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Although Berlin is a famously sprawling city, most of its best hotels are conveniently clustered around the central nodes of Mitte (in former East Berlin) and Charlottenburg (in former West Berlin), with a few choice spots scattered around vibrant and charming inner-city neighbourhoods such as Prenzlauer Berg, Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain. Options run the gamut from opulent five-stars, plush boutiques, facility-packed business hotels and cheaper indie alternatives, with all the familiar global brands represented from Rocco Forte and Westin Grand to Soho House and 25hours.
Regardless of which part of the city you plump for as a base, with the hotels below you’ll always be within easy strolling distance of classy boutiques and buzzy restaurants and cafes, as well as the city’s fantastic array of historic and cultural sights. More often than not there’ll also usually be a decadent co*cktail bar, theatre or opera house nearby too, in case you feel like swapping out the comforts of your room for a night out on the tiles.
Mitte (city centre)
Conveniently called Mitte, or ‘middle’, the city centre is the best area to stay in Berlin for the traditional sightseer. Mitte encompasses many of the city’s tourist hubs, including Alexanderplatz, Potsdamer Platz, the Nikolaiviertel and Unter den Linden. Here you will find a heady mix of sights (Brandenburger Tor, Reichstag, TV Tower) alongside a buzzy blend of shops, cafés, restaurants and clubs that are more or less equally split between the touristy and the trendy.
Where to stay in Mitte
Soho House Berlin
Berlin, Germany
9Telegraph expert rating
Soho House Berlin is a stylish world unto itself, offering decadent interiors, excellent drinking and dining and a rooftop pool. Close to Alexanderplatz and Mitte, it’s conveniently central, and an ideal destination accommodation for those who enjoy fine design and an air of hip exclusivity.
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From£100 per night
Hotel de Rome
Berlin, Germany
8Telegraph expert rating
Converted from a grand 19th-century bank, this Rocco Forte property enjoys a glamorous location on Unter den Linden's historic Bebelplatz. The interior combines original architectural features with impressive contemporary flair, and restrained but luxurious rooms, a classy restaurant and bar, and a refined spa.
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From£294 per night
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The Circus Hotel
Berlin, Germany
8Telegraph expert rating
This eco-friendly hotel offers highly comfortable rooms, an eye-catching design aesthetic and very upbeat and popular public areas, including a decent restaurant and bar. The location on bustling Rosenthaler Platz puts you right in the middle of the action, and service is especially friendly and attentive.
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From£108 per night
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• Thebest boutique hotels in Berlin
Prenzlauer Berg
Just north of Mitte, this pleasant, gentrified neighbourhood is one of the best districts in Berlin for cobbled, tree-lined streets and squares that are lined with independent boutiques, chic coffee shops and an array of diverse restaurants. With the exception of the impressive Kulturbrauerei (a 19th-century brewery turned into a cultural and commercial area), there’s not much in the way of tourist sights, but its laid-back ambiance makes it popular with families and urban strollers.
Where to stay in Prenzlauer Berg
Berlin, Germany
8Telegraph expert rating
This unique b&b offers two hotels in one: the more expensive Bluehome has a Mediterranean feel, while Ackselhaus' mini-apartments offer various themes that range from the geographical to the filmic. Staff are friendly, there's a lovely Balinese courtyard garden and it's well located for both Mitte and Prenzlauer Berg.
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From£224 per night
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EastSeven Berlin Hostel
Berlin, Germany
8Telegraph expert rating
This funky hostel, located on the southern fringes of pretty Prenzlauer Berg, has become one of the most popular budget spots in the city. Combining an intimate atmosphere with clean, smart rooms and decent facilities, it’s a laid-back, friendly and very well-run place.
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From£68 per night
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Linnen
Berlin, Germany
7Telegraph expert rating
One of the few decent accommodation options in Prenzlauer Berg, this intimate enterprise is built to feel like a plush private home. There’s not much in the way of amenities, but the friendly owners are at hand for local tips, and the associated Linnen Café, also open to the public, serves great breakfasts and coffee.
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From£134 per night
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• Thebest luxury hotels in Berlin
Kreuzberg
The heart of West Berlin’s punk scene in the 1970s, East Kreuzberg still offers visitors a quintessentially ‘alternative’ experience. It's one of the most multi-cultural districts in the city, thanks mainly to the Turkish and Middle Eastern ‘guest-workers’ that live and work around the Kottbusser Tor area. It’s also one of the liveliest and best places to stay in Berlin for nightlife thanks to a plethora of bars and clubs. Its western area, particularly around Bergmannstrasse, is contrastively elegant and peaceful.
Where to stay in Kreuzberg
Hotel the YARD
Berlin, Germany
8Telegraph expert rating
This funky hotel offers rooms and public spaces designed in minimal 'boutique' style, as well as an on-site bistro and restaurant. The buzzier parts of Kreuzberg are nearby, service is friendly, and a spa and pool are planned to open in the near future.
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From£111 per night
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Grand Hostel Classic
Berlin, Germany
8Telegraph expert rating
This upbeat, award-winning Kreuzberg hostel occupies an attractive historic building, and offers rooms that are more spacious and elegant than the average backpacker hostels. There's a lounge/bar and restaurant on site, and staff are young, friendly and international.
