11 Best Hotels in Schleswig-Holstein and the Baltic Coast, Germany

Packing fun and retro design into a relaxed package that includes beanbag chairs, shag carpets, and bold wallpapers, this is the type of place for travelers seeking something a bit different. Happily for those who decide to stay here, there's a load of freebies that come on top. Guests get a free bottle of beer at check-in, free ice cream in summer, free parking, and free use of a MINI car or bikes during the day. Given all the extras and the hotel's friendly staff, it's unsurprising that it's popular with families and business travelers as well.

This traditional hotel overlooking the Kieler Föhrde provides standard yet elegant refurbished rooms in the main building and completely new, bright accommodations in the Villentrakt. The restaurant serves mostly fish dishes; in summer try to get a table on the terrace.

This mostly wooden mansion is a small and quiet retreat for those who want to avoid the masses. All rooms are spacious and have a large terrace or balcony; pastel shades of soft white and yellow add to the tidy, fairy-tale look of the building. The apartments have small kitchenettes.

It's hard to find fault with this handsome central hotel near the Binnenalster and the opera house; the service is friendly and efficient, the rooms are neatly albeit plainly furnished, and the prices are reasonable for such an expensive city. A small gym, a bar, and a restaurant specializing in German and French cuisine round out the facilities.

This family-owned hotel, in a thatch-roof farmhouse outside Warnemünde, blends contemporary style with rural architecture. The refurbished apartments all feature a kitchenette and separate sitting or living areas. The standard rooms are smaller—some have a maritime flair with dark, heavy furniture and large beds; others, which are even smaller, have a country feel with bright pinewood furnishings. The hotel is 700 yards from the beach.

Only a few minutes' walk from Kiel's main train station, this new hotel combines stripped-down design (featuring a lot of concrete and wood), high-end technology, and comfortable touches like crumpled leather sofas to provide cozy, Kiel-style comfort. In style, it's Nordic by nature through and through.

Perched at the end of the Reeperbahn, this branch of the Motel One chain is ideal for those looking for a trendy, design-minded, central yet inexpensive base. The bed linens are sumptuous, towels are lush, and the bed is crowned with real leather and dark wood. The bathrooms have rainfall showerheads and organic toiletries. The rooms are small, however, and despite having HD TVs, lack basics like telephones, chairs, closets (there is a bar for hanging clothes), and information folders.

Don't let the weathered facade fool you; this hotel is in good shape, even if the lobby and restaurant were not as tastefully redecorated as the guest rooms. You get the basics at a fair price.

There's no missing the black glass and gray concrete form of the Radisson Blu, which towers 330 feet above Dammtor train station, with sweeping views of Planten un Blomen and the city. Built in 1973, it's a bold yet welcoming property that resembles a giant harmonica balanced on one end. Guest rooms here have three modern design styles: pale-wood and earth-tone furnishings; bold aquas and mustard interiors; and black lacquer accents, dark wood, and turquoise carpets.

Only a stone's throw from the Holstentor, this hotel is close to all the main attractions and faces the moat surrounding the Old Town. It's family-run and very comfortable, with modern rooms, mostly decorated with bright cherrywood furniture. Though small, the guest rooms are big enough for twin beds and a coffee table and come with either a shower or a bath.

This first-class hotel hides behind a rigid gray facade dating back to the early 19th century, but the interior is surprisingly open and airy, with skylights and a posh lobby. The rooms have elegant cherrywood Art Deco–style furnishings. Downstairs, the Bierkeller, a cavernous 17th-century room with vaulted ceilings, is a trendy nightspot.