Freiraum Hostel Kreuzberg

Ever envied the life of a Berlin student? Book a room (or apartment) at Kreuzberg’s no-frills Freiraum Wohnagentur Gästehaus and find out for yourself what it’s like to live without a care in the world—and without a modicum of luxury. Housed in a small, brick, turn-of-the-century building off pub-lined Wienerstrasse, the spartan guesthouse is a great place to crash if you’re short on funds. Fiercely independent travelers will love the fact that they can come and go as they please without passing through a watchful lobby.

The dim rooms and apartments at the Freiraum Wohnagentur Gästehaus bear the stamp of DIY decorating. Memories of those dreaded furniture assembly sessions flooded back to us when we caught sight of the make-it-yourself wood-and-cardboard bunks and closets. Bold bedspreads, blue carpeting and a table and chairs better suited for an office add to the mix-and-match look.

There are two rooms on each floor, and they share a bathroom between them. Apartments, located on the top floor and in a nearby building, have private bathrooms in addition to a small kitchen. As expected, both bathrooms and kitchens are just about as basic as they come.

At the Freiraum, you get what you pay for. Rates, which include linens and towels, are so low that the ho-hum interiors are easy to swallow. If you plan on staying in Berlin longer, ask Freiraum, which doubles as a booking service, to set you up with a more substantial furnished apartment (in Kreuzberg or beyond).