BEST HOSTELS IN BERLIN: The Top 11 Places to Stay in September 2019

Posted: 1/9/2019 | January 9th, 2019

Berlin is a gigantic city. It stretches over 883 square kilometers and is home to over 3.6 million people.

I hated the city when I first visited it. I just couldn’t vibe with the city.

But the more I came back, the more I grew to love it. Berlin is cheap (always a plus for me), it’s home to some of the best art, culture, music, festivals, and tech companies on the continent. The food scene has also really blown up in recent years and you’ll find some of the most innovative things in food happening in the city.

Traveling Berlin is awesome.

Berlin is also home to plenty of hostels and, in a city so spread out, it’s important to know where the best hostels in Berlin are. Picking your location is crucial to enjoying the Berlin experience.

How do you know which are the best hostels to stay in? What are the best neighborhoods?

Here is my list of the best hostels in Berlin to help you make sense of all the hostels you see listed on Hostelworld.

11 Best Hostels in Berlin

(in no particular order)

1. Meininger Berlin Tiergarten

This hostel feels more like a traveler/backpacker hotel. The rooms are spacious, the beds have comfortable mattresses, there are big storage spaces, and rooms have ensuite bathrooms. The company is part of a chain that stretches across Europe, and you’ll often find it used for group tours, school trips, and families (so it’s generally pretty quiet). Pets are allowed for an extra 10 EUR/11 USD per night. There’s a large common area with a foosball table too! It’s a little outside the city center in Moabit but Berlin’s easy public transit makes it quick to get around. The hostel is next to Tiergarten which is a popular hangout for Berliners. If you’re looking for a quiet stay and want more space to yourself, this might be the hostel for you.

Beds from 8 EUR/9 USD, privates from 45 EUR/50 USD.

—-> Click here to book your stay at Meininger Berlin Tiergarten!

2. Plus Berlin

This historic building used to be a fashion school and survived both World Wars. Located in Friedrichshain, an artsy area near the East Side Gallery, I like this hostel because it has an indoor pool and sauna — rare finds when it comes to hostels! It’s a bit of a posh place and offers some hotel perks at hostel prices. The rooms are clean, and the beds are fine. They have laundry services as well as a courtyard garden, which is great for relaxing and having a drink. They also offer a free shot to all guests, so you’re looking to party on a budget you might want to stay here.

Beds from 9 EUR/10 USD, privates from 40 EUR/45 USD.

—-> Click here to book your stay at Plus Berlin!

3. Heart of Gold Hostel

The rooms in this hostel each have a different décor and hand-painted artwork. The courtyard is a great place to sit and enjoy free coffee and tea in the morning. During happy hour, they have 1 EUR (1.15 USD) beers! You have to pay a 5 EUR/6 USD deposit for sheets and towels, but you’ll get that back at checkout. This is just and overall awesome place to stay and meet some travelers. The showers aren’t great but the hostel is located in Mitte, in the center of the city, so it’s easy to get to any other neighborhood you’d like to visit and Alexanderplatz and the Brandenburg Gate are close by.

Beds from 11 EUR, privates from 40 EUR/45 USD.

—-> Click here to book your stay at Heart of Gold Hostel!

4. ONE80°

Located just a few steps from Alexanderplatz, this hostel is clean, filled with modern amenities, and has super soft pillows. Berlin’s extensive bus, subway, and tram system is literally just outside the front door. The staff here organizes tours, including a free walking tour, a pub crawl, and a trip to Sachsenhausen (a concentration camp just outside of town). There are plenty of electrical outlets (one at every bed) and the lockers are spacious. Watch out though – the communal showers have no doors or curtains (they are separated by gender though). Overall, the hostel has a modern, stylish feel and the dorms are all reasonably sized (8-bed dorms are the largest you’ll find, so you’re not crammed in like sardines!).

Beds from 12 EUR/14 USD, privates from 75 EUR/85 USD.

—-> Click here to book your stay at ONE80°!

5. Circus Hostel

Circus Hostel is an institution in Berlin. It’s been here for over 20 years is one of the oldest hostels in the city. It’s a friendly place with comfy beds and a super fun common area. You can also rent bikes and iPads here. The bar is astounding (they have their own microbrewery and cafe) and there’s live music on Friday nights, and they also host weekly trivia and kareoke nights too. Check out the delicious breakfast buffet as well — it’s all you can eat and super cheap! The hostel staff offers free walking tours and there are always fun events happening. They also have a really fantastic app that travelers use to meet other people and to make plans in the city — it works really well! Overall, this is just an awesome centrally located hostel and one of the best hostels in Berlin.

Beds from 12 EUR/14 USD, privates from 40 EUR/45 USD.

—-> Click here to book your stay at Circus Hostel!

