Berlin Hostels

Opting for a hostel in Berlin is a sure-fire way to get a taste of the hip and happening side of the German capital. Low-cost and vibrant, these are the stays that put backpackers with fellow backpackers, providing shared kitchens and lively common spaces, where you can cook together, clink steins of frothy beer come evening and enjoy the company of likeminded globetrotters. Edgy design features and in-house art pieces add a dash of pizzazz to some of the city's top-rated hostels, while others aim at simple, stripped down interiors to keep prices nice and affordable. Hostels in Berlin can also be a great springboard for adventures in the metropolis, coming with private pub crawls, guided walking tours and all sorts of other organised events.

Reasons to book hostels in Berlin

Hostels in Berlin can cater to a whole load of different travellers. Those hitting the land of the Reichstag and the Brandenburg Gate solo are bound to love the low-cost dorm stays that have pubs attached – you know, for those evening happy hours, ad hoc live music shows and sharing of travel tales. Those with a penchant for stylish digs can discover Berlin's quirkier side in the design hostels of the city. They fuse touches of Bauhaus with art deco lobbies, underground beer halls with vintage lounges laden with antiques and scruffy-chic sofas. For couples, upscale hostels in Berlin promise a balance between privacy and fun, mingling pod beds with small dorms and even double rooms.

While low rates are the name of the game in Berlin's hostels, booking these affordable pads doesn't mean ditching somewhere with real character and useful amenities. It's normal to find hostels with 24-hour reception desks, on-site kitchens with all you need to cook your own meals and add-on extras, like bike rentals. Some even have their own line-up of events to get stuck in to, whether that's an evening crawl through the buzzing bars of Mitte district or art walks to see the striking murals of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg. And, on top of that are useful basics to boot – think on-site laundry facilities and travel ticket booking assistance.

Travelling around hostels in Berlin

There's plenty of fun to be had around hostels in Berlin. You could bag a bed in the artsy Circus Hostel. It's known for its simple, colourful interiors, chic underground bar and lively cafe terrace, and it comes with a dedicated shrine to David Hasselhoff, for good measure. What's more, all that's perched just on the edge of Mitte, where you can check off the Brandenburg Gate, see the great glass dome of the Reichstag, and even delve into the menagerie of Mesopotamian and ancient Greek relics in the amazing Pergamon Museum. Looking for something a little more off the beaten track? The Amstel House Hostel can oblige. It's got stripped-down, boho rooms with plyboard desks and retro mirror fittings. And, it's near the snaking Spree River and the large Tiergarten, which are positively buzzing with life and picnickers come the summer months.