Where to stay in Berlin?

Berlin is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and a favorite tourist destination. Presented below is a list of the best places to stay in Berlin.

1. Kreuzberg

Also known as Xberg, the Kreuzberg neighborhood of Berlin is centrally located and is home to hipsters, immigrants from Turkey, numerous restaurants, and the top bars in the city. The area underwent rapid gentrification and the process has just about almost completed. It also has a vibrant counterculture and a great nightlife. The eclectic mix of cultures makes it a great place to stay in Berlin.

Some of the major attractions of Kreuzberg are:

• Berlin is known for its awesome canals and the Landwehr Canal is one of the most popular ones. On warmer nights, tourists and locals like to gather along the several bridges that dot this canal. You can check out different eateries located nearby and enjoy delicious delicacies.
• The Markthalle Neun market hall is known for events like ‘street food Thursday’ which are held every week. Lots of other foodie gatherings also keep taking place on other days of the week.
• Mustafa’s is a snack stand which is really popular with tourists and locals. It is however usually crowed on most days and people need to stand in long lines to enjoy the delicious Gemuse Kebabs or other dishes. It is a fun experience; skip and check out other street food kebab joints if you do not like waiting for long durations.
• Görltizer Park is another popular hangout place; it is infamous for its drugs. The streets of the park are full of inexpensive fabulous diners as well as some lively bars. The place also features cocktail bars.
• Located on the western border of Kreuzberg, Bergmannstrasse is regarded as one of the most gorgeous areas of the neighborhood. It is home to some flea markets, a fantastic grocery and food market, and some remarkable restaurants. Some bookshops in the area are known for hosting English-language events such as food and movie nights.

2. Mitte

The Mitte area is also located near the center of the city and is an upscale locality. It is the neighborhood with the most travelers and tourists, Berliner Dom, Alexanderplatz, corporate offices, TV tower, Brandenburg gate, and Museum Island. It is also one of the best places for shopping. Since the area is centrally located, it has several great places to stay in Berlin. It has thousands and thousands of hotels! It does not have many local homes or apartments and hence is not really a residential area.

Some of the major attractions of Mitte are:

• A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Museum Island consists of some the most famous museums in the city. You may go to the top area of the Berliner Dom and enjoy the panoramic city views, visit the Neues Museum and see the bust of Nefertiti, etc.
• The Rosenthaler Platz features some of the best cafes and bars in the city. Located northwards of the River Spree, this area offers some fine places to stay in Berlin, including hotels like Hotel Amano with a wonderful rooftop bar, Circus Hotel with its stylish hostel, and Styles hotel which is friendly on the pocket.
• The Hackescher Markt is heavily frequented by tourists who like roam around its several alleys and wander about its courtyards. The place also features some fine coffee shops and some really great shopping stores.
• Other tourist hot spots include Checkpoint Charlie, which is a marker between the old West and East; Parliament building ‘The Reichstag’ from where you can watch the amazing sight of the city lights turning on; the haunting ‘Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe’; and Haus Schwarzenberg where one can find extraordinary street art pieces. The place is also close to many Christmas markets in Berlin.

3. Neukölln

The Neukölln locality of Berlin is not as well connected to the rest of the city as other neighborhoods. It however is really popular hot spot for vacationers and weekenders and therefore is a fine place to stay in Berlin. There are lots of cool things that one can do in Neukölln as it features lots of cheap bars, underground clubs, dive bars, burger joints, trendy places, weekend fun activities, and a chic gay scene.

Some of the main attractions of Neukölln are:

• Berlin Burger International is one of the best burger eateries in the city. The place remains open till late hours and offers proper American type burgers at affordable rates.
• Tempelhofer Feld is one of the hippest things in the city. This former airport hanger has been remodeled into a huge public park. You can enjoy different gardening works, go kitesurfing on the runways, and revel in delightful wine festivals.
• Weserstrasse is a street located next to Hermannplatz. It is one of the best areas to be at during weekends. You will get to delight your taste buds in different kinds of foods, including vegan and vegetarian dishes; participate in random activities; and goof off at foosball in bars. The neighborhood has good AirBnB options which are good places to stay in Berlin.

4. Friedrichshain

The Friedrichshain neighborhood of Berlin was formerly a part of East Berlin. It is located close to just about all the tourist hot spots and is home to some of the best partying clubs. The locality has several family-oriented parks, a significant expat population, and an alternative kind of lifestyle and culture, all of which make it a great place to stay in Berlin.

