Eliza Apperly

With its world-renowned opera, star-studded art collections and purring BMW motors, Munich is a hub of German prosperity as much as regional Bavarian pride. Its thriving local economy and highly desirable location have made it the most expensive German city for real estate, not to mention the home of numerous extravagant hotels. But Munich need not blow your traveller’s bank. If you’d rather save your Euros for the city’s best bars, good cheer or many cultural showstoppers, these are some of the city’s best affordable hotels. Whether you opt for Altstadt affordability at the dependable Motel One, homely charms at the Laimer Hof or a classic backpackers’ haunt at the Euro Hostel, take your affordable pick and sleep cheap and well. Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every hotel featured, we've based our list on top reviews, hosts and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

Hamburg is a magnificent city. There’s nowhere quite like it in Germany, which is impressive when considering the breadth of quality on offer here. Still, Hamburg stands tall above all, with its thrilling attractions, unbeatable nightlife and very human history. Packed in among all of that are some of Germany’s best eats. Hungry? Hamburg is waiting. The best restaurants in Hamburg showcase the city’s delectable diversity while paying homage to the traditional recipes of its past. If you’re into fish, you are in for a treat. RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in Hamburg🐟 The best restaurants in Hamburg🛏 The best hotels in Hamburg💡 Hamburg travel tips every first-time visitor needs to know Eliza Apperly is a writer based in Germany. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

Forget Vienna. Forget Geneva. This city’s Italianate flair, mountain views and world-class art collections make it quite simply one of the most refined places you could imagine. In fact, many would argue Munich is far and away the most charming European city there is. And that’s no doubt thanks also to its phenomenal array of killer restaurants and things to do. Whether you’re in town for the opera, en route to the ski slopes or touring Munich’s mind-blowing museums and attractions, it’s no surprise there are plenty of superb places to spend the night. Choose the serene design Louis Hotel, the simple yet homey Laimer Hof or the historic splendour of the Bayerischer Hof. Whatever you choose, rest assured you’ll be booking one of the best hotels in Munich. RECOMMENDED: The best Airbnbs in MunichRECOMMENDED: The best cheap hotels in MunichRECOMMENDED: The best tours to do in Munich Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in and review every hotel featured, we've based our list on our expert knowledge of the destination covered, editorial reviews, user reviews, hotel amenities and in-depth research to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

From its world-class Elbphilharmonie concert hall and dazzlingly vast collections of Romantic art to the buzzing, characterful bars of the Reeperbahn, Hamburg is one of Germany’s most diverse and fascinating metropolises. And for when you need to kick back and take a breather? Well, Hamburg’s got plenty of options for that, too. The port city has accommodation to fit any need, featuring everything from luxurious waterfront hotels and swishly designed boutique establishments to highly functional (and still rather fancy) hostels. Read on for the 12 best hotels in Hamburg.  RECOMMENDED: the best things to do in HamburgRECOMMENDED: the best restaurants in HamburgRECOMMENDED: the best attractions in Hamburg Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in and review every hotel featured, we've based our list on our expert knowledge of the destination covered, editorial reviews, user reviews, hotel amenities and in-depth research to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Don’t let it be overshadowed by the likes of Berlin: Hamburg is a great night out in and of itself. And sure, it’s less queueing for three hours and partying until 9am, but that makes it all the better for a city break. The best thing about the nightlife here? Bars, and lots of them. Here you’ll find everything from glitzy basement cocktail dens to vinyl-spinning DJs, and plenty of local craft beer too. Ready for your Hamburg night out? Here are the city’s best bars right now.  RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in Hamburg🐟 The best restaurants in Hamburg🛏 The best hotels in Hamburg Eliza Apperly is a writer based in Germany. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

