01
Hotel rooms and suites
German equivalent: Hotelzimmer / Hotelsuite
A hotel is the easiest option to understand and often the fastest to book. You usually get reception, daily housekeeping, fresh towels and breakfast options.
The limits show up when the stay lasts longer. Most hotel rooms do not have a kitchen, private laundry, proper living space or much storage. Without a kitchen, most meals come from restaurants, cafés, takeaway or room service.
- Works well for: a few nights or a short city visit.
- Watch out for: limited space, no kitchen and less privacy once the stay stretches into weeks.
02
Serviced apartments
German equivalent: Serviced Apartment
A serviced apartment is a fully equipped apartment rented with services included. It gives you the space and privacy of a residential apartment without the long commitment and setup work of a traditional rental.
A typical serviced apartment includes furniture, a kitchen, cookware, dishes, utensils, linen, towels, Wi-Fi, utilities, laundry and regular cleaning. Depending on the apartment and provider, there may also be parking, outdoor space, elevator access or other building-specific features.
With our apartments, every apartment comes with a parking spot. Some parking spaces are not suitable for SUVs or vans, but parking itself is included with every apartment.
Each of our apartments also has its own private laundry setup, either directly inside the apartment or in the building’s private laundry area. Guests do not need to use a laundromat or public shared machines.
- Works well for: temporary stays of weeks or months.
- Watch out for: provider terms, because not every property marketed as serviced is equally flexible.
03
Furnished apartments
German equivalent: Möblierte Wohnung / möbliertes Apartment
A furnished apartment is a residential rental that comes with furniture and a kitchen. Depending on the landlord, it may also include dishes, cookware, linen, towels or other household items.
The important difference is that a furnished apartment is usually a private rental, not a serviced stay. Cleaning is normally not included, and you are usually responsible for managing the apartment yourself.
Many furnished apartments in Germany use tenancy-style agreements. These contracts are often open-ended, similar to unfurnished apartments, and notice periods can be longer than temporary-stay guests expect.
- Works well for: longer stays when a traditional rental setup is acceptable.
- Watch out for: notice periods, utility details and what “furnished” actually includes.
04
Unfurnished apartments
German equivalent: Unmöblierte Wohnung
An unfurnished apartment is standard long-term housing in Germany. It is usually what people are looking for while house hunting, not what they need on the day they arrive.
Unfurnished in Germany often means very unfurnished. You should expect to provide your own furniture, beds, wardrobes, lamps, curtains, household items and sometimes even the kitchen.
The kitchen situation surprises many newcomers. Some apartments include a kitchen, but many do not. If you need to buy or install one, the cost can easily reach several thousand euros.
- Works well for: permanent housing once you know where you want to live.
- Watch out for: setup costs, lease commitment and the possibility that no kitchen is included.
