8 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.

In a former redbrick high school behind a pear orchard, you'll find a surprisingly elegant country-style hotel. The rooms are spacious, with wood floors and modern work spaces and amenities. The restaurant Eucken serves game (from its own hunter) and German country cooking such as Husum shoulder of ox slow cooked for 48 hours on red wine sauce with pea purée.

These modern, handsome apartments with fully equipped kitchens will appeal to those who appreciate a few home comforts when they travel. Rooms are spacious and well lit and are furnished with natural woods, soft, gray tones, and light-hued walls. All apartments include coffee- and tea-making facilities, free Wi-Fi, and washing machines and dryers, so understandably, the hotel has found favor with businesspeople and families.

This luxury hotel along the Alster oozes beauty inside and out, with contemporary art on view throughout—including the elevator. The sleek but unassuming facade and ultramodern interior might border on cold, but the outstanding spa and wellness area (complete with an indoor lap pool) and the impeccable service make you feel quickly at ease. Staff are the perfect blend of helpful and friendly. The hotel offers guests complimentary entry to the nearby Deichtorhallen art galleries and, in warm weather, a free ferry takes you across the Aussenalster to Jungfernstieg.

Inspired by its location right next to the zoo, the hotel features artwork, furnishings, and even aromas from Asia and Africa to create spaces reminiscent of 19th-century safari outposts. The hotel also has every modern amenity, and because it is not in the heart of Hamburg, rooms are generous in size and many have balconies. You can buy tickets to Tierpark Hagenbeck and the Tropen Aquarium at a 25% discount from the concierge.

Set at the dreamy Naun Lake, this country hotel is a hidden gem if you are looking for a countryside retreat. The redbrick farmhouse and old thatch-roof barn make up an upscale yet casual hotel. Each room has a unique design (the owners are acclaimed Berlin interior designers), with white walls and terra-cotta tiles. There's a fine restaurant serving German-Italian seafood on a terrace.

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.

Opened in 2018, this boutique hotel offers three restaurants, several stylish cocktail bars, and 128 individually designed rooms with a French touch in a great location. Tortue is located right at the heart of Hamburg close to the canals and welcomes its guests in an immense brick building from the nineteenth century. More than a hotel, Tortue is also one of Hamburg's gastronomic hotspots. The restaurants, which include a brasserie and a sushi bar, are located in the hotel's inner courtyard and offer the possibility of outside seating.