Top 11 Castle Hotels in Bavaria, Germany

Hotel Burg Abenberg, Bavaria - by Booking — Hotel Burg Abenberg, Bavaria – by Booking

Schlosshotel Neufahrn

Housed in a historic castle, Schlosshotel Neufahrn is modern in every sense of the word. We had our choice of amazing and charming rooms and suites, which beautifully blended traditional and ornate architectural details with absolute modern luxury. With just 57 rooms and suites, staying here was as intimate as it felt exclusive. What’s more, they also featured flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and sleek, contemporary bathrooms with complimentary and bespoke bath products. Did we mention they also provided housekeeping every day? Yep.

Downstairs, the amenities impressed us all the more. We indulged in a culinary journey at the on-site restaurant, which served both international and regional gourmet delights in the most regal setting. We also enjoyed the endless recreational amenities, which included a fitness center and a sauna. Additional amenities included a tour desk, a banquet hall, and the amazing lounge/bar.

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Schloss Elmau

Imagine a castle that was also a cultural retreat, celebrating concerts and dance with classical music. That’s exactly what Schloss Elmau, tucked into the Bavarian Alps, feels like, and actually is. This four-storied castle and national monument, with a hipped roof, porch, and a tower, has hosted celebrities and even G7 summits, but the vibe is legit restorative and low-key. From the outside, Elmau feels like a majestic and imposing castle. On the inside, it’s a contemporary luxury hotel that blends old-world Bavaria with the new, with the result being a modern-vintage, high-end, luxurious experience.

We had the choice of stunning rooms and suites across two themes, Retreat and Hideaway, which have 47 and 100 digs respectively. The Retreat’s sun-kissed hilltop location and contemporary and understated digs offered breathtaking views of the Alps, while the Hideaway’s digs are more grand yet intimate. Nevertheless, they all come with stunning old-world touches and creature comforts that made our stay memorable.

The wellness offerings here go above and beyond, like the four separate spas: an adults-only luxury spa, a hammam, a family spa for kids and adults, and the gorgeous nature spa, where treatments are offered in a wooded glen right alongside gentle mountain streams. Did we mention the hot saltwater pool and a heated rooftop pool? Yep. Multiple restaurants aside, including a Michelin-starred one, the highlight here is the array of cultural events. These include everything from concerts to literary discussions and readings. A stunning modern concert hall, two libraries, and a gorgeous old ballroom wrap up the things here.

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Hotel Schloss Burgellern

Hotel Schloss Burgellern sits in the beautiful countryside surrounding Bamberg in Upper Franconia. This delightful and upscale 18th-century castle-turned-countryside retreat sits on acres of parkland and was the perfect getaway for the weekend. Choose from a host of elegant rooms and suites, all of which retain original touches but also add modern elements to make your stay comfortable. So, while all of them came with flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and park views, the suites also added sitting areas and coffeemakers, and our suite even had a stunning grand piano. The best bit? All had modern, ensuite bathrooms with tasteful and updated fittings.

It might have been a castle earlier, but it has a host of modern amenities and even focuses on outdoor activities, much to our delight. For instance, our days used to begin with grand breakfast buffets, which we’d enjoy either in the refined restaurant or out on the terrace with fantastic views. What’s more, the hotel even had a spa area with saunas, a fitness center, and even activities such as cooking classes and yoga available. Since we visited during the summer, we even enjoyed locally brewed ale in the beer garden. Plus, we indulged in cooking classes as well as explored the many biking and hiking trails around.

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Jugendherberge Passau

Best hostel. Imagine a modern-day hostel inside one of the most baroque castle stays in Bavaria, Germany! Welcome to HI Hostel Jugendherberge Passau, one of the most interesting HI Hostel outposts we’ve ever seen. It sits within the former tavern of the Veste Oberhaus fortress atop the Georgsberg mountain. What’s more, it overlooks the confluence of the Ilz, Inn, and the Danube rivers as they continue to flow eastwards, finally becoming the Danube.

