The best budget hotels in Berlin

The four clocks on the wall read: Berlin, Moscow, Peking and Havana. There’s a poster of Erick Honecker on the wall. But there’s no political message at this budget East German-themed hostel: just a cheap bed for the night. 

The Generator hostel empire spread across Europe, with two locations in Berlin, a large, if blander, site in Prenzlauer Berg, and the funkier flagship on Oranienburger Strasse.

This fantastic hostel is situated in an aptly grand 19th century building with high ceilings and plenty of period character. The rooms are spacious and spotless, and there are no bunks, even in the dorms, just comfy real beds with good-quality linen. 

Almost the standard by which other hostels should be measured, the Circus is a rarity – simple but stylish, warm and comfortable. And the upper-floor apartments have balconies and lovely views. 

In the area around Gedächtniskirche, not a lot is left of the charm and glamour that made the Ku’damm the most legendary street of pre-war Berlin. This makes this wonderful pension, which is hidden away on a quiet sidestreet, a real gem.