Best Value Hotels in Hamburg

The Apartment-Hotel Hamburg Mitte isn’t much to look at from the outside and far from downtown, but its 120 apartment-style units and low rates make it a good choice for families or those on longer stays. Rooms are spacious, clean, and pleasant, with balconies looking onto the street. Most have kitchenettes. Some apartment hotels lack reception and public spaces, but this one has a large inviting lobby and an attractive on-site bar and bistro serving reasonably priced meals. 

Generator Hostel Hamburg is, as the name implies, a hostel, not a hotel like our number-one pick. But Generator feels nothing like a typical budget hostel, at least in the shared spaces. Part of Europe's Generator chain, these properties are for travelers who have graduated from ultra-low-frills crash pads to something closer to a hotel. This location has an industrial, urban vibe that fits with the bustling St. Georg neighborhood (the hotel is across from Hauptbahnhoff station, with a direct airport connection, but this area is dicey, especially at night). As hostels go, the Generator Hamburg is massive, with 200 rooms, including four-, six-, and eight-person suites, all-female dorms, and single and double private rooms. Every guest has access to a footlocker, and padlocks and towels may be rented at the desk. Generator's bar is lively -- sometimes noisily so -- and open to the public, and its cafe serves cold breakfast for a fee. 

The upper-middle-range NH Hamburg Horner Rennbahn is a streamlined chain hotel located next to Hamburg’s horse track, but quite far from the city center. Its 172 contemporary rooms have flat-screen TVs and minibars, but they're a touch dated and generic to the point of being forgettable. Be aware that street-facing rooms pick up some traffic noise. The hotel provides all the basics for business travelers -- meeting rooms, restaurant, bar, and a small gym. Breakfast offers an extensive selection, but it's not included in the rates. Apartment Hotel Hamburg Mitte, Generator Hostel Hamburg, and NH Hamburg Horner Rennbahn all have free Wi-Fi, but Hamburg Mitte gets the edge for its apartment-style rooms, and Generator Hostel Hamburg for its low rates.

Located on the outskirts of town in Altona (an outer borough), this upper-middle-range hotel is about a 30-minute trip via public transportation from the city center, with few dining options in the near vicinity and little street life. The 235 rooms, though fairly stark save for a few design additions, are clean and modern, with fully stocked minibars. The hotel has more flair than NH Hamburg Horner Rennbahn -- there's a retro restaurant and bar, and even a small spa with sauna and roof terrace -- but the free Wi-Fi usage is limited to a certain bandwidth. 

Mercure Hotel Hamburg Mitte is a business hotel in Sternschanze, an up-and-coming area about 15 minutes from the city center by metro. This sleek and modern property has 180 simple, smallish rooms with flat-screen TVs, coffee- and tea-making facilities (in some) and free Wi-Fi, but no minibars, like NH Hamburg Altona. A breakfast buffet is available for a fee, and the restaurant and bar are open for lunch and dinner. 

The lower-middle-range Best Western Hotel Hamburg International is located in the eastern suburbs of Hamburg, about 10 minutes' drive from the city center. Set on a busy road, the setting is hardly scenic and some rooms are prone to traffic noise -- most, however, face the rear courtyard. The 113 rooms range from dated and garish to contemporary and attractive, but all have been updated with modern bathrooms. Note that while Wi-Fi is free, the signal can be weak, and there's no in-room air-conditioning. A restaurant and bar provide meals and evening drinks, but breakfast is not included. Ample free outdoor or charged garage parking are available. Overall, it's a decent option for the budget-conscious traveler, but our number-one pick, Apartment-Hotel Hamburg Mitte is nearby and offers a better value (plus kitchenettes and balconies).