18 Best Hotels in Franconia and the German Danube, Germany

Bringing a touch of French flair to the heart of Bavaria, this beautiful grand hotel is set within a former baroque palazzo. It wears its history well, whether in the attic rooms with their large wooden beams or in the elegant first-floor rooms with their stucco ceilings; expect antique furnishings, chandeliers, and four-poster beds throughout. The French bistro–style restaurant prepares a selection of French classics (like coq au vin and bouillabaisse), along with best-in-the-city crepes. In case they're full, two sister properties are nearby: the Petit Hotel Orphée on the next street, and Andreasstadel on the other side of the river.

This historic hotel's central location—sandwiched between the Alte Kapelle and Dom St. Peter, attached to the city's best beer garden, and within 10 minutes' walk of all Regensburg's other big-ticket attractions—is what makes it such a draw. But that's far from all it has to offer. The simply but smartly decorated rooms are comfortable and spacious, with marble bathrooms and Nespresso coffee machines. One of them—the vast Presidential Suite, with its large lounge and dining room, multiple bathrooms with rain showers and baths, preserved historic features, and stunning cathedral views—may be the best hotel room in Regensburg. The breakfast buffet will set you up well for a day of sightseeing, while evening meals of traditional Bavarian food can be enjoyed in the attached Weltenburger am Dom beer garden.

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).

This half-timber house, which seems to float over the river Regnitz, is one of the city's most beautiful waterfront properties. Inside, many of its comfortable, simply-furnished rooms offers views along the rushing river to the Altes Rathaus. The optional (but highly recommended) breakfast is served in the hotel's Eckerts Wirtshaus restaurant, with its cozy podium fireplace and lovely bridge terrace. It's the perfect way to round out your stay, though it's also open for lunch if you wish to extend it.

Offering a comfortable stay in the heart of the city, these inviting open-plan apartments feature king-size beds, spacious living rooms, smart, modern bathrooms, and fully equipped kitchen units (complete with fridge, microwave, dishwasher, and more). You can cook your own food—buy frozen pizzas, snacks, and beers in the lobby, cook up a feast using your oven and hobs, then head up to the plant-filled rooftop terrace for a meal with a view—or you can treat yourself to breakfast in the restaurant. There are also drinks and snacks available each evening in the swanky Alto Bar. Descend to the lower floors to discover the on-site gym, heated indoor pool, sauna, and whirlpool. There's on-site parking available for a fee, but space is limited so you might find yourself at a nearby 24-hour parking lot instead.

This is one of Germany's most historic hostelries, a former bishop's palace where you can sleep in a suite that includes part of a Roman gateway. Other rooms are only slightly less historic, and some have seen emperors and princes as guests, though you wouldn't know from the (mostly) modern and stylish design.

An 18th-century bakery has been skillfully converted into this comfortable "hotel und weinrestaurant," located on a quiet street of the old walled town and managed by the same family for four generations. The hotel's cozy, refurbished rooms are clean and comfortable, with touches of rustic Franconian style. The wood-paneled restaurant serves traditional Franconian fare, with an excellent fish menu, but it's the extensive wine options that keep people coming back.

One of the region's oldest accommodation options, this simple but pleasant inn with modern rooms and a popular summer beer garden is in a small village about 5 km (3 miles) southeast of Coburg. The interior has simple wooden paneling and floors. The beer garden is the best place to enjoy traditional Franconian dishes, or a plate of homemade sausages, and meet some of the locals. Rooms are well-appointed and comfortable—the wooden theme is continued, but the style is definitely modern.

In the heart of Coburg, this fine, historical property dates from 1756, though there has been a hotel on this site since 1586. After a day of sightseeing, relax in the sauna complex with solarium or with one of the vintages from the small wine boutique just opposite the reception.

It may only have been built in 1984, but this charming little hotel with its salmon-pink facade blends in successfully with the graceful Italian-style buildings either side of it. The modern cheery rooms are large and airy; some have a fine view of the Danube (and the nearby cruise docks). There's no restaurant, but the breakfast room serves up a rich buffet every morning, and there's a bar for whiling away the evening. There's also a small sauna and relaxation area on the ground floor.

The old part of this eye-catching hotel is in Bayreuth's only half-timber house, a former sawmill by a stream, just a two-minute walk from the town center. The double rooms in this original house are rustic but renovated, combining hardwood floors and visible beams with large beds and air-conditioning, while the newer, neighboring building has a mix of singles and doubles with modern bathrooms. There's also one six-person holiday apartment available. A good breakfast buffet is served in the restaurant downstairs, and there's a sheltered beer garden for the evenings.

Willy Messerschmitt (of fighter aircraft fame) grew up in this beautiful late-baroque house, and today its steep-eave, green-shuttered, stucco exterior gives way to a hotel filled with luxuriously spacious rooms. Guests can opt for everything from singles through the quadruples; if in doubt, choose the two-level suite. The excellent regional breakfast buffet is served in the on-site restaurant, while lunch can be enjoyed in the attached café-wine shop.

Passau's most historic hotel, which faces the town hall on the waterfront market square, dates from the 11th century. Whether you book into a basic single, a superior double, or a lavish suite, you'll be sleeping on beds of carved oak beneath shining chandeliers and richly stuccoed ceilings. Breakfast is served in the elegant Adalbert-Stifter-Saal each morning (expect more chandeliers), though only 8 am through 10 am, and a direct booking includes free entry to the attached Glasmuseum.

Renaissance windows punctuate the green facade of this historic city mansion, but the rooms are 20th-century modern. Try for one with a view of the cathedral, which stands directly across the street. Breakfast is served beneath the high-vaulted ceiling of a 14th-century chapel.

Standing proud across the square from the central train station, this stately building has played host to kings, politicians, and celebrities since opening its doors in 1896. With "Grand Hotel" arching over its entranceway, followed by a spacious and imposing lobby with marble pillars, it certainly provides a grandiose welcome. Beyond the introduction, guests can expect luxuriously large rooms and suites with marble bathrooms, an excellent brasserie restaurant serving superior local fare, a charming and colorful cocktail bar, and a wellness area including gym, sauna, and steam rooms.

This small and stylish side-street hotel provides top service at a good price, right around the corner from the Neupfarrplatz and at the heart of the AltstadtQuartier. The individually decorated rooms, which vary all the way from singles up to four-bed family rooms, skilfully combine historic features (like original arches and medieval wooden beams) with unapologetically modern art and bold colors. If the Münchener Hof is full, ask the staff to book you at their sister hotel, the nearby Dependance Blauer Turm.

The "White Rabbit" began accommodating travelers in the early 16th century. Recently purchased and renovated by the Premiere Inn chain, all of the rooms are decorated in a subdued modern style.