The interiors of this restored 13th-century castle are gorgeously modern. We had the choice of private rooms as well as dorms, both female-only and mixed-gender ones, which could sleep up to 12 people. The dorms, which had bunk beds, had immaculate shared bathrooms, while the private rooms had sleek ensuite facilities. Moreover, they all overlooked either the city of Passau or the gardens.

Just like other HI Hostel outposts, this one boasted a long list of amenities. Our days would begin with wonderful, large, and complimentary breakfast buffet spreads which were served in the airy dining hall. What’s more, it could include gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options, with fruits, cheese, and fresh juice also available. Even dinner was available for a fee, which was extremely convenient if we didn’t want to step out. We’d even swap travel stories with fellow travelers in the TV room and game room, while the coin-operated laundry facilities were a blessing. A sun terrace, free Wi-Fi, a tour desk, an outdoor play area, a museum, and an observatory round up the other amenities.

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Hotel Schloss Leitheim

The striking four-star Hotel Schloss Leitheim sits right next to the Leitheim nature preserve, with bird’s-eye views of the Danube River and the Swabian landscape. Opened to the general public in 1959, the castle has lived a former life as an abbot’s summer residence and was also the place where Mozart lived a long, long time ago! Today, we modern folk have a choice of 45 elegant double rooms and suites, all of which boast original touches like antiques, wooden floors, and high ceilings. Modern plush beds, work desks, flat-screen TVs, luxe bathrooms, and free Wi-Fi made our stay very comfortable, like contemporary royal folk.

When the weather cools down, the attractive hotel lobby with the fireplace is a very popular place to unwind. Summers are reserved for the gardens with the roses, shrubs, and apple trees, which have a fairytale-like setting, making it a popular wedding destination as well. In summer, you can enjoy the sun in the beautiful hotel garden with its apple trees and roses or stroll through the beech arcade. Moreover, the fire-lit restaurant served exemplary local cuisine. Wrapping things up was the indulgent spa, which had a sauna room, a steam bath, and a fitness center.

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Schlosshotel Weyberhöfe

Best for wellness. In the heart of Lower Franconia, Schlosshotel Weyberhöfe is the ultimate wellness destination in the region. This historic castle-cum-wellness resort in the heart of a lush forest also features a former aristocratic residence and hunting lodge in the 20th-century historicist style. Even on the inside, the decor blends lasting elegance with a contemporary edge, with vibrant touches and marble accents complementing the antique decor and chandeliers. The vibe extends to the comfy and bright rooms and suites, which retain their historic character and yet have all the creature comforts we needed for a superb stay.

One of the best things about this castle resort is the facilities, especially the wellness-based ones, like the swimming pools, hammams, and saunas. The spa has two original Oriental-style Turkish hammams, a vitality pool, two saunas, and an exhaustive spa menu. After a languorous spa session, we’d savour the creative cuisine at the Rumpolt restaurant. One of the most memorable highlights at this castle resort was the themed events and dinners they hosted, which took us back in time. Finally, this castle hotel is also a fantastic place to enjoy an active holiday, which is an extension of wellness. For instance, we could explore the cycling and hiking trails of the Bavarian-Spessart Nature Park.

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Ringhotel Schloss Hohenstein

Ringhotel Schloss Hohenstein is a stunning castle hotel in the middle of the Middle Franconian countryside. This small but historic 16th-century Renaissance-style castle is surrounded by the lush and undulating Rococo Park, with a thick forest, wide fields, and meadows stretching out to as far as our eyes could see. We had the choice of a number of historic rooms and suites, all of which featured parquet floors, baroque stucco work, and sparkling chandeliers. Some suites, like our Lichtenstein Suite Beletage, even featured balconies and garden views. Moreover, they also had modern touches like updated lighting and bathrooms, work desks, flat-screen TVs, and Wi-Fi.