Some of the main attractions of Friedrichshain are:

• RAW & Revaler Strasse is believed to a train station in the days gone by. It is now a great place for street art and the best nightclubs. On Sundays, it hosts some of the best flea markets. The Neue Heimat section is the most fashionable, newest, and most gentrified in the area.
• Warschauer Strasse is home to the meeting point of the S-Bahn and U-Bahn station. It is a really fun place to gather as the best late-night places and clubs are located in the vicinity. During the summer months, a lot of underground parties are also organized in the station! A few good places to stay include nhow with a musical theme, and the designer and chic Michelberger Hotel. The Plus Berlin hostel is expensive and hence may be avoided.
• Volkspark Friedrichshain is the place where you can get the true experience of a life in Berlin. Tourists can take a holiday room or apartment in the area and enjoy varied hot spots like the Fairy Tale Fountain, a volleyball sandpit court, a beautiful public park, a not so big pond, comfortable walking paths, and a good German eatery. The ambiance of the place is ideal for barbecues with family and friends, picnics, couples, singles, and open-air movie screenings.
• Boxhagener Platz is the trendiest square in the locality. A farmer’s market and a flea market are held here every Saturday and Sunday, respectively. The streets adjacent to the square feature lots of restaurants and bars. The Simon-Dach Strasse located nearby is frequented by tourists as it offers good places to eat fine cuisines as well as a relaxing environment.

5. Schöneberg

Schöneberg was regarded as the first gay locality in the world. Currently, the percentage of gay population has dwindled as most of them, along with the top gay bars, have moved to the rapidly gentrifying Neukölln neighborhood. It still has some good gay bars and still remains one of the most beautiful places in the city. The area is a fair distance away from all the action, but it has some really cool places to stay. So if you are willing to travel a little bit, then you can select from the diverse accommodation options available.

Some of the main attractions of Schöneberg are:

• Winterfeldtplatz is a great place for both straight and gay visitors. Every Saturday, it hosts a marvelous farmer’s market. The Goltzstraße street located alongside the western border features some really good local bars and restaurants.
• Nollendorfplatz is located near Winterfeldtplatz and historically was the city’s gay area. It still has a gay ambiance and has several gay-friendly accommodation options, such as Tom’s Hotel with its gay hostel, and Axel Hotel which also caters to hetero guests. You can also find fetish bars, gay bars, and other seedier-kind bars in this area.
• The Wittenbergplatz is a shopping haven. It marks the start of the well-known Kurfurstendamm street of Berlin. The old and famous department store ‘KaDeWe’ with its amazing food items floor is situated in this area. The Kudamm has some great shopping offers and amazing discounts.
• Gleisdreick Park is a really pretty park which has been aesthetically redone in contemporary style. It has all the amenities that you would want out of a park. Tourists can just chill and hang out or board their skateboards, etc.

6. Prenzlauer Berg

Prenzlauer Berg is one of the best localities in the city and a really good place to stay in Berlin. Formerly a part of East Berlin, it underwent complete gentrification after the wall came down. Currently, it houses people from overseas, other regions of Germany, and numerous families. The neighborhood is really lush and green and features many outdoor areas and fantastic parks. The Mauer Park is located in the vicinity; near the park is the VEB Orange shop where you can buy genuine GDR-themed memorabilia.

Some of the major attractions of Prenzlauer Berg are:

• Bötzowkiez does not have a lot on offer for tourists. However, people who are willing to travel minor distances via public transportation will find this area to be a great place to stay. The area is really residential; Volkspark Friedrichshain which is the prettier section of the neighborhood is situated nearby and is home to several fine eateries.
• The Berlin Wall Memorial is one of the major tourist destinations in the city. It offers a lot more information about the city’s history and is much better than the East Side Gallery.
• Mauer Park features the most popular flea market in the city; its popularity can be attributed to the Sunday Bearpit Karaoke. The market is usually overcrowded with tourists, which can pose a problem in shopping for bargains. Despite the crowds, it is a fine place to wander around on Sunday sunny daytimes.
• Kastanienallee street has many chic restaurants, numerous fashion stores, as well as inexpensive eateries. It is one of the places where the alternative old-world feel of the area has been retained.