20 Best Hotels in The Bavarian Alps, Germany

Rich wood paneling reaches from floor to ceiling in this transformed 18th-century inn, set in the shadow of Oberammergau's mountain, the Kofel. The hotel's own band presents regular folk evenings in the sizeable breakfast room. Rooms have corner lounge areas, and most come with balconies and sweeping mountain views. Prices are based on length of stay, so you'll pay less per night if you stay longer.

Directly on the lakeshore, this trendy spa hotel has a three-Michelin-starred chef helming one of five restaurants and draws scenesters from around the world for wellness weekends. The expansive indoor pool, outdoor pool (open May–November), and large spa area are complemented by personal training sessions and yoga courses. The hotel also has its own private beach right on the lake. Besides the innovative three-Michelin-star Restaurant Überfahrt, there are excellent Italian, modern Alpine, and more traditional German choices.

In the heart of Ramsau, just outside of Berchtesgaden, this family-run Best Western Plus hotel has a spa and pool and a special focus on sustainability. The owners have used the surrounding area to enhance its minimal interior design, and they work with local farmers to ensure regional and local cuisine with zero waste is served as part of the meal plan. From its central location, you can reach a number of trailheads, making it an ideal overnight stay for hikers. Many rooms have private balconies; several suites include a fireplace.

This "English Castle," on 13 hectares (32 acres) surrounded by the Karwendel mountains, was commissioned in 1913 by an English aristocrat, Mary Portman; today, the original house retains the feel of an English country manor, while the modern Garden Wing perfectly complements the surrounding nature, creating plenty of room to spread out and relax in peaceful surroundings. Three outdoor pools—one saltwater and one a heated Japanese onsen—plus indoor pools and spa, meditation house, and gourmet restaurant add a resort atmosphere. For a special treat, rent out the treehouse or gatehouse as a private hideaway. Pick-up from the nearby Klais train station can be arranged in advance.

The elegant, turreted hotel and its four spacious annexes sit high above the Tegernsee, backed by the wooded slopes of Neureuth Mountain. Rooms overlooking the lake are in demand despite their relatively high cost, so book early. All guests can enjoy panoramic views of the lake and mountains from the extensive terrace fronting the main building. You can dine in the hotel's stylish little restaurant or the cozy tavern. The extensive spa includes a heavenly musical tub and a colored-light and aroma solarium.

Next to the local church directly on Ludwigstrasse, the hotel has a colorfully painted facade and windowboxes full of geraniums most of the year. The tavern-restaurant, its walls covered with pictures and other ephemera, presents "Bavarian evenings" of folk entertainment every evening except Tuesday. Quieter than any hotel in Garmisch, there are also exquisite views of the nearby mountains.

Inside a cozy 18th-century building, you'll find standard Bavarian-style interiors with loads of light wood and soft featherbeds, but with modern touches like flat-screen TVs. The dining room is popular with locals, and the beer garden is a pleasant place to while away the hours. More than one night at the inn makes the price cheaper.

Everything is pretty rustic in this spacious remodeled barn, but the welcome and hospitality are genuine and gracious, even by Bavarian standards. The 19 rooms are quite basic. The family-run restaurant (closed on Monday) serves some of the best Semmelknödel (bread dumplings) in Germany.

Like its namesake, the "nobly white" Alpine flower of The Sound of Music fame, this small downtown hotel (not to be confused with the military-members-only lodge in town) has plenty of mountain charm. Inlaid with warm pinewood, it has Bavarian furnishings and many antiques in individually decorated rooms that give it an intimate air.

Modernized and luxurious, this delightful retreat has comfortable rooms with local design touches—some even have vaulted wood ceilings—plus a small but lovely spa area and a gourmet restaurant, Ammergauer Maxbräu. Spacious guest rooms feature neutral colors, wood floors, and balconies. The hotel also has a second more casual restaurant, Benedict's, and a beer garden.

A bit outside of town, in the village of Grainau at the base of the Zugspitze cable car, is the delightful Waxenstein, with its unique take on Bavarian rustic. The restaurant provides a breathtaking view of the mountains while serving excellent dishes such as gnocchi in ginger-pumpkin sauce, or veal fillet with foie gras.

