Where to Stay in Berlin in 2023 | Best Areas & Hotels

It’s not easy to talk about the capital of Germany, and it’s definitely very hard to give an answer to the question: where to stay in Berlin?

That being said, we have to at least try to tell the story of this magnificent and tormented city, enumerate and explain its most famous monuments, and point out some of its best restaurants and accommodations.

Where to Stay in Berlin

Berlin has been the capital of an area or a country for more than six centuries and of six different territories: from the Margraviate of Brandenburg to the modern German republic.

It’s been the capital of an Empire, a totalitarian regime, a socialist country, and a modern democracy. There aren’t many cities in the world that can tell such a topsy-turvy story.

Its turbulent history is reflected both in the city and the people, being the most exciting and the most somber of cities at the same time. It’s home to some of the best nightclubs and cafes, as well as some of the most depressing museums.

Berlin, in other words, is a walking contradiction and one of the most beautiful and interesting places in the world.

Berlin has a lot of things to offer, and a short guide such as ours can’t do justice to everything that’s worth seeing and visiting. But two of them stand out: the nightclubs and the museums.

Berlin is the young people’s capital and is full of them (either as students or tourists) every part of the year. Some of the world’s best nightclubs are located here, including the (in)famous Berghain, but many other clubs, cafes, and pubs where you can have a blast.

The same holds for the museums and historical buildings.

From the Brandenburg Gate and Museum Island, the Reichstag building, and the Potsdamer Platz to the unbearably sad Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe and the important Berlin wall — history and culture are imprinted in every stone and brick of the city.

All in all, Berlin offers an unforgettable experience for everybody, no matter their age, nationality, or preferences. Simply put, it’s one of the most exciting and most visited cities in the world for a reason.

The 5 Best Parts of Berlin

Since Berlin is huge, a selection of five basic areas will not do the trick, but we’ll try to cover the must-visits anyway so that you experience the true beauty and glory of the capital of Germany.

• Mitte: The absolute center of the city is the perfect choice for first-time visitors and the place where you’ll find Berlin’s most famous monuments and buildings.
• Kreuzberg: Less than a mile away from Mitte, full of clubs and excitement, it is the perfect place for young people and those who are looking for vibrant nightlife.  
• Charlottenburg: To the west of Mitte, Charlottenburg is an elegant and upscale neighborhood, full of beautiful buildings, fancy shops, and historical buildings.
• Friedrichshain: The cheapest area in our guide, perfect for younger people and budget travelers and the home of the famous Berghain club.
• Prenzlauer Berg: A versatile neighborhood located to the northeast of Mitte and a famous residential location for painters, musicians, actors, and poets.

The Best Areas & Hotels in Berlin

Berlin is a major European hub and the 11th most-visited city in Europe. It’s crowded with tourists, students, and young people in almost every part of the year. It’s no surprise then that almost every area offers a number of accommodations of all types and sizes.

Speaking plainly, you can find a budget or a cheaper mid-range option in every area on our list — from the centrally positioned Mitte to the western Charlotestburg and the northeastern Prenzlauer Berg.

But the devil’s in the details, and there are some things you have to remember.

Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg are the cheapest and favored by younger tourists, but Mitte and Charlottenburg are where you’ll find the fanciest five-star and four-star hotels. Prenzlauer Berg is somewhere in between, providing a pretty balanced offer.

1. Mitte

Berlin’s central area Mitte simply has a plethora of attractions that you just have to visit. There’s so much to see!

Starting from the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag building to the huge and crowded public squares and the innumerable museums — Mitte is the definite urban, cultural, and historic center of Berlin.

With that in mind, consider this segment as a sketch and not as a fully complete picture, which is impossible to paint.

The Brandenburg Gate, The Holocaust Memorial (Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe), and the Memorial of the Berlin Wall are probably the three most visited attractions in Berlin.

You simply can’t miss them, mostly because of their sheer size and magnitude.

Next come the public squares: Alexanderplatz, which is an experiment in socialist aesthetics, and looks a bit futuristic, and Potsdamer Platz, which is the symbol of Berlin’s renovation after World War Two.

An attraction of a similar type is the legendary Unter den Linden, which is definitely the most famous street in Berlin.

If you’re a fan of museums, you should definitely start with Museum Island and its cluster of museums: the Neues Museum, the Altes Museum, the Pergamon Museum, the Alte Nationalgalerie, and the Bode-Museum.

