21 Best Hotels in Hamburg, Germany

This trendy HafenCity hotel is full of fun, from guest rooms that resemble designer ship cabins to a chill-out room with retro couches. In obvious nods to the area’s maritime and trade heritage, there are chests converted into writing desks in guest rooms and oriental carpets stacked to form couches in the restaurant. Throw in the groovy bar, excellent fish-and-chips served in its restaurant, and free test drive of a MINI car, and it's understandable why this welcoming hotel buzzes with city-trippers, businesspeople, and young families almost every night of the week.

Packing fun and retro design into a relaxed package that includes beanbag chairs, shag carpets, and bold wallpapers, this is the type of place for travelers seeking something a bit different. Happily for those who decide to stay here, there's a load of freebies that come on top. Guests get a free bottle of beer at check-in, free ice cream in summer, free parking, and free use of a MINI car or bikes during the day. Given all the extras and the hotel's friendly staff, it's unsurprising that it's popular with families and business travelers as well.

Moored at the start of the Reeperbahn, this black-glass monolith houses a welcoming design hotel ideal for those who want to just dip their toes into the waters of the red-light district. The inside of the hotel is full of light colors, with golden marble floors in the open-plan lobby and medium-size guest rooms highlighted by yellow leather headboards and bull's-eye windows. There's a small, stylish bar for refreshments before and after exploring the area’s musical theaters, bars, and clubs, and a little gym and spa area.

Not content to limit itself to merely being a place to sleep, this chic landmark hotel combines a buzzing cocktail bar with a similarly trendy sushi and steak restaurant to create one of the hottest spots in town. The inside of this former iron foundry is full of curvy, funky shapes and forms and open spaces of deep oranges, dark browns, and creams. The effect is one of almost immediate comfort and a sense of escape from the frenetic nighttime activity of the nearby Reeperbahn.

The prime location between the Reeperbahn and the harbor, the clever use of space and light, and a top-floor cocktail joint, 20up, that attracts thousands every weekend make this a favorite with locals and out-of-towners alike. White-walled guest rooms feel spacious and airy, and most have river views. Dark-wood banquettes replace traditional desks, and pocket doors lead into the bright bathrooms. Even though the hotel is three short blocks from the center of the Reeperbahn, there is little noise.

This little hotel squeezed into an old apartment building in the center of the Schanzenviertel has been transformed into fun, swinging '60s-style accommodations. Guest rooms remain small, but have been decked out with stylish flower-print and geometric-shape wallpaper, crystal fruit-bowl lampshades, and vintage teacups and saucers. Modern touches include flat-screen TVs and standard hotel beds that feel a little out of place next to the retro armchairs and tables. Given that space is at a premium, there's no breakfast room, but room service is available.

Proudly dubbing itself Hamburg's first design hotel, the Gastwerk, named after the 120-year-old gasworks it's housed inside, is certainly one of the most stylish places to stay in town. Incredibly chic furnishings, warm woods, and thick carpets and drapes complement the industrial grandeur of the hotel, and its large, modern guest rooms all have renovated bathrooms, docking stations, and satellite TVs. The loft rooms, with large windows, exposed brick walls, and tons of space, are well worth the extra cost.

The "grand" here refers to its size, from the nearly 11,000-square-foot spa area and five restaurants to the 511 guest rooms and extra-wide beds. The centerpiece of the hotel is the Boulevard, which was modeled after the Champs Elysées and is lined with restaurants and a bar. The Grand Foyer features a lush, tropical installation with a waterfall and an accompanying bar, a large, quiet sitting area, and abstract art. Outside the Bourbon Street Bar, a piano player fills the air with music throughout the afternoon and evening.

Concealed down a side street not far from the main station, this small boutique hotel, with its retro rooms, furniture, and phones, will undoubtedly please fans of film noir and Mad Men. Guest rooms are softly lit, their dark, wooden chairs and cabinets offset by light green walls, gray curtains, and white wood panels behind the beds. The Henri feels a lot like a stylish bachelor pad, a sensation heightened by the hotel's small, denlike lobby and lounge, which flow on to an open-plan kitchen space, where there's a communal refrigerator stacked with bottles of beer and tubs of ice cream. Plus, the Henri features a rooftop spa equipped with a Finnish sauna and also a fully-equipped gym.

There are few hotels in Germany more sumptuous than this gracious Edwardian palace facing the Aussenalster, which draws both celebrities and the not-so-famous searching for a luxe retreat. Built in 1909 for first-class passengers about to travel across the Atlantic, the hotel still exudes class. Tasteful desert hues mingle with deep-color furnishings in guest rooms, and Murano crystal chandeliers light belle époque interiors. The marble-covered bathrooms have heated floors.