In the hills outside of Berchtesgaden and surrounded by quiet woods, this five-star spa hotel, dripping with luxury, has a quiet, relaxed feel. Amenities range from four restaurants (including fondue and a one-Michelin-star) to spa packages to childcare in a devoted play area. Despite its size, the hotel blends well into the countryside and affords a feeling of isolation from which you can enjoy the sweeping mountain panorama.

Backed by mountains, this fine old hotel is run by the Benedictine order, but there's little monastic about it, except for the exquisite religious carvings and motifs that adorn the walls; most come from the monastery's carpentry shop, which also made much of the solid furniture in the comfortable bedrooms. The hotel has a wellness area with a pool, sauna, and steam room. Its excellent restaurants have a rustic, Bavarian atmosphere; a vaulted tavern serves sturdy fare and beer brewed at the monastery, and there's a beer garden in warmer weather. Rooms and smaller apartments are available.

A standard German fin de siècle spa hotel, this finely porticoed and pillared building has an imposing, pastel-pink facade that promises luxury within. Rooms are large, furnished in deep-cushioned, dark-wood comfort, most with flower-filled balconies or loggia. The elegant restaurant serves international and traditional Bavarian cuisine with an emphasis on seafood (scallops or tuna steak, for example), and a pine-paneled tavern, Die Holzstubn'n, pours excellent local brew.

This delightfully traditional family-run lodging stands on the shore of the tiny Thumsee, 5 km (3 miles) from the town center. The Hubertus's private grounds lead down to the lake, where guests can swim (the water is bracingly cool) or go boating. Rooms, some with balconies overlooking the lake, are furnished with hand-carved beds and cupboards. Excellent meals or coffee can be taken at the neighboring rustic Madlbauer.

The hotel retains much of its historic charm—stagecoaches carrying travelers and mail across the Alps stopped here as far back as the 17th century—though the elegant rooms come in various styles, from modern to art nouveau to Bavarian rustic. The indoor swimming pool has views of the Karwendel peaks, and a small rose garden is an inviting spot for coffee and cake. Excellent Bavarian fare such as roasts and great Semmelknödel (bread dumplings) is served in the wine tavern or at the low-beam Postklause.

Opened just before the 1936 Olympic games, Reindl's was an institution in its heyday, receiving royalty and celebrities in the quieter part of Partenkirchen; today, there's a lovely pool and wellness area, along with a kitchen serving excellent Bavarian and international dishes. Ample-size guest rooms have pinewood furniture and a balcony or patio. Marianne Holzinger, daughter of the hotelier, has maintained her father's legacy since taking over the hotel, which has expanded into nearby buildings. 

This full-service luxurious resort includes ample amenities—a sushi bar, traditional Bavarian restaurant, swimming pool, child care, and yoga classes are all on offer. Many of the modern, light-filled rooms, which use natural materials like linen and wood, have balconies. An upgrade in 2017 added an adults-only Japanese-style spa, Mizu Onsen (which can also be used by nonguests for a price). Suffice it to say, the child-friendly five-star hotel has everything you could want in a retreat.

The Staudacher family has built a name for itself as a purveyor of Bavarian-style wellness at their sustainably renovated hotel; an indoor/outdoor pool area, as well as saunas, contribute to a relaxing vibe. Yoga retreats and "Bayurvedic" cooking are also offered in special wellness packages. Athletes themselves, the owners set up guided skiing tours and can assist in booking hiking, biking, rafting, and golf excursions during your stay. Booking in advance via their website provides the best deals, including an all-inclusive option that includes a delicious nightly gourmet dinner.

Set above the Königsee in the little village of Schönau, the Alpina offers rural solitude and easy access to Berchtesgaden. There's a nice wellness area with indoor and outdoor pools, a sauna, and a gym, and families are catered to with indoor and outdoor play areas. The hotel also has an annex about a half mile away, the Sporthotel, where rooms are somewhat cheaper.