Best Luxury Hotels in Germany

It boasts some of the coolest cities around, with creative street art, quirky flotation spas, unique brutalist architecture and risque nightlife. But it’s also home to chocolate-box villages, fairytale castles, Hansel and Gretel forests, classy seaside resorts and majestic mountain ranges. Germany’s Christmas markets and Alpine snowscapes make it a go-to winter break. Yet with warm (but not uncomfortably hot) temperatures, abundant alfresco culinary culture, sandy beaches and lake-swimming opportunities, it’s also a superb alternative summer holiday destination for travellers. And with convenient air and rail transport links, making a trip here is stress-free.

Bavaria, Munich, Schwanthalerhöhe

The Dean Munich, Autograph Collection

Hotel
At a glance
Rooms 281 rooms and suites in soft greens with Jugendstil-meets-1980s detailing, rising to The Dean Suite and The Penthouse Suite with private terraces and Westend views
Amenities Ibasho Japanese restaurant, Lobby Bar, POWER wellness club with heated indoor relaxation pool, sauna, steam room and contrast-therapy suite, gym and boutique studio classes
More Set in creative Westend, a short walk from Theresienwiese and the Augustiner Keller beer garden

The Dean Munich brings the Irish lifestyle brand’s largest hotel to Westend, the city’s creative quarter of old breweries and art studios. Behind the reimagined postmodern facade, Munich-born designer Tatjana von Stein has layered Jugendstil curves against the glossy lacquer and theatrical lighting of 1980s Munich nightlife. Ground-floor restaurant Ibasho serves modern Japanese cooking, while the Lobby Bar runs from morning coffee to late cocktails. The POWER club adds a heated indoor pool, sauna, steam room, and contrast-therapy suite, and a site-specific art programme threads Munich contemporary artists through the whole building.

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Baden-Württemberg, Freudenstadt

Fritz Lauterbad

Hotel
(4 stars)
At a glance
Rooms Modern design rooms and charitable Purpose Rooms, plus appartement47, a signature suite styled with Monkey 47 gin
Amenities Regional restaurant and fine dining at the Berghütte mountain lodge; spa of over 1,000 sqm with infinity view, Panoramasauna, massage and cosmetic treatments
More On forested slopes above Freudenstadt in the northern Black Forest, with trails from the door and the town's landmark market square nearby

A lifestyle design hotel, the Fritz Lauterbad is oh so cool. An angular, modern and black wood-clad exterior with lots of glass for prime forest views, gives way to sleek modern studios. Although the approach to furniture is designer minimal, all of the cleverly arranged accommodations include comfy seating areas, workspaces, big luxe floating-style beds and balconies. Natural materials are used throughout, including the 1000 sqm wellness area, which offers clear views of the Swabian Alb. here you can take a yoga class, follow a health programme, or simply chill out and tuck into some fresh, regional cuisine.

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Bavaria, Elmau

Schloss Elmau

Hotel
(5 stars)
At a glance
Rooms Rooms and suites of 25 to 200 sqm across two houses, the family-friendly Hideaway and the adults-focused Retreat, the latter running up to presidential suites and family apartments.
Amenities Ikigai (two Michelin stars) plus ten-plus restaurants and lounges, six adults-only and family spas, heated indoor and outdoor pools, 500 sqm Oriental Hamam, Japanese onsen, TCM and medical spa, yoga, fitness.
More Set at 1,000m in the Elmau valley between the Zugspitze and the Karwendel, 20 minutes from Garmisch-Partenkirchen and twice host of the G7.

A longtime haven for artists and writers, this castle (a National Monument) was erected in 1916. Since then it has hosted a G7 summit as well as 220 annual concerts and literary events. The food offer is Michelin-starred with French and Japanese dining courtesy of chef Christoph Rainer at Luce D’Oro and many other eateries dotted around the expansive site. Deep in the Elmau Valley, Schloss Elmau now includes a newer wing, accommodating many of the suites, a spa, a yoga pavilion and a library. There’s also a kids club and a huge bookshop.

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Baden-Württemberg, Bad Peterstal-Griesbach

Hotel Dollenberg

Hotel
(5 stars)
At a glance
Rooms Classic double rooms, junior suites, suites and luxury suites in a chalet-style Relais & Châteaux house.
Amenities Two-Michelin-star Le Pavillon, Kaminstube, seasonal outdoor dining, 5,000 sqm spa with pools, sauna world, whirlpool, yoga and fitness.
More On a hillside above Bad Peterstal-Griesbach in the Black Forest, within reach of Baden-Baden and Strasbourg.

