How to Choose a Hostel in Berlin in 2025 (What to Expect)

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Find your Perfect Hostel in Berlin

Picking a hostel in Berlin feels a bit like choosing a club on a Friday night—there are loads of options, each with a distinct vibe, and you only get one shot at a solid first impression.

After years of bouncing between bunks all over the city, I’ve learned what separates a cozy crash pad from a night of zero sleep.

This guide on how to choose a hostel in Berlin cuts through the noise: hostel styles, what to expect, the best neighborhoods, price ranges, booking tricks, and safety tips. Use it to grab a bed that fits your budget and your social battery.

Top Picks: The Best Hostels in Berlin

Best for Hostel Newbies

EastSeven Berlin Hostel9.6

from €10.74 | More Details

Best for Female Solo Traveler

MEININGER Berlin East S...9.0

from €11.42 | More Details

Best Party Hostel

Meininger Hotel Berlin ...8.8

from €8.82 | More Details

This is not an ad. We help you find the perfect hostel and compare prices from Hostelworld and Booking. You can save up to 23.7%

Types of Hostels in Berlin

Berlin’s hostel scene is broad enough to fit every travel style. Picking the right vibe saves you cash and sanity.

• Party Hostels: Think in-house bars, nightly pub crawls, and “no quiet hours” signs that staff actually mean. Perfect if your goal is friends-before-noon and techno-til-sunrise. Downside? Sleep is optional, and lockers fill fast with half-empty bottles.
• Social (Non-Party) Hostels: Common rooms with board games, free walking tours, maybe a “quiet after 11 p.m.” rule that folks respect. You’ll meet people without tequila chants echoing at 4 a.m. My top pick when I’m working during the day but still want a crew for currywurst runs.
• Quiet, Budget-Friendly Hostels: No events, small dorms, minimal staff interaction. Great for early risers or anyone doing Berlin on €60 a day. Keep expectations low on décor and high on self-reliance; you’re mostly paying for the mattress.
• Female-Only Dorms: Berlin has plenty. Prices are usually €2–4 higher than mixed dorms, but you gain peace of mind and fewer midnight door slams. Use the “female dorm” filter on comparison sites to spot availability fast.

Pro tip: Read the last ten reviews, not the overall score. A five-year-old “amazing” rating hides nothing about tonight’s burst water pipe.

What to Expect from Hostels in Berlin

• Atmosphere: Berlin prides itself on “come as you are.” You’ll find DJs mixing in kitchens, digital nomads typing in courtyards, and retirees testing the bunk-bed life. Pick a hostel aligned with your noise tolerance and social battery.
• Quality: Cleanliness runs from spotless to “who spilled the Jäger?” Most hostels supply free linens; towels cost €2–3. Lockers exist, but bring your own padlock—it’s cheaper than renting.
• Facilities: Expect shared bathrooms, coin-op laundry, and tiny kitchenettes (if any). Wi-Fi is reliable, though streaming can lag during Netflix o’clock.

What NOT to Expect:

• Huge lounges with beanbags galore—Berlin real estate is pricey.
• Full kitchens stocked with everything; burners plus one skillet is normal.
• Dorm beds under €15 unless its deep winter, and you’re far from the ring.

Short and crisp: The Best Hostels in Berlin

1. Bellamontis Hostel
2. Jetpak Alternative
3. Raise A Smile Hostel
4. Globetrotter Hostel Odyssee - best for Solo Traveller
5. Hostel Die Etage

Bellamontis Hostel

8.6

Tempelhof-Schöneberg

"…Would stay here again for sure. Of the four hostels I stayed in while in Berlin, this was my more

Jetpak Alternative

9.2

Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg

"…They also claim that on their site so I was not disappointed. The good -- Staff were very helpful more

Raise A Smile Hostel

9.1

Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg

"…However, it is NOT a party hostel so please don\'t book with us if you are only here to get drunk more

Globetrotter Hostel Odyssee

8.5

Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg

"A fun hostel with a large common area with a pool table, foosball table, and TV. The reception more

Hostel Die Etage

8.6

Steglitz-Zehlendorf

"…About 30 minutes total to get to Berlin East downtown. Noise: Average -- Almost no street noise, more

Best Location for Hostels in Berlin

• Best areas for backpackers
  • Friedrichshain: Street art, cheap eats, quick S-Bahn to everything.
  • Kreuzberg: Vegan cafés, canal walks, late-night kebabs.
  • Mitte (around Alexanderplatz): Central sights, tons of transit, slightly higher prices.
  • Neukölln: Indie bars, global food, relaxed vibe.
• Areas to avoid in Berlin
  • Far-Flung Suburbs: Anything past the S-Bahn ring eats time and transit cash.
  • Tiergarten Residential Pockets: Beautiful but mostly hotels and embassies—hostels are rare and pricey.

How Much Do Hostels Cost in Berlin

Hostel prices swing with seasons, events, and bed count. Museums may be free on Thursdays, but beds are never free—plan ahead.

Summer festivals, marathon weekend, and New Year’s Eve spike prices by 20 %+.

The bigger the dorm, the lower the cost, so weigh privacy against euros saved.

How to Book a Hostel in Berlin Without Overpaying

1. Step one: fire up Hostelz.com. It pulls rates from Booking and Hostelworld side by side, so you spot the cheapest listing plus fees in one go. I cross-check dorm size, cancellation terms, and whether city tax is rolled into the total—Berlin adds a 5 % city tax that sneaks into the fine print.
2. When to book: For summer and major events, lock in three months early. Shoulder season? Two weeks out, nets solid deals. Last-minute beds exist, but they’re often top bunk above the hallway door—fair warning.
3. Watch for: Linen fees (sometimes €3), key deposits, and paid lockers. Add these extras to the nightly rate, so you’re comparing apples to apples.

Still not sure? Pick my Favorite Hostel in Berlin

#1 Top Hostel in Berlin: EastSeven Berlin Hostel

This is the overall best rated hostel in EastSeven Berlin Hostel. The overall rating is 9.6. You cannot go wrong here.

It is your safest bet in case you are not sure which hostel to pick.

The price for a dorm at EastSeven Berlin Hostel starts from $12.35.

Check out EastSeven Berlin Hostel here

Hostel Safety and What to Watch Out For

Berlin hostels feel safe, but common sense still rules.

• Lockers & keycards: Use them. I stash my passport and laptop, even during showers.
• 24/7 reception: Worth the extra €2—late check-ins and someone at the desk deter strangers.
• Pickpockets: Big train stations and night buses are hotspots. Keep zippers forward and pockets empty.
• Read reviews: Scan for repeated mentions of missing items or broken locks. One complaint—meh; five complaints—skip it.

Final Thoughts

Berlin’s hostels aren’t the cheapest in Europe, and they definitely aren’t palatial, but pick the right spot, and you’ll gain instant friends, local tips, and a story or two that’ll outlive your backpack.

Figure out your vibe, use Hostelz.com to compare prices, and book early when the techno gods throw a festival. Your sleep schedule might suffer, but your travel memories—and wallet—will thank you.

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About the author: Matt Kiefer

Hey, I’m Matt, the founder behind Hostelgeeks.com. My team and I are collecting the absolute best hostels in the world for you. We share the coolest hostels so you can focus on your travels, rather than spending your time trying to pick a good hostel.

Personally, I’ve bunked in over 600 hostels and stamped my passport in more than 70 countries. My heart beats for Vietnam, Spain, and France, and so many more destinations. I’m a Foosball champ but a beer pong amateur.

Last but not least: Hostelgeeks is a proud ambassador of Hostelz.com.