The most beautiful cities in Germany

Germany’s most beautiful cities and towns stand among the best places to visit in the European Union. They span almost the full range of European variety.

• There are cities with Roman origins and remains such as Trier, Cologne, Regensburg and Mainz.
• Medieval cities such as Nuremberg, Erfurt, Bamberg and Worms and the half-timbered Harz region towns of Goslar, Quedlinburg and Wernigerode.
• Renaissance showpiece cities such as Lübeck, Augsburg or Bremen.
• Cities with Baroque survivals, including Dresden, Heidelberg or Passau.
• Plenty of German cities have beautiful palaces on their streets or nearby, like Potsdam, Munich, Stuttgart, Würzburg and Weimar.
• The great cathedrals such as Cologne, Regensburg, Bamberg, Mainz, Erfurt, Worms, with countless other churches, sometimes in Romanesque but more commonly in the Gothic style. The münster of Ulm has the tallest spire of them all.
• Museums of culture and art among world’s best, including Deutsches Museum, Deutsches Nationalmuseum, Alte Pinakothek and the Pergamonmuseum.

All these places can be reached by train and bus (Quedlinburg is on a branch line). All offer a range of hotels, hostels, guest houses and other types of accommodation. All are very walkable and, like most German towns and cities, are really best seen on foot. But trams and buses help get people to and from hotels or attractions and for the bigger centres, Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Cologne, Stuttgart, Düsseldorf and Nuremberg, there are fast regular options in the form of S-bahn and U-bahn trains and light-rail transport.

Hotels, hostels & more

German accommodation offers plenty of variety for all budgets and desires. Train or bus travellers can find hotels, pensions, hostels or other lodgings reasonably close to the centre of town or public transport, while motorists can seek hotels with ready parking a little out of the centre and choose how to explore the local attractions from there. Camping is also popular.

As a guide, the nightly cost for budget hotel single rooms is in the €55-70 range, but their availability or price can be affected by festivals or trade shows (see Events) or even by international football matches. Hostel singles are often cheaper. Most three-star hotel rates seem to be between €65 and €80, but dynamic pricing is much more common today, making comparisons difficult. Above this level, hotels enter the mid-price range.

It is important to note the German preposition ab, when shown with a room rate, effectively means 'from' – it's the lowest room price offered, perhaps among differing rates for various rooms or various times of year (or nights of the week). Seek clarity when booking.

Hotels in Germany

Whether in big or small German hotels, professionalism and English-speaking desk staff are normal. Friendly and efficient service is usual. There are plenty of big chain hotels – industry analysts count 150-170 chains in Germany – but Germany also has a long tradition of independent, mostly small hotels that cover about 60% of rooms and offer a pleasant alternative. The drawbacks of some of these establishments, generally in older buildings, are the need to climb stairs and a lack of airconditioning for summer nights. In Germany, airconditioning is mostly a four-star feature.

Many hotels are non-smoking establishments but when booking specify non-smoking rooms if desired. Smokers should check on any prohibitions in rooms.

Many hotels are reasonably priced two-star or three-star options and often small children can stay free. Extra portable beds can often be booked for as little as €10 each.

Estimates of the number of hotels in Germany start at more than 12,000 andrise above 17,000. About 4,000 German hotels are rated at three stars in a 2023 statistical set that does not account for the full total. In 2021, Germany’s national tourist and restaurant association DEHOGA found about 10,300 hotels, about 3,300 hotels garnis, more than 9,000 inns and more than 4,000 pensions were paying value-added tax.

Making bookings

Bookings are described by day of arrival (Anreise, Ankunft) and departure (Abreise) – hence the morning after the last night’s stay should be included. Expect to provide a credit or debit card number when booking direct online, by email or by phone. Cancellation (Stornierung) of bookings is often possible at 24 hours’ notice, but check terms – special deals tend to have restrictive cancellation rules or demand part or full payment.

Note that the terms double and twin are often used interchangeably. To book a double bed, be specific. The term Zweibettzimmer means two single beds, though they may be placed together.

