13 Best Hotels in The Fairy-Tale Road, Germany

Ivy-bedecked towers, a shadowy foyer decorated with suits of armor and swords, and guest rooms with four-poster beds and little bathrooms hidden behind cupboard doors endow this establishment with an atmosphere of fairy-tale adventure. Most of the rooms are in the main building, but five rooms are in an adjacent building just across the courtyard. Legend has it that the castle's tower is the one in which a wicked witch imprisoned Rapunzel; guests can climb the tower for views of the surrounding countryside, or relax in a sauna (for a charge) in another tower. The hotel's leafy courtyard and hilltop terrace are perfect for spending warm summer evenings sipping cool drinks; the hotel's restaurant serves a good selection of meat and fish dishes and has regular fairy-tale-themed dining experiences.

Antiques are everywhere in this elegant hotel, which is traditional both in appearance and service; tapestries adorn the lobby walls, oil paintings hang in the foyer, and copper engravings enliven the bar. Modern amenities include generous guest rooms, a fitness center with a sauna on the sixth floor, and a restaurant serving international cuisine with a French touch.

An institution in Fulda for more than 100 years, the Goldener Karpfen has remained family owned and run, with an elegant disposition and engaging hosts that have brought singers, actors, and archbishops through its doors. A couple of other points in the hotel's favor are its Hollywood-themed rooms with diner-style furniture and checkered tiles, and the high quality of the German food and wines on offer in its restaurant, which is open daily.

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.

Located in the heart of town, this inn started as a tavern and now includes several comfortably furnished bedrooms, plus an apartment for larger families and the numerous cycling groups that visit. The restaurant serves good, hearty German fare.

Not far from Bremerhaven's harbor and world-class museums, this modern hotel may not look like much from the outside, but its enviable reputation is built on excellent service, a fine restaurant, and small, tidy guest rooms with modern furnishings. Add to this a cozy bar, a sauna, and an indoor pool, and it's hard to find a better place to stay in town.

From the snug riverside rooms of this popular hotel-tavern, guests can watch passengers step directly off Weser pleasure boats and into the hotel's welcoming beer garden below. With some of the best views in town, the hotel is also only a short wander along the Weser away from the town's thermal pools. Although the hotel remains open year-round, the restaurant is closed Monday from May to September; it's closed Monday and Tuesday in March, April, and October; and it's closed completely from November to February.

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.

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.

Though within walking distance to the main train station, this family-run hotel stands aloof and serene on its own grounds, a modernized 18th-century building that's something of a local landmark. Rooms are furnished in dark woods, with leather armchairs and classic printed fabrics highlighted by bowls of fresh flowers. It has a whirlpool and a sauna.

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.