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Beds from£41 per night
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Orania.Berlin
Berlin, Germany
9Telegraph expert rating
This refined boutique bolthole is located in the edgier environs of eastern Kreuzberg. It offers excellent access to that district’s vibrant bar, restaurant and gallery scene, although with a dapper music-themed bar and top-notch restaurant in-house, you’ll want to spend at least one evening in.
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From£174 per night
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• Themost stylish hotels in Berlin
Friedrichshain
Once a grungy hang-out for squatters and punks, the former East Berlin district of Friedrichshain has gentrified somewhat since reunification. The commercialised area along the Spree features the East Side Gallery, the Mercedes Benz Arena and an increasing number of hotels and restaurants, while the streets that radiate out from neighbourhood hub Boxhagener Platz are awash with cafés, bars and boutiques. The nightlife remains edgy though thanks to clubs such as Berghain and those within the lively Raw Gelände complex.
Where to stay in Friedrichshain
nhow Berlin
Berlin, Germany
8Telegraph expert rating
Billed as Europe’s first 'music hotel', the nhow Berlin boasts an eye-popping design, a hip restaurant and bar, a fantastic terrace that overlooks the Spree, an art gallery and a spa. Oh, and you can hire an electric guitar or DJ booth directly to your room.
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From£80 per night
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Michelberger Hotel
Berlin, Germany
8Telegraph expert rating
The Michelberger yells youthful creativity. It has a buzzy bar and a courtyard for concerts, both popular in their own right, one of the best restaurants in the neighbourhood, plus a range of funky, idiosyncratic rooms to choose from. It’s also close to Friedrichshain’s infamous nightlife.
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From£85 per night
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MOXY Berlin Ostbahnhof
Berlin, Germany
8Telegraph expert rating
This latest opening from Marriott’s lively new “Moxy” brand is an apt fit for Berlin, thanks to a youthful, upbeat interior, contemporary amenities and friendly, helpful service. It’s also close to the Ostbahnhof train station and the East Side Gallery, the longest remaining stretch of the former Berlin Wall.
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From£77 per night
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• Themost romantic hotels in Berlin
Charlottenburg / West Berlin
Usually synonymous with ‘West Berlin’ or ‘City West’, the upscale district of Charlottenburg has come into its own of late thanks to high-profile redevelopment (chic hotels, trendy malls) around the Bahnhof Zoo area. Its main boulevard, Ku’damm, has long been one of the city’s most famous for its high-end shops and well-heeled restaurants, while parallel Kantstrasse has quietly become one of the best neighbourhoods in Berlin for its hotbed of multicultural cafés and eateries, including many of the city’s best Asian hotspots.
Where to stay in Charlottenburg / West Berlin
Hotel am Steinplatz
Berlin, Germany
9Telegraph expert rating
This historic hotel, once the haunt of celebrities such as Vladimir Nabokov and Brigitte Bardot, combines a splendorous Art Nouveau structure with intimate, high-end service. The hotel offers a discreet but central location with an excellent restaurant and bar, and lovely rooftop spa.
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From£183 per night
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25hours Hotel Bikini Berlin
Berlin, Germany
9Telegraph expert rating
West Berlin’s funky 25hours Hotel Bikini, located in a 1950s high-rise, has injected some youthful new energy into the area, thanks to the playful interiors of Werner Aisslinger, a buzzy rooftop bar and restaurant, and a neighbouring concept mall full of local and international boutiques.
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From£110 per night
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Waldorf Astoria Berlin
Berlin, Germany
9Telegraph expert rating
This classic Berlin hotel, in the city’s upmarket City West district, more than earns each of its five stars for its convenient location and excellent service. Elegant and sophisticated, the interiors seamlessly blend classic Art Deco and contemporary touches, while the warm and welcoming staff are eager and obliging.
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From£256 per night
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Frequently asked questions
Is two nights enough for a visit to Berlin?
If you stay for two nights, you will have at least one full day to see the main historic sights in Mitte (city centre), and two evenings to indulge in excellent restaurants, bars and nightclubs. However, any additional nights would give you a chance to visit a museum, gallery or shops.
What are the best attractions in East or West Berlin?
The best attractions in East Berlin are Alexanderplatz; East Side Gallery; Mauerpark flea market; and contemporary art galleries. The best attractions in West Berlin are Brandenburg Gate; the Reichstag; Tiergarten; Charlottenburg Palace; and international shops on Kurfürstendamm. In the city centre are Checkpoint Charlie; Museum Island; Berlin Cathedral; and Gendarmenmarkt.
- Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin
HOTELBerlin, Germany
10Telegraph expert rating
Berlin’s most glamorous hotel address has hosted Michael Jackson and Her Majesty the Queen, among...Read expert review - The Mandala Hotel
HOTELBerlin, Germany
9Telegraph expert rating
An oasis of zen-like serenity amidst the bustle of the city. This stylish five-star offers exclus...Read expert review - The Ritz-Carlton, Berlin
HOTELBerlin, Germany
9Telegraph expert rating
This sumptuous five-star on Potsdamer Platz has an enduring appeal for both business and leisure ...Read expert review
