Egil’s apartment was the nicest Airbnb we have ever stayed in, and we have stayed in quite a few in Europe and the U.S. The apartment gets top marks for everything that others have mentioned and a few they have not. As others have said, it is very clean, extremely spacious, beautifully appointed, and the living room couches are very comfortable. There are lovely touches like two blanket throws on the couches to curl up with while reading or watching TV. This is one of the QUIETEST places I’ve ever stayed in, city OR country, and was so peaceful to return to after a bustling day out. We were here in late October, with temperatures in the low to high 60s Fahrenheit, so we made excellent use of the lovely terrace. It is an internal terrace facing an inner courtyard, so it is incredibly quiet and peaceful, and was shielded from cooler fall winds. The apartment has a combination washer/dryer, which is fantastic. Please note that we only used the washer, and hung our clothes to dry on the HUGE drying rack provided. I do not know how efficient the drying function on the machine is.
Because we tend to book apartments for a week or more, it’s very important to us to have a well stocked kitchen for home cooking. This kitchen was unbelievable. There was every imaginable tool and utensil, as well as some unexpected but very welcome items like chef’s aprons, salad spinner, sharpened knives, garlic press, espresso machine, etc. The only thing we couldn’t locate was an ice tray, but given how well equipped the place was, my guess is we just missed it. There was a drawer of spices and condiments, which was super helpful. We paid it forward by adding a mostly full bottle of olive oil for the good of those to follow.
Another thing we really look for is a comfortable bed, and we were not disappointed. We slept in the upstairs loft on a firm, extremely comfortable king mattress. The one in the main floor bedroom is a bit less firm but still seems comfortable. The cotton bedding and feather pillows were lovely. If a comfortable bed is important to you, be reassured that you will have a good night’s rest here.
It is, indeed, close to lots of the highlights of Berlin. We decided to rent bikes for the entire week, however, and I highly recommend this to others. This allows you to go all over the place really fast and see lots more of this great city in your time here. We used Take a Bike, which offered the best rates around. They are located near the train station, a very short walk from the apartment.
The only thing we found lacking was the amount of light in the kitchen at night. There are under counter lights and an overhead by the cooking area, but in the dining alcove, the only light comes from a cool hanging light fixture in the corner. (Speaking of which, where did that great piece come from, Egil?) We felt that more lighting was needed at that end. Other than that, as others have mentioned, it’s A LOT of steps to the top, so if you have trouble with that, take heed. As for us, we found it 100% worth the climb! Thanks for a spectacular stay in Berlin, Egil!