All of them are worth visiting, but they’re just the beginning. Berlin is similar to Paris, London, or Madrid, as it is packed with museums of all types and sizes, and you’ll need at least a couple of weeks if you want to visit them all.

Mitte is very suitable for tourists, and that’s why it’s probably your best choice if you’ve arrived in Berlin for the first time.

There are all kinds of accommodation options here — from very cheap two-star hotels and hostels to some of the most luxurious, old, and expensive five-star hotels.

Things to Do

• The architecture in Berlin is simply amazing, and the city is one of the best strolling destinations in Europe. After you’ve visited the architectural marvels of the Reichstag, the Berlin Wall, the Brandenburg Gate, and The Holocaust Memorial, make sure you also see the Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral), the Gendarmenmarkt, and the Berliner Fernsehturm.
• There are few cities that have more to offer than Berlin in terms of museums and not many neighborhoods more than Mitte. Starting from the Museum Island and the already mentioned museums, we also recommend the interactive DDR Museum, the exciting German Spy Museum Berlin, the touching Palace of Tears, and the profound Museum für Naturkunde Berlin.
• You can’t say you’ve been to Berlin unless you’ve strolled along the Unter den Linden. Alexanderplatz has even a novel named after it (called Berlin Alexanderplatz by Alfred Döblin), and Potsdamer Platz is a symbol of Germany’s rebirth after the catastrophe of the Second World War.
• No real central neighborhood is complete without a giant shopping center, and Berlin’s Mitte has two of them: the Mall of Berlin located near Potsdamer Platz and Die Hackeschen Höfe, which is as restored East Berlin building, and a place full of shops, restaurants and nightclubs.

Where to Eat

• Café Couscous – Vege is an International cafe and restaurant that mainly focuses on serving healthy, vegan, and vegetarian dishes. It was the 2022 Travelers’ Choice, and we wholeheartedly recommend the wraps and the burritos.
• Hackethals is a German pub that serves traditional German food and drinks. Selected as the 2022 Travelers’ Choice and owned by a father and a son, it’s a great place if you want to try some traditional food in a comfortable and intimate area.
• Vedang – plant burger (Alexa) is another 2022 Travelers’ Choice selection, but this time all about plant-based vegan burgers. If you are looking to grab a fast bite and stay healthy in the process, we recommend that you visit this place.  

Mitte Budget Hotels

• Amstel House Hostel is a very cheap two-star hostel located in the center of Berlin. It doesn’t offer that much, but it provides free Wi-Fi throughout the premises, has a terrace and a bar, and offers a nice breakfast every morning.
• a&o Berlin Mitte is another centrally located, very cheap two-star hostel. It has private parking, offers free Wi-Fi, has a terrace and a bar on the premises, as well as a 24-hour front desk.  

Mitte Mid-Range Hotels

• MEININGER Hotel Berlin Hauptbahnhof is a three-star hotel with a decent price that can be comfortably classified (according to the price but not the quality) as a budget option. The rooms are rather spacious. There’s also free Wi-Fi and a bar on the premises.
• Motel One Berlin-Alexanderplatz is a more upscale three-star hotel with a higher price that still belongs to the mid-range category. Neatly located in the very center of Berlin, it offers free Wi-Fi, a tasty breakfast, daily housekeeping, and a cool bar.

Mitte Luxury Hotels

• The Ritz-Carlton, Berlin is as good and as luxurious as it gets. A five-star mega upscale hotel it, offers an indoor swimming pool, an unforgettable decorated interior and exterior, large rooms, a restaurant, and a bar on the premises.
• Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is a legendary five-star hotel located just next to the Brandenburg gate. It has basically everything, from an indoor pool and a spa and wellness center to a restaurant and bar, as well as a superbly prepared breakfast.

See All Hotels in Berlin

2. Kreuzberg

Less than a mile from Mitte but still in the general downtown area of Berlin lies the hip and alternative district called Kreuzberg.

You’ll meet and see mostly young people here since Kreuzberg is their prime residential neighborhood. In comparison to the sublime beauty of Mitte and its statues, Kreuzberg is more avant-garde and weird and is also one of the top nightlife locations in Berlin.

If you’re visiting Berlin because it is one of the party capitals of Europe, then staying in Kreuzberg would be a good idea.

