The Best Hotels in Aachen, Germany

This intimate family-run hotel prides itself on offering a warm welcome. It boasts 12 modern rooms, suites and apartments. The largest overlook the old town hall and market square with separate living and sleeping areas. The decor is bright and cheerful, with bold yellows, oranges and reds on the walls. Complimentary fresh fruit and mineral water are offered on arrival.

The Parkhotel Quellenhof is one of Aachen’s grandest hotels. Having first opened in 1916, by 1936 it boasted the largest indoor thermal swimming pool in the world. Today, it is renowned for its luxurious wellness offerings – kick back in the Finnish sauna before enjoying a well-deserved hot stone massage. Book a stay and you’ll be following in the footsteps of the Spanish and Dutch royal families. Reserve the Prestige Suite if you really want to push the boat out – it’s the hotel’s biggest and best room.

The Aquis Grana City Hotel takes its name from the Roman settlement that later became Aachen. Rooms offer a tranquil oasis from the city with a calming colour palette of soft blues and neutrals. Even the basic rooms are well equipped with Scandi-style furnishings and complimentary toiletries. Get the best out of your stay by upgrading to a superior suite, which offers a view onto the cathedral. Don’t leave without eating at Postwagen, a traditional German pub nearby – order the Rumtopf mit Vanilleeis (rum pot with vanilla ice cream).

The monochrome styling of the room at INNSiDE Aachen is sleek and on-trend. Bathrooms are open plan with powerful rain showers. Many rooms look out over Aachen’s rooftops, but for the best view, head up to the Uptown Sky Lounge – the restaurant and open-air terrace serve both lunch and dinner. If you want the wow factor, hang around until nightfall and sip a cocktail overlooking the twinkling lights of the city.

For a comfortable base just 2km (1.2mi) from Aachen train station, book the Art Hotel. What it lacks in central location, it certainly makes up for in affordability. Inside, you’ll find contemporary, generously sized rooms. Downstairs, there is an indoor swimming pool and sauna. At the spa, try the 34C (93F) hot water massage lounger where two jets pummel your tired muscles without getting you wet.

Expect a warm welcome from owners Claudia and Heinz Berens when you stay at the three-star Hotel Granus. The vintage telephone board behind reception and piano in the lobby are reminders of bygone days, but this hotel doesn’t dwell on the past. The decor is bright, modern and funky – particularly the bold murals that adorn the walls of the single rooms. Breakfast is included – tuck into a feast of Westphalian sausage, fresh bread and local cheese.

Road trippers should book a room at the Leonardo Hotel, located north of the city centre in the suburb of Soers. It’s only a few hundred metres from the A4 for onward travel to Cologne and Maastricht. The well-equipped accommodation is comfortable and roomy. The Sea of Spa toiletries, utilising health-enhancing minerals from the Dead Sea, are a welcome surprise in the modern bathrooms. The city centre is 4km (2.5mi) away.

If you are looking for a well-located hotel on a modest budget, we highly rate the Lousberg. This three-star hotel is unlikely to win any style awards any time soon, but the staff are helpful, and the place is clean, comfortable and good value for money. Situated on a main street close to the ring road, it’s easy to find, yet you’ll still be able to walk to the cathedral in under 15 minutes.