420 Best Hotels in Germany

Traben-Trarbach's premier hotel has a first-class reputation thanks to its distinctive architecture and decor, knowledgeable staff, and gorgeous river views. But it's the large wellness area, including a heated pool, Finnish sauna, and rooftop terrace, that makes it stand out from other hotels along the Mosel. Even if you're not staying the night, book a table at the “Belle Epoque” restaurant; its elegant (if meat heavy) cuisine and extensive wine list make for a memorable meal.

The city's best hotel is also its most modern accommodation in antique disguise, a mansion dating to 1528, offering guest rooms with wooden floors and thick ceiling beams that are sparsely furnished with modern, dark cherrywood furniture.

This peaceful hotel, a few steps from the Kaiserpfalz and within an easy walk of the Altstadt, was once the castle's mill (Mühle) and sawmill. In the restaurant, watch the mill wheel spin as you eat.

Centrally located near the Porta Nigra, this handsome patrician manor from 1885 offers well-appointed rooms with attractive baths. Rooms 317 and 318 are quite spacious and have little balconies overlooking flower-filled Porta-Nigra-Platz. While some of Trier's other restaurants are more stylish, the food here is tasty, as is the ample breakfast buffet.

Housed in two beautifully restored landmark buildings (the old State Bank of Bavaria headquarters and the grand old Palais Neuhaus-Presying) in Munich's historic heart, this luxurious hotel is one of the newest kids in town. The property doesn't fail to impress with chic design and refined elegance. Its bar is a hot spot for visitors and locals alike. 

Close to the famous Holstentor, this ultramodern hotel, with its daring architecture, still reveals a north German heritage: the redbrick building, with its oversized windows and generous, open lobby, mimics an old Lübeck warehouse. When making a reservation, ask for a (larger) Superior Class room, whose price includes a breakfast. A big plus are the very comfortable beds, which are large by German standards. The Nautilo restaurant serves light Mediterranean cuisine.

The charm of this vine-covered hotel in the center of town has been preserved and supplemented through time—in the hallways you'll find quaint furniture and even an old Singer sewing machine painted with flowers. The rooms are done with light, wooden Scandinavian farm furniture. Guests and Überlingen residents congregate in the comfortable taproom, where the regional and international dishes are reasonably priced. The chef prides himself on his homemade Spätzle (Swabian egg noodles). For lake views, the hotel has a second, larger building a few steps away right on the lake, complete with a terrace café.

In the beautiful, verdant setting of residential Grunewald, this small but palatial hotel is full of classic style and lavish decor. You might be reminded of a late-19th-century château. The interior was designed by Chanel's Karl Lagerfeld, whose personal suite is available to guests if the master himself is not in town. Service is amazingly personal but never intrusive. Arrange for a car, as this location is not convenient for seeing the central sights.

Set atop vineyards and overlooking the towers of Würzburg, the Schloss Steinburg offers regal manor rooms as well as crisp and serene modern lodgings. The castle was first built in 1898 over the ruins of a medieval monastery; the Bezold family have expanded upon it over the last 75 years. The oldest rooms have many original details intact while the newer rooms are closer to the hotel's spa, which has panoramic views of the old city. The restaurant serves regional as well as more pan-European dishes.

Positioned beside the lovely baroque gardens and woodland paths of the hilltop Wilhelmshöhe park, this comfortable, modern hotel and its rooms take in views on the park grounds on one side and stunning vistas over Kassel on the other. The rooms are well-appointed, with modern furnishings and plenty of space; some have living areas or balconies that feel luxurious. The hotel's elegant restaurant serves contemporary cuisine with an emphasis on German and Mediterranean dishes, and its sunny terrace is not only popular with guests, but also with day-trippers to the park and celebrities in town for the city's renowned documenta festival.

A few steps from the central train station, this hotel is primarily geared to the business traveler; though the modern rooms may lack some character, the warm service and exceptional bathrooms make for a pleasant stay.

Nearly all rooms at this bright, airy, and crisply renovated hotel just a few steps from the shore offer balconies with views across the lake or vineyards. Owner Elisabeth Off has added many personal touches to make guests feel completely at home, and has designed several rooms according to the guidelines of feng shui. The wellness area includes all sorts of alternative healing measures, including reiki and aromatherapy. And there's swimming in the lake.

The hotel's long lakefront turns into a huge beer garden in summer. Rooms are full of light, and for a slightly higher price you can stay in one with a balcony overlooking the lake. 

Set at the dreamy Naun Lake, this country hotel is a hidden gem if you are looking for a countryside retreat. The redbrick farmhouse and old thatch-roof barn make up an upscale yet casual hotel. Each room has a unique design (the owners are acclaimed Berlin interior designers), with white walls and terra-cotta tiles. There's a fine restaurant serving German-Italian seafood on a terrace.

