Where to Stay in Berlin, Germany: The Best Hotels & Neighbourhoods

No Europe itinerary is complete without a stop in Berlin. Even if the capital city of Germany isn’t one of Europe’s most beautiful cities on the surface, it’s surely one of the most interesting. Take the time to get to know Berlin and you just might find yourself a new travel obsession.

Of all the challenges in planning a trip here none is greater than figuring out where to stay in Berlin. Home to over 3.5 million people, Berlin sprawls out over 890 square kilometres. It’s not really surprising that narrowing your choice to just a handful of the best hotels in Berlin is hardly a walk in the park!

That’s precisely why I’ve written this guide. If you’ve become overwhelmed in the past searching for the accommodations in Berlin (or even if this is your first stop), let me help you take the guesswork out of the equation. Check out these top picks for the best neighbourhoods and places to stay in Berlin.

Where to stay in Berlin, Germany: A complete guide to the best neighbourhoods & places to stay

Berlin is a canvas of unique neighbourhoods. From the gutsiness of Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain to the more upscale Mitte and Charlottenburg, your choice of where to stay in Berlin affects the experience. Every district shows off a completely different face of the city.

The price of accommodations in Berlin is hardly bargain basement, nor unreasonable. On the whole, you’ll find the prices in Berlin in line with the region. It’s even cheaper than other Central European cities like Munich or Vienna, and certainly more so than other popular European destinations like Barcelona, Paris or Rome!

Want to get close to all the action? I’d recommend focusing your hotel search on these best neighbourhoods in Berlin for travellers:

• Mitte
• Kreuzberg
• Friedrichshain
• Charlottenburg
• Prenzlauer Berg

Let’s look at each and start uncovering some of the best places to stay in Berlin, shall we?

Mitte

✓ Best area to stay for first-time visitors & sightseeing

Want to be close to the best Berlin attractions? Whether you have one day or a week, there’s no better place to stay than Mitte.

Mitte occupies mostly what was, in the height of the Cold War, the historic city centre of East Berlin. Many of the city’s most famous landmarks, best museums and finest architecture lie along the streets of Mitte.

The walking distance between most attractions in Mitte is reasonable, making it a great choice when you want to be close to all the action. Convenient public transportation links also make Mitte a good base for exploring the fringes or embarking on some awesome day trips from Berlin.

For the convenience there’s a trade-off. As the most central district, Mitte tends to be more expensive than other neighbourhoods in Berlin. It’s not impossible to find good rooms at a reasonable price, but those on a tight travel budget might want to consider nearby Friedrichshain or Kreuzberg instead.

Where to stay: The best hotels in Mitte

The quality of accommodations in Mitte is generally quite good. Wherever you choose to stay in Mitte, you’ll be close to restaurants, bars, and a never-ending selection of things to do. Here are a few of the best hotels in Mitte:

Kreuzberg

✓ Best area to stay for an alternative vibe in a central neighbourhood

When choosing where to stay in Berlin, don’t just limit your search to Mitte. Kreuzberg, the city’s hippest central district, is one of the best places to stay in Berlin for travellers looking to experience a more “local” vibe.

And it’s not so far away.

Located just south of Mitte—even hanging on to a handful of some of the city’s best attractions to boot—Kreuzberg is the next-best alternative district to base yourself in while visiting Berlin.

Kreuzberg doesn’t quite have the glamour of Mitte or Charlottenburg. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. At least in parts. Whereas there’s little distinction between West Kreuzberg and the rest of West Berlin, East Kreuzberg has a true lived-in feel.

The area’s changed over the years (for the better) and is now one of the hottest residential spots for young Berliners. An ever-changing resident profile gave way to vintage shops, hip restaurants, clubs, and some of Berlin’s coolest street art.

While mature travellers might feel more at home in Mitte or Charlottenburg, younger travellers should seriously consider staying in Kreuzberg; it’s easily among Berlin’s best places to eat, drink and let loose.

Where to stay: The best hotels in Kreuzberg

Kreuzberg hasn’t always been a top choice for accommodations in Berlin. The neighbourhood is just beginning to fulfill its potential as one of the city’s best places to stay. Stylish boutique hotels and hip hostels round out much of the selection here. Check out a few of these best hotels in Kreuzberg:

Friedrichshain

✓ Best area to stay for experiencing Berlin’s nightlife

Along with Kreuzberg to the west, Friedrichshain is one of central Berlin’s most colourful districts. Staying in Friedrichshain won’t be right for everyone. The district has a gritty reputation that even East Kreuzberg can’t quite beat. That’s not to say Friedrichshain is necessarily unsafe. A little rough around the edges? No doubt.

Friedrichshain sits inside the former East Berlin, explaining its not always well-kept physical appearance. The area is, however, central Berlin’s most up-and-coming residential quarter. The youthful vibrance has, like Kreuzberg, filled the streets of Friedrichshain creativity. Boutique shops, vintage second-hand clothing shops, and yummy eateries have blossomed in the shift.

