Berlin It’s a cool city. The German capital is multicultural and artistic, and is home to artists and creatives from all over the world. A hub for freelancers, digital nomads, and entrepreneurs, the city also has great museums, a buzzing nightlife, and a great food scene. You can spend weeks (months!) in this city and not get bored.
Although I didn’t like Berlin the first time I visited, after a few visits I started to like it and now I love it. (I used to organize trips to Berlin!)
As the country's biggest tourist destination, Berlin has a ton of hotels to choose from. And they really do have it all. I've stayed in some great hotels, and I've also stayed in some that I definitely wouldn't recommend. Also, since the city is so spread out, you really want to choose a place that doesn't require you to take the subway a lot.
Based on my extensive visit to Berlin, here are what I consider to be the best hotels in Berlin:
1. Hotel Oderberg
Housed in a former 19th-century public swimming pool building, Hotel Oderberger is a retro-chic hotel that could be described as “accidentally Wes Anderson-esque” (with its whimsical, symmetrical, retro design). This four-star hotel has plenty of facilities, including a cocktail bar and a delicious breakfast buffet. Served in a former coal-fired power station, breakfast features healthy options such as a waffle bar, homemade pastries and smoothies.
The gorgeous historic pool with its vaulted stone ceiling still remains here, and you can even rent it out for a private after-get off work dip. There’s also a sauna here, perfect for a cold or rainy day in Berlin.
The spacious rooms are cozy and welcoming, highlighted by hardwood floors, exposed brick walls, subway tile details and restored original windows that let in lots of natural light. Room amenities include a flat-screen TV, mini fridge and electric kettle for coffee and tea (some rooms even have a full kitchenette). The bathrooms are generous in size and offer a walk-in rain shower, heated towel rail and free toiletries. I loved that the bathroom door was re-used from the building's bathroom days. This is a unique historic venue in a picturesque neighborhood surrounded by some of Berlin's best restaurants and bars.
2. John Hotel
This 3-star boutique hotel is located beside Kreuzberg's beautiful tree-lined canal and offers daily yoga, a cozy lobby with coworking area and a sunny breakfast room where you can enjoy a daily buffet with fresh fruit and vegetables, fair trade coffee, cold cuts, cereals and plenty of fresh bread. If the weather is nice, you can even dine outside in the inner courtyard.
I loved that the rooms were large, with high ceilings, large windows, and wooden floors. All rooms had very large flat-screen TVs and comfortable beds, and I especially liked that the bathrooms had heated floors and large walk-in showers. The larger rooms came with desks, but I appreciated the single rooms, which are perfect for solo travelers on a budget.
I also love that this hotel also prioritizes sustainability. They generate nearly all of their own electricity, have extensive water and energy conservation measures, and work with a local initiative to preserve “imperfect” organic produce that can't be sold in grocery stores but is still edible. This is a warm, family-run hotel that offers great value for money.
3. Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin
Opened in 1907, this five-star hotel is one of Berlin's most luxurious. Located opposite the Brandenburg Gate, it has all the trappings of an ultra-luxurious old-world hotel and has hosted many celebrities over the years, including Franklin Roosevelt, Albert Einstein, Charlie Chaplin and Michael Jackson (who once lifted his infant son Blanket out of a window here). The hotel has several restaurants, one of which has a Michelin star, and another that serves a lavish breakfast buffet with caviar, champagne, fresh in-house pastries and more! The hotel also has a pool and spa, though both were closed for renovations at the time of writing.
The luxurious rooms and suites are spacious and comfortable, although I personally think the classic fabric-decorated walls and mahogany shelving are a bit dated. The rooms come with all the amenities you need, including tea/coffee making facilities, a desk, a safe and a flat-screen TV with Chromecast. The marble bathrooms are also large, with a separate bathtub and walk-in shower, as well as free toiletries. Overall, this is the perfect choice for travelers who want a luxurious stay close to many major attractions.
4. Capri by Fraser
This 4-star aparthotel on Museum Island in Mitte offers bright and airy self-catering apartments perfect for longer stays. Each apartment comes with a kitchenette, and the hotel also has a 24/7 gym, a launderette and a restaurant, which also serves a buffet breakfast each morning. Also, as a history buff, I loved that the building sits on top of an archaeological site, which can be seen through the glass in the lobby floor!