The grande dame of Ahlbeck, this five-star hotel calls to mind the island's past as a getaway for Prussian nobility in the 19th century. The restored building sits right on the beach, just a few steps from the pier. It offers spacious, elegantly appointed rooms overlooking the water.

This huge hotel is directly connected to Frankfurt Airport's Terminal 1, providing a convenient and soundproof respite for those with early flights. A 24-hour business center offers everything business people are likely to need, including video projectors and simultaneous interpreters. In addition to three restaurants and snack shops, there is a cigar bar and lounge, and a busy lobby bar called Lemons and Limes. Rooms also can be booked for day use, for long layovers.

Futuristic, minimalistic—call it what you like—hip five-star hotel SIDE stands out from the rest of the crowd because of what's on the inside, including a soaring, glass-paneled atrium and sleek, space-age interiors decorated with brightly colored cubes and pebble-shape furniture. The hotel's popularity with its business clientele and local fashionistas is enhanced by its excellent cocktail bar and Meatery restaurant, which many claim does the best dry-aged beef in town.

The Berlin outpost of the hip European boutique chain appeals to the creative class with its eclectic, arty interiors, urbane vibe, and beautifully designed rooms with plush furnishings.

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.

Housed in a grand landmark building mere steps from the main train station, this refined luxury hotel offers nicely styled modern rooms plus free access to the spa with a heated, spiral-shaped indoor pool, whirlpool, and sauna.

Only a 15-minute walk from the Old Town and towering seven stories above the old harbor, the Speicher am Ziegelsee was once a grain warehouse. The 1939 building's rooms and spacious apartments are decorated with natural materials and earthy tones and have all the amenities of a modern, first-class hotel. A choice spot for sitting is the wooden terrace bordering the lake.

It's a five-minute walk to the lake from this friendly hotel, where rooms are modern, airy, and decorated in bright colors. Try for the rooms on the top floor, which have good views.

The Staudacher family has built a name for itself as a purveyor of Bavarian-style wellness at their sustainably renovated hotel, where an indoor/outdoor pool area, as well as saunas, contribute to a relaxing vibe. Yoga retreats and "Bayurvedic" cooking are also offered in special wellness packages. As athletes themselves, the owners enjoy setting up guided skiing tours and can assist in booking hiking, biking, rafting, and golf excursions during your stay. Booking in advance via their website provides the best deals, including an all-inclusive option that includes a delicious nightly gourmet dinner.

One of the city's largest hotels offers spacious modern rooms and individually controlled air-conditioning, still a rarity in Germany. Although accommodations are now called "apartments," they are still regular hotel rooms or suites, although with fully equipped kitchenettes (refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher), which makes this an ideal choice for families or for longer stays. There are four barrier-free rooms for guests with disabilities.

The sylvan beauty of this family-friendly hotel is surprising, considering that it's less than one mile from the airport and connected to it by a steady stream of free shuttle buses that operate 24 hours. It's right on the edge of the city forest out of which the airport was carved, and has lots of paths for hiking, running, and biking (the hotel rents bikes), plus a 250-year-old forest house that is now a hotel restaurant. There's also a lobby bar and a rooftop terrace with a spectacular view of the airport and the Frankfurt skyline.

This hotel, which opened in 1883, was renowned for catering to Europe's royalty in its pre–World War I heyday, and it's still known for pleasing a well-heeled clientele with exceptional service, including 24-hour room service. Ritter's Restaurant offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner (served on an outdoor terrace in good weather), and there's a lobby bar for socializing and quick bites.

The terrace of this fine hotel overlooks the palace and park of Sanssouci. Spacious rooms have Hollywood and Babelsberg vintage photos and memorabilia and natural materials including terra-cotta floors and rattan furniture. A nice plus is the free transportation card for Berlin and Potsdam for the duration of your stay. The hotel restaurant serves international dishes, including those of the Brandenburg region.

A former 19th-century exhibition hall houses one of the finest hotels in Saxony. The hotel, directly in the center of the city, is the perfect place to relax and enjoy a refined spa experience. The modern rooms are insulated from the busy city bustling around it. The shower walls are inscribed with passages from Goethe's Faust.

Miraculously quiet despite its central location on the edge of the Hofgarten and at the beginning of the Königsallee, this old hotel is anything but stodgy, especially after a major face-lift in 2013. The soaring ceilings add to the spaciousness of the guest rooms, each individually decorated in a restrained, elegant style. The pampering continues at the breakfast buffet, served in the Menuett restaurant, where champagne and smoked salmon are appropriate starters for a shopping expedition on the Kö.