The Best Place to Stay in Berlin, CALMA Berlin Mitte

As a former Wisconsinite, Germany has been on my bucket list for years. I decided it was finally time to pull the plug and check this country out and I am so glad that I did! After two weeks of traveling solo by train through Munich, Nuremberg, Bamberg and Hamburg, I arrived at my final destination: Berlin, Germany.

Read on to find the best time to visit Berlin, the best way to get to Berlin from Hamburg and of course, the best place to stay in Berlin when visiting.

Pssst…I may have a discount in there for you, too!

Best time To Visit Berlin

The best time to visit Berlin totally depends on what you’re hoping to get out of your trip. Peak season in Berlin runs from around May to September, when the weather is warm and beer gardens are bustling. However, each season has their benefits:

During the fall, you’ll be able to enjoy the colorful foliage, as well as Oktoberfest and during the winter months, though cold, you’ll have plenty of festive cheer going around, as well as the Christmas markets.

Personally, I decided to visit in the end of March, when the cold winter was beginning to come to an end, but the busy, summer crowds had not yet begun to file in. The cherry blossoms were just coming into bloom, as well, which was beautiful.

How To Get To Berlin From Hamburg

If you’re like me and decided to extend your Germany itinerary into a few locations, let me just say: It’s easier to travel in between these cities than you’d think! The obvious mode of transportation is to fly from Hamburg to Berlin, but I chose to take the more affordable scenic route.

Tickets for the railway can cost anywhere between $15 and $100, depending on the time and company you choose to book with. I pre-booked my tickets here in advance to get the best prices available. The train ride was only about 3ish hours long and it was nice to not have to worry about getting to the airport early and repack my luggage.

Best Place To Stay in Berlin, Germany

I found that the best place to stay in Berlin was CALMA Berlin Mitte. It was clean, comfortable and centrally-located for a lot of the exploring I wanted to do. Since I arrived earlier in the day and flew out of Berlin later in the day, I was also able to store my luggage for free with the front desk, which saved me not only some travel fees, but also quite a bit of stress.

Breakfast was available for an extra charge when booking and I did choose to add this option on, as I feel like it’s the easiest way to start travel days, rather than hunting down cafe hours in the neighborhood to see what I can scrounge up before my first tour of the day.

The options were delicious! We had pretty much anything one could think of from fresh fruit, multiple bread options, scrambled eggs and sausages, plenty of greens and unique cheeses. There were even fresh microgreens that we could pick to add to our plates. However, my favorite surprise was opening up one of the hot food dishes and see these cute boiled eggs smiling back at me. Morning = made.

Each afternoon, there was also free coffee and tea available in the dining area until 9:00PM, with more fresh herbs that could be picked and added to the drinks. It was a cozy area to work from and as someone who literally named their brand Lattes N’ Luggage, the unlimited coffee was heaven.

If you’re thinking of staying at CALMA, too, you can use the code “RAVEN5” when booking directly on their website for an extra 5% off of your stay, no strings attached!

History of CALMA Berlin Mitte

CALMA Berlin Mitte was taken over by LINDEMANN HOTELS in 2012. Though this property was already a hotel, it wasn’t quite up to the new owners’ standards, so in spring 2013, they began to renovate the place. 38 outdated rooms became 46 modern rooms that made for a calming retreat within the bustling neighborhood of Mitte.

In 2017, the team continued improving the property, redesigning the lobby and breakfast area and adding a cheeky splash of pink to the formerly gray and white rooms. A terrace was also added to the courtyard with furniture crafted from Euro pallets.

Finally, in 2023, LINDEMANN HOTELS rebranded to little BIG hotels, which I think really captures the home away from home feeling that washes over you when staying at their properties.

The Layout

I was solo traveling, so decided to just go with the CALMA S Room size, which is one step up from the smallest room. I had plenty of space to relax in after long travel days.

The CALMA S was big enough for two if needed, with a large bed, desk, snack bar, WiFi included and an en-suite restroom. The restroom was surprisingly big, almost doubling as a second room! However, I will say the room sizes vary from XS to L, with L being large enough to fit a family of four comfortably.

The Views

The views will depend on which room your book and could be either overlooking the hotel’s quiet courtyard or the city. I ended up with a nice view overlooking the city and it was refreshing to let the cool air in every once in a while.

Environmental Zone

Germany has rolled out Environmental Zones in certain areas to help reduce air pollutions by restricting vehicles that have high emissions. CALMA is in one of these areas, so you will need to get a green sticker if you’ll have a car with you. Stickers are tied to license plates and are valid indefinitely for a small fee (6 euros). The hotel does have a parking garage available for guests nearby, as well.

I personally did not rent a car and mostly just walked or used public transportation to get around. I received a Berlin WelcomeCard from visitBerlin which included discounted entry to tons of attractions around the city, as well as free public transportation. This is a wonderful option for those looking to explore many places when in Berlin.

