Finding the right place to stay in Germany can make or break your experience. Here's everything you need to know about hotels, hostels, apartments, and long-term housing.
Short-Term Stays (1-30 Days)
Hotels
Booking Platforms:
- Booking.com - Most popular, easy cancellation policies
- Hotels.com - Rewards program (free night after 10 stays)
- HRS.de - Popular in Germany, often better prices for German hotels
- Trivago/Kayak - Compare prices across platforms
Types of Hotels:
- Business Hotels (Ibis, Motel One, NH Hotels) - €60-100/night, basic but clean
- Mid-Range (Mercure, Maritim) - €100-150/night, more amenities
- Boutique/Luxury - €150+/night
Money-Saving Tips:
- Book directly with hotel after checking comparison sites (sometimes get better rates)
- Stay outside city center and use public transport
- Book refundable rates for flexibility
- Look for hotels near S-Bahn stations for easy access
Hostels
Perfect for budget travelers and meeting people.
Best Hostel Chains:
- A&O Hostels - Modern, clean, family-friendly
- MEININGER Hotels - Hybrid hotel/hostel
- Wombat's - Social atmosphere, great locations
What to Expect:
- Dorm beds: €15-30/night
- Private rooms: €50-80/night
- Shared bathrooms and kitchens
- Common areas for socializing
- Usually include breakfast
Booking:
- HostelWorld.com
- Booking.com (also lists hostels)
- Direct on hostel websites
Tips:
- Read reviews carefully (noise, cleanliness, location)
- Bring a padlock for lockers
- Earplugs are essential
- Book female-only dorms if preferred
Airbnb & Vacation Rentals
Pros:
- More space than hotels
- Kitchen saves money on food
- Feel like a local
- Often cheaper for groups
Cons:
- Cleaning fees add up
- Less flexibility with cancellations
- Quality varies more than hotels
Important Notes:
- Germany has strict rental laws - many cities require registration
- Some landlords illegally rent apartments (can cause issues)
- Always verify host has proper permits
- Read reviews thoroughly
Alternatives to Airbnb:
- FeWo-direkt (German vacation rental site)
- Vrbo - More professionally managed properties
- 9flats - European vacation rental platform
Medium-Term Stays (1-6 Months)
Serviced Apartments
Fully furnished apartments with hotel-like services.
Companies:
- Homelike.com - All-inclusive monthly rentals
- Urban Ground - Modern apartments in major cities
- Wunderflats - Furnished flats, expat-friendly
- Spotahome - View apartments via video tours
What's Included:
- Furniture and kitchenware
- Utilities (electricity, internet, heating)
- Cleaning services (sometimes)
- No registration required for short stays
Costs:
- Studio: €800-1,500/month depending on city
- 1-bedroom: €1,000-2,000/month
- Usually cheaper than hotels for longer stays
Subletting (Zwischenmiete)
Rent someone's apartment while they're away.
Where to Find:
- WG-Gesucht.de - Most popular platform
- Facebook Groups - Search "[City Name] Housing" or "Expats in [City]"
- Immobilienscout24.de - Main real estate site
- eBay Kleinanzeigen - Classified ads
Pros:
- Cheaper than serviced apartments
- Real German living experience
- Sometimes includes registration (Anmeldung)
Cons:
- More scams - verify everything
- May need to provide deposit
- Less professional than serviced apartments
Red Flags:
- Landlord won't video call
- Asks for money before showing apartment
- Price seems too good to be true
- Poor German/English (might be scammer)
Long-Term Housing (6+ Months)
Finding an Apartment
Main Platforms:
- Immobilienscout24.de - #1 site for apartments
- Immonet.de - Another major site
- WG-Gesucht.de - Good for shared flats (WGs)
- eBay Kleinanzeigen - Direct from landlords, fewer fees
Understanding Listings:
- Kaltmiete - "Cold rent" (base rent without utilities)
- Warmmiete - "Warm rent" (includes utilities)
- Nebenkosten - Additional costs (heating, water, trash)
- Kaution - Security deposit (usually 2-3 months rent)
- Provision - Realtor fee (if applicable, usually 2 months rent + VAT)
Types of Rentals:
- Unmöbliert - Unfurnished (may not even have a kitchen!)
