24 Best Hotels in The Bavarian Alps, Germany

Situated on 13 hectares (32 acres) of land just over halfway between Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Mittenwald, this spectacular mountain retreat was commissioned in 1913 by the English aristocrat Mary Portman. Today, the original house retains the feel of a historic English country manor, while the modern Garden Wing perfectly complements the surrounding nature, creating plenty of room to spread out and relax in the midst of the Karwendel mountains. Three outdoor pools—a 21-meter-long swimming pool, a saltwater bath, and a heated Japanese onsen—along with indoor pools, an extensive spa and wellness area, a meditation house, and a gourmet restaurant all combine to create a luxury resort atmosphere. For a special treat, rent out the treehouse or gatehouse as a private hideaway. Pick-up from the nearby Klais train station can be arranged in advance, or you can drive and park for free (though you'll have to pay a €5 toll on the approach road). The room rates are extremely high, but they include a \"superior half board\" package featuring breakfast and a six-course dinner, plus a light lunch buffet and afternoon cake.

Modern and luxurious, this delightful retreat has comfortable rooms with local design touches—some even have vaulted wood ceilings—plus a small but lovely wellness area (Maximilian-Spa), an elegant restaurant (Benedikt's), and a historic brewery-restaurant with beer garden (Ammergauer Maxbräu). The spacious rooms and suites feature neutral colors, wood floors, and balconies as standard, though they are among the priciest rooms in town.

It's hard to imagine a more majestic hotel location than this one, high in the hills outside Berchtesgaden, surrounded by quiet woods and with sweeping mountain panoramas. The hotel itself is dripping with five-star luxury, yet retains a quiet, relaxed feel. Amenities range from four restaurants (including the two-Michelin-starred PUR and fondue-specialist Bergstüberl) to an extensive luxury spa, to childcare in a devoted play area. Despite its size, the hotel blends well into the countryside and affords a feeling of isolation from which you can enjoy the stunning landscape around.

Taken over by the Reindl family just before the 1936 Olympic games, this chalet-style hotel was an institution in its heyday, receiving royalty and celebrities in the quieter part of Partenkirchen. Today, some of the glamor is gone, but it remains a comfortable, upmarket accommodation option, complete with ample-size guest rooms with pinewood furniture and a balcony or patio, a lovely pool and wellness area, and a kitchen serving excellent Bavarian and international dishes. Marianne Holzinger, daughter of the hotelier, has maintained her father's legacy since taking over the hotel, which has expanded into nearby buildings. 

The renowned Michelin-star chef Heinz Winker started his own restaurant in 1989, and before long he had added this hotel, which created a gourmet dining experience that is a destination in itself. The hotel is done up in a uniquely Biedermeier aesthetic, with comfortable bedrooms and a cozy wellness area. Winkler sadly passed away in 2022, but the gourmet restaurant—now jointly helmed by chefs Stefan Barnhusen and Daniel Pape—continues to be the beating heart of the hotel, and was awarded its own Michelin star in 2024. The hotel is in Aschau, at the foot of the mountains near the Karwendelbahn gondola, a 15-minute drive from Prien.

A short way up the (toll) road from Das Kranzbach, and a 15-minute drive from Mittenwald, this luxurious castle hotel shot to fame when it hosted the G7 summit in 2015, and its varied history, artistic heritage, top-notch cuisine, and superior spa services have kept it deservedly popular. The century-old castle at the foot of the Wetterstein Mountain range has a unique history as a convent/sanatorium where artists could live in exchange for work as \"helpers\" of those in need. After time spent as an army field hospital and center for displaced persons and Holocaust survivors, it was converted into a hotel and has become one of the country's leading accommodations, with a strong focus on spa services and yoga retreats. There are, remarkably, a dozen different restaurants and dining options to choose from, including two-Michelin-star IKIGAI by Chris Rainer. The hotel has its own concert hall and continues to work with artists from around the world, including concert pianists who record on-site.

The rich wood paneling reaches from floor to ceiling in this transformed 18th-century inn, set in the shadow of Oberammergau's mountain, the Kofel. The simply decorated but comfortable guest rooms have corner lounge areas, and most come with balconies and sweeping mountain views; there are also four holiday apartments available. The hotel's own band presents regular folk evenings in the sizeable breakfast room, and there's a small wellness area including gym, sauna, steam room, and infrared cabin (though you'll be charged €5 to use it). Prices are based on length of stay, so you'll pay less per night if you stay longer.

A 10-minute drive west of Berchtesgaden, on the way to the Watzmann (the region's highest mountain), this upmarket Alpine retreat has a spa and pool and includes meals in the rates. There's a special focus on sustainability—the owners have used the surrounding area to enhance its minimal interior design, and they work with local farmers to ensure regional and local cuisine with zero waste is served as part of the meal plan—as well as on \"switching off\", with rooms free of tablets and TVs (unless specifically requested), Wi-Fi turned off at night, and telescopes for counting the stars. It's ideally located for a number of trailheads, making it an ideal overnight stay for hikers. Many of cozy rooms have private balconies, while the large senior suites include open fireplaces. All bookings are \"half-board plus,\" which means the extensive breakfast and evening buffets are supplemented by light lunches and afternoon cakes.

