Bordering France and Switzerland, the beautiful Baden-Württemberg region occupies Germany’s southwestern corner. Famed for its automobile-building history, its pretty spa towns and the deep green-clad hills and mountains of the legendary Black Forest. Enormously popular with outdoorsy adventurers as well as foodies and romantics, the region is studded with charming family-owned guesthouses as well as pretty boutique boltholes and idyllic rural escapes. Whether you’re dreaming of cutting-edge design, Michelin-starred dining or a simple hideaway, our list of the best places to stay in Baden-Württemberg has it all.
Stuttgart, the regional capital, is known for its car manufacturing, whilst innovative Mannheim, to the north-west, is reputedly the birthplace of both the automobile and the bicycle. These are lively, vibrant cities with great food and nightlife. If you’re seeking more laid-back romance, look to marvellous Heidelberg, with its gorgeous crumbling castle and age-old bridges, or to the rejuvenating mineral springs of Baden Baden.
Further to the south, you’ll find the vast wilderness of the Black Forest, teeming with wildlife and criss-crossed by some of the country’s best hiking, mountain biking and horse riding trails. Summer travellers will also adore glittering Lake Constance, where you can sail, swim and kayak, or simply soak up the sunshine from landscaped gardens in Konstanz or Meersburg. Don’t miss sampling the wines of the Baden region over the course of your trip, or tucking in to sensational fare at some of the best places to stay in Baden-Württemberg. The possibilities are endless!