For going a little loco, Friedrichshain might be one of the top places to stay in Berlin. Some of the city’s most famous bars & clubs call the neighbourhood home. Many are conveniently located within stumbling distance of some of the best hotels in Friedrichshain. (If that’s your kind of thing.)

Although not quite as central as Mitte or Kreuzberg, Friedrichshain is well connected to the rest of the city by public transportation. The Berlin Ostbahnhof and Warschauer Straße S-bahn stations are but a couple stops away from the centre of town.

Where to stay: The best hotels in Friedrichshain

The growing popularity of Friedrichshain has sparked an explosion of new hostels, guesthouses, and hotels. The best hotels in Friedrichshain are surprisingly sophisticated and stylish. Try one of these on for size:

Charlottenburg

✓ Best area to stay for shopping & culture

Firmly in the grips of West Berlin, Charlottenburg had a lot less catching up to do than the eastern districts upon Germany’s reunification. In fact, during the intra-war period Charlottenburg was Berlin’s most modern sector and most important cultural centre.

With the likes of Prenzlauer Berg, Kreuzberg, and Friedrichshain beckoning Berliners to swoop in, Charlottenburg isn’t as popular as it once was. It’s still, arguably, the city’s best place to shop. As the home of the upscale boutiques on Kurfürstendamm and Kaufhaus des Westens (KaDeWe), continental Europe’s biggest department store, Charlottenburg is Berlin’s premier district from unloading your Euros in style.

Besides shopping, visitors who find themselves in Charlottenburg will be overjoyed by the cultural activities remaining from its heyday. The district still holds sway among devotees of the performing arts. Several theatres celebrating musicals and operas draw crowds from all around the city. One of Berlin’s most beautiful tourist attractions, Schloss Charlottenburg, even lingers in the district’s northern fringes.

Charlottenburg is perhaps a little too far removed from Mitte to be considered comfortable walking distance. Getting to the centre of Berlin, however, is just a few U-bahn or S-bahn stops away. The close proximity to the city’s top tourist attractions and good selection of hotels makes Charlottenburg one of the best places to stay in Berlin for travellers looking for an elegant and quieter alternative to Mitte.

Where to stay: The best hotels in Charlottenburg

The wide selection of sophisticated accommodations in Charlottenburg might just suit you well when pinpointing where to stay in Berlin. The best hotels in Charlottenburg sit steps away from transit connections, excellent restaurants, and cool cafés. Find your perfect Berlin escape with one of these:

Prenzlauer Berg

✓ Best area to stay for foodies & families

Tucked into Berlin’s northeast, Prenzlauer Berg can’t be ignored when choosing where to stay in Berlin. More elegant than Kreuzberg or Friedrichshain with enough grit to keep it interesting, Prenzlauer Berg is now one of the most coveted neighbourhoods for Berliners.

For foodies, selecting Prenzlauer Berg as your Berlin base is almost obligatory. The diverse restaurant selection in Prenzlauer Berg is among the best in the city, especially around Kollwitzplatz, Oderberger Straße, and Kastanienalle.

Prenzlauer Berg is noticeably greener than other districts in central Berlin. The tree-lined boulevards and historic architecture are a boon to any walk around Prenzlauer Berg. Parks and playgrounds are also scattered throughout, making Prenzlauer Berg an excellent choice for families travelling together to Berlin.

Even with all the amenities, at its heart Prenzlauer Berg is a residential neighbourhood. An experience here presents Berlin’s more relaxing side. And just in case you were worried, Prenzlauer Berg is still mere minutes from Mitte via public transportation. The pleasant 20- to 30-minute walk to Mitte from Prenzlauer Berg isn’t so bad either!

Where to stay: The best hotels in Prenzlauer Berg

Compared to other districts, Prenzlauer Berg doesn’t have a massive selection of traditional accommodation. What’s offered here, however, is often high quality. Consider snatching up one of these best hotels in Prenzlauer Berg:

Summary: The best places to stay in Berlin

Still can’t choose where to stay in Berlin? Let’s see if we can find you the perfect place to stay in Berlin!

• Looking to get face-to-face with Berlin’s best attractions? Narrow your search to Mitte. Grimm’s Hotel am Potsdamer Platz is an excellent value in Mitte considering its prime location near Potsdamer Platz and superbly stylish rooms.
• Want to see what makes Berlin tick? Dig into hip Kreuzberg or the even edgier Friedrichshain. The Motel One Berlin Mitte in Kreuzberg and spunky Michelberger Hotel in Friedrichshain are good places to start looking.
• Stomach growling for Berlin’s best food? It’s hard to find a more palate-satisfying neighbourhood than Prenzlauer Berg. The Old Town Hotel is close to the tasty restaurants huddled around Kollwitzplatz and along Kastanienallee.