Visit accommodation booking websites for cheap deals but check terms and conditions carefully before booking. Cancellations or changes to bookings may forfeit any deposit or incur a fee. Major chains have their own central booking websites for which varying rates and associated conditions – such as no-cancellation discounts – may apply.

Three strong booking principles are:

• Book early
• Compare booking site rates with hotels’ own sites where possible
• Check differences between weekday and weekend rates

Last-minute bookings might be cheap as well, but the practice can turn out to be expensive.

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Apart from international accommodation booking sites, the German-owned HRS Hotels online booking portal overs a wide range of hotels and chains. It offers a handy indicator of distance from city centre, central rail station and airport as well as filtered searches. With the associated hotel.de site, it claims 300,000 listings worldwide. Both websites operate in multiple languages.

For other accommodation options, visit bedandbreakfast.eu, a site with good search and availability information. The US-based vrbo.com site offers a similar facility for guest rooms and boutique hotels and extensive listings for Germany.

A tourist accommodation agency (Zimmervermittlung) is usual at bigger tourist offices but there are some privately run agencies. Booking from online listings at tourist office websites is generally preferred by the offices themselves but most will deal with email or telephone inquiries.

In business markets competition from trade fairs (Messen) and conferences can push up rates. On the other hand, weekend charges might be cheaper at such destinations. Many hotels now charge separately for breakfast. Wi-fi/WLAN access charges are increasingly uncommon. But parking fees are common and in small city hotels it is best to inquire about availability.

Accommodation taxes

Accommodation rates shown should include the 7% consumer or value-added tax (Mehrwertsteuer).

In classified tourist spa areas there is a daily charge (Kurtaxe or Ortstaxe), typically €2-3 per adult (€1 for older children) levied on top of room rates. Expect the day of departure to be included. Other local taxes can be levied in some towns and cities and can be payable on arrival, so it’s best to know in advance.

Tourist taxes also apply in some destinations under various headings – a culture tax (Kulturförderangabe), a bed tax (Bettensteuer) or simply a city tax, levied per tourist, per day, on top of advertised accommodation rates. These generally range from 1% to 5%, but sometimes they are flat or differential charges or have ceilings. Because most stated rates include VAT, most apply to the after-tax figure. Generally business travellers are exempted, which means filling out a form (check with hosts).

Affordable German hotels

The B&B Hotels chain has more than 180 German hotels on the modern, bright-and-basic model. Charges start about €55 for singles, about €66 for doubles, €80 for family rooms. Breakfast charge is €10.50 (€4 for children). Not all hotels are central but parking is generally ample and free. Member discounts are available at a €39 subscription charge.

Ibis hotels have often centrally located properties with parking access and offer three levels of comfort and service. The accent is on modular simplicity rather than character. There are more than 70 Ibis German hotels, some offering single room rates from about €52 (at strict no-cancellation terms, with breakfast extra). When not included in rates, breakfast comes at a charge (commonly €12-15). Young children stay free with parents (apart from the breakfast charge) but no more than two adults (aged 12 or over) may use one room. The Ibis brand comes under the wider Accor group, which covers more than 360 German hotels.

Expanding fast, the Motel One big-city hotels now total about 60 in Germany. They take the bright, modern look to a mid-price range, with single/double rates starting about €89/104. Breakfast typically costs €15.90.

The GCH Group hotels cover brands in Germany including Hilton, Radisson, Wyndham, Mercure and IHG, managing 20 hotels. Offers start about €70/80 for single/double rooms without breakfast.

VCH-Hotels is an established network with about 35 generally quiet, mostly mid-sized and three-star private hotels and guesthouses in Germany. They vary in location but many offer rooms in traditional buildings and rates starting about €70/80 single/double a night. Visit the VCH website to survey the choices and book.

Romantik Hotels & Restaurants has about 100 listings for traditional German buildings with a focus outside big cities.

For budget accommodation in single, double or family rooms, see the A&O Hostel and Meininger Hotel paragraphs under Hostels below.

