Best Wellness Hotels in Germany

Set in the heart of Dusseldorf’s downtown district, the Breidenbacher Hof Düsseldorf has established a strong reputation for being one of the best hotels in the whole of Europe. This elegant establishment boasts just 79 rooms and 16 spacious suites for guests to choose from, which helps to create an intimate yet very refined atmosphere. Lovers of fine dining can enjoy an excellent range of traditional German dishes at the onside restaurant, while the indoor swimming pool is the perfect place to unwind.

Dating back to 1876, this 303-bedroom hotel spread over six floors is somewhat of a grande dame in the city. A fountain outside and a gleaming lobby with chandeliers inside, greet arriving guests. The Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof’s Restaurant Francais is Michelin-starred, with a terrace open during warmer months, plus there’s Breeze by Lebua serving Pan-Asian food, a cigar lounge, a cocktail bar and a further restaurant, Hofgarten. The in-house spa at the five-star residence is huge, with a private suite for couples, a hammam and a fitness area. Its central location ensures all the major sites are walkable.

Embracing the island’s traditional style, this Severins Resort boasts the longest continuous thatched roof in Europe. Perched right on the Wadden Sea in the town of Keitum, it’s popular with families; Severins has a kids’ club and welcomes pets, providing their own concierge, an outdoor pet shower, bowls and beds. The boutique hotel offers 10 bedroom categories, five apartment houses and two restaurants: Tipken’s and Hoog, as well as a bar, a Smoking Lounge and a Wine Cellar. A ​​2,000 m² spa comprises treatment suites, a fireside indoor pool, five themed saunas, a fitness suite and a cafe.

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.

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.

Far enough from the centre to afford peace and quiet, yet near enough to walk into the town, the Grand Hotel is well set up for travellers seeking to unwind. Some of its 127 rooms and suites have balconies, all have forest or sea views, minibars and robes. Book Thai massages and Ayurvedic treatments (which use oils and herbal remedies from India), join a medically designed fasting programme, take a yoga class, swim against the current in the indoor pool, or take little ones for a dip in the children’s pool. The hotel offers dosha (Ayurvedic) and diet-friendly meals in the main restaurant to complement the wellness programmes.

A hotel inspired by the bathing culture of the Orient, Vitalhotel Alter Meierhof is an indulgent and pampering experience. A huge heated indoor-outdoor pool provides views across to Denmark; there’s also a tepidarium, meditative sauna, aroma and steam baths, rasul and hammam ceremonies. The ambience and decor in the property are deeply elegant, with its 54 bedrooms created in a country house style. Breakfast in the gourmet brasserie, which also serves homemade patisserie in summer on the beach terrace. Grab a healthy lunch at the spa’s Vitalbar. Dine on modern French dishes at the two Michelin star Meierei Dirk Luther, or at the Spanish-themed Bodega, by night. And finish your day with a fireside nightcap in the lobby bar.

While the building dates back to 1841, the décor and facilities of the Bayerischer Hof are both modern and very comfortable. Guests can take their pick from some of the most exclusive and elegant suites in the whole city and it is a good idea to book far in advance in order to secure the simply stunning Presidential, Rooftop Panorama. This huge suite feels more like a miniature palace and comes complete with frescoed ceilings, a butler service and a stunning and very large living area complete with an adjoining balcony.

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.

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.

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.

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.