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

The prime location between the Reeperbahn and the harbor, the clever use of space and light, and a top-floor cocktail joint, 20up, that attracts thousands every weekend make this a favorite with locals and out-of-towners alike. White-walled guest rooms feel spacious and airy, and most have river views. Dark-wood banquettes replace traditional desks, and pocket doors lead into the bright bathrooms. Even though the hotel is three short blocks from the center of the Reeperbahn, there is little noise.

This trendy HafenCity hotel is full of fun, from guest rooms that resemble designer ship cabins to a chill-out room with retro couches. In obvious nods to the area’s maritime and trade heritage, there are chests converted into writing desks in guest rooms and oriental carpets stacked to form couches in the restaurant. Throw in the groovy bar, excellent fish-and-chips served in its restaurant, and free test drive of a MINI car, and it's understandable why this welcoming hotel buzzes with city-trippers, businesspeople, and young families almost every night of the week.

This little hotel squeezed into an old apartment building in the center of the Schanzenviertel has been transformed into fun, swinging '60s-style accommodations. Guest rooms remain small, but have been decked out with stylish flower-print and geometric-shape wallpaper, crystal fruit-bowl lampshades, and vintage teacups and saucers. Modern touches include flat-screen TVs and standard hotel beds that feel a little out of place next to the retro armchairs and tables. Given that space is at a premium, there's no breakfast room, but room service is available.

This harbor landmark, just across from the famous St. Pauli Landungsbrücken and a few streets back from the Reeperbahn, is a great value considering its central location. The main part of the hotel has small but nicely renovated rooms, while the modern tower annex offers a great view of the harbor. The Tower Bar is a popular Hamburg hangout and a great spot for a sundowner.

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.

Encompassing five historical buildings built in different centuries, this hotel combines historic architecture with luxurious decor and modern comfort. Located in the center of Stralsund, the Romantik Hotel Scheelehof trumps with a quality spa, cellar bar, and an organic coffee house.

Futuristic, minimalistic—call it what you like—hip five-star hotel SIDE stands out from the rest of the crowd because of what's on the inside, including a soaring, glass-paneled atrium and sleek, space-age interiors decorated with brightly colored cubes and pebble-shape furniture. The hotel's popularity with its business clientele and local fashionistas is enhanced by its excellent cocktail bar and Meatery restaurant, which many claim does the best dry-aged beef in town.

Behind the facade of a centrally located, former Deutsche Post building hides the sleek style and famously comfortable beds of one of the city's finest business hotels. Dominated by gray, white, and dark-brown hues, rooms are furnished with tasteful, contemporary furniture, huge beds (by German standards), and even bigger marble bathrooms. The Sofitel's Ticino restaurant serves flavors from around the world, while downstairs there's a funky indoor pool and spa area, decked out in Italian tiles and natural stone, as well as a small gym.

One of Sylt's loveliest old thatch-roof apartment houses, this is a quiet alternative to the busier main resorts in Kampen and Westerland. The Ulenhof has four buildings 850 yards away from the beach in Wenningstedt. The larger apartments, for up to five people, are a good deal. A separate bathing facility offers a huge wellness area with two saunas, a pool, and a Tecaldarium, a Roman-style bathhouse.