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

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.

Not content to limit itself to merely being a place to sleep, this chic landmark hotel combines a buzzing cocktail bar with a similarly trendy sushi and steak restaurant to create one of the hottest spots in town. The inside of this former iron foundry is full of curvy, funky shapes and forms and open spaces of deep oranges, dark browns, and creams. The effect is one of almost immediate comfort and a sense of escape from the frenetic nighttime activity of the nearby Reeperbahn.

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.

Some claim that this beautiful 19th-century town house on the edge of the Binnenalster is the best hotel in Germany. Antiques—the hotel has a set of near-priceless Gobelin tapestries—fill the public rooms and accentuate the stylish bedrooms; fresh flowers overflow from massive vases; rare oil paintings adorn the walls; and all rooms are individually decorated with superb taste. With 10 different places for dining and drinking within its premises, you don't necessarily need to stay overnight to get a taste of the Vier Jahreszeiten's famous luxury.

On the shores of Lake Alster and surrounded by a park, this upscale hotel built in 2018 combines sculptural architecture, a classic yet modern interior, two restaurants, and a rooftop bar with outstanding views. The Fontenay is an oasis for rest and relaxation thanks to the spa rooms offering full treatment with premium organic products. It also offers a sauna, infinity pools, and a library with more than 1,000 books. Nearly all rooms have a glass-fronted balcony for a bright and spacious feel as well as the latest technologies and luxury amenities.

Nestled in five meticulously restored, gleaming white structures on a secluded beach, the hotel displays an almost Californian Bel Air charm and offers timelessly furnished rooms decorated in soft colors. Seemingly endless activities are offered, and the spa area is breathtaking. The kids' club includes supervised activities, their own restaurant, and a three-story villa, kitted out as a playhouse, with a tube slide giving fast access out to a garden with more play equipment.

Those who make the effort to travel 20 minutes from the center of town to this small yet luxurious hotel perched above Elbe will gain a mixture of sophistication, Michelin-starred dining, and fine Hanseatic hospitality. Founded in 1791, the hotel has drawn plenty of famous names to its chandeliered dining room and oak-floored guest rooms over the years. From one of the hotel's tastefully appointed, river-view rooms you can watch passing ships, while the spacious rooms of the hotel's more modern wing across the road look onto manicured little courtyards.

A laid-back oasis in the bustling neighborhood of St. Georg, the Wedina's red, blue, green, pink, and yellow houses have themes that include "Tuscany" and "Literature." It's renowned for the famous authors who have stayed here while giving readings at the nearby Literaturhaus. The red house has a small library of books signed by the hotel's literary guests, while the green "architecture" house is distinguished by smooth concrete and natural wood and looks out onto a peaceful "Swiss Zen" garden.

This luxurious resort sits directly on the dunes in a white, thatch-roof country house, and the view from most of the rooms is magnificent—with some luck, you may even spot frolicking harbor porpoises. The property has rooms, suites, and brightly furnished spacious maisonettes that cover two floors and are equipped with a fireplace. The real attraction here, however, is the restaurant, where renowned chef Johannes King creates delicious German-Mediterranean fish dishes. The hotel is in quiet Rantum, at the southeast end of the island.

Located inside Hamburg's new landmark, the Elbphilharmonie, the Westin offers lodging on 10 floors soaring above the Elbe River. The purist design of the rooms with themes of sand, air, and water does not distract from the spectacular views that can be enjoyed from floor-to-ceiling windows. The hotel also has one of the longest indoor swimming pools in Hamburg. The Bridge Bar is fun, and the Saffron restaurant spoils the taste buds with Hanseatic cuisine.

The "grand" here refers to its size, from the nearly 11,000-square-foot spa area and five restaurants to the 511 guest rooms and extra-wide beds. The centerpiece of the hotel is the Boulevard, which was modeled after the Champs Elysées and is lined with restaurants and a bar. The Grand Foyer features a lush, tropical installation with a waterfall and an accompanying bar, a large, quiet sitting area, and abstract art. Outside the Bourbon Street Bar, a piano player fills the air with music throughout the afternoon and evening.