There are an uncountable number of cafes, clubs, pubs, and bars where you can have a crazy night out. Here are some of the best, listed in no particular order:

• Der Boiler
• Schwarze Traube
• Watergate
• Madame Claude Bar
• SO36

Bars and clubs are an obvious choice during the night, but what can you do during the day? First, you can visit the most famous crossing point in history, Checkpoint Charlie (and the museum), which once provided transit between East and West Berlin.

Then there’s the Friedrichstraße, one of Berlin’s most beautiful and frequented strolling and commercial streets. Since Kreuzberg is still the general center of the city, it offers a lot of museums, just like Mitte.

However, they’re mostly about Germany’s Nazi past:

• Topography of Terror: on the location of the SS’s headquarters (and selected as the 2022 Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best).
• Berlin Story Bunker: is all about Nazism and how Hitler came to power.
• Jewish Museum Berlin: one of the leading museums about Jewish history and culture in the world.

Kreuzberg is great for tourists and young people, mostly because of its vibe and rich nightlife but also because it offers a lot of affordable accommodations.

It’s not a budget area per se — it has a lot of luxurious and mid-range hotels too — but it’s quite suitable for younger people who want to spend their money on partying and not on hotels.

Things to Do

• Kreuzberg is mostly famous for its many nightclubs and bars and — together with Friedrichshain — as the major party hub in Berlin. We already listed the best bars and clubs in the area, but let’s add some more: Limonadier, Bei Schlawinchen, Ritter Butzke, Clash, and Biererei Bar & Vintage Cellar.
• The Berlin wall and its fall in 1989 is one of the things that every person in the world should know about and, if they get a chance to, visit. But Kreuzberg offers something just as interesting: Checkpoint Charlie, the most famous crossing place on the border, and the museum dedicated to that place.
• Berlin is full of remainders of Germany’s plunge into Nazism before the mid-point of the 20th century, and Kreuzberg has two very important museums that serve as a witness to that time: the Topography of Terror and the Berlin Story Bunker are directly connected to the Nazi history and narrate Germany’s downfall and the rise of Hitler.
• There are other museums as well, not connected in any way to Nazism:
  • Jewish Museum Berlin tells the story of Jewish culture and history;
  • Berlinische Galerie is all about art from 1870s to the present day;
  • Gropius Bau is an exhibition venue built by the legendary Hugo and Walter Gropius, part of the famous Bauhaus movement;
  • The very interesting German Museum of Technology.

Where to Eat

• Pinch is a classical coffee place that’s been selected as the 2022 Travelers’ Choice. It’s mostly suitable for having either lunch or breakfast. It offers great healthy homemade food, tasty coffee, and many vegan and vegetarian options.
• Ristorante Peperoncino is a traditional Italian and Mediterranean restaurant located in the central area of Berlin, selected as the 2022 Travelers’ Choice. People mostly visit it for its pizza, pasta, and great hospitality but also for the extensive wine list.
• Fes – Turkish BBQ is a Turkish and Mediterranean barbeque restaurant and yet another 2022 Travelers’ Choice selection. It’s the perfect choice if you want to get stuffed (even the smaller portions are quite big) and watch your food being prepared for you.

Kreuzberg Budget Hotels

• City Hotel Gotland is a decent two-star hotel located in an interesting 19th-century building. It has comfortable rooms equipped with private bathrooms, flat-screen TVs, and desks. It also offers an airport shuttle, free Wi-Fi, free parking, and breakfast.
• ibis Berlin Ostbahnhof is another cheap two-star hotel, located around a mile away from Alexanderplatz. The hotel offers free Wi-Fi, private parking, family rooms, and a bar on the premises. It also has facilities for disabled people and prepares a nice breakfast.

Kreuzberg Mid-Range Hotels

• Schulz Hotel Berlin Wall at the East Side Gallery is a new three-star hotel that opened quite recently, in 2018. Located near the East Side Gallery, it offers a bar and a terrace where you can sip a drink after a hard day of walking. It also has facilities for disabled people.
• Hampton By Hilton Berlin City East Side Gallery is another decent three-star hotel, but this time, part of the famous Hilton Chain of hotels. Famous for its superb breakfast, it also offers free Wi-Fi and air-conditioning and a bar on the premises of the hotel.

