Last Updated: 3/30/23 | March 30th, 2023
Berlin is a gigantic city. It stretches over 883 square kilometers and is home to over 3.6 million people. It’s also one of the most popular, lively, and cool cities in Europe.
Personally, 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), and 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, with some of the most innovative things in food happening in the city.
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.
I’ve been visiting Berlin for a decade and have stayed in dozens upon dozens of places. There are a lot of things to consider when selecting a hostel. The top four when picking the best hostel in Berlin are:
- Location – Berlin is huge and it can take some time to get around. Pick a place that is central to the sites and nightlife you want to see. All the hostels listed here are in central locations.
- Price – In Berlin, you really get what you pay for, so if you go with a really cheap one, you’re probably going to get a hostel that is small, cramped, and doesn’t offer great service.
- Amenities – Every hostel in the city offers free Wi-Fi, and some have a free breakfast, but if you want more than that, be sure to do your research to find the hostel that best meets your needs!
- Staff – All the hostels listed here have amazing staff! They are super friendly and knowledgeable. Even if you don’t end up staying at one of the places listed below, be sure to look up reviews to ensure you end up somewhere where the staff is helpful and friendly! They can make or break a hostel!
To help you plan your trip, here is my list of the hostels in Berlin that I like the most. If you don’t want to read the longer list below, the following hostels are the best in each category:
Best Hostel for Budget Travelers: Meininger Berlin Tiergarten
Best Hostel for Solo Female Travelers: Circus Hostel
Best Hostel for Digital Nomads: Pfefferbett Hostel
Best Hostel for Families: Meininger Berlin Tiergarten
Best Hostel for Partying: St. Christopher’s
Best Overall Hostel: Circus Hostel
Want the specifics of each hostel? Here’s my comprehensive list of the best hostels in Berlin:
Price Legend (per night)
- $ = Under 20 EUR
- $$ = 20-30 EUR
- $$$ = Over 30 EUR
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 all rooms have en-suite bathrooms. The company is part of a chain that stretches across Europe, often used for group tours, school trips, and families (so it’s generally pretty quiet). Pets are allowed for an extra 15 EUR per night, and the daily buffet breakfast is 6.90 EUR. There’s a large common area and game zone 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.
Meininger Berlin Tiergarten at a glance:
- $$
- Huge common room makes it easy to meet people
- Large kitchen
- Quiet and laid-back atmosphere (great for families and groups)
Beds from 30 EUR, private rooms from 91.50 EUR.
2. Heart of Gold Hostel
The rooms in this hostel each have unique décor and hand-painted murals from different artists. The courtyard is a great place to sit in the morning and enjoy free coffee and tea or the 5 EUR buffet breakfast. The hostel has its own bar, and during happy hour, they have 1 EUR beers! You have to pay a 5 EUR deposit for sheets and towels, but you’ll get that back at checkout.
Overall, this is an awesome place to stay and meet some travelers. The showers aren’t great but the hostel is located in Mitte in the center of the city, so it’s easy to get to any other neighborhood you’d like to visit. Main attractions like Alexanderplatz and the Brandenburg Gate are close by.
Heart of Gold at a glance:
- $$
- Laid-back courtyard for relaxing and meeting people
- Convenient location in the heart of the city
- Social atmosphere makes it easy to meet other travelers
Beds from 17.50 EUR, private rooms from 50 EUR.
3. 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!).
ONE80° at a glance:
- $
- Organizes lots of activities (walking tours, pub crawls)
- Dorms have lots of outlets and spacious lockers
- Great place for meeting people
Beds from 29 EUR, private rooms from 152 EUR.
4. Circus Hostel
Circus Hostel is an institution in Berlin. It’s been here for over 20 years, making it 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 café) and there’s live music on Friday nights, and they also host weekly trivia and karaoke nights too. Check out the delicious breakfast buffet as well — it’s all you can eat and pretty cheap (6 EUR)!
The hostel staff offers a series of “Behind the Curtain” events, designed at showcasing everything that makes Berlin the vibrant city that it is. The events include free walking tours, night art gallery visits, street food tours, film screenings, and more. Overall, this is an awesome centrally located hostel and one of the best hostels in Berlin.
Circus Hostel at a glance:
- $$
- Live music every Friday
- Café and brewery on-site make it super easy to meet people
- Organizes lots of activities (like free walking tours)
Beds from 35 EUR, private rooms from 89 EUR. HostelPass members get 15% off.
5. St. Christopher’s
If you’re looking to party, St. Christopher’s is the place for you. The bar next door gets quite lively and they do a lot of drink specials (you get 25% off on food as a guest, too). I had some really fun moments here, though there’s not much common space at the hostel so the bar really is the best place to meet people (they try to get everyone there to eat and drink as much as possible). There is also a 5 EUR breakfast buffet offered daily.
If you’re not looking to drink or party, this won’t be the best place to stay. But if you are, the rooms here are clean and it’s pretty quiet in the hostel itself. It’s located in Mitte, near Alexanderplatz, the TV Tower, and Museum Island.
St. Christopher’s at a glance:
- $$
- Party atmosphere makes it easy to meet people
- Lively bar on-site with cheap drinks
- Convenient location near Alexanderplatz
Beds from 31.90 EUR, private rooms that sleep 4 people start from 50 EUR per person.
6. Pfefferbett Hostel
This hostel is part of a former brewery complex in Prenzlauer Berg, 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. The hostel also offers 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!
Pfefferbett Hostel at a glance:
- $$
- Super social atmosphere with a 24-hour bar (with pool tables, table tennis, and foosball)
- Organizes lots of activities (like daily free walking tours)
- Has a cozy fireplace for relaxing and meeting people
Beds from 29 EUR, privates from 41 EUR.
7. Minimal Hostel Berlin
In an arty part of Berlin, this boutique hostel features minimalist repurposed décor, in keeping with its name. It’s in the trendy Neukölln area and offers six-bed dorms and two double rooms. It’s not a party place, but it’s social enough that you’ll meet some people (plus there are bars everywhere in the area). They have bike rentals too if you want to go out and do some exploring. You must pay in cash when you arrive, and there is a two-night minimum stay.
Minimal Hostel Berlin at a glance:
- $
- Located in a trendy neighborhood with lots of bars nearby
- Bike rentals available so you can easily explore the city
- Small dorms (only 6-beds) so you can get a decent sleep
Beds from 30-35 EUR, private rooms from 80 EUR.
8. Kiez Hostel
This spacious and cozy hostel is one of the most popular in the city. The dorms are large and the bathrooms are clean and modern. The beds are basic (metal bunks and the mattresses aren’t super thick) but the common areas are laid-back and perfect for meeting other travelers (they even have a record player). There are female-only dorms as well as arty private rooms with hammocks and loft beds. It’s in a great location too, just a quick 5-minute walk to the East Side Gallery.
Kiez Hostel Berlin at a glance:
- $$
- Chill common areas
- Small kitchen for cooking your own meals
- Female-only dorms for extra safety and security
Beds from 27 EUR, private rooms from 117 EUR.
Berlin has hundreds of hostels spread throughout this giant city. I’ve been visiting Berlin for years and have stayed 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.
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Book Your Trip to Berlin: Logistical Tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Use Skyscanner to find a cheap flight. They are my favorite search engine 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 as they have the biggest inventory and best deals. 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. My favorite places to stay are:
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. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
- Safety Wing (for everyone below 70)
- Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
- Medjet (for additional repatriation coverage)
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’m on the road. They will save you money when you travel too.
Want More Information on Berlin?
Be sure to visit our robust destination guide to Berlin for even more planning tips!