Hotel stars in Germany

DEHOGA regulates star ratings under the conventions of the Hotelstars Union and Germany was one of the first signatories to its standardised star classification system. The rooms will be cleaned daily on request.

One star: The minimum single/double room size is 8/12sqm. There must be reception and breakfast areas and a drinks machine.

Two star: The minimum single/double room size is 12/18sqm with lamp and a chair for each bed. Towel and shower supplies are also available. Guests can pay with debit or credit card.

Three star: The minimum single/double room size is 14/18sqm. Internet access should be available in rooms. A telephone, mirror, suitcase rack and guest locker should be provided. Guests can drink in rooms. The bathroom has a heater and a hairdryer. The reception will be accessible 24 hours and staffed for a minimum of 14 hours by English-speaking staff. Guest clothing can be washed and ironed on request.

Four star: Rooms must have a comfortable chair and a table with minimum single/double size of 16/22sqm. The bathrooms are stocked with shampoo, bathing cap and personal-care items and a robe and slippers should be available. The reception area and room service are available 24 hours and should be staffed 18 hours a day. The hotel should have drinks machines on each floor – or room minibars or beverage access – and an á la carte restaurant and bar. Guest internet access should be in rooms and the lobby.

Five star: In the luxury category, a minimum single/double room size of 18/26sqm applies. In addition to four-star standards, extra pillows are available, along with fresh flowers or a small gift. The reception is staffed 24 hours and door staff and valet parking should be available.              

Hostels & budget hotels

Hostels (Herbergen) are popular but may be booked out well in advance for festivals, conferences and trade fairs. Vacant student accommodation in university towns can go on offer to travelling students during summer vacation – prospects can be checked at tourist offices.

Most youth hostels (Jugendherbergen) are affiliated with the national organisation Deutsches Jugendherbergswerk (DJH). There are more than 400 DJH-affiliated hostels. Most are closed during the day, usually between 10.00 and 16.00, though hostels in big cities generally offer 24-hour access. Some are not open year-round and many close between Christmas and New Year. When booking with DJH hostels it is important to be clear about check-in times. All can be searched in English at the DJH website.

The basis of youth hostel accommodation is dormitories or multi-bed rooms, for which most nightly bed charges with breakfast are between €28 and €38. But some hostels offer single, double or family rooms at higher rates. A small charge for single-night bookings may apply. There are no age limits (except in Bavarian hostels, where ages 26 and under get priority). Otherwise guests 27 and over without children should expect a €4 additional charge. Children under 3 stay free, children 3-10 at a discount rate.

Holders of valid memberships in the international federation Hostelling International (HI) can use youth hostels but other visitors from abroad can also obtain an international guest card (€18) at a hostel or pay a nightly €3.50 fee for a welcome stamp to allow them to stay. Six of these stamps function as an international guest card. The best advice is to sign up for annual youth hostel membership before leaving home as only permanent residents of Germany can join DJH. Conditions and family and group memberships are explained on the website. For HI details in your home country, go to hihostels.com.

Hostels vary widely – often they are a little out of town but occasionally can be in a castle or heritage building, such as in Nuremberg, Passau or Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Reservations as a rule are held until 18.00 but guests expecting to arrive later can often do so by arrangement when booking. Checkout is 10.00. House rules vary but night-time quiet and self-maintenance of rooms is standard. Bed linen is included in the rate, but guests can usually carry their own.

Self-catering kitchens are normal but breakfast is generally included in the cost. Full or half-board (or packaged lunches) can often be arranged at an extra charge but meeting all dietary requirements cannot be guaranteed. Inquire when booking – individual hostel websites cover most details, including costs for hot meals.

Independent Hostels of Germany is a network of about 30 owner-operated backpacker hostels, with bed rates starting from €9. The criteria are that dormitory beds in shared rooms must outnumber private rooms and community rooms and a guest kitchen and luggage storage must be available for guest use. Hostels are listed as family-friendly, art-friendly, eco-friendly, business-friendly or suitable for backpackers.

