Holiday Accommodation in Germany

Going on vacation in Germany? Information on finding the right place to stay: self-catering, bed and breakfast, hotel or youth hostel, find out more...

Tourism has been expanding in Germany since the end of the Second World War and following reunification, the capital, Berlin, has become increasingly popular with visitors.. There are many types of vacation accommodation available.

Hotels

The German Hotel and Restaurant Association (Deutsche Hotel- und Gaststättenverband, DeHoGa) rates hotels in Germany using the one to five star rating system that is used in many other countries. There is a fixed set of criteria covering most aspects of comfort and facilities that the ratings are based on, but the rating system does not take into account the standard of service. The star rating of a hotel is reviewed every two years.

Hotels with the word Garni indicate that there is no restaurant and that the hotel only serves breakfast. A Hotel Apart has rooms with an equipped kitchen as well.

Schlosshotel

This term is used to indicate a hotel situated in a palace, historic building or castle.

Pensions and Gasthöfe

This sort of accommodation is slightly less formal than a hotel. A pension is often family-run and offers bed and breakfast. A Gasthöf is a traditional inn with a restaurant and can range from low-cost modest accommodation to luxury inns with all modern amenities.

Youth Hostels

Youth Hostels are plentiful in Germany and offer budget accommodation to backpackers and group travellers. A Youth Hostels Association (YHA) membership card is required to stay in youth hostels. This is available from the YHA of the home country or from the German Youth Hostels Association (Jugendherberge):

  • German Youth Hostels Association (Deutsches Jugendherbergswerk – DJH)
    At: Bismarckstrasse 8, 32756 Detmold
    Tel: 05231 740 10
  • To find a Youth Hostel in Berlin: Click here

Note: Youth hostels in Bavaria are only available to members up to the age of 26.

Camping and Caravanning

Germany has many facilities for camping with over 2,000 campsites throughout the country. They are generally of a high standard and most have shops and cafés and some have swimming pools.

Mountain Hostels

Many of the regions in Germany have facilities for hikers and trekkers in the form of shelters and hostels. These can be found in the Black Forest, the Harz Mountains, the Thuringian Forest as well as along Alpine trails. To book in to one of these shelters contact the local tourist information office or the DAV Summit Club:

Agritourism

These are usually family-run farm estates offering accommodation to tourists. Agritourism is becoming increasingly popular in Germany; it is low-cost and ideal for families with children. The Bauernhofurlaub has information for agritourists.

Further Information