it from alexanderplatz to hackescher markt than to hunt down a charged scooter and pray it doesn't die on the way. the orange ones are great for that one specific trip where everything aligns, but they're not worth a subscription.
if you really want electric mobility without the headache, check out swapfiets' e-bike abo. it's 49 a month and includes maintenance, which is a lot more predictable than the scooter roulette
Berlin on a Budget: Tips 2026
Stay in hostels like Generator Berlin Mitte (starting at 25 EUR per night) or book a room via Airbnb in less central districts like Neukölln or Wedding for lower rates.… 🏨 Affordable Accommodation
Stay in hostels like Generator Berlin Mitte (starting at 25 EUR per night) or book a room via Airbnb in less central districts like Neukölln or Wedding for lower rates. Consider visiting in the shoulder seasons (April-May or September-October) when prices drop by up to 30%.
🚇 Cheap Transport Options
A single public transport ticket costs 3.50 EUR for zones AB, covering most attractions. For longer stays, buy a 7-day ticket for 41 EUR or a Berlin WelcomeCard for unlimited travel and museum discounts. Locals often bike everywhere using the city's extensive bike lanes or rent a bike via Nextbike for 1 EUR per 30 minutes.
🍽️ Eating on a Budget
Grab a currywurst from a street stall for around 3.50 EUR or a döner kebab for 5-6 EUR. For groceries, head to Aldi or Lidl where a loaf of bread costs 1.50 EUR. Many bakeries sell pre-made sandwiches for under 4 EUR, perfect for a picnic in Tiergarten.
🎫 Free Attractions
Visit the Reichstag dome for free (book online in advance) and explore the East Side Gallery, a 1.3 km open-air gallery on the Berlin Wall. On Sundays, many museums offer reduced entry or free admission, such as the Museum für Naturkunde (first Sunday of the month free).
💰 Money-Saving Tips
Locals avoid tourist traps by eating at Späti (corner shops) for cheap drinks and snacks. Use the Berlin Pass for free entry to over 50 attractions if you plan to visit many sites, but calculate costs first as it starts at 59 EUR for 48 hours. Always carry cash, as some smaller shops and cafes don't accept cards.
🏛️ Discount Museum Days
Most state museums are free on the first Sunday of each month, including the Pergamon Museum and Neues Museum. On Thursday evenings, the Jewish Museum offers free entry from 6 PM to 8 PM. Check individual museum websites for updated schedules.
🌳 Free Outdoor Activities
Spend a day at Tempelhofer Feld, a former airport turned public park with free bike rentals and BBQ areas. Rent a paddleboat on the Spree River for 10 EUR per hour or join a free walking tour (tip-based) that covers major landmarks like Brandenburg Gate and Checkpoint Charlie.
yeah the guide's got the main stuff down, one thing i'd add is that the späti culture is legit for saving money but specifically the ones in kreuzberg near kottbusser tor have the cheapest beers, like 0.80 eur for a can of sterni. also if you're doing the sunday museum thing, skip the pergamon queue and go to the hamburger bahnhof instead, it's way less crowded and has cool contemporary art plus the building itself is a converted train station so it's a vibe
for food, i'd say the best budget move is not the döner but the falafel at yafa on sonnenallee, 4 eur for a massive plate and it's open till late. and tbh the reichstag booking is a pain but if you miss it, the rooftop at the kollhoff tower near potsdamer platz is like 4 eur and gives you a solid view without the hassle
solid write-up, one thing i'd add is that the 7-day ticket is actually 41 eur for AB but you can get a 4-trip ticket for 12 eur if you're only here a couple days and it works out cheaper than single trips. also the museum sunday freebie is great but it gets packed, like at the pergamon you'll be queuing for 30 mins minimum. for a quieter free option, try the brücke museum in grunewald on a weekday afternoon, it's small but has killer expressionist art and no crowds. oh and for a cheap meal, hit up mustafa's gemüse kebab at mehringdamm, that line is long but it's worth the 5 eur for the hype tbh
honestly the cash tip is huge, a lot of tourists don't realize how many places are still cash only here. something the guide missed is that you can get a really cheap coffee at most bakeries for like 1.50 eur if you stand at the counter instead of sitting down, way cheaper than the hipster cafes. also if you're near a späti grab a beer for like 1 eur, way cheaper than bars obviously