MEININGER Hotel Berlin Central Station
Hostel-hotel on Ella-Trebe-Straße, about 150 metres from Berlin Hauptbahnhof's Washingtonplatz side
About this hotel
The MEININGER Hotel Berlin Central Station sits at Ella-Trebe-Straße 9, about 150 metres from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, and its whole case for a rail traveller rests on that position. The station combines ICE, regional and S-Bahn trains on two levels with the U5 underground line and trams on the forecourt. The building has 296 rooms and 820 beds over nine floors, served by two lifts. Dorms hold four beds at most, mixed or female-only, and are reserved for guests aged 18 and over; private rooms range from singles to four-bed bunk rooms. Rooms have soundproof windows. Reception is open 24 hours, breakfast runs from 06:30 to 10:30, check-in starts at 15:00 and check-out is at 11:00, with a late check-out to 14:00 in private rooms for a supplement. There is no hotel car park: drivers use the public garage of the station next door. Across 7,106 reviews the average is 7.2, so expect small, simple rooms rather than space.
- About 150 metres from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, via the Washingtonplatz exit then right
- 24-hour reception, two lifts serving nine floors
- Breakfast daily from 06:30 to 10:30, with vegan options
- Guest kitchen and bar; soundproof windows in the rooms
- Four-bed dorms for guests 18 and over, plus singles, doubles, twins, triples and four-bed bunk rooms
- PIN-locked luggage storage for a fee, check-out at 11:00
Our take
MEININGER's own directions from Berlin Hauptbahnhof fit in one line: leave towards Washingtonplatz, turn right, and the building at Ella-Trebe-Straße 9 is already in view, about 150 metres away. That matters more here than at most stations, because Hauptbahnhof has two platform levels: north-south trains use tracks 1 to 8 underground, east-west trains and the S-Bahn tracks 11 to 16 upstairs. Allow time for the escalators before an early ICE. Inside, the 296 rooms are plain, the 24-hour desk never closes and breakfast starts at 06:30. I would book it for one night between trains, not for a week in Berlin.
- Trains from BER airport (FEX and RE20) arrive on the underground level: ride up to the street floor, then follow the Washingtonplatz signs and turn right.
- Dorms are for guests aged 18 and over, so a family needs one of the four-bed bunk rooms or a triple, not dorm beds.
- Breakfast runs from 06:30 to 10:30; for a train before 07:00, eat at the station rather than waiting for the buffet.
- Check-out is at 11:00, and the hotel's PIN-locked luggage room keeps a bag for an afternoon train, for a fee.
Why we love it
- The Washingtonplatz exit is about two minutes away on foot: out of the station, turn right
- Breakfast opens at 06:30 every day, with vegan options
- A guest kitchen for arrivals after restaurants close
- Two lifts, which makes nine floors manageable with heavy luggage
Why guests love itFor a family changing trains in Berlin, the MEININGER solves the logistics rather than offering comfort. The station is about 150 metres away, two lifts serve all nine floors, and the four-bed rooms use bunk beds, so children sleep in the same room without an extra bed. Note that the four-bed dorms are adults-only (18 and over): with children you book a private triple or four-bed room. The guest kitchen helps when a delayed train arrives after restaurants close, and pets can stay in private rooms for a supplement. Across 7,106 reviews the average is 7.2, a modest score that reflects small, functional rooms. It suits a single night between connections; families planning several days of sightseeing will want more space elsewhere.