Kreuzberg Luxury Hotels

• Orania.Berlin is both a luxurious five-star hotel and a historical artifact. Staying strong in the business for around 110 years, it has a great restaurant that offers an international and diverse kitchen, makes one hell of a breakfast, and has a nice fitness center on the premises.
• Precise Tale Berlin Potsdamer Platz is a four-star hotel located in one of the most favorite and multicultural parts of Berlin, and it’s a particularly suitable choice for couples. It offers a nice terrace, a garden, and a restaurant that serves tasty Mediterranean food with lots of vegan options.

See All Hotels in Berlin

3. Charlottenburg

Located to the west of the city center, Charlottenburg was once an independent city before being integrated into Berlin in the 1920s. Unlike the ultra-modern and hip Kreuzberg, this part of Berlin offers a slightly different and more classical picture.

Charlottenburg is a very safe, family-friendly, and very convenient area for spending your hard earned money since it is full of shops and boutiques, especially around the famous Kurfürstendamm shopping street.

Definitely the biggest attraction in this area, as well as one of the most beautiful buildings in Berlin, is the Schloss Charlottenburg (or the Charlottenburg Palace).

Built at the end of the 17th century and greatly enlarged and beautified in the 18th century, it’s a lasting monument to the intricate designs and flamboyance of the Baroque and Rococo movements in art and architecture.

The Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church is the second most visited tourist attraction in this part of Berlin. Built at the end of the 19th century, it was badly damaged during World War II.

Today it serves both as a protestant church and as a lasting memorial to the horrors of war. If Berlin had its own Champ-Elysees, then Kurfürstendamm would be its name. We are talking about the most beautiful street in the city and the place where you can do most of your shopping.

Connecting important landmarks and buildings (like the Kaiser Church, the famous Café Kranzler, the Breitscheidplatz, etc.) and lined with trees, it’s really a pleasure to stroll its concrete.

There are many more things to see in Charlottenburg, like the Berlin ZOO and the numerous museums, as well as artistic institutions like opera houses and theaters — all of them are worth your time.

Charlottenburg has its special rich charm, and what’s more interesting is that the accommodations aren’t that expensive. You can find many cheap two-star hotels and numerous three-star options around the area.

Things to Do

• We recommend that you spend your first day visiting the central attraction of Charlottenburg. We are talking, of course, about the Schloss Charlottenburg and its gardens and museums. Spend at least a day hanging about the palace — it’s worth it. After that, definitely go and see the sublime Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church.
• The second thing is visiting the most important shopping center and the most elegant street in Berlin — Kurfürstendamm. The tree-laden street is the place where you’ll find the most elite brands and expensive shops, like Versace, Louis Vuitton, Valentino, Chanel, Gucci, and Hermes.
• Definitely one of the most interesting things you can do while staying in Charlottenburg is the Berlin Zoological Garden. Opened in early 1844, it’s one of the world’s most beautiful and largest zoos in the world, with more than 1,380 species and over 20,000 animals. One more fact: it’s the most visited zoo in the world, with 3.3 million people visiting it annually on average.
• Charlottenburg has a comprehensive and quite long list of museums: the Kathe Kollwitz Museum, the Museum Berggruen, the C/O Berlin, Brohan Museum, Helmut Newton Foundation, The Story of Berlin, and a lot more. If you’re into art, either theater or music, make sure you go to some of the numerous theaters in the region.

Where to Eat

• Restaurant Buschbeck’s is a German, European, and central European restaurant that was selected as the 2022 Travelers’ Choice. Located in a quiet residential street, with a very friendly and homely atmosphere, it’s a great place to try some traditional German food prepared with a modern twist.
• Gasthaus Kater Alex is a German and international grill house that’s been selected as the 2022 Travelers’ Choice. We recommend this place if you want to have a strong large meal, with a lot of meat and potatoes, while drinking fine German beer.  
• La Caleta is a Mediterranean and Spanish seafood restaurant and yet another 2022 Travelers’ Choice selection. Aside from the various seafood options, like fish, clams, and shrimp, you can also try traditional Spanish dishes, like paella and tapas.

Charlottenburg Budget Hotels

• B&B Hotel Berlin-Tiergarten is a very cheap two-star hotel that serves a nice breakfast every morning, and it’s located less than a mile from the Berlin ZOO. It also boasts free Wi-Fi, private parking, and facilities for disabled people.
• Hotel-Pension Cortina is another very cheap two-star hotel located in close proximity to the Berlin Zoo. Especially suitable for couples, it offers free Wi-Fi, nicely furnished family rooms, and a restaurant on the premises that serves Mediterranean food.

