It might be the capital but Berlin is far from the archetypal German city. While there are scores of historical sights and, at times, affecting museums to explore, the overarching essence of Berlin is very much in the now. Berlin hotels strike a balance between Old Europe and the modern spirit of this artistic, edgy city. For every grand hotel, there’s a kooky boutique bolthole. These are the best hotels in Berlin, Germany, for an unforgettable stay.
Photo: Expedia
The Best Berlin Hotels to Capture the Essence of Germany's Capital
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Hotel Zoo Berlin
- Address: Kurfürstendamm 25, 10719 Berlin, Germany
- Rates from: $210/night
Find a hotel that intertwines yesteryear with the avant-garde better than Hotel Zoo Berlin. This landmark townhouse on the Ku’damm comprises characterful rooms furnished with Baxter chairs and platform beds. If money’s no object, spoil yourself silly with a stay in a suite overlooking the courtyard menagerie and sip wine in front of the fireplace.
Rental bicycles and private yoga sessions are available at Hotel Zoo. One of the trendiest boutique hotels in Berlin, the property is rounded off with a seasonal rooftop bar, winter garden, speakeasy, and lounge inspired by Alice’s tumble down the rabbit hole.
Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin
- Address: Unter den Linden 77, 10117 Berlin, Germany
- Rates from: $427/night
In terms of where to stay in Berlin for Old Europe hospitality, the 5-star Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin in Mitte reigns supreme. This beast of a building contains 382 rooms and suites priced according to space and luxury. Suites eyeing up the Brandenburg Gate come at a justifiable premium.
A fleet of dining outposts serves everything from Michelin-starred shellfish to afternoon tea and lobby aperitifs. At the higher end of typical Berlin hotels, the Adlon Kempinski is a blowout – but it’s the only way to say that you slept where world leaders and stars sleep in the cultural capital.
The Mandala Hotel Berlin
- Address: Potsdamer Str. 3, 10785 Berlin, Germany
- Rates from: $264/night
Skip the metro when you stay at one of the most central luxury hotels in Berlin-Mitte. Directly on Potsdamer Platz, the Mandala Hotel is a 20-minute stroll from Museum Island and Checkpoint Charlie. The 11th-floor spa is a wellness sanctuary combining traditional and forward-thinking remedies.
All rooms feature a basic kitchenette and ample closet space. Garden studios and suites have the perk of a private patio with rates rising to reflect the view and space. While you’ll likely want to flex your tastebuds on the countless Berlin restaurants, Facil, the two-starred Michelin restaurant, does overlook a landscaped zen garden.
Hotel Oderberger Berlin
- Address: Oderberger Str. 57, 10435 Berlin, Germany
- Rates from: $231/night
Housed in a former bathhouse, Hotel Oderberger is one of the best hotels in Berlin for wellness. Hotel guests get a preferential price when taking a dip in the neo-renaissance pool. Seventy rooms and suites follow a design-savvy aesthetic with box spring beds and posh cosmetics adding a dab of decadence. Larger apartments and lofts are ideal for families.
Located in the upmarket Prenzlauer Berg, the spa hotel is close enough to Berlin-Mitte but gives you the perk of being out of the tourist center. If you choose to stay elsewhere, you’ll need to reserve a slot in advance to use the pool.
25hours Hotel Bikini
- Address: Budapester Str. 40, 10787 Berlin, Germany
- Rates from: $181/night
The wildest of all Berlin hotels, you’re not just booking a room at 25hours Hotel Bikini – you’re checking into a “Jungle.” Strewn with creeping vines, the lobby is an inviting space to hang out while planning what to do in Berlin. Medium and large Jungles follow the aesthetic with floor-to-ceiling windows and hammocks gazing across the zoo’s ape and giraffe paddocks at Berlin Zoological Garden.
Tour the city like a Berliner on one of the first-come, first-served Schindelhauer rental bikes. Remember to swing by the rooftop bar for some monkey business and decompress in the sauna peering over Tiergarten.
Hotel the YARD Berlin
- Address: Alexandrinenstraße 125, 10969 Berlin, Germany
- Rates from: $172/night
Get a flavor for the alternative side of Berlin at this Kreuzberg hotel with its own garden oasis. Hotel the YARD Berlin champions minimalism with a portfolio of rooms stocked with only the essentials: Nespresso coffee makers, plump pillows, and spacious rainfall showers.
The indoor pool, sauna, and fitness suite are a nice touch while the luminous bistro serves a buffet breakfast and light meals to enjoy indoors or on the patio. Near enough to sample the famous Kreuzberg nightlife and retreat, this boutique hotel is tucked away on a quiet street near the canal and Lindenstrasse thoroughfare.
Grand Hyatt Berlin
- Address: Marlene-Dietrich-Platz 2, 10785 Berlin, Germany
- Rates from: $369/night
One of the leading luxury hotels in Berlin-Mitte, the Grand Hyatt features an indoor pool with skyline views. Perfect for sunny German summers, you can soak up the rays and gobble up the city atmosphere on the rooftop sundeck. Dining is as you’d expect from the brand with live music at Vox Bar at the weekend.