This harbor landmark, just across from the famous St. Pauli Landungsbrücken and a few streets back from the Reeperbahn, is a great value considering its central location. The main part of the hotel has small but nicely renovated rooms, while the modern tower annex offers a great view of the harbor. The Tower Bar is a popular Hamburg hangout and a great spot for a sundowner.

Those who make the effort to travel 20 minutes from the center of town to this small yet luxurious hotel perched above Elbe will gain a mixture of sophistication, Michelin-starred dining, and fine Hanseatic hospitality. Founded in 1791, the hotel has drawn plenty of famous names to its chandeliered dining room and oak-floored guest rooms over the years. From one of the hotel's tastefully appointed, river-view rooms you can watch passing ships, while the spacious rooms of the hotel's more modern wing across the road look onto manicured little courtyards.

A laid-back oasis in the bustling neighborhood of St. Georg, the Wedina's red, blue, green, pink, and yellow houses have themes that include "Tuscany" and "Literature." It's renowned for the famous authors, including J. K. Rowling and Jonathan Safran Foer, who have stayed here while giving readings at the nearby Literaturhaus. The red house has a small library of books signed by the hotel's literary guests, while the green "architecture" house is distinguished by smooth concrete and natural wood and looks out onto a peaceful "Swiss Zen" garden.

This luxury hotel along the Alster oozes beauty inside and out, with contemporary art on view throughout—including the elevator. The sleek but unassuming facade and ultramodern interior might border on cold, but the outstanding spa and wellness area (complete with an indoor lap pool) and the impeccable service make you feel quickly at ease. Staff are the perfect blend of helpful and friendly. The hotel offers guests complimentary entry to the nearby Deichtorhallen art galleries and, in warm weather, a free ferry takes you across the Aussenalster to Jungfernstieg.

Inspired by its location right next to the zoo, the hotel features artwork, furnishings, and even aromas from Asia and Africa to create spaces reminiscent of 19th-century safari outposts. The hotel also has every modern amenity, and because it is not in the heart of Hamburg, rooms are generous in size and many have balconies. You can buy tickets to Tierpark Hagenbeck and the Tropen Aquarium at a 25% discount from the concierge.

Perched at the end of the Reeperbahn, this branch of the Motel One chain is ideal for those looking for a trendy, design-minded, central yet inexpensive base. The bed linens are sumptuous, towels are lush, and the bed is crowned with real leather and dark wood. The bathrooms have rainfall showerheads and organic toiletries. The rooms are small, however, and despite having HD TVs, lack basics like telephones, chairs, closets (there is a bar for hanging clothes), and information folders.

For its Hamburg outpost, the Mövenpick chain transformed a 19th-century water tower on a hill in the middle of the leafy Schanzenpark into a state-of-the-art hotel. Behind the handsome facade, much of the original tower still remains; the lobby features brick walls and vaulted ceilings, while steel from the structure frames guest-room doors. The guest rooms are all reasonably sized and stylishly modern, but the farther you climb the hotel, the greater the comfort and views. The many amenities here include an excellent restaurant serving international and Swiss cuisine, as well as a gym and spa.

There's no missing the black glass and gray concrete form of the Radisson Blu, which towers 330 feet above Dammtor train station, with sweeping views of Planten un Blomen and the city. Built in 1973, it's a bold yet welcoming property that resembles a giant harmonica balanced on one end. Guest rooms here have three modern design styles: pale-wood and earth-tone furnishings; bold aquas and mustard interiors; and black lacquer accents, dark wood, and turquoise carpets.

Behind the facade of a centrally located, former Deutsche Post building hides the sleek style and famously comfortable beds of one of the city's finest business hotels. Dominated by gray, white, and dark-brown hues, rooms are furnished with tasteful, contemporary furniture, huge beds (by German standards), and even bigger marble bathrooms. The Sofitel's Ticino restaurant serves flavors from around the world, while downstairs there's a funky indoor pool and spa area, decked out in Italian tiles and natural stone, as well as a small gym.

At the end of a strip of funky cafés and bars that stretches down from the central station, the George, with its groovy New British styling and renowned gin and whisky bar, fits right in. Champagnes, grays, and browns mix throughout guest rooms, and large arty photographs add life throughout the hotel. In the small lobby, wingback chairs and textured wallpaper, both covered in shades of black, are illuminated by soft lighting. The hotel has a rooftop bar with views of the Alster and the setting sun.

Housed in a historic villa that's an easy walk from the Schanzenviertel, this friendly, modern little hotel attracts a young, cosmopolitan crowd, families, and business travelers. Guest rooms can sometimes be on the small side, but they are all tastefully outfitted with wooden shutters on the windows and black slate in the bathrooms. Despite the minimal style, the hotel has an obvious warmth; staffers are helpful, and there are special rates if you're under 27.