- Teilmöbliert - Partially furnished
- Möbliert - Fully furnished (rare for long-term)
- WG - Shared apartment (Wohngemeinschaft)
The Application Process
You'll Need:
- Schufa (credit report) - Get from meineschufa.de
- Proof of income (employment contract, pay stubs)
- Copy of passport/ID
- Previous rental references
- Mieterselbstauskunft (tenant self-disclosure form)
Competition is Fierce:
- Expect 20-50+ applicants for good apartments
- Prepare a professional application folder
- Be ready to view apartments immediately
- Have documents ready to submit on the spot
Tips to Stand Out:
- Write a personal introduction letter in German
- Dress professionally for viewings
- Show you're reliable and quiet
- Offer to pay several months upfront (if you can)
- Have a German friend call on your behalf
Registration (Anmeldung)
IMPORTANT: You must register your address within 14 days of moving in.
What You Need:
- Completed Anmeldung form (get at Bürgeramt or online)
- Wohnungsgeberbestätigung - Landlord confirmation (landlord must sign)
- Passport
- Rental contract
Where to Register:
- Bürgeramt or Einwohnermeldeamt (citizen's office)
- Book appointment online weeks in advance
- Bring all documents
- Receive Anmeldebestätigung (confirmation)
Why It Matters:
- Required by law
- Needed to open bank accounts
- Required for residence permits
- Needed for health insurance
- Can't get German driver's license without it
Neighborhood Guide
Berlin
- Mitte - Central, touristy, expensive
- Prenzlauer Berg - Family-friendly, cafés, expensive
- Friedrichshain - Young, nightlife, mid-price
- Kreuzberg - Multicultural, vibrant, mid-price
- Neukölln - Up-and-coming, diverse, affordable
- Charlottenburg - Western center, professional, mid-expensive
Munich
- Altstadt - City center, very expensive
- Maxvorstadt - University area, culture, expensive
- Schwabing - Trendy, young professionals, expensive
- Giesing - Residential, more affordable
- Sendling - Quiet, family-friendly, mid-price
Frankfurt
- Sachsenhausen - Traditional, river views, expensive
- Nordend - Leafy, family-friendly, expensive
- Bornheim - Alternative scene, mid-price
- Bockenheim - Students, university, affordable
Hamburg
- St. Pauli - Nightlife, Reeperbahn, mid-price
- Sternschanze - Alternative, young, mid-price
- Eimsbüttel - Residential, quiet, mid-expensive
- Altona - Multicultural, families, mid-price
Costs Breakdown
Rent (Monthly)
Berlin:
- Studio: €700-1,000
- 1-bed: €900-1,400
- WG room: €400-700
Munich (most expensive):
- Studio: €1,000-1,500
- 1-bed: €1,200-1,800
- WG room: €600-900
Frankfurt/Hamburg:
- Studio: €800-1,200
- 1-bed: €1,000-1,500
- WG room: €500-800
Additional Costs
- Deposit: 2-3 months rent (refundable)
- Realtor fee: 2 months rent + VAT (if applicable)
- Utilities: €100-200/month
- Internet: €20-40/month
- GEZ (TV/Radio tax): €18.36/month (mandatory)
- Electricity: €40-80/month
Red Flags & Scams
Warning Signs:
- Landlord won't meet in person/video call
- Asks for money before showing apartment
- No written contract
- Price significantly below market rate
- Landlord is "traveling" and can't show apartment
- Only communicates via email
- Asks for wire transfer or Western Union
- Won't provide Wohnungsgeberbestätigung
Protect Yourself:
- Never send money before seeing apartment
- Always get written contract
- Verify landlord identity
- Meet at the actual apartment
- Use secure payment methods
- Join expat Facebook groups for advice
Useful German Phrases
- Ich suche eine Wohnung - I'm looking for an apartment
- Wann kann ich besichtigen? - When can I view it?
- Sind Haustiere erlaubt? - Are pets allowed?
- Wann ist die Wohnung verfügbar? - When is the apartment available?
- Welche Nebenkosten kommen dazu? - What additional costs are there?
First Week Checklist
- Book temporary accommodation (hotel/hostel/Airbnb)
- Join housing Facebook groups for your city
- Create accounts on Immobilienscout24 and WG-Gesucht
- Order your Schufa report
- Prepare application documents
- Research neighborhoods
- Set up saved searches with alerts
- Join expat groups for housing tips
Pro Tip: The German housing market is competitive, especially in Munich and Berlin. Start looking at least 2-3 months before you need to move. Consider starting with a short-term furnished apartment while you search for a long-term place.
Need Help? Contact local expat organizations like InterNations or Americans in Germany Facebook groups for housing advice and support.