10 of the best budget places to stay in Berlin

On popular request I’ve finally managed to pull together a list of what I consider to be the 10 best budget places to stay in Berlin. Love to hear your feedback and if you have any recommendations of your favourite cheap hostels and hotels in Berlin. Also if you are planning a trip to Berlin, do have a look at my recently updated guide to the best free things to do in Berlin, my  self guided free Walking Tour to Berlin Wedding, and a self Guided Free Walking Tour of Berlin Mitte . Before you scroll down to checkout my favourite hostels in Berlin, here is a quick Q&A that might help you plan your trip to Berlin better.

What is the best neighbourhood to stay in Berlin?

Tough question to answer! I personally love staying in either Berlin Mitte which is pretty central and gives you easy access to my other favourite parts of the city like Kreuzberg, Neukolln or the lesser popular but upcoming neighbourhood of Wedding. If that sounds good then checkout my review of

, Mitte or ( that would be my top 3) PS: I now would add Student Hotel onto the list!

What are the best & cheapest hostels in Berlin?

In terms of price and location, my top picks would be the Aletto Hotel and Hostel in Kudamm ( West Berlin- very near Tiergarten, couple of cool photography galleries plus few steps from the U-Bahn. Clean and comfortable hostel. Nice staff. Bed in a 10 bed dorm starts at €18) and Comebackpackers ( If you’re looking to stay in the hip alternative Kreuzberg-this is a good choice. Bed in a 15 bed dorm starts at €15 a night)

 

10 best budget places to stay in Berlin

 

1. Circus Hostel

Circus Hostel probably is one of my favourite hostels in Berlin and the world. My love for this hostel is summed by their simple but important philosophy ‘We welcome travellers to our city in the way we would like to be welcomed when we travel ourselves.’

A real home away from home with a superb location in Rosenthaler Platz,

is the place to stay when you visit Berlin. It has a nice mix of travellers- backpackers, students and also couples and mature travellers. The hostel has a funky vibe and really nice dorms plus private ensuite rooms.You can even rent a penthouse apartment which comes with a full kitchen and stunning panoramic views of Mitte and TV Tower in the distance.

Not to be missed: A drink at the hostel’s Goldman Bar which has a dedicated shrine to the ‘Hoff’ who is a cult hero in these parts.

in their 8/10 bed rooms start from €19 while a  single room starts from €56 and double/Twin from €75

 

Perfect for: Solo Travellers, Couples and Families

 

 

2. Circus Hotel

Following the success of the Circus Hostel, the owners decided to take the unusual step of opening their own hotel opposite side of the Rosenthaler Platz junction. The rationale behind the idea was to create an urban retreat that offered a mix of the social, easygoing vibe of their hostel and combine that with rooms which have their own character, bright and cheerful colours but quite minimalistic. The result? – A refreshing departure from the dull, staid rooms of chain hotels. The rooms come with flat screen TV’s and are ensuite. Single I stayed in had a glass encase showers with superb rainfall shower.  You have the option of breakfast in bed or you can head down to the generous breakfast buffet ( served till 1pm! ) at the onsite Fabisch restaurant which is a destination in its own right. The large open space diner has a nice chilled vibe with leather sofas where you can sip on one of their excellent cocktails or selection of draft pints.

The hotel carries the same philosophy as it’s sister -they aim to welcome travellers to their city in the way their staff would like to be welcomed when they travel. Which means you can expect an exciting list of cool amenities to make the most of your time in Berlin. From special tours, yoga classes, history talks ( Recent topics include A childhood in the Soviet Union, 1946-52 & Life in Nazi Germany ) bike and segway rental, baby radios, free Wi-Fi and a garden courtyard to pause and reflect on your Berlin experiences.

For the independent traveller, the hotel has also created 4 DIY walking tours that start and end at the hotel- pick up the in-house “C Magazine” , complete with city guide and staff-tips for Berlin

Essentials

Singles start at €75 euros a night; double economy,  €85 euros; suites, €110 euros; 2 room apartments, €120 euros and 3 room apartments €170. The Circus Hotel, 1 Rosenthaler Strasse; (49-30)2000-3939;

Book it here.

Perfect for: Couples, Business Travellers & Couples

 

3. The Student Hotel Berlin

A student accommodation, hotel and co-living hybrid, Student Hotel is one of the few hospitality concepts that has defied convention over the years and revolutionised the budget accommodation sector with their wonderful mix of brilliant design, great hospitality and amazing facilities at a very reasonable price- its a cool design hotel with the DNA of a a luxury hostel. I’ve been a huge fan of their concept since they launched several years back in Amsterdam and have been following their fortunes with great interest and excitement. They recently launched in Berlin and I popped in for a few days as their guest to checkout the latest incarnation.