If you’re headed to Munich, it’s highly likely that drinking beer is relatively high (at the top) of your list. And you won’t be disappointed: Munich is home to a whole load of seriously good places to drink. But let’s be clear, if you’re just here to drink beer, you should be taking a look at our other feature, ‘Where to drink beer in Munich’.  Where you are right now, we’re talking about all sorts of bars. Swanky cocktail bars. Outdoor beer gardens. Cosy gastropubs serving up rows and rows of cloudy-looking cask ales. Munich’s drinking culture is second to none, and it tends to serve up some pretty tasty bar snacks too. Here are the best bars in Munich, for all types of drinkers.  RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in Munich🚂 The best day trips from Munich🍴 The best restaurants in Munich🏨 The best hotels in Munich This article was updated by Paul Wheatley, a writer based in Munich. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Sure, your primary activity in Munich might be sampling German beer, but don’t forget about the food. If Münchners should be known for one thing, it’s not letting you go hungry. Not once. Trust us on this one: you’re going to want to leave your tightest trousers at home.  But though the portion sizes are, quite frankly, ginormous, the food never skimps on flavour. You’ll find everything from fine dining to classic German fare (think sausages, dumplings and lots of pork), Mediterranean to Mexican, and of course, expect some seriously good beer pairings along the way. Here are our local writer’s favourite restaurants in Munich, right now.  RECOMMENDED:🍺 The best places to drink beer in Munich🍷 The best bars in Munich📍 The best things to do in Munich🚂 The best day trips from Munich This article was produced by local writers Eliza Apperly and Paul Wheatley. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Munich is one of the epicentres of German culture, from fantastic beer and unforgettable weisswurst to shopping spots and bathing saunas. It’s a city that is buzzing with life, with beautiful medieval architecture and cracking museums and galleries, but one of its best features? How well connected it is.  That’s right. If you’re making the trip to Munich, you’d be crazy to miss out on some of the nearby hotspots, where you can indulge in even more beer and even more sausages. Tiny, well-preserved cities are just a quick train ride away, or go a little further to find prime spots for skiing, hiking and biking. Whatever you’re after, here are the best day trips from Munich.  RECOMMENDED:🇩🇪 The best places to visit in Germany📍 The best things to do in Munich🍺 The best places to drink beer in Munich🏺 The best museums in Munich🏛️ The most beautiful buildings in Munich Planning your next trip? Check out our latest travel guides, written by local experts.

Anyone who’s been to Venice can account for just how magical it is. Those winding streets, pizza stands and rows and rows of sand-coloured buildings will have you lost for hours, and you’ll want to go back again and again. But we will say this – on a smoking hot day in the middle of summer, with tourists everywhere you turn, that city can be a lot.  So our best tip? Check out another brilliant city nearby to make the most of your trip, whether it’s for a few nights or just for the day. If you’re looking for beautiful architecture and serene lakes, hiking spots and Renaissance gardens, there’s something for you near Venice, and it’s probably only a train ride away. Here are the best day trips from Venice.  RECOMMENDED:🇮🇹 The best places to visit in Italy🛶 The best things to do in Venice🍝 The best Venice restaurants🏘️ Where to stay in Venice🎭 The best attractions in Venice Planning your next trip? Check out our latest travel guides, written by local experts.

Ah Munich. The Bavarian beauty. One of Germany’s most happening cities, here you’ll find stellar museums, a blossoming gastronomic scene and – obviously – some of the world’s finest beer. And crucial to visiting Munich is where you decide to rest your bones – after all, you can’t enjoy everything this wonderful city has to offer if you’re dog tired! With all that in mind, we’ve compiled our essential guide on where to stay in Munich. While you can’t really go wrong with Munich’s neighbourhoods, each has its own charms. For instance, while you might want to head to Altstadt for its architectural grandiosity, Glockenbach is better renowned for LGBTQ+ friendliness. Combine this neighbourhood guide with our list of the best things to do in the Munich to construct the perfect getaway to the Village of a Million People. Well, 1.5 million now, but you get the point. RECOMMENDED: 🏃‍♂️ Full guide to the best things to do in Munich🏢 The best hotels in Munich🏡 The best Airbnbs in Munich📍 20 essential travel tips for every first-time Munich visitor