All studios have a fun and stylish design with bright colours. The kitchenette has a stove, microwave, sink, fridge and electric kettle (tea and coffee provided). As someone who works on the road a lot, I appreciated the large desk and the smart TV was handy for when you want to relax. The bathroom was very spacious and stylishly designed with a walk-in shower with decent water pressure (always important in my book). I think this would be ideal for long term stayers who want to be close to a museum.
5. Vienna House Easy
This 3-star hotel is located in the heart of trendy Prenzlauer Berg, just steps away from trams and underground trains that take you wherever you want to go. If you're working on the go, the hotel has a coworking space and a 24-hour snack bar in the lobby for those late-night snack cravings. In the morning, the hotel serves a continental breakfast with cereals, cold cuts, and plenty of baked goods, as well as fresh juices, coffee, and tea. If you're traveling with a pet, the Vienna House Hotel is also pet-friendly.
The spacious rooms are bright and fun, with large windows that let in lots of natural light. I loved the colorful walls with murals and other work by local artists. All rooms have desks, large HDTVs with Chromecast, and comfortable beds with outlets and lights on the headboards. The bathrooms are a bit small, but have walk-in showers with good water pressure. Overall, this is a good choice for budget-conscious travelers who want more than a no-frills two-star hotel.
6. 25 Hours in Bikinis in Berlin
25 Hours is right next to the city zoo, and the whole place is jungle-themed (it really feels like a fun urban oasis). You can look for animals in the rooftop sauna or at the rooftop Monkey Bar (which regularly hosts DJ nights and serves a delicious breakfast in the mornings). There's also a leafy hammock lounge to laze around in, and bike rentals are available. The staff are very friendly and helpful, and you're right next to the zoo on the S and U Bahn, so it's easy to get around the city from here.
There are two types of rooms here: City Rooms or Jungle Rooms. City Rooms overlook the city and have an industrial-chic design with exposed concrete ceilings. I prefer the Jungle Rooms because they have floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the zoo, hardwood floors, and wood-paneled walls (some Jungle Rooms even have hammocks). All rooms come with a free minibar and Bluetooth speakers, and the larger rooms even come with free bikes. The lush, forest-green tiled bathrooms are sleek and luxurious, with rainfall showerheads and free toiletries. This is one of the most unique hotels in the city.
7. Orania
This stylish 5-star hotel in avant-garde Kreuzberg is housed in a restored Art Nouveau building from 1913. I really liked how the whole place has retained the style of that era. As a jazz fan, I enjoyed the regular (and free!) live jazz concerts by Berlin artists in the cozy cocktail bar. They offer a great breakfast (you can choose between a buffet or à la carte) and a 24-hour gym.
This boutique hotel has just 41 cozy rooms and suites, all elegantly decorated with hardwood floors, warm cream walls, and red fabric headboards emblazoned with the hotel's signature elephant logo. The sustainably made beds are incredibly comfortable, and all soundproofed rooms come with a desk, flat-screen TV, minibar, Nespresso machine, complimentary bottled water, and plush bathrobes and slippers. Bathrooms feature rain showers, heated towel rails, and organic, local toiletries (suites also have bathtubs). I really loved this place. It's a great choice for travelers who want a little luxury in one of my favorite towns.
Berlin Germany is a sprawling metropolis with a plethora of hotels to choose from. Whether you want an affordable option or a luxurious stay, you’ll have a great trip to Germany’s capital by choosing one of the hotels listed above!
Booking a trip to Berlin: logistical tips and tricks
Book a flight
use Skyscanner Find cheap flights. They are my favorite search engine because they search sites and airlines worldwide so you always know no details are missed!
Book your stay
You can book a hostel via the following methods Hostel World Because they have the largest inventory and the best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hotel, use Booking.com Because they consistently bring the cheapest prices for guest houses and budget hotels.
If you are looking for more places to stay, Here is a list of my favorite hostels in Berlin.
Don't forget travel insurance
Travel insurance will cover you for illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It provides you with comprehensive protection if anything goes wrong. I always travel without it because I have used it many times in the past. My favorite companies that provide the best service and value are:
Looking for the best money saving company?
View My Resources Page Find the best companies to use when traveling. I have listed all the companies I use to save money when traveling. They will also save you money when you travel.
Want more information about Berlin?
Please be sure to visit our A detailed destination guide to Berlin Get more planning tips!
