The Best Hotel in Franconia and the German Danube, Germany

There's no doubt about it: this grande dame-turned-boutique hotel is the place to stay in Bayreuth. Located a few steps up the street from the Markgräfliches Opernhaus, it has been busy entertaining composers, singers, conductors, and instrumentalists for hundreds of years. The building is a gorgeous jumble of sloped walls and ceilings, squat doorways, period furnishings (including an original 18th-century chair from the opera house), and quirky dog ornaments—a reflection of charming owner Eva's personality. The individually decorated rooms vary from small and cozy with bath-showers to true royal splendor with roll-top baths; one huge suite even features a spiral staircase leading up from the sitting room to the bedroom. The à la carte breakfast is superb—try a crumbly croissant with homemade jam—but other dining options, including swanky evening meals, special themed dining events, and even the occasional afternoon tea, are available by reservation only (and often only for larger groups).