Best Luxury Hotels in Germany

The five-pearl Breidenbacher Hof is a luxurious destination hotel right on the city's high-end shopping avenue, the Konigsallee. The 106 rooms are large and elegant but trendy and all have marble bathrooms, minibars with free soft drinks, and touch panels used to control the room features. Luxury amenities include a romantic restaurant, pool, and trendy bar, not to mention a cigar lounge, private access to two medical clinics, a perfume shop, and posh meeting rooms. Travelers might also want to consider the Hyatt Regency Dusseldorf for its spectacular views of the Rhine and free shuttle service to downtown. 

With a fantastic location near the port and within easy walking distance of downtown Hamburg, the 166-room, upscale Madison is hip and clean. It's ideal for tourists, business travelers, and, thanks to the kitchenettes in every room, long-stay guests. Breakfast can be a bit pricey, but there are plenty of nearby cafes for more affordable dining, and rooms come in a variety of prices, ranging from Studios, which are still spacious and super-modern, to Penthouses that resemble massive apartments.

Opened in 2007, the five-pearl, 160-room Charles Hotel is undeniably luxurious with spacious and opulent bathrooms, original 19th-century art, and a range of amenities including a full-service spa and Munich's largest indoor pool. It’s conveniently located on a quiet side street adjacent to the city’s Old Botanical Garden and within a brief walk of Munich Central Station and numerous restaurants. But, it's outside the city center, and such luxury comes with hefty room rates. For upscale accommodations at a smaller hotel in the heart of the city, guests could consider the less pricey Hotel Torbraeu. Another alternative could be the luxury Muenchen Palace Hotel, which is also outside the city center, though it has excellent transport connections and free bikes along with significantly lower rates.

Located in Berlin’s diplomatic district, Das Stue is a boutique, luxury hotel with 79 chic rooms. From the elegant fine-dining restaurant to the cozy library, the hotel is immaculately decorated, offering the crème de la crème of hotel experiences. There is an indoor pool and a beautiful outdoor terrace. The location is a bit far from several of Berlin's tourist attractions, but there are some galleries, restaurants, and shops in the neighborhood. Guests looking for a more convenient location may want to check out Melia Berlin, a modern, upscale hotel near a transportation hub.

An upscale boutique hotel in the western part of Berlin, Louisa's Place is in a district surrounded by high-end shopping. Its 47 spacious suites have kitchenettes and living rooms, plus most have balconies, but the earth-toned color palette can lean toward gloomy. The historic property has a wood-paneled library and a pool with a delicate mural and small bar, but the fitness center is painted an off-putting mustard yellow. There's a swanky, sixties-era bar, as well as a restaurant that features a tasting menu and a long communal table. Other features include a high-ceilinged spa and a hair salon. It's not within walking distance of top sights, however. The Mandala Hotel has a more central location and also offers large rooms with kitchenettes, but it doesn't have a pool.

Hyperion Hotel Dresden am Schloss is a luxury hotel is right in the center of Dresden's Old Town, and within walking distance of major tourist attractions. Housed in two neighboring buildings, the 235 bright and spacious rooms and suites are done up in a chic, modern style and come with handsome marble bathrooms with rainfall showers. Upper category rooms include bathtubs, and feature scenic views of the Old Town's rooftops. Features include an extensive -- and expensive -- breakfast buffet, and parking fees are also on the high side. Other features include a bar, and wellness area with a gym, saunas, and treatment rooms, but no pool. For a luxury property with a smaller, boutique vibe, it's worth considering Hotel Suitess zu Dresden instead, which is also in the Old Town.

Located between the tree-lined Unter den Linden and the beautiful Gendarmenmarkt Square, the 195-room Regent Berlin is a luxury property with one of the best locations in the city. The hotel prides itself on great service and first-class amenities, delivering on both. Plenty of public transportation is nearby and private drivers are available. Large rooms and suites blend traditional elegance and modernity, with classical furnishings, impressive marble bathrooms, and Bose Hi-Fi entertainment systems -- but they could use a refresh. The Michelin-starred Fischers Fritz is one of Berlin's best restaurants, with prices to match, and a traditional English afternoon tea can be had in the hotel's wood-paneled lounge complete with a fireplace. A modern spa and fitness center round out the expected facilities. Regent Berlin consistently rates as one of city's best hotels. Wi-Fi is free throughout. 

Hotel Suitess zu Dresden is a small luxury property with a prime location near Neumarkt Square in Dresden's historic old town. This sophisticated boutique offers 25 rooms that include Suites and Apartments with fireplaces, kitchenettes, and rooftop terraces. Some accommodations have outstanding views of Frauenkirche, an 18th-century church just a minute's walk away. The hotel has a sultry gin bar downstairs and a fine dining restaurant with a rooftop terrace. There are also elegant meeting rooms and a spa with a sauna and whirlpool. Guests seeking something more modern could try Swissotel Dresden, a larger luxury property in old town where the meeting spaces and fitness center are decidedly cutting edge. 

