6 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.

This palatial hotel comes with an enviable location between a small lake and an extensive area of park and forest not far from the main train station. Full of large, open spaces and light, the hotel also has a heated outdoor pool, and a fireplace in the lounge, which may tempt you to linger in the public areas, no matter what the season. The rooms have large windows and swank furnishings. The Park Restaurant serves classic French and German dishes in a room of shimmering chandeliers.

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.

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.

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.