The 16 Best Luxury Hotels in Munich

In Munich a pool comes with many of the big names – and it is often right at the top.Mandarin Oriental Munich · PoolAbove the rooftops of the city centre you can swim at three addresses. At the Bayerischer Hof Munich a pool of around 15 metres is part of the Blue Spa on the roof, under a glass roof that opens. The Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski Munich has its heated pool, also around 15 metres long, on the top floor, with views over the rooftops and a glazed roof terrace. And at the Mandarin Oriental Munich there is a small heated rooftop pool of about 3 x 5 metres – more for unwinding than for laps, but with a view of the Frauenkirche and the Alps.Andaz Munich Schwabinger Tor · PoolFor laps, our tip is the Andaz Munich Schwabinger Tor: on the top floor of its tower there is a 17-metre pool with windows all round, whirlpool loungers in the water, a pool bar and sun decks. At The Charles Hotel, a Rocco Forte Hotel, Munich the indoor pool is big enough for several guests to swim lengths at the same time.

For families: the Sofitel Munich Bayerpost, with a spiral-shaped heated pool with a counter-current system. At the Rosewood Munich the indoor pool is in the Asaya Spa. And at the Koenigshof Munich the pool belongs to the Private Spa with panoramic views over the rooftops, which you have to yourself – linked to the Presidential Suite or booked as an add-on to one of the eight Panorama Suites or the Terrace Suite.

Some hotels focus on the sauna rather than a pool, such as the Hotel Munich Palace with its light-filled wellness area and roof terrace, or the Steigenberger Hotel München with saunas styled like barrels. If swimming is part of your trip, tell our travel advisors – and we’ll point you to the right 5-star hotel in Munich.

In the tower of the Schwabinger Tor, the Andaz Munich Schwabinger Tor has a spa of around 2,000 m² over two floors: several saunas, six treatment rooms, the 17-metre pool and sun decks with Alpine views; day guests are welcome too. At the Rosewood Munich you will find the Asaya Spa, the first in Germany: 1,300 m² over two floors with an indoor pool, two saunas, a herbal steam bath, six treatment rooms, Technogym fitness and a movement studio. It also includes the “Social House”, a wellness suite of its own.Rosewood Munich · Old TownOn the roof of the Bayerischer Hof Munich the Blue Spa spreads over three floors, designed in 2005 by Andrée Putman: pool, sauna, steam bath, relaxation room, treatments and fitness with city views, plus the Blue Spa Bar with lounge and winter garden. With suitespot, access to the spa and fitness is included there. At the Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski Munich, a 5-star hotel on Maximilianstraße, Kempinski The Spa sits on the top floor and combines pool, sauna and steam bath with day-spa and body treatments.

The Sofitel SPA at the Sofitel Munich Bayerpost covers 574 m²: steam bath, sauna, infrared cabin, Kneipp basin and a relaxation room in stone and tiles, treatments by Cinq Mondes and SOTHYS, plus a gym with Technogym equipment that is open around the clock. If you want to unwind after a swim, The Charles Hotel, a Rocco Forte Hotel, Munich has a large sauna, a separate steam bath, a relaxation room with tea station, foot baths and massages.

You have it all to yourself at the youngest of the luxury hotels in Munich, the Koenigshof Munich: the Private Spa with pool, sauna, experience shower and spa lounge, where treatments and even dinner are possible, can only be booked for exclusive use. With suitespot, two hours of exclusive use are included, subject to availability and with advance reservation.

The wellness area at the Steigenberger Hotel München has a character all its own: beer is the hotel’s leitmotif, the Finnish sauna is styled like a wooden and copper barrel, and there are also a bio sauna, a steam bath and experience showers. The Hotel Munich Palace has a light-filled wellness area with sauna, steam bath and quiet zone, plus a roof terrace with sun loungers. And the Louis Hotel Munich focuses on yoga rather than a spa: there is a yoga mat in every room, and private sessions are available on request, on the roof terrace when the weather is good.

The typical rate is 325 € per night. The selection starts at 120 € at the Marriott Hotel Munich and goes up to 1,095 € at the Rosewood Munich. You will find all 16 luxury hotels with their current rates in the hotel list further down too.

What’s included at all 16 luxury hotels: an upgrade subject to availability – at the Rosewood Munich, the Andaz Munich Schwabinger Tor and the Bayerischer Hof Munich as early as the time of booking, at the other hotels on arrival. At 15 hotels breakfast for two is included daily, at the Andaz Munich Schwabinger Tor in the restaurant The Lonely Broccoli.

At 15 hotels early check-in and late check-out are possible subject to availability, and at the Steigenberger Hotel München late check-out until 2 pm is guaranteed. Only the House of Hütter – Münchner Kindl, Munich has a two-night minimum stay, and it serves warm croissants, Danish pastries, jam, coffee and tea in the morning; everywhere else the benefits apply from the first night.Marriott Hotel Munich · Rooms & suitesWith the hotel credit at a 5-star hotel in Munich it pays to look closely, as the amounts are given partly in US dollars and partly in euros. Most often it is 100 US dollars, which at the Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski Munich can also be redeemed in the Schwarzreiter Restaurant. Our tip for suites: at the Mandarin Oriental Munich suites get 200 US dollars, split between food and drinks and the spa, and at the Rosewood Munich suites get 200 € from two nights. At The Charles Hotel, a Rocco Forte Hotel, Munich Forte Suites get a further 100 US dollars on selected rates from two nights.

Plus extras you will only find once. Our tip for night owls is the Bayerischer Hof Munich: free entry to the Night Club (except for special concerts), plus access to the spa and fitness. At the Koenigshof Munich two hours in the Private Spa are included, subject to availability and with advance reservation, and at the Andaz Munich Schwabinger Tor the coffee machine and minibar are complimentary. A welcome gift awaits at eight luxury hotels in Munich.

Points and status can be earned at 13 of the 16 hotels, spread across eight programmes: Marriott Bonvoy at four hotels, ALL (Accor) and the Leaders Club at two each, plus World of Hyatt, GHA Discovery, I Prefer, H Rewards and Fans of Mandarin Oriental.

When it is loveliest: in May and September, when the beer gardens are open and the hotels’ roof terraces are in season. When it is good value: in January and February – the weeks with the lowest rates, when the rooftop spas come into their own. When to book a 5-star hotel in Munich early: for the Oktoberfest from mid-September to early October, for the major trade fairs and for the Advent weekends.

How long to stay: three nights – one for the old town and the museums, one for the English Garden and the Isar, and one for an evening at a Michelin-starred restaurant or a trip to the lakes in the south.