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 also vary from district to district, with the most expensive often in Mitte and Charlottenburg. Comfort also affects prices, 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 the tenant completely independent. They are generally close to the city center and run by families or individuals, and prices vary according to the area and comfort on offer. Youth hostels are another good alternative, and most of them also offer private rooms. A little 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 €40. Single and double rooms, and even triple and quadruple rooms, are also quite 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 the names of Berlin's neighborhoods, especially with the name Mitte. Remember that Mitte refers to both the historic district (Stadtteil) of Berlin and the gigantic district (Bezirk) that includes other districts such as Moabit or Wedding. A hotel with "Mitte" in its name does not guarantee a central location. The same applies to hotels named after subway stations. The hotel is not always named after the nearest stop, but rather the nearest known stop (Potsdamer Platz, Check Point Charlie etc.). Always check the exact location of the hotel.