The best hotels in Munich: nine places to stay, by neighbourhood

The grand hotel on Promenadeplatz

Hotel Bayerischer Hof stands on Promenadeplatz, a few minutes from Marienplatz, and has long been the city's great society hotel. Rooms range from traditional to contemporary, and on the roof there is a spa with a terrace looking out over the church towers.

It is a safe choice for a first visit, putting you in the middle of town with restaurants, bars and even a cinema under one roof. It is ideal for couples and families who want a proper grand hotel. The lobby is busy, especially during fairs and events, so if you want somewhere small and quiet, look at Cortiina or Hotel Opera.

A rooftop pool above the old town

Mandarin Oriental sits on a quiet street close to the Hofbräuhaus and Maximilianstrasse, in an elegant nineteenth-century building. On the roof there is a small pool and a terrace looking over the old town and, on clear days, all the way to the Alps.

It earns our romantic pick, with calm rooms, personal service and a location with both the beer halls and the smartest boutiques around the corner. It is right for couples and lovers of discreet luxury. The rooftop pool is small and open only in the warmer months, so do not choose the hotel for that alone.

Overlooking the Viktualienmarkt

Louis Hotel sits right on the Viktualienmarkt, the city's great food market, and many rooms have balconies or windows over the stalls and chestnut trees. The interior is clean-lined and warm, with oak, stone and muted colours.

It is our design pick and a hotel for anyone who likes to start the day with coffee and fresh bread from the market below. It is a strong pick for couples and food lovers. The market and surrounding streets are busy by day, and some rooms are small, so book a balcony room to get the best of it.

Timber and calm behind Marienplatz

Cortiina is on a side street just behind Marienplatz, with rooms in pale wood, natural stone and soft fabrics. The ground-floor bar is a popular after-work spot for people who work nearby.

It is small and personal, a good fit for couples and anyone who wants to be right in the centre without the crowds of a big hotel. Rooms are calm and well planned but not large. There is no spa or pool, so it works best if you plan to be out in the city all day.

Classic on Maximilianstrasse

Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski stands halfway along Maximilianstrasse, with a vast lobby beneath a glass roof and rooms in classic style. The opera and the Residenz, the former palace of the Bavarian kings, are minutes away.

It appeals to opera-goers, serious shoppers and anyone who likes a traditional grand hotel with precise service. The spa sits at the top of the building. The style is more formal than modern, and street-facing rooms can hear the trams.

A small mansion in Lehel

Hotel Opera is on a quiet street in Lehel, in an old townhouse with a small courtyard where breakfast is served in summer. Rooms are furnished with antiques and heavy curtains, and no two are alike.

It is for travellers who love small, personal places and do not need a spa or restaurant. It is well suited to couples and anyone planning walks along the Isar and through the Englischer Garten. Marienplatz is fifteen minutes on foot or a few minutes by tram.

Big rooms by the Old Botanical Garden

The Charles Hotel overlooks the Old Botanical Garden, a few minutes from the station, with large rooms, pale colours and park views from many windows. It has a spa and one of the largest hotel pools in the centre.

This is our family pick, because the rooms are spacious, the pool rescues rainy days and the station is close by. It also suits business travellers and couples who want luxury away from the tourist streets. The old town is ten minutes' walk away.

Inside the old post office

Sofitel Munich Bayerpost occupies a large historic building beside the main station that once served as a post office. The facade is old, while inside it is modern, with a soaring atrium, spa and pool.

It suits travellers arriving by train or catching an early flight who want a comfortable hotel with a spa. Rooms are modern and quiet, but outside is a busy station district, lively around the clock. Marienplatz is five minutes away by S-Bahn.

Regal and playful

25hours Hotel The Royal Bavarian sits directly opposite the main station, with a theme drawn from Bavaria's royal history, hunting lodges and the Alps. Rooms are colourful and full of detail, and the restaurant and bar are popular with locals too.

It gets our vote as the value pick, offering plenty of style and a very practical location for less than the old town. It is a good fit for friends and couples who like a hotel with a sense of humour. If you want classic calm and large rooms, choose The Charles instead.