Lets start with the location: just next door to Jannowitzbrucke U-Bahn and S-Bahn station, its very central and well connected for tourists looking to reach all parts of the city. The immediate neighbourhood is not the most cheerful part of town but if you here to go clubbing, stalwarts of the nightlife scene like Tresor, Kitkat Club and Golden Gate are within a 5 minute radius of the hotel. Alexanderplatz with its overpriced tacky, touristy bars are on your doorstep so I would give that area a wide berth and head to more local neighbourhoods like Neukolln, Wedding or Kreuzberg for a more authentic slice of local life. The rooms, as is standard with TSH hotels are fantastic-an amazing mattress so you have the best nights sleep, stylish bedside lamps and plugs, storage space for luggage plus ensuite showers with powerful rain showers-love it. Best feature in the rooms is the Nespresso machine which offers you the perfect way to start your day. The other standout feature of TSH Berlin are the facilities- they have a free small, well equipped gym which is a great luxury to have when you spend a lot of time on the road and need to keep in shape. Plus if you’re working on the road and a digital nomad you have the convenience of working from their quiet co-working spaces on site- this saves you the hassle of trying to find an expensive co-working space for the day.

TSH Berlin also has an onsite restaurant called the Commons where they have a diverse menu which reflect the multicultural nature of the city- you can enjoy everything from a pretty decent Tom Kha Gai ( €8) to Gourmet Burgers ( start from €14) to homebaked pizzas ( start from €9) I have to say I found the food quality to be ok and prices expensive for Berlin. I also found their beers ( starting from €5 for a Heineken) to be also expensive for Berlin. Given the lack of affordable bars in the area, this was a bit of a bummer for me. They do run a happy hour from 5-7pm but just for cocktails which were ok in my opinion. It would be great if they could include beer in the happy hour giveaway. Breakfast for €15 is also above the average in terms of prices but a really good mix of hot and cold food options- everything from freshly pressed blood orange juice, scrambled eggs/bacon/sausages, choice of bread, yoghurt station, fresh fruit, Dutch cheese and cold cuts.

Hot tip: As part of their amazing introductory offer of €99 for 2 people, breakfast is free which I think is the bargain of the century. On top of that they are offering a free welcome drink and free bike hire. So if you’re planing a trip to Berlin, until March 2020, this is one of the best deals in town! Note, this offer requires a minimum stay of 3 nights.

More details of that great offer can be found here.

Essentials

Alexanderstraße 40, 10179 Berlin, Germany

Hotel rooms start from €69 per room, per night.

4. Wallyard Berlin

Wallyard Berlin is a cool and family run hostel located in the Moabit district. It’s built inside the secluded courtyard of a converted 1970s style apartment block only a few minutes pleasant walk from the River Spree. The hostel has the chic industrial design that Berlin does so well. The surrounding neighbourhood has a lot of good local restaurants and places to grab a drink and it isn’t far from the Government District, Kreuzberg and East Side Gallery. With 21 rooms ranging from doubles to 6-person dorm rooms you have a variety of rooms to choose from, some with en-suite facilities. The rooms here maintain a simple cool and industrial vibe. They’re simple and clean and will make you consider getting concrete, tile and paint only in the next place you live. Beds are comfortable and bunkbeds are metal, so they don’t make creaky noises like wooden bunkbeds do. Bathrooms have new sinks, toilets and showers. Everything is very comfortable.

Free Wi-Fi is everywhere, you can store luggage, book a tour at the travel desk, 24-hour reception, rent a bicycle to explore and do some laundry. Large lockers are in the dorm rooms, outlets and lights by the beds where you need them.

The style and simplicity make for a great vibe. The lobby and coffee shop are well designed. Besides the beautiful interior design this hostel has a homely touch.

Top tip

Ask the staff about their favorite places to eat and drink. Don’t ask where ‘you’ should go, ask them where ‘they’ go. Berlin has tourist spots and local spots. You’ll want to know about the latter.

Fact box

Lübecker Straße 46, Berlin, Germany

Dorms start around €18 and privates around €65.

 

 

5. Generator Berlin Mitte

, the new flagship property of the Generator is situated in the heart of Mitte and serves as the perfect base for exploring Berlin. Oranienburger Strasse S-Bahn Train Station and Oranienburger Tor U-Bahn Metro are within 500 metres. Berlin’s Alexanderplatz Square, historic Hackesche Höfe courtyards and Brandenburg Gate are all within 2 km of the hostel while the Museum Island is only 500 metres away.

