5 Best Hotels in The Rhineland, Germany

A stay in medieval history-filled rooms, including an old library, chapel, and prison tower, is an unforgettable experience at this vineyard-fringed hotel within the 12th-century Schönburg Castle complex. Each romantic room and suite offers all the things you want from a historic hotel, including curtained four-poster beds, antique furniture, chandeliers, thick carpets, and recessed windows. The fine-dining restaurant is a treat, with its €75 four-course menu served in historic dining rooms or (even better) out on the Rhine-view terraces. For lighter bites—and the daily hotel breakfast—head to the Burg-Bistro.

One of few medieval houses along the riverbank to survive World War II bombings, this family-run inn enjoys an unbeatable location overlooking the river and right by Gross St. Martin. The hotel's quaintly furnished rooms are far from luxurious, but the place wins points for its history and reasonable prices. Ancient wooden beams grace some of the older rooms, but claustrophobic guests are advised to take up quarters in the "new" rooms. The inn's antique restaurant downstairs offers authentic Rhenish flair and spruced-up versions of traditional German dishes.

Markus and Monika Stemper—a passionate cook and a gracious hostess—bring modern style to their country inn near the Luxembourg border. The garden (with palms, ponds, and flowers galore), comfortable rooms, and personal service are all remarkable. Stempers Brasserie (closed Sunday and Thursday; no lunch) serves dishes with Mediterranean touches, enhanced by an extensive wine list.

Owned by the Wenckstern family since it was built in 1628, this green-and-white half-timber inn offers considerable comfort, with the adjacent Gasthaus Ilse offering simpler, more budget-friendly rooms than those in the historic main building. Many rooms have a Rhine view, as does the beautiful terrace. The staff are friendly and helpful, and you can sample the family's wines in the cavernous wine cellar; coffee and homemade cakes can be enjoyed in the café.

Two of the suites in this traditional hotel on Kobern-Gondorf's market square, 6½ km (4 miles) from Winningen, are across the courtyard, in what might be Germany's oldest half-timber house (1321), but direct online bookings are not available at this writing. Light fare is served in the Weinstube, which has an open fireplace, and in warmer months there's a beer garden.