The elegant, turreted hotel—and its multiple spacious annexes—sit high above Tegernsee, backed by the wooded slopes of Neureuth Mountain. Rooms, suites, and apartments are spread across five different buildings; those overlooking the lake are in high demand despite their high cost, so book early. All guests can enjoy panoramic views of the lake and mountains from the extensive terrace fronting the main building. You can dine in the hotel's stylish little restaurant or the cozy tavern. The extensive spa includes a heavenly musical tub and a colored-light and aroma solarium.

Located directly on pretty Ludwigstrasse, in the heart of Partenkirchen, this family-run hotel has a colorfully painted facade and window boxes full of geraniums most of the year. Rooms are clean and comfortable, if a little uninspiring, and many offer balconines with exquisite views of the surrounding mountains. The real highlight here is the tavern-style restaurant, serving fresh, hearty cuisine in a rustic interior that's covered from top to bottom in cultural knick-knacks. It hosts \"Bavarian evenings\" with live folk music and other entertainment every Thursday through Monday.

Everything is pretty rustic in this spacious remodeled barn, but the welcome and hospitality are genuine and gracious, even by Bavarian standards. The 19 rooms are quite basic. The family-run restaurant (closed on Monday) serves some of the best Semmelknödel (bread dumplings) in Germany.

Like its namesake, the \"nobly white\" Alpine flower of The Sound of Music fame, this small downtown hotel (not to be confused with the lodge on the edge of town) has plenty of mountain charm. Inlaid with warm pinewood, it has Bavarian furnishings and many antiques in individually decorated rooms that give it an intimate air. The owners, Sarah and Karsten Handrup, ensure a warm welcome.

In the hills above the north shore of Chiemsee, this horse farm and hotel has become one of the area's most venerated addresses. Families arrive with horses and dogs in tow and may stay for a week or even two to take in the phenomenal lake views, four restaurants, superior spa area, and wonderful amenities, which include a jumping ring, polo grounds, 9-hole golf course, and private bathing cabin on the lake.

A renovated abbey directly on Lake Seeon—just a quick drive to the boat dock on Seebruck on Chiemsee, or 20 minutes to the boat docks at Prien—provides a unique, quiet atmosphere that is also child-friendly. Near hiking and biking trails, the abbey organizes concerts and art events in an otherwise sleepy but beautiful area.

This bright and breezy Alpine hotel may be run by the Benedictine order, as evidenced by the exquisite religious carvings and motifs that adorn the walls, but there's little monastic about it. Backed by rocky mountains, the hotel offers modern and comfortable rooms, suites, and apartments full of solid furniture (made, like many of the religious carvings, in the monastery's carpentry shop), as well as a wellness area with an indoor pool, saunas, and steam room. Enjoy sturdy fare and monastery-brewed beer in the vaulted Gaststuben for a rustic, Bavarian atmosphere, or out in the beer garden or sun terrace to soak up the sun. Café 1330, situated in the hotel's inner courtyard, is a pleasant stop for coffee and cake.

Located about 7 km (4 miles) south of Bad Tölz, this eco-friendly \"bio hotel\" features comfortable rooms with wooden four-poster beds, woolen rugs, and cheery paintings on the walls, plus a charming relaxation area with sauna, whirlpool, and natural swimming pond. Many rooms have a balcony or terrace. Prices include an organic breakfast buffet plus an afternoon tea and cake bar. You’ll find the toboggan run, hiking, and many other sports nearby.

A standard German fin de siècle spa hotel, this finely porticoed and pillared building has an imposing, pastel-pink facade that promises luxury within. Rooms are large, furnished in deep-cushioned, dark-wood comfort, most with flower-filled balconies or loggia. The elegant restaurant serves international and traditional Bavarian cuisine with an emphasis on seafood (scallops or tuna steak, for example), and a pine-paneled tavern, Die Holzstubn'n, pours excellent local brew.

This delightfully traditional family-run lodging stands on the shore of the tiny Thumsee, 5 km (3 miles) from the town center. The Hubertus's private grounds lead down to the lake, where guests can swim (the water is bracingly cool) or go boating. Rooms, some with balconies overlooking the lake, are furnished with hand-carved beds and cupboards. Excellent meals or coffee can be taken at the neighboring rustic Madlbauer.

This town center hotel retains much of its historic charm—stagecoaches carrying travelers and mail across the Alps stopped here as far back as the 17th century—though the elegant rooms come in various styles, from Bavarian rustic to modern art nouveau. The indoor swimming pool has views of the Karwendel peaks, and a small rose garden is an inviting spot for coffee and cake. Excellent Bavarian fare such as Zwiebelrostbraten (onion roasts) and Semmelknödel (bread dumplings) is served in the traditional Bio Gasthof Post restaurant.

A 10-minute drive west of Garmisch, near the base of the Zugspitze cable car, is this delightful resort hotel with its unique take on Bavarian rustic. Rooms are cozy, comfortable, and traditional; the wellness area includes an indoor pool, sauna, and whirlpool; and the gourmet restaurant serves superb, four-course, French- and Mediterranean-inspired cuisine (think bouillabaisse with horseradish, or risotto with lavender), while providing a breathtaking view of the mountains around.

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.