Generator Berlin Mitte, Berlin, Germany

The hostel is on the south side of Oranienburger Strasse in Mitte, and has an S-Bahn station right next door. This is a lively part of town with plenty of independent shops, international restaurants and popular bars, plus you can reach many cultural sights on foot.

The shops of Hackescher Markt and Monbijou Park are nearby, and Musuemsinsel is within easy reach.

By plane: direct flights to Berlin Brandenburg from London and Manchester (both around 1 hour 50 minutes) and Edinburgh (2 hours 5 minutes). It's a 40-minute drive to the hostel. Book flights to Berlin.

This seven-storey building faces a central courtyard, and can be confusing to get around, although helpfully bedroom doors are painted with large numbers. You soon get used to the pared-back style; rooms don't have drinking glasses, for example, and you'll need to pay extra for a locker to store your valuables.

There's a chill-out lounge with books and easy chairs, great for escaping to if your roommates are bothering you. Outside, there's a courtyard with table tennis and football. There's also a laundry and ironing room, an ATM and a photo booth. You can hire bikes and skateboards. Check-out is at 10 am.

• Bar
• Café
• Terrace
• Lounge
• Games room
• Free Wi-Fi

Choose between shared or private rooms (payment is per person or per room respectively); these include dormitories sleeping four, six and eight, some of which are women-only. There are also 32 conventional double rooms of different sizes, with black, white and grey walls, bare wooden headboards and plenty of hooks.

Room types: Dorm, Deluxe Room, Private Room, Junior Suite, Superior Suite

Key amenities: Generator toiletries, towels, reading light, free Wi-Fi

Food and drink are not allowed in the bedrooms, but you can purchase snacks, pizza, beer and cocktails at the ground floor café, and there are more options in the streets surrounding the hostel. A basic buffet breakfast is available, to be enjoyed at communal wooden tables.

Gen Café: canteen-style café and breakfast room. Open daily, 24-hour.