If you want to experience Berlin like the cool folk that live here, base yourself at these trendy-but-luxurious pads in the serene Charlottenburg district. The 21 suites (sleeping 2-4) are on the site of the Wilmina Hotel, a former prison converted into a characterful urban retreat (very Berlin!), so you have access to all its excellent facilities - rooftop pool and sundeck, room service, gyms, restaurant, library and landscaped gardens.
Tucked at the back of the property, the suites range from 80-246 sqm, so space is plentiful (a rarity in a big city). They follow the same calming colour palette as the hotel's rooms, with smart Scandi styling and meticulous attention to detail. The emphasis is on clean lines and minimalism – whitewashed walls, parquet flooring, lofty cement ceilings. Room-height windows flood the airy spaces with light, and each opens onto a wide terrace overlooking a secluded, leafy courtyard. Furniture is simple but elegant, from the Bocci lighting to the Coco-Mat mattresses, the crisp white cottons to the push-open drawers and cupboards (there is storage for days).
Sleek, sophisticated but welcoming, they’re perfect for couples, groups or families who value the independence and space of apartment living but with added hotel luxuries, right here in Europe’s coolest capital.
Highs
- All suites have private terraces and spacious living areas
- Quiet and peaceful despite being next to a busy road, with excellent transport links connecting you to the city's major sights
- Free access to all of Wilmina Hotel's facilities, including a restaurant, rooftop pool and leafy gardens and courtyards
- The service is excellent. Staff are young, friendly, professional and always willing to help
- There’s a day bar/café on the ground floor if you want a coffee or snack in the sunny courtyard, where high walls tumble with greenery
Lows
- Charlottenburg is quiet rather than hip and happening, but this might be welcome after a busy day in the city
- Rooms might feel a little too minimalist; a couple of objets or a splash of art would add a bit more homeliness
- Although you have the option of breakfast at the hotel, it's on the pricey side, but you can opt for something smaller at the on-site bakery (or head to one of many cafes outside)
Best time to go
They say the only thing that gets you through a Berlin winter is the promise of a Berlin summer. But winter can actually be lovely if you’re visiting, especially when the Christmas markets are on - do expect some cold and rain, though. The city really comes alive in April-October when the weather turns and everyone heads outdoors to eat, drink and party. It’s the best time to experience the famous Berlin vibe. High summer can get oppressive - temperatures of 34-35C are not uncommon.
Our top tips
For getting around, check out the Berlin Welcome Card. It's available in 2-6 day passes and includes all public transport (including to/from airport), free entry to many attractions, and discounts on others. At weekends, public transport runs all night.
- City Apartments
- 21 suites for 2-4
- Self-catering (restaurant next door)
- All ages welcome
- Open all year
- Outdoor Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car not necessary
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Daily Maid Service
- Towels & Bedlinen
- Bicycles Available
- Laundry Service
- Electric car charger
Rooms
The suites are uber modern: white, light-filled and spacious, with house plants and leafy courtyard views creating a soothing environment. Parquet floors, mid-century furniture and sleek monochrome colours give them a smart, Scandi look. Each comes with a living-dining area, fully fitted kitchen, TV, B&O speaker system and washer-dryer. But the best feature is the spacious private terrace with seating and table - they all have one.
Most are categorised by size (the numbers in their names representing the square footage). The Penthouse is the largest at 246 sqm, with two bedrooms and two bathrooms (one with bathtub) plus an expansive living room with fireplace and ‘sofa landscape’. The terrace has views over the rooftops of Charlottenburg plus dining and lounging areas.
The two-bed options are the Extended Garden Loft 139, which have views from both sides of the complex, and the Extended Garden Loft 107, whose second bedroom can be flexibly arranged (double or twin).
The one-bed suites are The Garden Loft 115 (where we stayed), which can sleep four using the sofabed in the living room. The Garden Loft 80 is the smallest but features all the same facilities as the other suites so is great value.
Features include:
- Bluetooth sound system
- Central heating
- Fan
- Hairdryer
- Radio
- Safe box
- Terrace/balcony
- TV
- Washing machine
- WiFi
Eating
Each suite has a kitchen with hob, oven, dishwasher and coffee machine, so you can self-cater if you wish. For supplies, there’s a big Edeka supermarket about a 10-15 minute walk away, or a large corner shop selling fresh produce and basic provisions about 5-10 mins away. All major supermarkets here deliver.
