If you already decided to travel to Berlin and watch movies in the Berlinale, you’ll have to book accommodation sooner or later. Februaries in Berlin tend to be cold and hectic, and picking the right accommodation is crucial. That said, the best Berlinale hotels are always the ones that are close to the main venues of the film festival and offer -at least- decent rooms and services.
If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you know how much I love the International Film Festival of Berlin. I’ve seen fifteen editions, written a comprehensive Berlinale guide, and interviewed Mariette Rissenbeek, one of the festival’s former directors. And although you can find some hotels in my festival guide, I decided to write a spin-off article focused entirely on accommodation during the Berlin International Film Festival.
Therefore, for this article, I handpicked the best Berlinale hotels to make the most of your February stay in Berlin. So, scroll down and discover where to stay during this year’s festival.
*Some links are affiliate links. It means that if you buy something, I might earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
How I chose the best Berlinale hotels
I promise to keep this article short so you can easily access the list of hotels and quickly book your accommodation. However, I must write a few words about how I chose the best Berlinale hotels.
Briefly, I considered three factors, and all the hotels you’ll find below tick all the boxes. These are:
- The proximity to the venues.
- Public transport.
- Quality of hotel’s services.
Let’s break down these three factors and add information about your Berlinale stay.
Proximity to the venues
As I stated in the introduction, February in Berlin is often cold and hectic. Since you’re visiting the city to attend the film festival, staying as close to one of the main festival hubs is a good idea. By festival hubs, I mean areas with a concentration of festival locations. These are, of course, cinemas but also places to buy tickets or see exhibitions.
Although there are plenty of cinemas hosting Berlinale screenings, the main locations in the city are:
- The Potsdamer Platz. That’s where the Berlinale’s heart beat day and night. Although it’s not a vibrant area in terms of local life, the Potsdamer Platz is where the iconic Berlinale Palast and other cinemas like the Arsenal and Cinemaxx are located. If you’re up for some red carpet sessions, here’s the place to be.
- The area around Zoo Palast. Located in the former West Berlin, the area is home to the beautiful Zoo Palast, the Haus der Berliner Festspiele, and Delphi. There are plenty of films to watch and some red carpet premieres. Moreover, the area is much more charming and offers direct connections to other cinemas and also to the Potsdamer Platz.
- The area around Alexanderplatz. While not the most pleasing to the eye, the heart of former East Berlin has a few venues around it. The Cubix Alexanderplatz shows plenty of Berlinale movies and is near famous cinemas like the Kino International (which is currently under renovation).
After sharing the Berlinale hotels’ list, I’ll also write about where to stay depending on your budget and interests.
Public transport
Berlin has an impressive public transport network. The U-Bahn, the S-Bahn, and the buses will take you everywhere in the city. However, while choosing the best hotels to stay in during the Berlinale, I considered an extra factor: direct connections to the cinemas. After watching 15 Berlinales, I know how important it is to transport quickly from Cinema A to Cinema B.
The constant flow of movies means that you sometimes don’t have enough time to commute. Plus, given that there’s free seat allocation, you must arrive at the cinema at least half an hour before the screening -otherwise, you’ll probably watch the movie in the first row.
So, while Berlin’s public transport will take you everywhere, it’s better to avoid using two or three lines to reach the venues. The most convenient metro line is U2 and the bus 200. They both travel along the Zoo Palast, the Potsdamer Platz, and Alexanderplatz. As you can easily imagine, the majority of Berlinale hotels on my list are along these two lines.
Quality of hotels’ services
I think this doesn’t need further clarification. You are here to enjoy watching movies in one of the most legendary European Film Festivals. Which also means you are here to have a good time in Berlin. Picking a nice hotel also translates to an extra layer of enjoyment. Waking up in a nice neighborhood and looking forward to a cozy hotel room to rest in is extremely important for me when traveling.
