Interesting budget places to stay in Berlin?

May 30, 2010 10:23 PM

I'm going to be staying in Berlin for nearly two weeks in the summer. I need to pay hostel-style prices (10-40 euro/night), and would like to stay at a great location in a space that attracts and makes it easy to chat with interesting people (writers, artists, or just an eclectic crowd...). Don't want a heavy party atmosphere. Any hostel recommendations? And are there non-hostel accommodations I should consider?
posted by shivohum to travel & transportation around Berlin, Germany (9 answers total)

Couchsurfing.com out of the question? There's 1000+ entries for Berlin alone...


Whats-it that you do? Are you a write/artist/performer/etc? It may be easy to crash if you can do some sort of trade of your creativity. Squatting could be had, but squatters would want you to participate a little in something. Are you circus folk?
posted by alex_skazat at 10:34 PM on May 30, 2010

Wombat's hostel was cheap, clean, and close to the subway, but it definitely had that drunken college kid vibe. It may not be what you're looking for.
posted by chrisamiller at 11:13 PM on May 30, 2010

Odyssee Hostel attracts an eclectic crowd. Not quite as centrally located in Berlin, but still a really fun place to stay.
posted by HFSH at 3:42 AM on May 31, 2010

The Michelberger Hotel looks good and definitely sounds like a place where you'll meet interesting people. I've never tried it, but I would do so if I were to be in Berlin. It's a little above your budget at 59 euros a night, though.
posted by hellopanda at 7:58 AM on May 31, 2010

Thanks for the recs so far. Alex_skazat, thanks, couchsurfing's an interesting rec. I'm a grad student in a non-performing art, so I doubt my creativity is all that valuable for trading purposes :).
posted by shivohum at 8:17 AM on May 31, 2010

I stayed at a very nice and very cheap hotel-like hostel in Berlin. I think it was two letters, c&g or a&o. Sorry for no links, posting from phone.
posted by 2legit2quit at 10:02 AM on May 31, 2010

I would recommend the Wombat too. It might have a bunch of drunk students, but what hostel doesn't, and the hostel is so clean and well designed that it more than makes up for it. Cheap too, and close to everything you need. Choose Wombat.
posted by tumples at 10:09 AM on May 31, 2010

A good friend of mine just moved to Berlin (after a number of trips there), so I forwarded him your question and he says this:

Tell 'em to check the English version of Craigslist Berlin, under rooms/shared or sublets/temporary. We have had great luck there, it's a great way to get the feel of a neighborhood and to actually live like a local for a couple of weeks, rather than a hostel tourist. Maybe not as good for meeting other tourists but maybe better for meeting locals.

Good luck!
posted by slappy_pinchbottom at 10:56 AM on May 31, 2010

You can rent a room in a flat here for 35 euros. Perhaps a bit pricey, but could be a good option. It has a shared kitchen and bathroom, so you'd likely meet some interesting people. My sister has stayed in one of their other self-contained flats, and thoroughly enjoyed it.
posted by tawny at 9:09 AM on June 9, 2010