The best accommodations Berlin

Budget & Tips

Although Berlin has a wide range of hotel categories, from classic luxury to modern art and design, many hotel chains are also present. Cheap hotels are hard to find. Prices vary from district to district, with the most expensive often in Mitte and Charlottenburg. Prices also vary according to comfort, so be sure to check whether breakfast is included. This is often an all-you-can-eat buffet.

As for guesthouses, there are many in the city. They're more economical than hotels, and leave tenants free to enjoy their own independence. They are generally close to the city center and run by families or individuals, and prices vary according to the area and the level of comfort on offer. Youth hostels are another good alternative, and most of them also offer private rooms. Tip: hotel websites often offer discounts when you book directly, or even if you plan to stay several nights.

The cheapest hostels are often the least central and offer dormitory accommodation from €20; the most expensive and most central offer dormitory accommodation up to €50. Single, double, triple and quadruple rooms are also common. Breakfast is not always included in the price. The advantage of youth hostels is that they often offer a wide range of services, such as guided tours and bike hire. Please note that some hostels do not accept credit card payments.

Finally, as with hotels, there are privatehostel chains such as A&O Hostels. We've included them in this guide because, although their standardization is regrettable, hostels often offer very attractive rates, are well located and have more pleasant premises. They are often frequented by a young, cosmopolitan clientele.

To be booked

Book your accommodation as soon as possible. The most affordable establishments are always the first to go. During congresses, fairs and exhibitions, hotels are crowded and prices are significantly higher.

What's very local

If you are planning to stay in Berlin for a longer period of time, for example for a study period, you should know that sharing a room (WG, for Wohngemeinschaft) is very common in Berlin. But it is even easier to find a room during the university vacations (February/March and August/September), when students are busy with other things and offer their rooms for sublet(Untermiete). Here is a list of websites that centralize classified ads for roommates: www.wg-gesucht.de (the most readable and most famous) - www.studenten-wg.de - www.easywg.de

Tourist traps

Many hotels play on the ambiguity of Berlin's district names, especially Mitte. Remember that Mitte refers both to Berlin's historic district (Stadtteil) and to the gigantic borough (Bezirk) that includes other districts such as Moabit or Wedding. So a hotel with "Mitte" in its name is no guarantee of a central location. The same applies to hotels named after subway stations. It's not always the nearest stop that gives the hotel its name, but the nearest known stop (Potsdamer Platz, Check Point Charlie etc.). Always check the exact location of the hotel.