The devil lies in the design here. You can find cool quirky design features all across

like Bella Leonard’s wire embroidered stainless steel ‘G’ sculpture in the historic courtyard, the exposed wooden panels in the lobby punctured by a horizontal line of wooden pegs or the cool sculptural string installation in the cafe bar area by French artist Sebastian Preschoux. You can relax in their atmospheric bar, lined with sleek black walls and raw copper panels, playfully lit with recycled fire extinguisher tubes. In the spacious corridors, famed Berlin street artist Thierry Noir has created three-metre high ‘heads with big lips’ faces which are reminiscent of his poetic murals on the Berlin Eastside Gallery. 

The hostel has its own private nightclub that doubles up as a  gallery space which displays works from local street artists. 

As is standard with all Generator hostels,  the Berlin Mitte branch in addition to ensuite dorms offers brightly decorated private rooms with ensuite bathrooms. On-site laundry facilities can be used for a fee. Additional conveniences here include a luggage storage space and safety deposit boxes. Highly recommend. 

Essentials

in a dorm starts at just €17.50, premium rooms from €55 while you can book a private-single or double from €30

Perfect for: Solo Travellers, Couples.

 

6. Meininger Hostel Berlin Mitte Humboldthaus

Situated in the former home of natural scientist and astronomer Alexander von Humboldt,

 is perfect for those looking for a quiet and relaxed base to soak in the sights of the city. Just like the hostel I love the location of this hostel – it is right beside the Oranienburger Straße S-Bahn Train Station and all the major sights are within walking distance. The hostel offers a choice of dorms and ensuite rooms which feature a flat-screen TV and private bathroom.

 

 

At an additional cost of €5.90 they offer an excellent buffet breakfast plus there is a nice self catering kitchen space if you wish to cook your own meals. I love the story and heritage of this building.I have to admit I had no clue about Humboldt but managed to discover a lot about him through comic strips about him, printed on the wallpaper of the public areas of the hotel. The comic strips , drawn by Cuban artists carry references to his numerous expeditions.  

 

 

 

I would recommend the Meininger Hostel , Berlin Mitte to anyone looking for a nice and comfortable base. If you value a comfortable bed , helpful staff with plenty of good tips plus a good location then this hostel is ideal for you.

Book

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Dorms start from €12, Double Rooms from the €50 mark.

Perfect for Couples, Families.

 

7. Grand Hostel, Berlin

Situated in the trendy Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg district in a former Bishop’s Palace dating back to 1874,

 is a hostel that combines a bit of old world Berlin charm , great hospitality plus has a stunning library bar. The location is excellent, just a 3 minute walk to the Möckernbrücke station from where you can access the U1 and U7 lines. The shared dorms in is in an excellent location just off Warschauer Strasse near the S-Bahn station so you’re well connected to the Hauptbahnhof and the heart of Berlin. The east side gallery-one of the remaining stretches of the Berlin Wall is a few hundred yards away, there’s a clutch of cool bars in the area and across the bridge you have the hip Watergate club. The hostel has an impressive range of facilities that includes the Opera themed restaurant and bar plus it’s very own swimming pool and sauna. The rooms itself are very spacious , clean and comfortable. If you are looking for bit more privacy and comfort, choose the double room within the ‘hotel’ wing of the hostel which come with ensuite bathrooms that have fantastic power showers plus also add-ons like a hairdryer.

Book at

From €10 a night

Perfect for: Party people, Solo Travellers, Couples, groups.

9. Wombats City Hostel Berlin   [ CLOSED ]

Another excellent place to stay in Berlin Mitte is Wombats Berlin. The hostel has a great location just beside Rosa Luxemberg Platz U-Bahn station-you’re right in the heart of Mitte. The spacious dorms and private rooms have been recently refurbished and offer a high level of comfort and ensuite facilities. Other star features include their funky self service laundromats plus their onsite Tinman Coffee Shop where you can enjoy great coffee and snacks throughout the day. They offer a great value breakfast buffet and the Wombar bar offers some of the cheapest beers in town. Plus you have that amazing rooftop terrace which offers one of the best views of the city.

Book at from just €12 a night

 

Disclaimer: While the stay at these hostels and hotel were complimentary the views represented here are completely my own. Please note that all the links are affiliate links via Hostelworld- booking via these links enables me to cover the costs of running this blog. Thanks for your understanding and support