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Charlottenburg

Berlin

The grand heart of old West Berlin, around the Kurfürstendamm, the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church and Charlottenburg Palace.

Best for Families · Upscale · Business

Transport
4/5
Sights
3/5
Value
4/5
Quiet
4/5
Food
4/5

Typical mid-range hotel ~$185/night · 20 min to Alexanderplatz

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Charlottenburg on the map

Why stay here

  • Elegant, calm streets
  • Shopping on the Ku'damm and at KaDeWe
  • Zoo, Tiergarten and the palace nearby

Who should stay here

  • Families
  • Shoppers
  • Travellers who want a quieter, classic base

Not ideal if…

  • You want nightlife
  • You want to walk to Museum Island
  • You want alternative Berlin

What it's like

During the Cold War, the Ku'damm was West Berlin's shop window, and it's still lined with department stores, including KaDeWe nearby, and elegant side streets of cafés and old apartments around Savignyplatz. The bombed Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church stands by Zoo station, and Charlottenburg Palace and its gardens are a short ride north-west.

It's calm, comfortable and good for families, with the zoo and the Tiergarten close by. The trade-off is distance from the eastern districts where most of Berlin's nightlife and the main historic sights are.

Best streets and sub-areas

  • Kurfürstendamm

    The great shopping boulevard of West Berlin.

  • Savignyplatz

    Cafés, bookshops and restaurants under the S-Bahn arches.

  • Bikini Berlin

    Concept mall overlooking the zoo's monkey enclosure.

Getting around

Nearest stations
Zoologischer Garten and Savignyplatz on the S-Bahn and regional trains, and the U1, U2 and U9 along the Ku'damm.
To Alexanderplatz
About 20 minutes
From Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER)
About 50 minutes: RE7 or FEX regional trains to Zoologischer Garten or Hauptbahnhof.

Nearby attractions

  • Charlottenburg Palace

    Baroque palace with large gardens.

  • Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church

    Ruined tower kept as a war memorial, with a modern chapel.

  • Berlin Zoo

    Germany's oldest zoo, with the aquarium next door.

  • KaDeWe

    Famous department store with a huge food hall.

Where to eat and drink

  • Savignyplatz

    Old-school restaurants and wine bars.

  • KaDeWe food hall

    The sixth floor is a destination in itself.

Where to stay in Charlottenburg

A few hotels we'd book in this area, at different budgets.

Luxury pick

Waldorf Astoria Berlin

Why we like it: Tower hotel by the Memorial Church and the zoo.

Typical luxury rate in Charlottenburg: ~$410/night

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Boutique pick

Hotel Zoo Berlin

Why we like it: Glamorous design hotel on the Ku'damm.

Typical mid-range rate in Charlottenburg: ~$185/night

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Best value

25hours Hotel Bikini Berlin

Why we like it: Playful hotel with views over the zoo and a rooftop bar.

Typical mid-range rate in Charlottenburg: ~$185/night

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Hotels in CharlottenburgMid-range from ~$185/night

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