Some hotels will be, obviously, pricier than others. Consider your budget and decide what matters to you the most: more money spent on tickets or costs split between the Berlin Film Festival and a better room. It’s up to you.
On a side note, I don’t recommend any Airbnbs. Staying in a flat is often a wonderful experience, and the platform is fine, too. However, Berlin has suffered from the consequences of gentrification for a long time -and I have suffered too. The local population struggles to find an affordable flat to live and work in, which is unacceptable. It’s not exclusively Airbnb’s fault but largely contributed to the situation.
The best Berlinale hotels: where to stay during the Berlin Film Festival
So, here’s the much-awaited section of this blog. After clarifying everything, you can find the top Berlinale hotels here. They all tick the factors I shared above, and you can pick the one that fits your style, standards, and budget. Lastly, when you see a star (*) next to the hotel’s name, it means that this is the one I’d choose.
Berlinale hotels close to Potsdamer Platz
The top hotel in the area is the Hyatt. It’s pricy, but it’s the “unofficial” Berlinale Headquarters. Stars, journalists, and VIPs always stay at Hyatt. So, here are the Berlinale hotels close to Potsdamer Platz.
Grand Hyatt Hotel. At Marlene Dietrich Platz, directly at Berlinale Palast.
The Mandala Hotel. One minute away from the Berlinale Palast and the Bus 200, and three minutes from U2.
Marriott Hotel. Less than five minutes from Palast, the 200 bus stop, and the U2.
Grimm’s Hotel*. Every floor is after a fairytale of Brothers Grimm; it’s five minutes to the Palast, the 200 bus, and the U2 Potsdamer Platz.
Ibis Potsdamer Platz. Among the most affordable options in the area, and a ten-minute walk from the Palast, the 200 bus and the U2.
Berlinale hotels close to Zoo Palast
There’s much more local flair around the Zoo and plenty of museums to see in your free time. Plus, charming neighborhoods like the Savigny Platz are just a short walk away. So, here are the best Berlinale hotels close to Zoo Palast.
Waldorf Astoria. This luxurious hotel is right at Zoo Palast, next to SBahn, bus 200, and U2 Zoologischer Garten.
Motel One Upper City West*. It is a more affordable option a minute away from Zoo Palast, S-Bahn, bus 200, and U2 Zoologischer Garten.
25 Hours Bikini Berlin*. It has a great rooftop bar and cozy rooms; two minutes away from Zoo Palast, S-Bahn, bus 200, and U2 Zoologischer Garten.
Hotel Zoo Berlin. Famous among stars, and just five minutes away from public transport and the area’s cinemas.
DoubleTree by Hilton Ku’damm. Straight at the iconic Ku’damm Avenue and five minutes on foot from Zoo Palast, S-Bahn, bus 200, and U2 Zoologischer Garten.
Berlinale hotels close to Alexanderplatz
Finally, here are the best places to stay during the Berlinale close to Alexanderplatz. The area will give you easy access to most venues, plus it’s conveniently located close to Mitte and Prenzlauer Berg, two of the most beautiful Berlin locations.
Selina*. Next to U2 Rosa Luxemburg Platz.
Motel One Alexanderplatz. Next to Cubix cinema and two minutes away from bus 200, S-Bahn, and U2 Alexanderplatz.
Park Inn by Radisson. Straight at Alexanderplatz; a minute on foot from Cubix, the 200 bus, S-Bahn, and U2 Alexanderplatz.
Linnen*. Located in the vibrant neighborhood of Prenzlauer Berg and just a minute from U2 Eberswalderstrasse.
Hotel Oderberger. Also at Prenzlauer Berg and three minutes away from U2 Eberswalderstrasse.
For all other accommodation options in Berlin, please use the interactive map below.
Tips for your Berlinale stay
In the last section of this article, I’ll share some extra tips for your Berlinale stay. If you still have questions, please leave a comment at the bottom of this post, and I’ll do my best to assist you further. So, here’s some extra info that might sometimes feel like an FAQ section.
