Accommodation & Apartments in Berlin - where to stay
Are you looking for accommodation in
Berlin?
Wimdu offer you a unique experience – live like a local in Berlin and experience what it is really like to be in Germany’s formerly divided capital. We offer rooms in Berlin, but not your usual bog standard hotels and hostels. We offer the homes of Berliners, those that live and breathe Berlin. We offer elegant city houses, canal side apartments and guest houses in some of Berlin’s hippest districts. Our Wimdu Hosts will help you enjoy your visit and give you tips and recommendations for getting the most out of the city. You could end up staying in the hip district of
Kreuzberg or wake up to a view of the TV Tower. Berlin has it all, and we’re here to offer the best and most authentic accommodation in the city!
Fun Facts
The food most associated with Berlin is ‘
currywurst’, which is a typical German sausage served with tomato sauce and a sprinkling of curry powder.
Those that lived in
East Berlin during the Cold War had no access to bananas and their coffee was often supplemented with grain!
Berlin’s Treptower Park contains an abandoned theme park, complete with rusting Ferris wheel and giant model dinosaurs.
The city was nearly completely destroyed during World War Two – almost every building you see if less than 70 years old!
Berlin’s street lighting is different in the former Eastern and Western Zones. In the East, the street lamps given off an orange glow, whereas in the West the lighting is white.
Berlin is without a doubt the most exciting and fascinating city in Europe. Berlin’s near 30 year division into East and West zones has inadvertently created a city of revolutionaries, artists, free thinkers and a prevailing, unique attitude that continues to this day. Berlin was spared the widespread gentrification that has swept through cities such as London, Paris and Amsterdam and it is only now that such inevitable forces are having an effect on the city. It is both interesting and sad to watch. It is interesting because the city is experiencing severe growing pains as it continues to adapt to life without the
Iron Curtain - observing the city’s reaction is compelling. It is sad because there is no other capital city in Europe like Berlin with such a strong alternative culture and unique history. Berlin has by no means changed beyond recognition and so much of the Eastern Bloc’s influence over the city is still in evidence. A visit to Berlin in the near future is essential. Trust us, this city has something for everyone and an electrifying energy that will enthrall and fascinate you.
Berlin’s sights
When you go to Berlin it’s important to familiarise yourself with the history as it is such an important part of the personality of the city. A visit to
Checkpoint Charlie will soon have you up to speed on the division of Germany and the
Berlin Wall. There is an outdoor guide to the events that led to the division of Germany. The
Wall Museum located at this site is very insightful and packed full of artifacts and mementos from this time. Once you’ve got yourself up to speed on Berlin’s history, you’ll probably feel like seeing some of Berlin’s sights. Our top tip at Wimdu is to take a bus tour around the city, but not one of the expensive, organised bus tours. Berlin has two regular bus lines that pass all the major landmarks of Berlin. These buses are numbers 100 and 200 and leave from
Alexanderplatz, one of Berlin’s main U-Bahn stations. On the bus you will pass the
Brandenburg Gate,
The Reichstag,
Bellevue Palace, the
Tiergarten and the
Berlin Dom Cathedral. The journey finishes at the
Berlin Zoo, Europe’s most popular zoo. From here you can take an underground U-Bahn train back into town, or stroll through Berlin’s Tiergarten back towards the centre.
A glimpse behind the Iron Curtain
What really sets Berlin apart from other European cities is East Berlin. For thirty years this area was hidden behind the Iron Curtain and today it is a fascinating, lively and gritty area. It retains a lot of its Eastern Spirit and there are many amazing shops, bars and cafes in the
Friedrichshain,
Prenzlauer-Berg and
Neukölln areas of the city. Visiting the epic boulevard of
Karl Marx Allee in Friedrichshain will take your breath away. The street is huge and lined with awesome examples of socialist architecture. The street was used for socialist marches and you really get a feel for what it was like to live in the desolate East of Berlin.
Life’s a park
Berlin has many parks and they are always full of Berliners on a summers day. One such park that park that requires special mention is
Tempelhof, located south of central Berlin. Tempelhof was one of Berlin’s major airports and played a crucial role in the Berlin Airlift during the Cold War. Originally built by the Nazi’s, Tempelhof was declared too expensive to modernise and was turned into a park in 2008. Tempelhof is a typical example of how Berlin is a unique and idiosyncratic city. Nowhere else in the world can you fly a kite down a disused runway not half an hour from the city centre. Tempelhof is gigantic, so big in fact that it has its own microclimate. It is a must see!
Getting around
Berlin has two airports that receive passengers from all over the world.
Schönefeld Airport is located to the South and
Tegel Airport to the West. Both are within 30 minutes of the inner city by either bus or Berlin’s underground train system. You are no doubt aware of Berlin’s impeccably timed underground ‘
U-Bahn’ system, which never fails to amaze tourists. This is by far the best way to travel around the city and there are stations dotted throughout the city. Everyone uses the U-Bahn including children and dogs and it is safe and clean. Buying a day ticket is recommended as you will more than likely use it a number of times during the day. The
Berlin Welcome Card can be purchased from U-Bahn stations and gives you free access to transport and discounts in all the major museums and attractions. Berlin’s transport system is integrated so your U-Bahn ticket also works on Berlin buses and trams.
£47per nightStudio & Terrace in Buttes-ChaumontParis, France