But with the hotel facilities next door, you may not feel the need to self-cater. A buffet breakfast is available (not included) at the hotel every morning and is a typical continental affair – breads, meats, cheeses, jams etc. In summer months it can be taken in the peaceful walled courtyard. The Lovis restaurant is one of the best-rated in Berlin, while the adjacent cellar bar is a cocktail experience where you order according to taste profile rather than alcohol type – although traditional drinks are available too. There's also a casual day bar/cafe LOTTA with a selection of seasonal drinks and homemade specialities as well as their in-house bakery Wilmina Brot on the ground floor.
Outside, the choice is endless. In a 10-minute walking radius you can find cheese shops, wine shops (with outside tables), bodegas, pizzerias, burger bars, traditional döner kebab outlets, as well as a host of eateries serving Italian, Spanish, German, Persian, Indian and vegetarian cuisine. Plus gelato shops and currywurst stands. Stuttgarter Platz, a short stroll away, is a hive of outside dining that throngs in summer – and has a playground opposite to entertain toddlers. And that’s before you even start to explore the rest of Berlin…
Features include:
- Bar
- Full kitchen
- Restaurant
- Restaurants nearby
Activities
- You’re only a few stops on the S-bahn or U-bahn from most of Berlin's iconic sights – Brandenburg Gate, Berlin Cathedral, TV Tower, Tiergarten, Unter Den Linden
- Explore nearby Lietzensee park (10-min walk), stopping for lunch at Engelbecken for classic German and Austrian cuisine
- Soak up Berlin’s royal past in the gardens of beautiful Charlottenburg Palace, 10 mins’ cycle away on one of the hotel’s bikes
- Most shoppers head to nearby Ku ’Damm, but the city is awash with markets (try Mauerpark on a Sunday where you can also do a Berlin Wall tour), vintage shops, art pop-ups, food courts (Markthalle Neun in Kreuzberg is ace) and hundreds of independent boutiques
- Museum Island is packed with museums - Pergamon is excellent for kids; the Alte Nationalgalerie is huge and beautiful. All are free on the first Sunday of every month
- In summer, head to the lakes. Teufelssee is popular with swimmers and sunbathers (check out the abandoned spy station nearby) while Wannsee has its own beach and sailing. Both are only a few stops on the S-bahn
- Head east to the “bergs” to experience real Berlin nightlife. Prenzlauerberg is chichi and cosmopolitan, Kreuzberg cool and hipster, Schöneberg is camp and colourful, Frederichshein has a studenty, club kid vibe, and Neukölln has fab immigrant/ethnic energy
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Cycling
- Historical sites
- Museums / galleries
- Nightlife
- Shopping / markets
- Theatre
Kids
Most of the suites are well set up for families with one or two kids. Each has a kitchen and living room, so there's plenty of space to spread out, and you can easily self-cater kid-friendly meals. Berlin's top sights are easily accessible via the U-Bahn or S-Bahn, with services stopping close to the suites.
Best for:
All ages
Family friendly accommodation:
Many suites have two bedrooms, but the Extended Garden Loft 107s are probably the best option as the second bedroom can either have a kingsize bed or twins. Garden Loft 115s have one bedroom but the sofabed in the living room converts to sleep two extra guests. Cots are available in all suites on request.
Kids Activities nearby:
- Playground at Stuttgarter Platz
- Teufelssee and Wannsee lakes
- Charlottenburg Palace gardens
Families Should Know:
Kids aren't allowed in the pool at Wilmina Hotel
Distances:
- Shops: 1 minute
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
The Wilmina Suites are part of the Wilmina Hotel in the Charlottenburg district of west Berlin, on Kantstrasse. Charlottenburg station (S-Bahn) is 7 mins’ walk away.
By Air:
Fly to Berlin Brandenburg and take the S-bahn, RB (Regionalbahn) or FEX (express) to Charlottenburg (45-60 mins). Or you could take a taxi to the suites (30-45 mins' driving time).
By Train from UK:
Daytime trains from London St Pancras via Brussels and Cologne take 10-11 hours; or you can take an overnight sleeper train leaving London mid-afternoon. See Seat 61 for details.
By Car:
There is no point in having a car in Berlin, but if hiring a car for your onward journey, see our car rental recommendations. Wilmina Hotel has an underground car park that's charged per night.
Detailed instructions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.
Airports:
- Berlin Brandenburg 28.0 km BER
Other:
- Beach 200.0 km
- Shops 0.1 km
- Restaurant 0.1 km