Christlicher Verein Junger Menschen (CVJM, the German YMCA) runs 56 accommodation houses, including about a dozen hotels, plus guesthouses, holiday homes and hostels. The CVJM website is in German. To view the site in English, search “cvjm gastfreunde” and use Google Translate. The Lübeck hotel is separately listed. Hostel rates are generally compatible with DJH and budget hotel charges are competitive with private hostels.

Privately operated hostels and a new class of modern budget hotels cater for backpackers, business or budget travellers and families. The A&O Hostel group combines hotel and hostel accommodation in one operation, covering 14 big German cities and offering rooms for families. These establishments include a 24-hour reception desk and bar and most have lounges with computer and telephone access. Flexible and fixed (10% discount) rates are available at booking. Family and women-only rooms are often available and children up to age 6 stay (and eat breakfast) free. Some hostels offer guest kitchens. WLAN access is available in rooms. Parking is generally offered at €5 per night.

A&O rates vary according to availability and can rise considerably when houses are near fully booked. Most hostel dormitory beds start about €9, with bed linen or towels available at a small charge. Where available, single/double rooms start about €15 (linen supplied), but at high-demand times rates can be considerably higher. One single room on a June weekend showed the lowest rate of €90 a night (dorm beds €28) for an inquiry two months ahead. For a breakfast buffet, add €7-10 per person. Users of Interrail, Eurail or German Rail passes can claim 10% discounts on advertised rates using the A&O German booking link. DB City Night Line or ÖBB train passengers and some automobile club members also qualify for discounts. For central booking and more details visit the A&O website.

The Meininger group has 14 German big-city hotel-hostels (six in Berlin) and the central information and booking website translates to English. Meininger also works on higher rates at peak times, with different grades of single or double rooms (some rated three stars) and family or group rooms while offering budget deals at certain times and maintaining hostel dorm beds at lower rates under the same roof. Flexible and discounted fixed rates are offered, but singles will rarely cost less than €40 a night and €50-70 normal for advance bookings. Double, however, will not be much more expensive than the single rate. Towels and linen are included and breakfast costs €9-11 extra per person. Some hotel-hostels offer 30-day stays at lower rates. Wifi is free.

In family rooms there is a 15% discount on the room for all children 11 and under. Breakfast is free for children up to age 6 and children between 7 and 12 get a 50% breakfast discount. Cots are free. Shared rooms have lockers and ensuite facilities. Guest kitchen and laundry facilities vary, along with parking availability (about €10).

Other private hostels in Germany include three St Christopher’s Inns-affiliated properties in Berlin and there is plenty of variety in local hostels in the biggest tourist cities. Search booking sites to investigate availability with filters set for lowest prices first, but Raven Guides recommends comparing rates with the hostel’s own site before booking. For further hostel-style beds at low rates, browse the pension.de website.

Hotels garnis & pensions

These are similar things – private, usually family-run small accommodation houses where a dinner restaurant and full hotel services are not to be expected.

A hotel garni offers accommodation, breakfast, drinks, perhaps snacks, but looks like a hotel. The term is common in France and Germany, comes from the French and literally means "an inn provided with guest facilities". Hotels garnis generally offer single rooms including breakfast in the €45-70 range. Families can sometimes stay for €60-80 a night. Some of the more successful enterprises have managed to expand further without losing their two or 2½-star status. Older-style buildings are the norm, sometimes quaint, but others have been renovated and modernised.

At pensions, expect private rooms on the terms offered. Half-pension (Halbpension) is sometimes available, that is, one meal other than breakfast.

Parking tends to be limited or non-existent. Some of these establishments now offer internet or WLAN access. It’s best to ask what is included when booking or when choosing at the tourist office.

The pension.de listings claim to display more than 12,000 “pensions” in German and English. Many are pensions, but others in fact get much business by housing travelling tradespeople or are basically hostels or boarding houses offering access to facilities such as a kitchen, washing machine and bathroom. Travellers can browse and compare. Some of the bed rates are in the hostel price range.