Connecting units are available at this family-friendly hotel near Kulturforum and Tiergarten. Impeccable bedrooms come with marble and cherry wood bathrooms with a tub and separate shower. If you’re in the mind to splurge, the swankiest suites are equipped with grand pianos and whirlpool baths.
Hotel am Steinplatz, Autograph Collection
- Address: Steinpl. 4, 10623 Berlin, Germany
- Rates from: $238/night
Cast yourself away to one of the most beautiful boutique hotels in Berlin’s Charlottenburg district. Close to Berlin Zoo and Charlottenburg Castle, Hotel am Steinplatz stands out for its Moorish design. Floral shapes and delicate tones accent the rooms while the Sauna Suite is an over-the-top luxury we can get on board with.
This part of town is epic for its restaurant diversity although you shouldn’t miss out on clinking a glass of bubbles on the pretty terrace. Beyond the rooftop spa and gym, the Escape Game Suite brings an eclectic twist to this idyllic urban hideaway.
Schlosshotel Berlin by Patrick Hellmann
- Address: Brahmsstraße 10, 14193 Berlin, Germany
- Rates from: $298/night
Thirty minutes from Berlin Central on the S-Bahn and you’ll be on the doorstep of one of the best Berlin hotels for a romantic getaway. Schlosshotel Berlin by Patrick Hellmann is lodged within a Renaissance-style palace in Grunewald. Communal areas are richly adorned with antiques while the rooms receive a lighter touch. If you can stretch your budget to a suite, you’ll be rewarded with extra space and a deluxe soaking tub.
Amenities to write home about include an indoor heated pool, sauna, and the old worldly Champagne Lounge. Pack for the Great Outdoors and hit the trails in Grunewald Forest.
Hotel Orania.Berlin
- Address: Oranienstraße 40, 10999 Berlin, Germany
- Rates from: $269/night
Another of the best hotels in Berlin’s hipster district, Hotel Orania.Berlin treads the line between Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg. Rooms at this 1913 Art Nouveau townhouse fuse elements of European and Middle Eastern design, resulting in a level of comfort and warmth that’s hard to top. No unit is the same so you’ll want to pay attention to the description to meet your requirements.
This upscale boutique hotel bar hosts regular gigs inclusive of jazz, acoustic, and world music. Proving popular with local residents, Orania.Bar serves light fare for vegans and carnivores alongside a mint selection of cocktails and beer.
Steigenberger Berlin Airport Hotel
- Address: Willy-Brandt-Platz 3, 12529 Schönefeld, Germany
- Rates from: $143/night
If you’re in need of a runway-side sleepover, the Steigenberger Berlin Airport Hotel is purpose-built for layovers of all lengths and blurry-eyed departures. Climate-controlled rooms are soundproofed and stocked with bathing necessities and coffee machines.
Breakfast is available from 5.30 a.m. and the front desk is available around the clock. There’s a full spa for a cheeky massage or at the very least, a timeout session in the sauna and steam room. Located in the terminal at Berlin Brandenburg International, the hotel is right next to the S-Bahn platform that’ll fly you to Berlin-Mitte in 30 minutes.
What to do in Berlin?
If it’s your first time in Berlin, you’ll want to make space for the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin Wall, Museum Island, and the glass-domed Reichstag Building. Venture out to see the murals that make up the East Side Gallery and peruse the galleries and cafés of Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain. On a sunny day, consider an outing to Wannsee Lake and the dense Grunewald Forest.
What is the best area to stay in Berlin?
Mitte is where to stay in Berlin for getting your fill of blockbuster sights, with the 5-star Hotel Adlon Kempinski steps from Brandenburg Gate. Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain are the best areas for tapping into counterculture and the city’s legendary nightlife. Berlin hotels are thin on the ground around these parts but you’ll find some of the coolest Airbnbs in Berlin in Kreuzberg-Friedrichshain. Families with kids or travelers who value their beauty sleep might prefer a hotel in the classy Charlottenburg district west of Tiergarten.
How much is a hotel in Berlin on average?
Hotels in Berlin, Germany, are extremely reasonable and you can bag a budget stay for less than $100 per night. Staying at an upscale boutique hotel in Berlin will set you back $150-200 per night while luxury hotels in Berlin rarely punch above $300. Rates fluctuate during the week.
Are five nights in Berlin too many?
If cruising the headliner attractions is your goal, two to three days in Berlin ought to be enough. Five nights in Berlin gives you the chance to explore behind Mitte, chase the best food, and get an overall sense of the city. It’ll also help you recover from those 24-hour nightclubs if you wind up partying Berlin-style.
Can you stay in a castle in Berlin?
Schlosshotel Berlin by Patrick Hellmann is a palace estate with a castle-like atmosphere. Romantik Hotel Schloss Reichenow in Neue Dorfstrasse and Hotel Jagdschloss Letzlingen in Gardelegen are the best German castle hotels near Berlin. 