13 Best Hotels in The Fairy-Tale Road, Germany

It may be 10 minutes by tram away from the city center, but this modern, friendly hotel and its comfortable, spacious rooms with modern furnishings, Finnish sauna, and excellent restaurant justify the journey. The Pfeffermühle (closed Mondays) is one of the region's finest places to eat, and a modern terrace that catches the sun until late in the day is a nice place to unwind.

Previously a 16th-century customs house, sitting on 1,000-year-old foundations and a secret tunnel that runs to the nearby Schloss and church, this friendly travelers' inn is the type of place made for history buffs. The inn's half-timber rooms have been restored to resemble what life might have been like in the time of the Brothers Grimm, but with modern comforts. Weary travelers can rest their feet beneath the 100-year-old chestnut tree in the inn's garden in summer.  

Near the elegant Altes Rathaus and the stately Leineschloss, and only a leisurely stroll from the Neues Rathaus, Opernhaus, and the city's main museums, this simple, modern hotel has easily one of the best locations in the city and has a lot of single rooms. Popular with those headed to Hannover's many trade fairs, the Concorde has the type of features generally favored by business travelers, including helpful staff, a generous breakfast buffet, and uncomplicated, comfortable rooms.

With a prime location in Hamelin's Old Town, this hotel, in a building dating from the 17th century, is a good mid-range option. The modestly decorated rooms, spread over two buildings, are comfortable, and some have views of the historic center's narrow streets lined with half-timbered buildings. The breakfast room on the ground floor proposes a superb spread that includes cold meats, eggs, cheese, salads, fresh fruit, and bread, and additional goodies such as home-baked fruit crumble and home-produced apple juice and honey. 

A small hotel in the heart of the city, this well-loved lodging just a few steps off the main square has small, uniquely themed rooms, including those dedicated to Coco Chanel and Napoléon. The hotel's major plus is its central location and air-conditioning. An on-site restaurant has a short menu offering salads, soups, and pasta dishes.

Centrally located but tucked away on a side alley, this charming hotel and restaurant has quiet, comfortable rooms and very friendly staff, making it a great base for city exploring or for business travelers. The house restaurant features typical German cuisine with no fanfare; dishes include Spätzle alongside a sausage salad.

On the Old Town's pedestrian zone, Hotel zur Krone has a terrace that lets you watch locals coming and going, and afternoon coffee here is a summer delight. The hotel's half-timber architecture, dating from 1645, fits in nicely with the romantic surroundings. The rooms in the older section are on the small side, but some have old-fashioned touches like beams from the 17th century.

A modern hotel in the center of town, the Marburger Hof has comfortable, updated rooms that still carry some charm, but not all rooms have been updated. Spacious baths, balconies in some rooms, and an on-site restaurant have made it a favorite with travelers. On the first floor, the chandelier-adorned breakfast room with outside terrace is a cheery place to start the day.

At the luxurious showpiece of the Maritim chain, guests can breakfast beneath frescoed ceilings and enormous chandeliers in a stunning 18th-century orangery overlooking Fulda Palace Park. Guest rooms housed in a modern wing with a large central atrium are standard for the chain; the hotel's Dianakeller restaurant is inside an impressive cavern of centuries-old vaulted arches. Based on location alone, this is the best place to stay in Fulda.

This friendly, family-run hotel with spacious guest rooms is located closer to Bad Emstal village, and is a great base for exploring the Habichtswald Nature Park. The guestrooms have classic yet modern decor, and some have balcomies. After a stroll through the nature park immediately opposite the hotel, guests can relax in the wellness center, where there are saunas, water jet massagers, and scented whirlpool baths. The restaurant serves upscale gourmet dishes in a bright dining room that opens out onto a terrace.

This peaceful hotel, a few steps from the Kaiserpfalz and within an easy walk of the Altstadt, was once the castle's mill (Mühle) and sawmill. In the restaurant, watch the mill wheel spin as you eat.

Positioned beside the lovely baroque gardens and woodland paths of the hilltop Wilhelmshöhe park, this comfortable, modern hotel and its rooms take in views on the park grounds on one side and stunning vistas over Kassel on the other. The rooms are well-appointed, with modern furnishings and plenty of space; some have living areas or balconies that feel luxurious. The hotel's elegant restaurant serves contemporary cuisine with an emphasis on German and Mediterranean dishes, and its sunny terrace is not only popular with guests, but also with day-trippers to the park and celebrities in town for the city's renowned documenta festival.