Charlottenburg Mid-Range Hotels

• Leonardo Hotel Berlin is a decent but not very expensive three-star hotel located between the Kurfürstendamm shopping street and Berlin’s Exhibition Centre. It offers on-site parking, free Wi-Fi, and a nice bar on the premises.
• Landmark Eco Hotel is a three-star hotel located just five minutes away from the Kurfürstendamm shopping street. It has a nice restaurant and a terrace on the premises of the hotel, and regular housekeeping.

Charlottenburg Luxury Hotels

• Hotel Zoo Berlin is a very luxurious five-star hotel located in a historic building that’s been a place of enjoyment and relaxation for many famous people — from Grace Kelly to Sophia Loren. It offers room service, a restaurant, and a bar on the premises.
• Waldorf Astoria Berlin is definitely the most elite and luxurious hotel in this part of Berlin, which offers everything and anything. It has an outdoor pool, a spa and wellness center, a restaurant and a bar on its pet-friendly premises.

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4. Friedrichshain

Let’s now turn our attention from West Berlin to the other side, to the area called Friedrichshain, which was historically an important East Berlin neighborhood.

Today, it is one of the coolest and most diverse places in Berlin and a real magnet for hipsters and young people from all around the world. When you think about contemporary Berlin, the picture of Friedrichshain definitely pops up in your mind’s eye.

It is quite similar in its offers to Kreuzberg — which it neighbors — but with one significant difference: Friedrichshain is definitely the most budget-friendly place in our guide and one of the cheapest districts in Berlin.

Aside from that, it is an attractive nightlife hub and the place where you’ll find some of the most popular clubs in the city, starting with the cult Berghain, one of the most famous nightclubs in the world.

Friedrichshain is not like Mitte or Charlottesburg, and it isn’t full of majestic old buildings and famous museums. But its gritty and rough exterior has a particular beauty of its own, which really makes it one of a kind.

The East Side Gallery is the most representative in that sense: a mile-long part of the Berlin wall, painted with amazing street art all along the way.

Concerning other things that are worth the visit, the offers are quite diverse: there’s the first gaming and computer museums in the world, Computerspielemuseum; the multifunctional Mercedes-Benz Arena Berlin; the Sunday flea market at Boxhagener Platz; and the relaxing Volkspark Friedrichshain.

In the spirit of Friedrichshain: do as you please! Plainly speaking, there aren’t any cheap accommodations anywhere near the center like the ones found in Friedrichshain.

The list of two-star hotels and hostels is very long, but also the mid-range and the luxurious options are quite cheap. You can book a pretty nice four-star hotel for a significantly lower sum. But, if you’re looking for real luxury, you had better turn to some other district.

Things to Do

• Friedrichshain is as cool and as wild as it gets in terms of nightlife and nightclubs. Aside from one of the most popular clubs in the world, Bergheim, there are other great places too. Here’s a small list: Holzmarkt 25, Matrix Club Berlin, Laughing Spree Comedy, Minimal Bar, Crack Bellmer, etc.
• The best way to get to know Friedrichshain is to stroll its interesting East Berlin streets. The East Side Gallery is one of those locations you just have to visit, no matter the part of Berlin you are staying in. But the well-known Warschauer Strasse is another street that is very interesting to stroll through. Finally, you can also relax at the Volkspark Friedrichshain.
• If you’re interested in museums, there’s one particular place that is definitely worth your time that’s pretty unique, even for Berlin. The Computerspielemuseum is the first museum in the world dedicated to computers and gaming, where you can travel in time to no less than six decades of gaming history.
• If you’re interested in art, but not the ones presented in the museums in Mitte or Charlottesburg — the classical one, Friedrichshain offers some interesting places too. An avant-garde and hipster place, it offers a wide range of theaters, such as Berliner Kriminal Theater or the Radialsystem V, or some quite scandalous galleries, like Gallery Heike Arndt DK and The Lighthouse of Digital Art.