Where should I stay as an industry professional?
If you are an industry professional, you should stay close to Potsdamer Platz. That’s where the European Film Market (EFM) takes place, and that’s where you can do networking. As a film industry professional, you should be as close as possible to where the action takes place. The Berlinale is a great opportunity to be among like-minded people, and the Potsdamer Platz is the place to stay.
Where should I stay if that’s my first time in the Berlinale and Berlin?
I suggest skipping the Potsdamer Platz if that’s your first time in Berlin unless you want to watch all-day-long movies. I recommend staying at the former West Berlin or around Alexanderplatz for first-time visitors to Berlin and the Berlinale. While it’s great to watch movies, I believe it’s also nice to see what Berlin offers.
Participating even for a few days in a city’s local life is wonderful, and you shouldn’t miss the opportunity. Just make sure to be close to U2, bus 200, or the S-Bahns commuting between Zoo and Alexanderplatz for easy access to the cinemas.
Where should I stay if I’m a returning visitor to Berlin, but that’s my first Berlinale?
I’d say the same as above. Skip Potsdamer Platz and pick an accommodation either close to Berlin Zoo or the Alexanderplatz. Additionally, since you know what Berlin looks like, check if there are more neighborhoods you want to explore along the U2. More distant neighborhoods like the Theodor Heuss Platz or Pankow will require extended travel times, but they are equally charming and often significantly cheaper.
How do you commute around Berlin and save money?
Public transport tickets are one extra cost you must consider when attending the Berlinale. This will be a significant added cost, with ticket prices skyrocketing in recent years. Instead of purchasing single tickets, buying a weekly card for public transport is better. Besides saving money, you won’t have to wait to buy tickets and have tons of coins in your pockets.
You can choose from various tickets, but the weekly ticket is your best option. If you stay for the entire festival (10 days), even a monthly card will save you money. And here’s a Berlinale tip: consider buying the 10 am monthly card: you can use this card daily but only past 10 am. The chances are that you won’t need it earlier since most movies start around this time. It’s significantly cheaper than the regular card, and you can use it until 3 am. Practically, you can’t use public transport between 3 am and 9:59 am.
Is there something like a Berlin Pass that includes public transport?
Luckily, yes. For people visiting Berlin, the Berlin Welcome Card is a great option. Apart from being a ticket for public transport, it also gives you access to several museums and places of interest. Therefore, if you visit Berlin but don’t plan to spend the whole stay in the cinemas, the Welcome Card is fantastic.
You can choose the number of days you need it and purchase the All Inclusive Welcome Card here.
Alternatively, you can buy the Museum Island Welcome Card here.
Both cards grant you access to unlimited use of Berlin’s entire public transport network.
Did you write more things about Berlin?
Yes, there’s a section on my travel blog dedicated entirely to Berlin. You can find my Berlin-related articles here.
Among them, you’ll find a 3-day Berlin itinerary, a guide on how to enjoy Berlin by bike, and articles about locations like the Berlin Wall Memorial, the Palace of Tears, and much more.
The best Berlinale hotels: Conclusion
Choosing a convenient hotel to stay in during the Berlinale period is crucial. Although it seems secondary when deciding to see a film festival up close, the right hotel choice can positively affect your stay. The best Berlinale hotels on this list guarantee a smooth experience: proximity to the venues, easy access to direct public transport lines, and good quality of services.
In addition, the accompanying Berlinale tips I shared will give you a better overview of the festival’s rhythms and help you save money. Despite being one of the best things to do in Berlin, the Berlinale tickets are expensive and can quickly raise the costs of your journey. That said, plan everything according to your budget, keep your stomach full and your body hydrated, and enjoy the upcoming Berlinale.
More Berlinale: Berlinale 2019 Diary, Berlinale 2022 thoughts
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Last Updated on January 8, 2025 by George Pavlopoulos