This Relais and Chateaux property certainly ramps up the fairytale feel of the Black Forest. It’s like a picture postcard; a traditional mountain style chalet building, bursting with colourful floral window boxes. The food is simply divine – so much so, that it’s gained two Michelin stars – and is based on the Baden terroir with a focus on the elements. Chef Martin Herrmann is at the helm of the Gourmet Restaurant Le Pavillion and guests have the option to enjoy a unique and magical dining experience, served in a forest clearing. Classically decorated rooms with a regal air, have minibars, balconies and king-sized beds as standard.

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Hotel Dollenberg
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Hessen, Königstein im Taunus

Falkenstein Grand, Autograph Collection

Hotel
(5 stars)
At a glance
Rooms 112 rooms and long-stay apartments in an elegant country-house style, rising to penthouse suites among the largest in Germany
Amenities Restaurant Landgut Falkenstein, Raffaels Bistro Bar Lounge, 1,200 sqm Ascara Fitness & Spa, indoor and heated outdoor pools, whirlpool, sauna, fitness centre
More Hilltop setting in the Taunus mountains above Königstein, 25 km from Frankfurt Airport

Opt for the Falkenstein Grand if you’re seeking a wellness break in an area that’s steeped in history. The holistic health resort offers treatments based on nature’s bounty in its Ascara Spa, such as wraps, scrubs and massages, with in-room options available. You’ll also be able to swim in the outdoor pool, take a sauna, join a fitness class and work out in the gym. Choose from one of 112 bedrooms including singles, or an apartment that’s perfect for longer stays. Suites include penthouses with views reaching to Frankfurt. Rustic and hearty homemade dishes are served up at Landgut Falkenstein.

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Hansestadt Hamburg, Hamburg, Rothenbaum

The Fontenay

Hotel
(5 stars)
At a glance
Rooms Rooms and suites with private balconies and Alster views, rising to the signature Fontenay Suite and the top-floor Panorama Suite
Amenities Two-Michelin-star Lakeside, the Parkview Alster restaurant, Osteria Due and the rooftop Fontenay Bar; rooftop spa with infinity pool, sauna and fitness studio
More On the shore of the Alster lake in the Rotherbaum quarter, minutes from Hamburg's city centre

Boasting a stunning lakeside location, the Fontenay is likely to appeal to people who have a flair for the flamboyant. This elegant and uber-luxurious hotel showcases plenty of dramatic features that really makes it stand out from the crowd. Guests will want to ensure that they choose one of the suites that looks out over Lake Alster and the spacious balconies that adjoin these suites are the perfect place to unwind after a day exploring the city. The Fonteray Spa is the ideal place to relax in style and guests will be able to make full use of the infinity pool, while this leading hotel is also famous for its excellent dining opportunities.

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Lower-Saxony, Bremen, Walle

Steigenberger Hotel Bremen

Hotel
(4 stars)
At a glance
Rooms 137 rooms and suites, from 27 sqm Superior and Deluxe rooms to 42 sqm family rooms and suites of up to 62 sqm
Amenities A-la-carte restaurant with terrace, bar, sixth-floor wellness area with Finnish sauna, bio-sauna, steam bath and fitness
More Set directly on the Weser, about 15 minutes' walk from Bremen's old town

Perched on the river bank in the new Weser district, the Steigenberger Hotel accommodates 137 bedrooms including two suites and two family rooms. A waterside terrace and the bistro are charming places to dine, although a short walk along the promenade will also give you an excellent choice of eateries. The hotel is close to the Coffee Quarter, the GOP Varieté-Theater and a 15-minute stroll to the Old Town. Its entire seventh floor is given over to the wellness centre, where you’ll find a steam bath, the bio sauna and a Finnish sauna with far-reaching views.

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Baden-Württemberg, Baden-Baden

Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa

Hotel
(5 stars)
At a glance
Rooms Rooms, Suites and Signature Suites plus the standalone Parkvilla, styled to the building’s 19th-century heritage.
Amenities Fritz & Felix restaurant and bar, Restaurant Wintergarten, Oleander Bar, Villa Stéphanie spa with medical wing, pool, sauna, Technogym fitness.
More On Lichtentaler Allee in Baden-Baden, a gateway to the Black Forest and steps from the spa town’s thermal baths and casino.

This is the flagship five-star property of the Oetker Collection, an enchanting riverside idyll in pastoral surroundings. Many come for the huge Villa Stéphanie Spa & Wellbeing, located within the grounds that offer medical, as well as therapeutic treatments. A large pool overlooks the garden and plush rooms – many with balconies and terraces, all with pillow and blanket menus – are decorated to reflect the building’s 19th-century heritage. The dining offer is also a major draw, with Brenners Restaurant boasting two Michelin stars, Rive Gauche located in the park and The Wintergarten serving local cuisine.

