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Much better than a youth hostel yet much cheaper than a guesthouse: in the BaxPax you’ll be sleeping in beds in decommissioned VW beetles, at under €20 per night. Plus you’ll meet young, friendly people from around the world (great for making friends). This dive is in deepest Kreuzberg, and not suitable for those over 30.

This vast youth guesthouse is situated in an excellent spot, in the heart of Kreuzberg, and close to the Jüdisches Museum. The showers are shared, but a bed in a multi-bedded room is not expensive. The hostel is favoured by a young and international crowd.

One of Berlin’s largest youth hostels offers slightly antiquated but comfortable multi-bedded rooms. The staff are very friendly for a hostel in a large city, but the hostel is often overrun by noisy hordes of school kids.

Basic apartment rooms in a small, slightly alternative guesthouse, based in an old tenement block. The “acksel haus” is near Kollwitzplatz, a popular area with young people.

One of Berlin’s oldest youth hostels, popular with groups of students and pupils and not the best place for visitors seeking peace and quiet. The picturesque location on Wannsee makes up for communal showers and dormitories, particularly in summer.

Berliner Mitwohnzentrale, an agency, arranges shared accommodation in private homes all over town, at low prices. You’ll normally have your own room with one or two beds. Quality varies considerably but the rooms are mostly priced at under €25 per night.

A private gay-and-lesbian-friendly guesthouse, offering basic rooms and many insider tips on culture and nightlife. The only disadvantage is its location in Moabit – not one of Berlin’s most attractive areas.

A typically charming Berlin guesthouse, in the most attractive part of Mitte. You can even have your breakfast served in the room.

The name of this small hotel with only 19 rooms may seem over the top, but this venue is ideally suited for young people and families. The rooms are basic but well cared for, and the service is efficient. The house is in a central spot, opposite Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtnis-Kirche.

This hotel is a little more expensive than others in the same category, but the accommodation in green surroundings is perfect for families. The hotel is run by the Protestant church.