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The crown jewel of this tastefully decorated hotel was the appealing Michelin-starred gourmet restaurant, which even had a winter garden overlooking the castle courtyard. We’d dig into contemporary seasonal cuisine made from regional ingredients and even some excellent wine. The magnificent grounds were very romantic to explore, and outdoors, couples can even go explore the many hiking and cycling trails. Did you know that the estate even has a chapel where fairytale weddings have taken place? Yes!

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Burg Colmberg

Best overall. We were excited to sleep in a real fortress, the stunning Burg Colmberg in Upper Franconia. This impressive 1318-built spur fortress also happens to be a favorite amongst castle hotel enthusiasts, given the storybook destination with medieval walls and the scenic Tauber Valley views. Choose from unique rooms and suites, all of which evoke the charm of the era gone by with antique pieces. Think wood-beamed ceilings, narrow windows, and carved beds. At the same time, they had contemporary comforts as well, such as modern bathrooms, updated lighting, flat-screen TVs, work desks, and the like.

The entrance hall with the logs burning in the fireplace set the scene for our stay. We’d dine on traditional Franconian cuisine at both restaurants: the gorgeous conservatory setting of Zur Remise and the indoor Burgstein, which had a crackling fireplace. Did you know that the castle has its own hunting grounds from where it serves venison? Yep. Moreover, the hotel even organized guided hiking tours of the castle and the surrounding region. Don’t miss sampling on a pint of the locally brewed Schwarzer Ritte dark beer, which draws inspiration from the legendary warrior Wolfram von Colmberg.

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Burg Rabenstein

Best historical experience. Sitting in the heart of Upper Franconia, the medieval Burg Rabenstein sits on a rocky hill with views of the Ailsbach River and 64 acres of parkland. The bucolic setting of this 12th-century castle fortress is as spectacular as it is peaceful, but it was all the more amazing once we stepped inside.

“Staying in Burg Rabenstein was one of the best castle experiences we’ll ever have in our entire lives!”
WOW Travel

This castle offered the full-on historical experience: lounges and hallways lit with torches and lined by silver suits of armor and mounted swords, castle banquets, falconry shows — the works. The vibe extended to the meat-heavy Franconian menu at both the atmospheric restaurants, which served delicious German cuisine. Even the outdoor activities were no less on brand, including knights’ tournaments, axe throwing, archery, and falconry — yes! What’s more, we could even explore the hiking trails around and take tours of the castle.

The nods to this castle’s medieval aristocratic history extend to the 22 characterful rooms and suites. At the same time, they’re comfy enough for a cozy stay. Patterned canopy beds, traditional artwork, antiques, and Gothic windows are complemented by modern bathrooms with contemporary fittings.

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Schloss Hotel Wasserburg

Schloss Hotel Wasserburg sits in the Swabia region of Bavaria and is surrounded by the shores of the stunning Lake Constance, a.k.a. ‘Bodensee’ (Earth Sea). We loved this scenic stay with the craggy Alpine peaks in the distance, Austria just down the road, and Switzerland right across the water! International borders don’t get any more cinematic than this right here.

This 16th-century castle might not look like Germany’s more traditional hillside castle, but the setting takes the cake, baker, and bakery. We took advantage of the waterside location by indulging in watersports and taking boat tours from the marina. What’s more, the hotel even had its own private pebbled beach, where we could unwind with a glass of wine and take in the views of the castle’s western walls. The lake terrace was also an excellent place to enjoy the local cuisine, which the on-site restaurant served. They also serve breakfasts, local seafood specialties, vegan, and vegetarian fare, so we didn’t have to go anywhere else for food.

All rooms at this hotel were gorgeously and individually decked out in both grand antique furnishings and stylish modern ones. Think four-poster beds, chandeliers, and wonderfully restored cupboards and bathrooms, but with mod-cons such as flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers, and bespoke bath products.

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