22 Best Hotels in The Fairy-Tale Road, Germany

Ivy-bedecked towers, a shadowy foyer decorated with suits of armor and swords, and guest rooms with four-poster beds and little bathrooms hidden behind cupboard doors endow this establishment with an atmosphere of fairy-tale adventure. Most of the rooms are in the main building, but five rooms are in an adjacent building just across the courtyard. Legend has it that the castle's tower is the one in which a wicked witch imprisoned Rapunzel; guests can climb the tower for views of the surrounding countryside, or relax in a sauna (for a charge) in another tower. The hotel's leafy courtyard and hilltop terrace are perfect for spending warm summer evenings sipping cool drinks; the hotel's restaurant serves a good selection of meat and fish dishes and has regular fairy-tale-themed dining experiences.

It may be 10 minutes by tram away from the city center, but this modern, friendly hotel and its comfortable, spacious rooms with modern furnishings, Finnish sauna, and excellent restaurant justify the journey. The Pfeffermühle (closed Mondays) is one of the region's finest places to eat, and a modern terrace that catches the sun until late in the day is a nice place to unwind.

Antiques are everywhere in this elegant hotel, which is traditional both in appearance and service; tapestries adorn the lobby walls, oil paintings hang in the foyer, and copper engravings enliven the bar. Modern amenities include generous guest rooms, a fitness center with a sauna on the sixth floor, and a restaurant serving international cuisine with a French touch.

This palatial hotel comes with an enviable location between a small lake and an extensive area of park and forest not far from the main train station. Full of large, open spaces and light, the hotel also has a heated outdoor pool, and a fireplace in the lounge, which may tempt you to linger in the public areas, no matter what the season. The rooms have large windows and swank furnishings. The Park Restaurant serves classic French and German dishes in a room of shimmering chandeliers.

An institution in Fulda for more than 100 years, the Goldener Karpfen has remained family owned and run, with an elegant disposition and engaging hosts that have brought singers, actors, and archbishops through its doors. A couple of other points in the hotel's favor are its Hollywood-themed rooms with diner-style furniture and checkered tiles, and the high quality of the German food and wines on offer in its restaurant, which is open daily.

This 17th-century castle was converted into a top-class luxury hotel in a manner that retains much of the original charm and decoration without sacrificing modern amenities, including a spa and swimming area. The rooms are spacious and luxurious enough for visiting dignitaries, and most have great views of the surrounding grounds, which make for a lovely stroll. Dining here is also top-notch, with a not-to-miss breakfast buffet and two restaurants, including a well-regarded fine-dining restaurant (dinner only; open Wednesday to Saturday).

Previously a 16th-century customs house, sitting on 1,000-year-old foundations and a secret tunnel that runs to the nearby Schloss and church, this friendly travelers' inn is the type of place made for history buffs. The inn's half-timber rooms have been restored to resemble what life might have been like in the time of the Brothers Grimm, but with modern comforts. Weary travelers can rest their feet beneath the 100-year-old chestnut tree in the inn's garden in summer.  

Near the elegant Altes Rathaus and the stately Leineschloss, and only a leisurely stroll from the Neues Rathaus, Opernhaus, and the city's main museums, this simple, modern hotel has easily one of the best locations in the city and has a lot of single rooms. Popular with those headed to Hannover's many trade fairs, the Concorde has the type of features generally favored by business travelers, including helpful staff, a generous breakfast buffet, and uncomplicated, comfortable rooms.

Located in the heart of town, this inn started as a tavern and now includes several comfortably furnished bedrooms, plus an apartment for larger families and the numerous cycling groups that visit. The restaurant serves good, hearty German fare.

With a prime location in Hamelin's Old Town, this hotel, in a building dating from the 17th century, is a good mid-range option. The modestly decorated rooms, spread over two buildings, are comfortable, and some have views of the historic center's narrow streets lined with half-timbered buildings. The breakfast room on the ground floor proposes a superb spread that includes cold meats, eggs, cheese, salads, fresh fruit, and bread, and additional goodies such as home-baked fruit crumble and home-produced apple juice and honey. 

A small hotel in the heart of the city, this well-loved lodging just a few steps off the main square has small, uniquely themed rooms, including those dedicated to Coco Chanel and Napoléon. The hotel's major plus is its central location and air-conditioning. An on-site restaurant has a short menu offering salads, soups, and pasta dishes.

Not far from Bremerhaven's harbor and world-class museums, this modern hotel may not look like much from the outside, but its enviable reputation is built on excellent service, a fine restaurant, and small, tidy guest rooms with modern furnishings. Add to this a cozy bar, a sauna, and an indoor pool, and it's hard to find a better place to stay in town.

Centrally located but tucked away on a side alley, this charming hotel and restaurant has quiet, comfortable rooms and very friendly staff, making it a great base for city exploring or for business travelers. The house restaurant features typical German cuisine with no fanfare; dishes include Spätzle alongside a sausage salad.

From the snug riverside rooms of this popular hotel-tavern, guests can watch passengers step directly off Weser pleasure boats and into the hotel's welcoming beer garden below. With some of the best views in town, the hotel is also only a short wander along the Weser away from the town's thermal pools. Although the hotel remains open year-round, the restaurant is closed Monday from May to September; it's closed Monday and Tuesday in March, April, and October; and it's closed completely from November to February.

On the Old Town's pedestrian zone, Hotel zur Krone has a terrace that lets you watch locals coming and going, and afternoon coffee here is a summer delight. The hotel's half-timber architecture, dating from 1645, fits in nicely with the romantic surroundings. The rooms in the older section are on the small side, but some have old-fashioned touches like beams from the 17th century.

A modern hotel in the center of town, the Marburger Hof has comfortable, updated rooms that still carry some charm, but not all rooms have been updated. Spacious baths, balconies in some rooms, and an on-site restaurant have made it a favorite with travelers. On the first floor, the chandelier-adorned breakfast room with outside terrace is a cheery place to start the day.

At the luxurious showpiece of the Maritim chain, guests can breakfast beneath frescoed ceilings and enormous chandeliers in a stunning 18th-century orangery overlooking Fulda Palace Park. Guest rooms housed in a modern wing with a large central atrium are standard for the chain; the hotel's Dianakeller restaurant is inside an impressive cavern of centuries-old vaulted arches. Based on location alone, this is the best place to stay in Fulda.

This friendly, family-run hotel with spacious guest rooms is located closer to Bad Emstal village, and is a great base for exploring the Habichtswald Nature Park. The guestrooms have classic yet modern decor, and some have balcomies. After a stroll through the nature park immediately opposite the hotel, guests can relax in the wellness center, where there are saunas, water jet massagers, and scented whirlpool baths. The restaurant serves upscale gourmet dishes in a bright dining room that opens out onto a terrace.

Though within walking distance to the main train station, this family-run hotel stands aloof and serene on its own grounds, a modernized 18th-century building that's something of a local landmark. Rooms are furnished in dark woods, with leather armchairs and classic printed fabrics highlighted by bowls of fresh flowers. It has a whirlpool and a sauna.

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.

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.