2 Best Hotels in Bad Reichenhall, The Bavarian Alps

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.