Why pay €25-30 for those red double-decker tourist buses when regular city buses follow the exact same route for a fraction of the price? Lines 100 and 200 hit every major sight in Berlin for just €3.50 (single ticket) or €8.80 (day pass covering all transport).

Route 100 is the classic: Alexanderplatz → Museum Island → Brandenburg Gate → Siegessäule (Victory Column) → Charlottenburg Palace. Route 200 covers similar territory plus Potsdamer Platz. Both run every 10-15 minutes, and the journey takes about 30 minutes end-to-end.

Grab a seat on the upper deck if you catch a double-decker — Same panoramic views as the tourist buses, just without the cheesy commentary. Start at Alexanderplatz (exit toward Memhardstraße for the bus stops) or Brandenburg Gate (Unter den Linden side). The 100 gets crowded around Museum Island, so board early if possible.

I've done this route probably 50 times and it never gets old. Plus you're riding with actual Berliners instead of being trapped in a tourist bubble. The day pass even covers U-Bahn, S-Bahn, and trams — Hop-on-hop-off wishes it was this flexible.