Where to stay in Berlin

published 15 September 2014

Modern Houseboat

What's so special?

If you like peace and solitude on holiday,then you should treat yourself to a stay at the Modern Houseboat, a floating hotel room located at the edge of Berlin's Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg district.

How they rate it

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This houseboat is in keeping with Berlin's "contemporary quirkiness", says Laura Fowler in Cond Nast Traveller. The design is "modernism at its best: big spaces; raw, architectural materials in clean, geometric shapes; lots of glass, wood and concrete".

Most importantly though, the boat is also comfortable, with sofas to relax on and a wood-burning stove for those "biting Berlin winters". Floor-to-ceiling windows can be pulled back to open up the bedroom, kitchen/diner, and living room, which all look straight out across the water.

The menu

You can cook for yourself in the houseboat's kitchen, or, if you are feeling energetic, you can take the two bicycles that come with the boat and find somewhere to eat in the local neighbourhood.

The cost

Prices start from €180 per night. Find out moreat www.welcomebeyond.com/property/modern-boat, orcall 00 49 163 737 2509.

25hours Hotel

What's so special?

Located in the up-and-coming West City region, this hotel is part of an arty concept mall' that hosts designer shops and Bikini Boxes' oversized crates that house pop-up shops. The hotel's roof terrace looks out over the neighbouring Berlin Zoo.

How they rate it

This is "a hotel without borders. Everyone is welcome to wander in, lie in a faux-fur hammock, take a turn on the swing seat or pick a vinyl to play on the turntable," says Juliet Rix in The Independent. "The hotel's slogan is come as you are' and you really feel you can; it is genuinely fun and relaxed."

The rooms offer a variety of sizes and you can choose between Urban' or Jungle' the latter overlook the zoo. The decor is "playful" "amusing extras" include "a selection of pillows with slogans (Let's Sleep Together')", while in the bathroom a switch marked warm feet' turns on the underfloor heating by the basin.

The menu

NENI Berlin, the restaurant, is run by chef Haya Molcho, "whose cuisine is described as Balagan, meaning pleasing chaos'". Order several dishes to share "it's fusion food of the best kind".

The cost

Doubles start from €115, with breakfast. For more, visit www.25hours-hotels.com, or call 00 49 30 12 02210.

The best boat hotels

Sunborn, Gibraltar: "Why charter a luxury superyacht when you can spend a night on one for a fraction of the fee?" asks Laura Holt in The Independent. Sunborn (pictured) is a seven-storey, 465-foot boat with "sweeping marble staircases, chandeliers and 189 rooms with windows that look on to the Rock of Gibraltar".

There is also an infinity pool on the top deck, and a restaurant and bar. Doubles from £350, including breakfast.

The Queen Mary, US: "One of Britain's most celebrated ships can now be found off the coast of California." The ship was built in the 1930s as an ocean liner. It ended up ferrying troops during World War II, then returned to being a transatlantic passenger ship, "dominating the waves until the dawn of the jet age in the late 1950s". It is now a floating hotel just off Long Beach, offering doubles from £80 ().

Yellow Submarine, UK: Liverpool's Albert Dock holds three themed boat hotels. One is dedicated to Batman villain The Joker. Another is kitted out to resemble the first-class lounge of the Titanic. And then there's the Yellow Submarine. "As you would expect in the city that fathered the Fab Four, it pays homage to the 1966 Revolver song."

The "canary-yellow exterior" is covered with cut-outs of the four band members. It also contains some of The Beatles' gold discs and the scooter from The Who's Quadrophenia. Prices from £199 for exclusive use. The boat sleeps eight.

Ruth Jackson-Kirby is a freelance personal finance journalist with 17 years’ experience, writing about everything from savings and credit cards to pensions, property and pet insurance.

Ruth started her career at MoneyWeek after graduating with an MA from the University of St Andrews, and she continues to contribute regular articles to our personal finance section. After leaving MoneyWeek she went on to become deputy editor of Moneywise before becoming a freelance journalist.

Ruth writes regularly for national publications including The Sunday Times, The Times, The Mail on Sunday and Good Housekeeping among many other titles both online and offline.