Circus Hostel

Hard to miss on the corner of Weinsbergweg and Rosenthaler Platz in Mitte, the bright red Circus Hostel offers cheap sleeps and a “with-it” vibe that’s been attracting the cool kids for years.

Hallways painted in shades of red, green and blue set the stage for dorms, privates and apartments that are colorful without being “clownish.” Dorm rooms at the Circus Hostel offer between three and 10 beds, single or bunk-style with metal or faux-wooden frames. Red reading lights affixed to bright walls add punch, and some beds come with shelving units that keep the messy hostel look at bay.

Private rooms offer a bit more style, with framed prints and even a decorative headboard here and there. They also offer a smattering of utilitarian furnishings: bedside tables, wall-mounted hanger unit and (in some rooms) a desk.

This is a hostel, though—rooms don’t offer amenities, save for a safe in privates and lockers in the dorms.

Some single and double rooms offer a private bathroom, while the cheapest privates and dorms share facilities. Either way, the bathrooms are spotless.

Hotel and Apartments

The Circus also operates the Circus Hotel, located across the street from the hostel that offers slightly more expensive (though still affordable) rooms with all the usual hotel fixings (TV, phone, safe and free Wi-Fi), plus a range of property-wide “extras.”

The small private apartments, each of which has a balcony, offer yet another interpretation of well-designed comfort, with rattan beds and a small kitchen with an eat-in area facing expansive views of Mitte.

Hostel

The Circus Hostel’s hang-out areas are small but appealing. The lounge and reception have a vintage-y feel, thanks to clubby leather couches, glass light fixtures and bold, 1930s-style signs. The lobby also offers Internet terminals and a mini-library.

The The Circus Café is a fun place for a morning coffee, afternoon bite, weekend drink or the odd game of chess, and after hours you can meet fellow guests in the basement microbrewery that opened in 2015.

The Circus Hostel also offers a whole array of “experiences,” from organized walking tours to yoga sessions. And hair dryers, alarm clocks, padlocks and phone chargers are all on hand for your borrowing pleasure.

Wi-Fi is free throughout.