6. Wombats

I love Wombats. It’s a bit big for a hostel as there are hundreds of beds (the only downside) but its filled travelers, has really snug beds, ensuite bathrooms, lockers, and a big breakfast. It’s clean and there’s a fully equipped kitchen too. But the real highlight is the rooftop bar with the outdoor patio that offers sweeping views of the city! It’s an awesome spot to drink a beer and meet people! The staff here go over and above too, which is a huge perk if you want to ask lots of questions and get some itinerary input. Lastly, the hostel is located in Mitte, one of Berlin’s best neighborhoods, so it’s close to Alexanderplatz, Museum Island, and Prenzlauer Berg.

Beds from 13 EUR/15 USD, privates from 55 EUR/63 USD.

—-> Click here to book your stay at Wombats!

7. EastSeven Berlin Hostel

EastSeven has a great social atmosphere and really clean rooms. The hostel is located in a quieter area between Mitte and Prenzlauer Berg, but the nearby U2 subway line will take you right to Alexanderplatz. The hostel organizes walking tours twice a day, which is a great way to mingle with other travelers. They have an awesome kitchen — it’s got everything you need — and you can also cook in the outdoor BBQ area (another great social activity). They offer a cheap breakfast that is well worth the price, and beers are just 1.50 EUR/1.75 USD during Happy Hour. There’s no elevator, so be prepared to climb lots of stairs with your bag. On the plus side, there are lots of extra little perks like a document printing, hairdryers, umbrellas, free luggage storage, and late checkout that help make this one of the best hostels in the city.

Beds from 14 EUR/16 USD, privates from 40 EUR/45 USD.

—-> Click here to book your stay at EastSeven Berlin Hostel!

8. St. Christopher’s

If you’re looking to party, St. Christopher’s is the place for you. The bar next door gets quite lively and they do a lot of drink specials (you get 25% off on food as a guest, too). I had some really fun moments here, though there’s not much common space at the hostel so the bar really is the best place to meet people (they try to get everyone there to eat and drink as much as possible). If you’re not looking to drink or party, this won’t be the best place to stay. But if you are, the rooms here are clean and it’s pretty quiet in the hostel itself. It’s located in Mitte, near Alexanderplatz, the TV Tower, and Museum Island.

Beds from 15 EUR/17 USD, privates from 50 EUR/57 USD.

—-> Click here to book your stay at St. Christopher’s!

9. The Cat’s Pajamas Hostel

What I love about this hostel is that it’s a quiet, calm place to stay. There’s a nice kitchen, a good common area, and less focus on drinking than in other hostels. The beds and rooms are average (not great but not bad) and the lockers in the rooms are very small. But each bunk has a light and power outlet, and towels and hair dryers are included. It’s in Kreuzkölln — in the middle of Kreuzberg and Neukölln — which is one of the best areas of Berlin for drinking and dining. If you’re not looking to party and meet people, this is a hostel worth staying at.

Beds from 15 EUR/17 USD, privates from 55 EUR/63 USD.

—-> Click here to book your stay at The Cat’s Pajamas Hostel!

10. Pfefferbett Hostel

This hostel is part of a former brewery complex in Prenzlauer Berg. It’s in a nice, safe location that’s just two U-bahn stops away from Alexanderplatz. They have a great 24-hour bar that has pool tables, table tennis, and foosball, which makes meeting other travelers easy and fun. They also offer free daily walking tours, which are a great way to see the area and explore the city. The beds are comfortable and the rooms are clean and not too tiny. There’s a cozy fireplace in the lobby that adds a nice touch of home to the place. As an added bonus, the hostel is a non-profit that provides jobs for disabled people, so by staying here, you are helping a great cause!

Beds from 16 EUR/18 USD, privates from 60 EUR/68 USD.

—-> Click here to book your stay at Pfefferbett Hostel!

11. Minimal Hostel Berlin

In an arty part of Berlin, this boutique hostel features minimalist repurposed décor, in keeping with its name. It’s in the trendy Neukölln area and offers six-bed dorms and two double rooms. It’s not a party place, but it’s social enough that you’ll meet some people (plus there are bars everywhere in the area). They have bike rentals too if you want to go out and do some exploring. Cash is required when you arrive, and they also require a two-night minimum stay.

Beds from 20 EUR/23 USD, privates from 70 EUR/80 USD.

—-> Click here to book your stay at Minimal Hostel Berlin!

***

Berlin has hundreds of hostels spread throughout this giant city. I’ve been visiting Berlin for years and have stay at some terrible and amazing places. Instead of spending hours trying to figure out where to stay, this list of the best hostels in Berlin will cut out the time for you.

Got a hostel not on this list? Add it in the comments!

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Book Your Trip to Berlin: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. I use them all the time.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• World Nomads (for everyone below 70)
• Insure My Trip (for those over 70)

Looking for the best companies to save money with?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use to save money when I travel – and I think will help you too!

