Traveling for little money
A trip to the cheapest big cities
These major German cities are among the cheapest alternatives for a weekend trip.
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Looking for a cheap destination for your next weekend trip? These major German cities are inexpensive alternatives.
The travel platform “Travelcircus” has evaluated which major cities in Germany currently offer a particularly inexpensive offer for a weekend trip. The portal’s 2024 Large City Index includes factors already mentioned such as travel and hotel costs, museum visits, city tours or prices for coffee and cake or dinner. For this purpose, costs for typical middle-class hotels and travel costs based on the train stations in Berlin, Munich, Hamburg and Frankfurt were taken into account.
From Hagen to Hanover
In places ten to six, the difference in total costs is relatively small. Hagen in North Rhine-Westphalia is in tenth place in the comparison. According to the specifications, an average of 548.37 euros is due for a weekend with two people. This means that “The Gateway to the Sauerland” can place itself in the top ten, just ahead of competitors such as Kassel, Essen and Osnabrück.
It is a little cheaper in Salzgitter, Lower Saxony, at a cost of 545.70 euros. A trip could be worthwhile for water sports enthusiasts, for example. The nearby Salzgittersee is a destination for surfers and sailors, but also for sun worshipers.
In eighth place goes to Karlsruhe in Baden-Württemberg – for 540.43 euros. According to the list, the costs for accommodation and dinner here are quite moderate compared to many other large cities. A particularly impressive local destination is Karlsruhe Castle, where you can even get married.
It will be a few cents cheaper in Oberhausen in North Rhine-Westphalia. In seventh place, an average of 539.70 euros is due, but Oberhausen Castle, among other things, attracts visitors with exhibitions and the large Centro shopping center offers shopping and leisure opportunities.
Sixth place goes to Hanover. The state capital of Lower Saxony has numerous free sights and landmarks to offer and is therefore on average one of the best alternatives for anyone who is particularly concerned about travel costs. All in all, the costs here are 537.23 euros.
The cheapest cities in comparison
St. Mary’s Cathedral and St. Michael’s Church have been UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1985. But Hildesheim in Lower Saxony has much more to offer. The weekend trip costs 531.23 euros and takes fifth place.
For excursionists, it goes back to NRW in fourth place. A stay in Mülheim an der Ruhr costs 527.80 euros. Those interested in art and culture, among others, can enjoy a wide range of offerings here. The Mülheim Theater Days will take place again in May.
Herne is less than an hour away by car. A stone’s throw, which is clearly noticeable in terms of price. The home of the Cranger Kirmes, one of the largest folk festivals in the country, comes in third place with a cost of 509.53 euros.
Silver goes to Baden-Württemberg because it’s easy to save money in the country. The state capital Stuttgart offers the second cheapest overall offer in comparison at 495.10 euros. Visitors can spend their savings on Königsstrasse, the longest shopping street in the city.
Göttingen in Lower Saxony achieved first place by a significant margin. At a cost of 467.53 euros, travelers in the university city can get off around 100 euros cheaper than in Ulm, which is in 20th place. A popular subject for tourist photos is the Gänseliesel. The fountain figure is considered the “most kissed girl in the world” because of an old student custom.