Guesthouses

Also a private concern, the Gästehaus (also Gasthof, or sometimes Landhaus when away from towns) can have the function of an inn or tavern (Gaststätte or Wirtshaus) while offering rooms and breakfast. In the south, Gästehäuser can be very traditional in style and atmosphere, with landscapes or folk paintings and local cuisine. They tend to charge lower rates than hotels, but the name can sometimes conceal a more up-market establishment with full restaurant service. Check before booking.

Some establishments describe themselves as B&Bs, but never assume the breakfast is included in the headline price. Check websites (where available) carefully or inquire. Many accept cash payment only or charge fees of the order of €5-6 for payments by credit card.

Apartments & self-catering

Holiday apartments (Ferienwohnungen, colloquially FeWo) for families and groups with full facilities including a kitchen can be had for rates similar to two or three-star hotels. Apartments can be cost-effective for couples or families even for a few days, though usually the rate per day is cheaper over longer periods.

The commonly levied post-stay cleaning fee (Endreinigung), typically of the order of €20 or €30 per apartment, is important to factor into overall cost, especially over short stays.

Generally apartments would be booked by the week or month. But some, labelled Apartmenthotels, are part of hotel establishments and still offer breakfast.

Short-term apartment listings for properties in private ownership are many and are especially attractive options for the big cities. The Germany-based Wimdu site, deutsche-pensionen.de, the US-based Roomorama portal (which provides links to other accommodation sites), vrbo.com, and the various national homepages of Airbnb, have plenty to browse and choose from. Housing Anywhere is searchable in German and English.

The site mitwohnzentrale-franken.de – not a national portal – is searchable in English and offers monthly rental rates, often for shared accommodation. The Oh-Berlin website offers searchable Berlin properties with daily charges as well as pension, B&B and hostel options. The Coming Home site covers rentals in and around Berlin and Potsdam.

The local or regional accommodation agency for rooms or shared apartments (Mitwohnzentrale) can be found by internet searches, sometimes with the help of tourist offices. Searching 'Mitwohnzentrale' with the destination will bring up options to examine but this will also be best used by German-speakers, who can better grapple with terms and conditions.

Private rooms

These can be even less expensive than a pension but can still offer breakfast. It’s easiest to check on the choices at the Zimmervermittlung – some houses only accept guests this way – but signs to look for are 'Zimmer', 'Zimmer frei' or 'Fremdenzimmer'. Note also pension.de, which has many room listings, in Hotels garnis & pensions section above.

Camping & caravan parks

The German enthusiasm for the outdoors is catered for by more than 2000 camping and caravan parks, more numerous in western parts. Sites generally offer access to communal bathrooms and kitchens, many offer kiosks and sometimes the facilities are extremely good, including restaurants and some quite elaborate swimming pools. Most charges for a car, caravan and family in high season are in the €30 range or higher. Many parks also offer self-contained holiday cabins (Ferienhäuser).

The Netherlands-based ACSI collects information about European camping sites and through the Eurocampings site the websites of hundreds of German camping grounds can be reached. PiNCAMP is the Europe-wide campsite booking portal of Germany’s national automobile organisation ADAC, but users will have to rely on browser translations from German.

Farm accommodation

Farm stays are being marketed as an experience in themselves, especially for families, offering accommodation in traditional buildings in a farming atmosphere, some including hands-on experiences for children. At the landreise.de  website are more than 3000 listings of farm holiday locations with basic information, links to individual websites and contact details. The landsichten.de site translates quite well in browsers and covers concerns offering stays in manor houses, even small castles. The Berlin-based marketer's name is a mouthful: Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft für Urlaub auf dem Bauernhof und Landtourismus in Deutschland. The movement is especially strong in Niedersachsen under the banner of AG Urlaub & Freizeit auf dem Lande, whose listings can be reached through the Landsichten home page.

So-called hay hotels – basically barn accommodation for travellers packing a sleeping bag – are being promoted as budget accommodation. A night with basic breakfast can be competitive with hostel dormitories.