Looking for more information on visiting Berlin?
Check out my in-depth destination guide to Berlin with more tips on what to see, do, costs, ways to save, and much, much more!

Photo credits: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Berlin's Thai Food Market is the Best Thai Food Outside of Thailand

Updated: 06/02/18 | June 2nd, 2018

I’ve left pieces of my heart in many places around the world: New York, Paris, Stockholm, and Hong Kong to name a few. But no place has a bigger piece than Thailand. It was my home for a long time (and in many ways still is). No amount of time there is long enough, and any amount of time away is too long. Whenever I miss it, I head to a Thai restaurant, shock the staff by speaking Thai, enjoy a quick conversation with them, and eat my weight in food.

But I always leave disappointed.

Even the best dishes at the most authentic restaurants are never as good as in Thailand. The food only temporarily fills a hole in my heart. I walk away satiated but never satisfied. It only makes me miss Thailand more.

But then I came to Berlin, and my world changed.

A few months ago, my friend Jodi found delicious soup at a Thai weekend market in Berlin and proclaimed it the best she’d had outside of Thailand. I stared at the photo of her red pork noodle soup. I was in shock. Despite my years of searching, I’ve never found it outside Thailand.

So while in Berlin two weeks ago, I found myself at that market for lunch. I was like a moth to the flame, except my fire came in the form of soup. As I approached the park and saw colorful umbrellas shooting from ground with the scent of cooking food emanating from beneath them, my walk turned into a sprint. My expectations were high — the online reviews of this market vouched for its authenticity, and the pictures made it seem like the real deal. But could I really have found Thai street food in a park in Berlin?

I roamed the market, spotting vendors crouched down on mats, cooking on camping stoves, mashing chilies, and shouting in Thai back and forth to each other. It sure felt like the real thing, but what about the taste? Would it be real? I spotted a soup lady and, walking over, I saw it in all its glory:

There it was: kuay tiew moo dang. Red pork noodle soup.

My heart welled up with joy. Because of how the broth sits out collecting flavor for hours, you can’t find this soup outside of Thailand — food safety laws in Western countries don’t allow it. But there it was. Here in this park, German officials looked the other way as women crushed up chilies to make som tam without wearing any gloves, vendors poured authentic Thai iced tea, pad kra pao gai (spicy chicken and basil) was prepared as in Thailand (minced up and quickly fried), and soup was cooked the way it should be. There was no refrigeration, no sink to clean the utensils.

I ordered the soup, sat down to eat on the grass, and was transported home. The sweet and spicy flavor of the broth, the red pork, the texture of the noodles, and the crunch of the rind were all as perfect as they could be.

When I was done, all that popped into my mind was “more.”

I roamed the market, weaving in between rows and around vendors, and ate like a king. I dived into spicy (yet so sweet) som tam that made my mouth burn, ate sticky rice wrapped in banana leaves (licked my fingers clean), and made multiple trips to the woman who sold Thai iced tea. “Back again?” she’d ask.

“Yes!” I said with a smile as I drank half the cup in one gulp. Closing my eyes, I remembered all the hot Bangkok days this drink cooled me down on.

Everything about the market brought back home — from the way the food was cooked to the little bags takeout orders were put in, to the style of spoon, and even the little step stools, so popular throughout Southeast Asia, that you sit on while you eat.

This place is as close to Thailand as you can get without actually going there.

The next day I went back with a group of friends, ordered a bunch of dishes, and ate family-style. It was too good not to go back again. If the market was open every day, I’d be there, my face buried in some Thai dish, but, sadly, it’s only open on the weekend.

Berlin has a lot going for it: cool hipsters, food, music, and art. And now it has something nowhere else outside Thailand has — authentic Thai food. This is the best Thai food I’ve found outside of Thailand. Don’t miss this if you’re in Berlin and love Thai food. Berlin will now be the hub of my future travels through Europe so I can gorge on the Thai food I only dream about.

The Thai food market has been in Berlin for twenty years and shows no signs of going away, which is good because, with all the travel I’m doing to Berlin these days, I want my fix.

How to get there
Take the U-Bahn to Fehrbelliner Platz and it’s in the park outside the train station. The market is open on Saturdays and Sundays in the summer if there’s no rain. It starts around 12 p.m. and ends around 8 p.m., with the peak time being 1-5 p.m. There are more people and vendors on Sunday, though Saturday has become increasingly popular with sellers.

Book Your Trip to Berlin: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight to Berlin by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines. Start with Momondo.

Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel in Berlin with Hostelworld. If you want to stay elsewhere, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates. (Here’s the proof.)

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. I never ever go on a trip without it. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. You should too.

Need Some Gear?
Check out our resource page for the best companies to use!

Want More Information on Berlin?
Be sure to visit our robust destination guide on Berlin for even more planning tips!