Berlin Kreuzberg

Accommodations in Kreuzberg tend to a bit grungier than other parts of the city, but the hostels also have a much better sense of community. Staying in Kreuzberg lets travelers live in a rich community while still being close to the city's major sights.

Metropol Hostel, Mehringdamm 32 (www.Metropolhostel-berlin.com), The newest addition to the Kreuzberg hostel scene wasn't entirely finished when Let's Go stopped by, but the results thus far are pretty promising. The hallways feel a bit like a hospital, but the rooms themselves sometimes verge on near-hotel accommodations. Superb mattresses, clean floors, newly painted walls, and spotless bathrooms all work to this end. Oh, and those century-old-looking doors are actually 100 years old. The building is a historical site and the doors cannot be replaced. U6 or U7: Mehringdamm. Shower and toilet in every room. Breakfast, linens, lockers, luggage storage, safe box, and towels included. 6-to 10-bed dorms €9-14; singles €39-49; doubles €49-50. Reception 24hr. Check-in 2pm. Check-out 10am. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Serves alcohol.
Hostel X Berger, Schlesischestr. 22 (www.hostelxberger.com), For the quickest jump to the coolest clubs in Berlin, no one outdoes Hostel X Berger, located right along the canal. While the accommodations are far from new, the rooms somehow feel relaxed, like you've already lived there. A foggy downstairs smoke room with a pool table works like an underground club, while a quiet study upstairs makes good space to work. Rooms are also designed to let you play hard, with a late check-out time and free coffee for the after-party blues. U1: Schlesisches Tor. From the U-bahn, head south on Schlesischestr. Luggage storage and Wi-Fi included. 2 computers with free Internet. Linens €2. Towel €1. Laundry €4. Lock rental €1. Key deposit €6. Guest kitchen open until 9:30pm. 4-bed dorms €17-18; 16-bed dorms €11-12. Singles €32-36; doubles €40-46. Reception 24hr. Check-in 4pm. Check-out 2pm. Does not take credit cards. No wheelchair access. Has internet. Serves alcohol.
baxpax Kreuzberg, Skalitzer Str. 104 (www.baxpax.de), This old-school backpacker hostel offers far from the royal treatment, but a weary traveler will find a bed, lively drunk guests, and staff accustomed to drunk guests. Rooms are themed around countries—someone literally sleeps in a VW bug in the German room. A rooftop terrace connected to the guest kitchen is brilliant in the daytime but unfortunately closes at 10pm. Shoddy Wi-Fi is a major turn-off, but the signal is enough to check mail. Staff wakes you up if you sleep past check-out..not that we would know. U1: Görlitzer Bahnhof. Breakfast options €1-2.50. Linens and towel €2.50. Internet €2 per hr. Laundry €7. Lockers, luggage storage, and safebox included. Guests can smoke in the common room after 6pm. 32-bed dorms €9-14; 8-bed €10-17; 4-bed €14-20. Singles €26-37; doubles with bath €24-30. Reception 24hr. Check-in 3pm. Check-out 11am. Does not take credit cards. Wheelchair access. Has internet. Serves alcohol. Has outdoor seating.
Hostel 36 Rooms, Spreewaldpl. 8 (www.36rooms.com), Nice large rooms and a beautiful outdoor patio are somewhat robbed of fun by the hostel's no-outside-alcohol policy. Guests can beer it at the hostel bar or wait until Thursday, Friday and Saturday, when one of Kreuzberg's hippest underground clubs rocks in the hostel's basement. Hot travelers can dip in the wave pool across the street at the hostel's discounted price (€2 per hr.). Old World rooms have chandeliers and great views of the nearby park. Unfortunately some also have an Old World smell. U1: Görlitzer Bahnhof. Locker rental €2. Linens and towel €2.50. Bike rental €10 per day. Key deposit €10. 8-bed dorms €14-17; 4-bed €18-21. Singles €35-39; doubles €50-58. Reception 24hr. Check-in 1pm. Check-out 11am. Patio and kitchen open until 10pm. Does not take credit cards. No wheelchair access. Has internet. Serves alcohol.
Comeback Packers Hostel, Alabertstr. 97 (www.comebackpackers.com), As you climb the fish-smelling stairs, you'd never guess that this relaxed hostel waited at the top, just chilling there. The large common room feels more like your mother's kitchen and stays open all night. Guests can jump out the windows..onto the roof for a smoke or some sun at the picnic tables. The showers are pretty exposed—as in, people will definitely see you naked, and you definitely should not pee because everyone will know, and it will be embarrassing. Anyway—beds are adequate and tend to not be bunked. Rooms are large, wood-floored, and climb-on-the-roof-able, but otherwise unremarkable. The only remarkable thing is the goose lamp in the goose room. It's a goose. But it's also a lamp. Staff has a very German sense of humor. U1 or U8: Kotbusser Tor. Coffee, linens, and Wi-Fi included. Key deposit €10. Full-service laundry €5. Towel €2. Continental breakfast (€3) must be requested. Dorms €14-20. Reception 24hr. Check-in 3pm. Check-out 1pm. Does not take credit cards. No wheelchair access. Has internet. Serves alcohol.
Aletto's, Tempelhofer Ufer 8-9 (www.aletto.de), In spite of a logo that resembles a horned dildo, Aletto keeps it clean for groups of travelers. Even though its rooms come in denominations for one to eight people, each room is private and must be booked in its entirety. The Hostel Oscar nominees for Best Amenities at an Aletto hostel in Kreuzberg are: large free breakfast, starring eggs; the mini-cinema, starring free DVD rentals; and the snappy common spaces, starring free Wi-Fi, a full service bar, and a foosball table. Matresses are a cut above average, and proud pictures of the horned dildo enchant every room. U1 or U6: Hallesches Tor. Linens, luggage storage, and towels included. ATM available. Internet €2 per hr. All prices are per room. 4-bed dorms €16-29; 6-bed €90-156. Singles €35-55; doubles €39-75. Reception 24hr. Check-in 2pm. Check-out noon. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Serves alcohol. Has outdoor seating.
Berlin Boutique Hostel, Gneisenaustr. 109-110 (www.boutique-hostel.de), If boutiques are small and fancy, then this tiny hostel lives up to at least half of its name. With only 32 beds, Boutique lacks a sense of real hostel community, and even though it's small, it could benefit from a few more toilets and showers. Additionally, if you need a lot of help in life (which you won't because you bought this really comprehensive travel guide), the lack of 24hr. reception can be a bummer. But for travelers who don't care, the rooms are cheap, clean, and even have some charm, with tall French doors and high ceilings in some of them. A small lounge area has a DVD collection and a flatscreen TV. U6 or U7: Mehringdamm. Luggage storage and Wi-Fi included. Irons and hair dryers available at front desk. 12-bed dorms €12-13; 6-bed €14-15. Doubles €50-60. Reception 8am-11pm. Check-in 2pm. Check-out noon. Travelers can arrange for late arrival. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Has internet. Serves alcohol.
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