Built in Muenchen Palace Hotel is a five-pearl property with 74 luxurious rooms spread over six floors. The rooms have a chic and sumptuous feel, with floor-to-ceiling windows. The Palace Restaurant serves excellent food, and there’s a great rooftop terrace as well as a fitness center with a steam room and a sauna. The hotel is set in a quiet area out of the city center, but it’s well-connected by public transport.  On-site parking is available for a fee and bikes are free to borrow. 

The Berlin Wall once ran through Potsdamer Platz, where luxury hotels and skyscrapers now tower over a bustling public square. The Mandala Hotel is an independently owned, discreet upscale property in the midst of Berlin's urban jungle, eschewing all the flash outside for understated elegance. Its rooms were formerly apartments and it shows in their huge layouts with kitchenettes and wall-sized windows. The Mandala has an expansive spa on the top floor and an outdoor terrace with views of the city, and also features a two-star Michelin restaurant with an interior garden. The nearby Grand Hyatt Berlin has a pool, bigger staff, and similar amenities, but lacks some of the quiet sophistication found here as well as the enormous rooms.

The 80-room Marc Muenchen is a modern and monochromatic upscale hotel with neon lighting designs, a central Munich location, and competitively priced rooms. This sleek hotel also offers 24-hour front desk service, on-site paid parking, free Wi-Fi, and a sophisticated boardroom with audiovisual equipment. Rooms are modern and minimal with recessed colorful lighting, red accents, and flat-screen TVs (but most rooms have unattractive views of the street or hotel parking lot). The Le Meridien Munich has rooms with better views, but for higher prices.

The palatial Fairmont is a Hamburg outpost that lives up to the brand’s luxury reputation. Adorned in Old World furnishings and fixtures, from the gilded elevators to the stained-glass windows, it delivers regal surroundings. Its 156 rooms, match the property’s grandeur with top-shelf amenities like Nespresso machines and lavish bathrobes and slippers. A Michelin-starred restaurant, a spa and fitness center, and a pretty rooftop deck give more incentive to linger on the premises. The location, in easy walking distance to historic attractions, makes this an appealing choice for tourists. But its also close to plenty of corporate headquarters, including Google, making it a smart choice for business travelers, too. Those looking for a modern, boutique version of luxury could consider The George Hotel, although it's farther away from attractions.

With more than 500 rooms, the Grand Elysee is one of the largest hotels in Hamburg, and a major hub for business travelers and tourists. It might be a bit pricier than some of the other nearby hotels, such as the Linder-Park Hagenbeck up the road, but with six places to eat, a bar with live music nightly, a large pool and fitness center, and a huge spa and wellness center (it's authentically German -- get ready to go in the buff!), it's a step up from many competitors. Rooms, however, are quite bland given the property's advertised five-star status. The hotel is in a quiet location but within a 15-minute walk of most of Hamburg's tourist attractions and night spots, and is close to both the S-Bahn and the U-Bahn.

Note: the hotel is called the Grand Elysee Hamburg, not the Grand Elysee Hotel Hamburg

The Hotel de Rome is a luxury property in central Berlin, within walking distance of many major historic sights. Its 145 elegant rooms have well-stocked minibars and luxurious bathrooms. Many have balconies, some with views of St. Hedwig Church and Humboldt University. Housed in a 19th-century bank, the hotel has a lap pool and spa in the former jewelry vault, as well as a rooftop lounge and an Italian restaurant with mirrored walls and a garden. Part of the style-conscious Rocco Forte line of properties, the Hotel de Rome is described by guests as elegant without pretension. High-end products and materials are the norm here, from Berlin vodka in the cocktails to Malin & Goetz toiletries. It's worth comparing rates with the nearby Ritz-Carlton, Berlin, which offers similar amenities and more of an Old World atmosphere in rooms.

The upscale, 145-room Adina Apartment Hotel Berlin Hackescher Markt is conveniently located in East Berlin in easy walking distance to a plethora of shops, restaurants, nightlife, public transportation, and sights, such as Museum Island. With artsy, modern style, the hotel features an eclectic collection of furniture and bright accents that come off tasteful against moodier, dark backdrops. Lots of public seating areas and a well-reviewed on-site restaurant and bar give guests spaces to relax. The studio, one bedroom, and two bedroom apartment-style rooms are spacious, stylish, and packed with amenities, including a fully equipped kitchenette. There’s also a small on-site sauna, two whirlpools that sit under a cool starry ceiling, and a functional fitness area. Guests biggest complaint? Wi-Fi costs extra and the connection is poor. As an alternative, travelers could consider the 25hours Hotel Bikini Berlin, another design-conscious upscale hotel but one with free Wi-Fi.