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.

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.

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.

A modern hotel overlooking the small yacht harbor, this establishment has surprisingly low rates. The rooms are furnished with timeless dark furniture.

Moored at the start of the Reeperbahn, this black-glass monolith houses a welcoming design hotel ideal for those who want to just dip their toes into the waters of the red-light district. The inside of the hotel is full of light colors, with golden marble floors in the open-plan lobby and medium-size guest rooms highlighted by yellow leather headboards and bull's-eye windows. There's a small, stylish bar for refreshments before and after exploring the area’s musical theaters, bars, and clubs, and a little gym and spa area.

This hotel, located next to the Kieler Förde, provides spacious rooms and suites that come with elegant and modern furnishings. The restaurant serves Northern German dishes.

This small and personable family-owned hotel lies behind the facade of an old merchant house in the downtown area. Some of the rooms may be tiny, but it only contributes to the warm and cozy atmosphere. The lobby and restaurants are decorated with wooden beams and panels. The main restaurant primarily serves game, but it also prepares regional dishes.

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.

Proudly dubbing itself Hamburg's first design hotel, the Gastwerk, named after the 130-year-old gasworks it's housed inside, is certainly one of the most stylish places to stay in town. Incredibly chic furnishings, warm woods, and thick carpets and drapes complement the industrial grandeur of the hotel, and its large, modern guest rooms all have renovated bathrooms, docking stations, and satellite TVs. The loft rooms, with large windows, exposed brick walls, and tons of space, are well worth the extra cost.

At the end of a strip of funky cafés and bars that stretches down from the central station, the George, with its groovy New British styling and renowned gin and whisky bar, fits right in. Champagnes, grays, and browns mix throughout guest rooms, and large arty photographs add life throughout the hotel. In the small lobby, wingback chairs and textured wallpaper, both covered in shades of black, are illuminated by soft lighting. The hotel has a rooftop bar with views of the Alster and the setting sun.

Concealed down a side street not far from the main station, this small boutique hotel, with its retro rooms, furniture, and phones, will undoubtedly please fans of film noir and Mad Men. Guest rooms are softly lit, their dark, wooden chairs and cabinets offset by light green walls, gray curtains, and white wood panels behind the beds. The Henri feels a lot like a stylish bachelor pad, a sensation heightened by the hotel's small, denlike lobby and lounge, which flow on to an open-plan kitchen space, where there's a communal refrigerator stacked with bottles of beer and tubs of ice cream. Plus, the Henri features a rooftop spa equipped with a Finnish sauna and also a fully equipped gym.

There are few hotels in Germany more sumptuous than this gracious Edwardian palace facing the Aussenalster, which draws both celebrities and the not-so-famous searching for a luxe retreat. Built in 1909 for first-class passengers about to travel across the Atlantic, the hotel still exudes class. Tasteful desert hues mingle with deep-color furnishings in guest rooms, and Murano crystal chandeliers light belle époque interiors. The marble-covered bathrooms have heated floors.

This small hotel offers food (breakfast and dinner only) and lodging at reasonable prices, albeit with a 2-night minimum stay (3 nights in winter). In addition, the hotel rents small cottages and apartments around the island, which are a good value if you intend to stay for more than a few days. Godewind's restaurant is known on the island for its regional dishes.

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.

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.

The city's most elegant hotel has a luxurious interior, decorated in a classic style, along with romantic, airy rooms and the impeccable service. The fine nouvelle cuisine à la Mecklenburg (mostly seafood dishes) is another attraction. All this is tucked inside a late-19th-century historic mansion located on old Schwerin's Pfaffenteich pond.

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.

This historic town house in the heart of the city is Lübeck's most charming hotel with small, modest, well-kept guest rooms for up to five people on two floors. Comfortable beds, bright birchwood furniture, a quiet setting, and a great (not to mention nutritious) German breakfast buffet make this a perfect choice for budget travelers looking for romance.