Where to Eat

• Trattoria Portofino is an Italian, Mediterranean, and European restaurant, mostly visited for its pizza, that’s been selected as the 2022 Travelers’ Choice. The restaurant boasts a friendly and relaxed atmosphere and a variety of dishes — from pizza and pasta to seafood great desserts.
• 1990 is an Asian and Vietnamese restaurant that offers a lot of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options. Selected as the 2022 Travelers’ Choice, it offers tasty, large portions at a very reasonable price. Just be prepared to wait: there’s usually a queue.
• Rembrandt-burger is a classical American burger place with an interesting mix of Dutch influences (hence Rembrandt). The place is famous for its interesting take on burgers, high-quality meat, and very fast and professional service.

Friedrichshain Budget Hotels

• a&o Berlin Friedrichshain is a very cheap two-star hostel that’s particularly suitable for young people who love making friends and parties. It offers free Wi-Fi and free parking but also has a bar on the premises and serves a tasty breakfast.
• Sunflower Hostel Berlin is another very cheap hostel suitable for younger people that offers either private or shared rooms, depending on your preferences. It has free Wi-Fi throughout the premises, on-site parking, a terrace, and a bar.

Friedrichshain Mid-Range Hotels

• Schulz Hotel Berlin Wall at the East Side Gallery is another new three-star hotel that’s particularly suitable for younger people. There’s an on-site bakery offering fresh bagels, a bar, garden, a terrace, and a designated area for smoking.
• Nu Wave Hotel Berlin is a three-star hotel that’s, again, very attractive to younger people because it is relatively cheap and located in close proximity to a lot of bars, nightclubs, and restaurants. It has a bar on the premises and offers a hell of a breakfast.  

Friedrichshain Luxury Hotels

• Moxy Berlin Ostbahnhof is a new and very stylish four-star hotel part of the famous and respectable Moxy Hotels chain. It offers free Wi-Fi, private parking, and a bar on the premises, but it also provides a nice city view, and it’s completely pet-friendly.  
• Holiday Inn Berlin City East Side, an IHG Hotel is another great four-star hotel, this time part of the well-known Best Western chain of hotels. It has a fitness center, a bar, and a restaurant on the premises. It’s also pet-friendly and well-equipped for receiving people with disabilities.

See All Hotels in Berlin

5. Prenzlauer Berg

We’ve covered all sides of Berlin except the north, and that’s precisely where you’ll find the area called Prenzlauer Berg. Technically part of the former “East Berlin,” it is usually considered as one of the coolest neighborhoods in the city.

Prenzlauer Berg is more gritty and down-to-earth than the fancy Charlottenburg but not as rough as either Friedrichshain or Kreuzberg.

Basically, it is the perfect option if you prefer something in between. Also, it is quite close to Mitte, which you can reach rather quickly by public transport or on foot in twenty to thirty minutes.

Historically speaking, Prenzlauer Berg was one of the foremost counterculture areas of Berlin, friendly and welcoming towards LGBTQI people and bohemians, being the kernel of the peaceful revolution that brought down the Berlin Wall in 1989.

Today, it experiences express gentrification, becoming an elite and upscale area in its own right. But Prenzlauer Berg is still loyal to its history and full of street art.

Its avant-garde atmosphere makes it a place of residence for many artists, such as Rammstein’s lead singer Till Lindemann, actor Daniel Brühl, and writer Wladimir Kaminer.

Like everywhere in Berlin, Prenzlauer Berg has a lot of museums: Museum in der Kulturbrauerei shows what everyday life in East Germany looked like; Zeiss Grossplanetarium is an interesting planetarium; and Kindermuseum MACHmit! is perfect for children.

There’s also Berlin’s oldest water tower, called Wasserturm Prenzlauer Berg, and the KulturBrauerei — a perfect example of how Berlin’s architecture looked in the 19th century.

Finally, Kollwitzplatz is a beautiful park and historic site where you can relax and take a stroll.

Prenzlauer Berg is very welcoming to tourists, mainly because of two things: it offers some of the best restaurants in the whole of Berlin and has a lot of great budget and mid-range accommodation options. All in all, a well-balanced neighborhood close to the heart of the city.

