Rhine Valley
Truly good places to sleep and eat are thin on the ground in central Rüdesheim, but this 18th-century building has 26 stunning contemporary rooms designed…
Must-see hotels in Germany
Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Occupying a 900-year-old mansion, this top-class hotel is a blend of ancient and new, with Gothic arches leaping over faux-retro furniture and ageing oak…
Thuringian Forest & the Saale Valley
This circular boutique hotel atop the iconic JenTower (at 120m, Germany's second-highest) boasts 17 oversized rooms and amazing views of the town and…
Cologne
This dazzling alchemy of historical setting and up-to-the-minute design touches is hidden within the neo-Gothic ribbed vaults and stone pillars of the…
City West & Charlottenburg
Global nomads with a hankering for style would be well advised to point their compass to this cosmopolitan crash pad. Each of the 44 rooms exudes…
Romantik Hotel auf der Wartburg
Thuringian Forest & the Saale Valley
Built in 1914 in a 'medieval' style, to complement the glowering Wartburg beneath which it sits, this luxury hotel allows you the fantasy of staying 'in'…
Frankfurt am Main
Offering a winning combination of tranquillity, modern German design and small-hotel comforts (such as a quiet corner library), this century-old,…
Regensburg
Behind a humble door lies a world of genuine charm, unexpected extras and ample attention to detail. The striped floors, wrought-iron beds, original sinks…
Heidelberg
Snooze in a Fijian beach shack complete with sandy bay, a woodsy Canadian hunter’s cottage, or a topsy-turvy Down Under room where everything (paintings,…
Weimar
Get in quick to snap up one of these enormous, self-contained, fully renovated heritage apartments run by charming and generous hosts. The three…
Berlin
These stunning lofts close to the main train station spread across an historic building and an adjoining modern annexe and were created by their architect…
Lower Saxony & Bremen
A hard act to beat, this hotel forms a stunning arc on one side of Autostadt, while its swimming pool is integrated into the canal's harbour basin, giving…
Frankfurt am Main
Owned by descendants of the landgraves, electors and grand dukes of the House of Hessen, and opened in 1952, this 121-room hotel is filled with over 1500…
Berlin
Catalan shoemaker Camper has translated its concept of chic yet sensible footwear into this style-pit for trend-conscious global nomads. Minimalist-mod…
Kreuzberg
Cocktails in the library bar? Check. Free German lessons? Got ’em. Canal views? Yep. Ensconced in a fully renovated 1870s building, the ‘five-star’ Grand…
Heidelberg
This charmer is a winning blend of historic setting and sleek contemporary design. Equipped with huge bathrooms (tubs!), the 24 rooms are spacious and…
Coastal Mecklenburg – Western Pomerania
One of Stralsund's most appealing places to stay, the Scheelehof's 94 rooms are all individually decorated and scattered about several adjoining historic…
Trier
You can begin the day with sparkling wine over breakfast at this chic 1914-built hillside villa, and end it luxuriating in the indoor or rooftop pools and…
Munich
Around since 1841, this is one of the grande dames of the Munich hotel world. Rooms come in a number of styles, from busy Laura Ashley to minimalist…
The Romantic Road
One of the most truly romantic places to stay on the RR, part of Harburg Castle has been transformed into a very comfortable hotel which combines the…
Coastal Mecklenburg – Western Pomerania
This grand old dame of the Baltic Coast wears lightly its long history as one of northern Germany's most distinguished hotels. The public areas are rich…
Northern Germany
If you have your own wheels and don't mind being 8km northeast of Ludwigslust, this castle-hotel is easily the most romantic choice in the area. The…
Fairy-Tale Road
This lovely Relais & Chateaux hotel, 13km north of Göttingen, sits on Count von Hardenberg’s estate, beneath the ruins of Hardenberg castle. The spacious…
Prenzlauer Berg
An excellent choice for solo travellers, this small indie hostel has personable staff who go out of their way to make all feel welcome. Make new friends…
Dresden
This romantic castle set in its own riverside park east of the Neustadt is a breathtaking place to stay. Rooms in the Schloss itself are pricier and have…
Hamburg
This has to be Hamburg's premier address, inside the lower half of the daring new Elbphilharmonie. It's definitely worth paying extra for a room with a…
Komfort-Hotel Garni Christinenhof
Fairy-Tale Road
Historic outside, modern within, this superwelcoming hotel has a tiny swimming pool in the vaulted cellar, a sauna, and compact (but pleasant and…
Hamburg
Margaret Atwood, Jonathan Franzen and Martin Walser are among the literary greats who’ve stayed at this loveable lair. Rooms are spread over five brightly…
Steigenberger Grandhotel Handelshof
Leipzig
Behind the imposing historic facade of a 1909 municipal trading hall, this exclusive boutique-luxury joint outclasses most of Leipzig's hotels with its…
Schleswig-Holstein
Now here's something special. The main heritage waterfront building has been painstakingly and artfully restored with stunning, light-filled rooms which…
Moselle Valley
Each of the 17 rooms at this sleek hotel is named after a Moselle vineyard (with corresponding wines in each minibar), and features dramatic outsized…
Bremen City
Although its exterior is certainly dated, this domed lakeside mansion surrounded by parkland impresses through its sheer extravagance and could be…
Swabian Alps Region
A charming pick behind Am Markt, this family-run hotel has rustic-chic rooms with parquet floors and granite or marble bathrooms. Most striking of all is…
Rhine Valley
Stupendous views extend over the Rhine from this resort 13km north of Boppard via the small town of Spay. Its 101 rooms, spanning 20 sq metres to a…
Altstadt
Kidney-shaped tables, plush armchairs, vintage typewriters – the Henri channels the 1950s so successfully that you half expect to run into Don Draper. Its…
Weimar
Possibly Weimar’s most charming boutique Pension, the 'House of Colours' convincingly imports Mediterranean style to central Europe. Run by an Italophile…
Munich
A mere a five-minute aristocratic amble from Schloss Nymphenburg, this commendably tranquil refuge is run by a friendly team who take time to get to know…
Coastal Mecklenburg – Western Pomerania
Modern views with large windows, harbour views and fresh maritime colours make this a fantastic choice. The rooftop panoramic suite is stunning in summer,…
Fairmont Vier Jahrseiten Hamburg
Hamburg
This five-star hotel overlooking the waters of Binnenalster opened in 1897 and retains an air of the grand old European hotels of the past. Rooms are…
Hotel Reikartz Vier Jahreszeiten
Berchtesgaden
For a taste of Berchtesgaden’s storied past, stay at this traditional lodge where Bavarian royalty once crumpled the sheets. Rooms are very well kept and…