Ah, Hamburg. From the craziness of a night out in St Pauli to a sleepy afternoon browsing the world-class art galleries with mates, we never tire of spending time in Germany’s second largest city. Culture vultures can get their fix of Old Masters and the Elbphilharmonie, while barflies won’t suffer for lack of beer. Ultimately, this is just a city with loads of things to do. The neighbourhoods all have their distinct flavours and, understandably, attract slightly different crowds. Altstadt is the place to be if you love a high-end boutique, a good smattering of historic architecture and exhibitions galore. Alternately, caffeine-fiends in need of a cup of the good stuff should make a bee-line to Schanzenviertel. Or, if you’re in the market for a blow-out meal and lovely views of the river Elbe, try Blankenese for Michelin-starred dining at Hamburg’s top restaurants and the city’s poshest hotels. RECOMMENDED:⛴ The best things to do in Hamburg📍 The best attractions in Hamburg⏰ How to spend 48 hours in Hamburg✅ Travel tips every first time Hamburg visitor needs to know

Should the brisk north winds leave you in the mood for a day trip out of town, you’re in luck. While big, proud Hamburg is no doubt the major North German metropolis brimming with attractions and things to do, there are several superb destinations just an hour or two from the city – not least its Hanseatic sisters of Bremen and Lübeck, and picture-perfect Lüneberg, one of the best-preserved medieval towns in the country. For a dose of fresh air and forest, don’t miss the fairytale lake Schloss of Schwerin, or hire a bike and pedal through the apple, pear and cherry trees of the Altes Land, the North German answer to agri-tourism. RECOMMENDED: 📍 The best things to do in Hamburg🐟 The best restaurants in Hamburg🛏 The best hotels in Hamburg💡 Hamburg travel tips every first-time visitor needs to know

Sample Hamburg’s cinnamon-dusted answer to the croissant at award-winning bakery, Kleine Konditiorei. The Franzbrötchen at this classic Hamburg bakery are award-winning morsels of sugar and cinnamon deliciousness. Pair one with a coffee for a perfect early morning fix, and perhaps pick up some superb fresh breads while you’re there; the Karottenbrötchen (carrot bun) and Mehrkornbrötchen (wholegrain bun) come particularly recommended. Kleine Konditiorei has four branches, all in the Eimsbüttel district.   Time Out tip: Taste too good to leave in Hamburg? German home baking brand Janolade does a ready-made Hamburger Franzbrötchen mix.

The restaurant at the Atlantic Kempinksi, Hamburg’s most famous luxury hotel, was first established to cater to first-class passengers setting off on transatlantic liners. Their in-house recipe dates back to the early 20th century, when top chef Franz Pfordte took over the hotel’s culinary helm, and its many famous fans include Rod Stewart, who declared it the best lobster soup in the world. Time Out tip: Fancy an aperitif? The Art Deco Atlantic Bar is one of Hamburg’s ultimate see-and-be-seen nightspots.

It’s all about the harbour views and hearty Fischbrötchen at this Elbe-side locale. If you don’t make it to the Sunday morning Fischmarkt, your next best bet for a classic fish sandwich is Brücke 10, a bright and nautical little locale neatly perched on the Elbe and specializing in all things fish. It’s a little pricier than your regular market stall, but worth it for the great harbour views and the sizeable, salty portions. Pair with an ice-cold Astra and sit outside if the sun’s out. Time Out tip: Hop on public Ferry #62 from the nearby Landungsbrücken for the best-priced tour around the harbour.

For a classic Currywurst fix, Hamburgers swear by Imbiss bei Schorsch, a minute, cult locale in the St.Pauli district. Little more than a hole-in-the-wall, it makes up for its limited space (and almost non-existent seating) with big, sizzling spicy sausage flavours and its hearty in-house potato salad, which replaces the more common Currywurst accompaniment of chips. Time Out tip: Less sure about the spice? Then simply order yourself the Bratwurst (fried sausage).

Competition is strong, but many Hamburgers insist that Köz Urfa does simply the best Turkish food in town. The bustling and brightly-lit neighbourhood joint right by Hamburg-Altona station delivers huge portions and succulent flavours, with fast, friendly service. You can take your food to go, or sit down and settle into a vast Döner Teller (platter), complete with rice, salad, and veggies. There’s also a good run of vegetarian dishes. Time Out tip: Note that Köz Urfa does not serve alcohol.