Things to Do

• We didn’t have time to mention one of the most interesting places in Prenzlauer Berg, the famous Mauerpark Flea Market. A popular Sunday destination, it’s an open-air market where you can find everything and anything, from jewelry to clothing, from souvenirs to vinyl records and furniture. Plainly speaking, it’s one of the best places for casual shopping in Berlin.
• If you want to spend a couple relaxing hours, we recommend the area called Kollwitzplatz, which also has a nice park. Named after Käthe Kollwitz, a famous artist and painter from the 19th and 20th century, this interesting place was the background of a famous scene from Mat Damon’s Jason Bourne (2016).
• Like almost every area in Berlin, Prenzlauer Berg offers some interesting museums that you can visit if you feel like you want to educate yourself. Museum in der Kulturbrauerei is a witness to the Eastern German and socialist history of this area; Zeiss Grossplanetarium is an interesting planetarium and a great choice for the lovers of astronomy; and MACHmit! is a fun and interactive kid’s museum.
• Prenzlauer Berg is a nicely preserved part of Berlin, and its architecture is quite unique and historic. Today, KulturBrauerei’s 19th-century building is not only a way to find out how Berlin looked in the last century but also an interesting and lively theater; Wasserturm Prenzlauer Berg is the oldest water tower in the whole city.

Where to Eat

• Skykitchen is an International one-star Michelin restaurant that’s been selected as the 2022 Travelers’ Choice. It is a place that you go to if you want to have a six- or eight-course fancy dinner or lunch and try some really interesting and tasty wines.
• Vedis is an Indian restaurant and a grill that also provides a lot of vegetarian and vegan options. The atmosphere is relaxed, the staff is very friendly and professional, and the prices are not that high. A great place for lovers of Indian food.
• Ushido-Japanese BBQ is a Japanese barbeque and steakhouse restaurant with a very informative menu for those customers who are not familiar with the specifics of Japanese meat preparation. If you want to try some meat prepared in a healthy and very sophisticated way, this is the right place for you.

Prenzlauer Berg Budget Hotels

• Generator Berlin Prenzlauer Berg is a very cheap one-star hostel that doesn’t offer much aside from its extremely cheap price and great location. It has free Wi-Fi and free parking, a nice garden and a pretty terrace.
• Pension Absolut Berlin is another very cheap-two star hotel but ranked on a significantly higher level and located in a beautiful 19th-century building. It offers free Wi-Fi and on-site parking, daily housekeeping, and shared kitchen facilities.

Prenzlauer Berg  Mid-Range Hotels

• Pension Freiraum Guesthouse Berlin is a decent and not very expensive three-star hotel that offers rooms with private bathrooms and flat-screen TVs. It also has a nice garden on the premises, free Wi-Fi, private parking, and daily housekeeping.
• Hotel Sedes is another nice three-star hotel that comes at a really low price. It offers free parking and free Wi-Fi, a terrace and a bar on the premises, a fabulous breakfast every morning, and facilities for disabled people.

Prenzlauer Berg  Luxury Hotels

• Hotel Oderberger is a great four-star hotel located in a very beautiful historical building. It offers — among other things —- an indoor pool, a terrace and a bar, very good breakfast is served every morning, and tea and coffee makers in every room.
• Holiday Inn Berlin City Center East Prenzlauer Berg, an IHG Hotel is another great four-star hotel, part of the famous Holiday Inn chain of hotels. It has private parking and free Wi-Fi, a fitness center on the premises, and free room service.

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So, Where Should You Stay in Berlin?

Reaching the end of our guide, we have to give some kind of a summary, a clear picture of everything that was said. It’s practically impossible to explain and narrate Berlin in a couple of sentences, but let’s have a go at it:

• Mitte is the absolute center of the city and the area where you’ll find Berlin’s most famous buildings, landmarks, and museums. It is the obvious choice for people who are visiting Berlin for the first time.
• Kreuzbberg is less than a mile away from Mitte but offers something completely different. An avant-garde area, and the hub of counterculture, it offers some of the most exciting nightclubs in the city.
• Charlottenburg, located to the west of Berlin’s center, is a fancy and upscale neighborhood full of historical buildings and fancy shops. Very safe and calm, it is the most family-friendly area on our list.
• Friedrichshain is an East Berlin neighborhood, also famous for its nightlife and where you’ll find the cult Berghain club. It is particularly suitable for travelers with a limited budget and who are looking for something cheap.
• Prenzlauer Berg is another east Berlin neighborhood located a couple of miles to the northeast of Mitte. It’s one of the coolest and most versatile of Berlin’s districts and a suitable choice for practically anybody.

As you can see, there’s technically no bad place to stay in Berlin. Each area offers something different and is rich in history and culture. So, with so much to see and do, what are you waiting for — book your trip today!