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Hessen, Gravenbruch

Hilton Frankfurt Gravenbruch

Hotel
(4 stars)
At a glance
Rooms Rooms and suites set in landscaped lakeside grounds
Amenities Restaurant EssTisch, The Bar Lounge, Wellness Retreat spa, seven saunas, heated indoor and seasonal outdoor pools, tennis, fitness centre
More Beside a private lake in Neu-Isenburg, about 15 km from Frankfurt Airport and near Deutsche Bank Park

The Hotel Hilton Frankfurt Gravenbruch is conveniently located near Frankfurt Airport and the New Old Town. There are 17 accommodation types to choose from including comfortable guestrooms and spacious suites – featuring the Presidential Suite with Lake View. On-site, alfresco dining is available at EssTisch Restaurant serving regional and international cuisine while guests can also opt to order room service to enjoy exquisite cuisine from the comfort of their own stylish rooms. The Bar Lounge is the on-site bar and meeting place with a cosy feel and relaxing atmosphere. Guests are welcome to take full advantage of the tranquillity and wellness facilities provided by at the Country Club & Spa including the heated indoor and seasonal outdoor swimming pool. There is a fully equipped fitness centre as well as tennis courts. There is an array of business facilities to host professional meetings. This hotel is pet friendly.

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Bavaria, Grassau

Das Achental

Hotel
(5 stars)
At a glance
Rooms 179 rooms and suites in Alpine-chic style with garden and mountain views, including the split-level Suite Achental
Amenities Weißer Hirsch restaurant (Bavarian and Chiemgau cuisine), 2,000 sqm spa with a 17m indoor infinity pool, outdoor pool, five saunas and steam baths, tennis academy, 18-hole golf course, fitness.
More Set on the edge of the health resort of Grassau between Lake Chiemsee and the Kampenwand, off the A8 Munich–Salzburg autobahn.

Immerse in nature when you stay at this Bavarian-style property, a former equestrian centre set among the Chiemgau Alps. While its midcentury exterior is traditional, the design-forward interiors of this hotel boast brushed wood finishings, soft leather furnishings, burnished brass hardware from a local blacksmith and pieces from B&B Italia. There are three restaurants; the White Stag, the Hubertushütte and the artful two Michelin-starred es:senz by Chef Edip Sigl. Das Achental hosts one of the Leading Golf Clubs of Germany and a 2,000 square-metre wellness area with reclaimed wood, slate stone and Austrian stone pine saunas, and a classic steam bath.

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Schleswig-Holstein, Flensburg

Hotel Das James

Hotel
(5 stars)
At a glance
Rooms Rooms and suites across 15 categories, from Classic and Urban Cozy to Loft, Upper Class and Junior Suite, up to the top-floor James Penthouse; family suites available
Amenities Das Grace (one Michelin star), James Farmhouse, MINATO Japanese, The Lion Bar, Tea Time patisserie, The Roof; Five Senses spa with hamam, rooftop pool, saunas, gym with yoga, Pilates and boxing
More In the Sonwik marina quarter on the Flensburg Inner Fjord, a short drive from Flensburg's old harbour town and the Danish border

This five-star urban resort is found on the Sonwik waterfront with marina views. Its highlight is a gleaming 2,000 m² wellness retreat – SPA Five Senses – spread over three levels with an indoor pool and an outdoor rooftop infinity pool for adults only, four saunas and a separate junior spa area for kids. This, along with multiple bedded suites, childcare, a kids’ kitchen and a games room, makes it a hit with families. While couples love the many wining and dining options. Bedrooms have coffee machines, and cosmetics by Team Dr. med. Joseph, plush textiles, knitted throws, Scandi lighting and herringbone wooden floors, for a retro-modern effect.

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Lower-Saxony, Duderstadt

Zum Löwen Design Hotel Resort & Spa

Hotel
(4 stars)
At a glance
Rooms Six categories from single and double rooms to 42 sqm Junior and Grand Suites, plus Rooftop rooms opening onto a private roof terrace
Amenities Hotel restaurant, STONES bar, Berlin Bar, Bains Douches spa with emerald-green pool, Finnish sauna, herbal steam bath, salt grotto, Milon fitness circuit, massages
More Set on Marktstraße in the pedestrianised old town of Duderstadt, in the Eichsfeld

Embedded into the medieval quarter of the city, this design hotel brings a blend of sleek modern lines and nods to times past. Owner Hans Georg Näder has brought his personal passions (art and travel) into the decor, with handpicked furnishings from across the globe and interiors by Anja Müller. The building’s original rustic timber beams and open fireplaces remain, creating a guest house feel, with 59 bedrooms, a restaurant, wine cellar and bar. Zum Löwen boasts one of the most inviting pools in the land with a naturalistic but dramatic lighting design. It’s part of the hotel’s spa, Bains Douches, along with a salt-lined room.

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