Berlin-Mitte is the city's central district and considered to be the heart of the city. It is the historic core of the city and boasts top attractions like the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag, Rothes Rathaus (City Hall), Museum Island, Alexanderplatz (city centre square) and the beautiful boulevard Unter den Linden. This is also the city's main nightlife hub so it is buzzing all year round and especially at weekends and during the peak season.
Berlin hotels situated in this central district are always in high demand and may be pricey especially during the peak season or when there is a big event like a convention/conference in the city. However, if you are coming for just a night or two, then it may be worth staying centrally.
Tiergarten is another popular place to base yourself. It can be found just west of Berlin-Mitte, about a 10-15 minute walk. It is a district, which incorporates the city's 'green lung' or urban park 'Großer Tiergarten' - the city's largest park. Many parliamentary buildings can be found here such as Schloss Bellevue - Residence of the German President. The Chancellery, the House of World Cultures and the Carillion Tower are located with the parks amongst many other sculptures and landmarks such as the Victory Column. There's so much sightseeing to be done in this area and it is within walking distance of the historic centre - Mitte and Berlin Zoo (located at the southwest edge of Tiergarten).
The park itself is a favourite for walkers, joggers, playing games, picnicking or simply relaxing. It is also the location for many of the city's famous flea markets. Further west of Tiergarten is the Charlottenburg - Westend district. In 2001, it merged with Wilmersdorf and is now part of the Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf district. This inner city district was once the heart of West Berlin. Charlottenberg has a high concentration of Berlin hotels especially on and closeby the Kurfürstendamm or the Ku'damm as it is more locally known. This is one of the city's most famous avenues. The tree lined avenue runs for 3.2km and is lined with bars, cafe, restaurants, hotels and excellent shopping in the form of endless department stores, fashion chains and designer boutiques. In many ways it is likened to the Champs-Elysées in Paris!
If you want to make your holiday budget stretch a bit further then choose Berlin hotels in districts like Schoeneberg, Friedrichshain and Pankow which are a bit further from the city centre but because of this, hotel rooms may be a bit cheaper. When you choose to stay, here make sure you are within walking distance of a U-Bahn-S-Bahn (Berlin's public transport system). There's also plenty of Berlin airport hotels to stay in if you would like to be convenient to the airport for an early flight or late arrival. The main international airport that serves Berlin is called Berlin Tegel Airport and it's located about 8km north of the city.
When it comes to the type of hotel you book, there is an endless choice of Berlin hotels whether you're looking for cheap hotels in Berlin or luxury hotels in Berlin. Hotels range from 1 star - 5 star and you can always select a specialist hotel if you have something in mind whether it be an apartment hotel, boutique hotel, business hotel, casino hotel, family hotel, historic hotel, pet friendly hotel or spa hotel. Hope this little guide helps you to select the perfect Berlin hotel for your stay.