On Hamburg’s most historic street, the Deichstrasße, Kartoffelkeller is a cosy, unfussy place which makes a great choice for a simple, warming winter lunch. As the name suggests, it embraces all possible ways of cooking potato: soup, dumplings, pan-fried rösti or baked in foil with a choice of toppings, from mushroom sauce to smoked salmon with a honey, dill and mushroom dressing. There are also seasonal specials, including kale dishes in winter and tender white asparagus (Spargel) in spring. End things on a sweet note with the Rote Grütze for dessert. Time Out tip: Do take a wander down the Deichstraße and admire some of the oldest surviving buildings in Hamburg.

Fritz im Pyjama upgrades the hostel concept bigtime. Its “budget boutique” lodgings include single, double and triple rooms, each compact in size but seriously generous on light, comfort and classy design credentials—think smooth wooden floorboards and crisp white bed linens, offset by statement wallpaper. The hotel sits in the heart of the Sternschanze, once a hotbed of activism and dissent, now neighborhood of choice for stylish students, media professionals and many visitors to the city. Fritz does not have an in-house dining area, but there are breakfast options in the mini-bar and plenty of cafes and eateries nearby.

As its name suggests, the architectural ‘wow’ that is Gastwerk stands in a meticulously renovated 19th century gas plant in the Western Hamburg district of Altona. The city’s first design hotel, it boasts a vast, light-filled atrium–complete with water feature–and 141 rooms, lofts and suites, each combining raw industrial aesthetics with soft lighting, warm woods and luxurious linen and fabrics. The round-the-clock staff are particularly helpful and friendly, and the on-site Mangold restaurant and L. Bar–including a line-up of live sets–will serve you well in an otherwise slightly sleepier neighborhood. There’s also an in-house spa.

Neatly located for HafenCity, St Michael’s church and the Reeperbahn, this Hamburg branch of the Motel One chain is reliably fresh, modern and inexpensive. Expect cleanliness and comfort rather than character; rooms follow the chain’s regular dark wood, white and turquoise scheme with little further flourish, but with quality bed linens and heavy curtains, you can be confident of a good night’s sleep. Though the rooms have limited square metres and minimal wardrobe space, there’s plenty of room to stretch your legs in the spacious lobby and well-stocked bar downstairs. Amenities are basic, but service is friendly and efficient.

Prices start at just EUR 65 at Superbude, a bold and bright newcomer to the St Pauli scene. Its 89 colourful rooms range from doubles to the six-person “Rock Star Suite”, each featuring a flat screen TV, private bathroom with rain shower, super-fast wifi, as well as plenty of playful, upcycled furniture. The Superbude prides itself on local connections and creative exchange and is a great source of intel on what to see, do, or hear during your Hamburg stay. With a run of cocktails at the bar and breakfast served until noon, it also caters particularly kindly to those in town to party.

In an impressive white villa north of the Sternschanze, YoHo—short for the “Young Hotel”—delivers clean lines and modest prices. Though small, the rooms remain airy with well-proportioned windows, good fittings and a Scandinavian-inspired palette of grey, white and light wood. You’ll find more generous flushes of colour in the on-site restaurant, Mazza, serving up a (fairly limited) breakfast each morning as well as an evening menu of modern Syrian cuisine from 6pm. There’s free parking in the spacious hotel courtyard.

Neatly located for the Altstadt, Inner Alster lake and Hamburg’s central station, Henri channels top modern traveler standards with retro homely flair. Its rooms, ranging in size from a medium studio to large suite, offer a certain bachelor-pad aesthetic, textured by cozy blankets, colorful accents and lots of light through the building’s generous old townhouse windows. Henri’s ethos is very much a ‘home away from home’ with the spacious downstairs lobby serving as a common lounge, library and breakfast area, and the communal fridge stocked with drinks, soups and snacks which guests can help themselves to around the clock. There’s a small sauna and gym on the top floor.