CALMA was close to the underground, the S-bahn and tram for easy access and front desk was also more than happy to help call or schedule a taxi, so it was easy to get around being car-free.

Location

CALMA Berlin Mitte is, of course, located in the neighborhood of Mitte, which translates to “middle” or “center” from German. This is a main area for tourism in the heart of the city with trendy restaurants and historic sites. The hotel’s also just 11 minutes from the main train station and 40 minutes from the airport, but there are plenty of things to do and places to explore right in Mitte:

Best Restaurants in Mitte

1. Ristorante Garda

Ristorante Garda is an authentic Italian restaurant that’s been a family tradition since 1969. It’s hidden in a quiet courtyard behind CALMA, so an easy dinner spot when staying. The service was wonderful, the portions hearty and delicious. Do not miss the fresh bruschetta when you go!

2. heimlich Treu

heimlich Treu is a cozy spot to grab lunch or dinner. The food and cocktail menu are both very creative, focusing on a Modern European experience. It is a bit pricier with smaller portions and a sharing concept, but you could also just come for drinks on the patio to check it out.

3. FACIL

FACIL has been around since 2001 and is a 2 Michelin-star restaurant led by master chef, Michael Kempf. The space itself is gorgeous, fit for a celebratory meal and the dinner menu is rotating courses- just choose how many you’d like to have, and the rest is up to the chef to impress.

4. Golvet

GOLVET is a 1 Michelin-star restaurant that’s located over 100 feet above Berlin, on the 8th floor of Potsdamer Platz. The views of the city are unmatched and you can get a nice view of the chefs in action from the bar, as well. The exciting cuisine is led by Michelin-starred chef and Berlin’s Master Chef 2025, Nicholas Hahn.

5. Katz Orange

Katz Orange is going to feel like visiting your friend’s house for family dinner. They have a farm-to-table approach and were one of the first to do so in Germany. There’s something for everyone on the menu and the perfect wine pairings to go along with each dish, too.

6. Austernbank

Seafood lovers, this one is for you. Austernbank is located in the former Disconto Bank and it was actually designed after the famous Grand Central Oyster Bar in New York City. The menu is led by Chef Philippe Lemoine and has plenty of gourmet seafood options, as well as fruit from the land, like lamb chops and beef tenderloin.

7. Elements of Food Tour

If you’re a true foodie and want to experience the best bites around some lesser-known areas in Berlin, I highly recommend hopping on an Elements of Food Tour. I was guided privately around Kreuzberg by Itay, the founder, and had such a fantastic time eating and drinking my way through the city! I will 100% be booking this again next time I’m back to explore some of the other neighborhoods he’s scouted out.

Things To Do In Mitte:

1. Brandenburg Gate

Brandenburg Gate is the oldest surviving historical gate in Berlin and many times, one of the first stops for new visitors in town. Today, it stands as the symbolic division between the East and West during the Cold War. It’s free to visit and open to the public 24/7.

2. Berlin TV Tower

The Berlin TV Tower is the tallest structure in the entire city, standing over 1200 feet high. Built in 1969 by the German Democratic Republic, you can now enjoy panoramic views on the observation deck, as well as enjoy a meal or drinks at the rotating bar and restaurant up top. Not surprisingly, the Berlin TV Tower attracts over 1 million visitors a year.

Side Note: Plan accordingly for this one, as when I went at sunset, the TV Tower was unfortunately closed for a private event.

3. Plötzensee Memorial

The Plötzensee Memorial is in honor of victims from the 1933-1945 reign. The site was a former prison execution shed and you can now go to pay your respects. It’s free and open to the public and you’ll find a commemorative wall, a permanent exhibition and a stone urn from one of the concentration camps.

4. Fotografiska

You may have heard of Fotografiska before, as they have locations in a few different cities, like Stockholm, Tallinn and New York. The Berlin location is right next to CALMA and showcases art, photography and culture. It’s a fun nighttime activity when most other museums have closed, but would be fit for a rainy day, as well.

Pro Tip: They have a very creative menu at their cafe, where you can even order BLUE lattes!

5. Silent Green Kulturquartier

The silent green Kulturquartier was originally a crematorium from 1911. It’s now been transformed into a complete cultural hub, hosting art, films and live music for the public. You can check their calendar to see the latest events.

6. Reichstag Building

The Reichstag Building is the historic seat of the German parliament, the Bundestag. It’s free to visit, but you do need to register in advance, as many people flock to see the glass dome with 360-degree views of the city.

I hope this quick guide gave you a nice head start on planning your Berlin adventures and some savings, too, as you can use the code “RAVEN5” when booking CALMA Berlin Mitte directly for an extra 5% off of your stay.

If you’d like more of a visual tour of CALMA Berlin Mitte, as well as things to do around Berlin and the other cities I explored in this beautiful country, head over Germany Playlist on TikTok!