Short-term Rentals in Berlin

Furnished apartments in Berlin

Many expats choose to rent a furnished apartment when moving to Berlin, rather than staying in a hotel or rushing into a long-term rental agreement. Apartments can be rented weekly or monthly while looking for longer-term accommodation. This makes settling into a new life in Germany much easier and allows more time to decide on the most suitable area or suburb to live in. Those moving to Berlin for work or on a short-term assignment often prefer to rent a furnished apartment rather than a hotel room; not only is it usually cheaper, but it’s also normally more comfortable.

How to find a serviced apartment in Berlin

There are many options for finding a furnished or serviced apartment in Germany. Some expats and business travellers will have this organised by their employer or relocation company. Many landlords and rental agencies list their furnished apartments on one of these accommodation portals:

• Airbnb is an online marketplace for short-term rentals, with loads of apartments throughout Germany. They are most popular with those on holiday and short breaks rather than corporate travellers or expats.
• Blueground offers furnished apartments in Berlin’s best neighbourhoods on flexible weekly and monthly leases.
• Homelike is one of the largest online marketplaces for long-term and short-term furnished apartment rentals in Berlin. It offers a simple booking experience and lists high-quality apartments that can be rented for 30 nights or more.
• StaySitu has been helping companies and organisations find rental accommodation for their corporate travellers and relocation assignee when they are on the move for business. They also help individual expats find short-term accommodation in Berlin.

Relocation companies can often help with finding and securing a furnished apartment or serviced accommodation, along with providing other services like visa and immigration assistance, international school search, and help with settling into the local area.

What are the benefits of renting a furnished apartment?

Most expats initially choose to rent a furnished apartment in Berlin rather than immediately taking out a long-term rental. Furnished apartments and houses in Berlin offer much more flexibility and usually come equipped with furniture and kitchen appliances, so you can avoid the upfront cost and hassle of buying furniture or shipping it from home. 

Some serviced accommodation and furnished apartments will come completely equipped with linen, towels, and kitchenware. They will also set up all the utilities, including telephone and broadband internet.

The flexibility of short-term accommodation

Short-term accommodation provides flexibility for business travellers and those moving to Berlin. Serviced accommodation can be rented for as little as a few weeks to a few months, or longer, providing ease and flexibility. This allows those who are moving to Berlin more time to find long-term accommodation for themselves and their family.

What's the difference between a serviced apartment and a furnished apartment?

A serviced apartment is a fully furnished apartment that includes many of the facilities provided by a large hotel, such as laundry and cleaning, concierge services and sometimes even access to a gym. But with all the privacy and comfort of a self-catering apartment. Serviced apartments are usually much cheaper than a hotel of a similar standard.

What are Berlin’s best neighbourhoods?

Berlin has twelve districts, and each of these consists of several neighbourhoods. Whether moving on your own or with family, deciding where to live is one of the most important decisions to make when moving to Berlin. Luckily, our editors have done some research for you, see the page on: Best places for expats to live in Berlin.