'Where to Stay in Germany as a Tourist: Hostel, Guesthouse, Farm,

Tourists in Germany can choose from many types of accommodation: hostels, Jugendherberge, pensions, guesthouses, farms, holiday apartments, and classic hotels. The best option depends not only on price, but also on your route, who you are traveling with, the season, transport, cancellation rules, and extra fees.

If you just need a place to sleep in the city, a hostel or an inexpensive hotel is often enough. For a family staying a week, a Ferienwohnung with a kitchen is usually more convenient. For a quiet break in the countryside, a Pension, Gästehaus, or Bauernhof may be a better fit. On a business trip, a hotel with predictable service and easy check-in is usually more important.

Quick comparison of the options

Format	Best for	What to check before booking
Hostel	solo travelers, students, friends	room type, lockers, towels, quiet at night
Jugendherberge	families, young travelers, school and group trips	DJH membership, house rules, meals, age requirements
Pension	couples, families, road trippers	breakfast, bathroom, parking, check-in time
Gästehaus or Gasthof	trips to small towns and tourist regions	location, restaurant, transport, G-classification stars
Bauernhof	families with children, nature lovers	animals, activities, distance to shops and transport
Ferienwohnung	families, groups, longer trips	cleaning, deposit, Nebenkosten, house rules, minimum stay
Hotel	business trips, short city breaks	category, breakfast, reception, cancellation, city taxes

Hostels and Jugendherberge

Hostel: budget-friendly and flexible

A hostel is an inexpensive form of accommodation where you can book either a bed in a shared room or a private room. In German cities, hostels are often chosen by students, solo travelers, and people who care more about location than full hotel service.

Hostels usually have a shared kitchen or lounge area, laundry, luggage storage, or lockers. Conditions vary a lot: a modern hostel in central Berlin may be more convenient than an old budget hotel, but also noisier and less private.

Before booking, check:

• whether bed linen and towels are included;
• whether there is a lockable locker and whether you need your own padlock;
• whether the room is mixed or women-only/men-only;
• check-in time and whether late arrival is possible;
• quiet hours and reviews from the last few months;
• how easy it is to get to the train station, airport, or metro.

Large chains such as A&O Hostels are convenient because of their predictable standards and broad city coverage. Independent hostels can be cozier, but it is worth checking reviews more carefully.

This is what a typical hostel room in a German city looks like.

Jugendherberge and DJH

Jugendherberge are youth hostels and family holiday houses associated with Deutsches Jugendherbergswerk (DJH). This is not only a format for teenagers: families, school groups, sports teams, and independent travelers also stay there.

To stay in a German Jugendherberge, you usually need DJH membership or a compatible international card. Membership gives access to the network of hostels in Germany and abroad, but the exact prices and rules depend on the federal state, the specific house, the season, and the type of trip.

Jugendherberge are especially convenient if you need:

• simple family rooms;
• meals on site;
• accommodation for a group;
• clear rules and a safe environment;
• an overnight stay in a tourist region without hotel luxury.

It is best to check prices directly on the website of the specific Jugendherberge: rates may differ by age, membership status, meals, school holidays, and length of stay.

Pensions, Gästehaus, and Gasthof

Pension

A Pension is a small private boarding house or mini-hotel. It is usually quiet accommodation with private rooms, a simple breakfast, and a limited set of services. The owner may live in the same building or manage the property personally.

A Pension is a good fit if you want something quieter than a hostel, but cheaper and simpler than a large hotel. This format is common in resort areas, on wine routes, by lakes, in the Alps, and in small towns.

What to check:

• private or shared bathroom;
• whether breakfast is included;
• whether there is parking;
• whether late-evening arrival is possible;
• whether cards are accepted or cash payment is required;
• whether there is a tourist tax such as Kurtaxe or Gästetaxe.

Gästehaus and Gasthof

Gästehaus is similar to a Pension: it is a guesthouse with simple rooms and personal contact with the hosts. A Gasthof is usually connected to a restaurant or a traditional inn, which makes it a practical choice in rural areas and small towns.

For small accommodation businesses in Germany, there is G-Klassifizierung, a separate star system for Gästehaus, Gasthof, and Pension. It was designed for properties without a classic hotel character and helps compare the basic level of comfort. Star classification is not mandatory, so the absence of stars does not always mean poor quality.

Farms - Bauernhof

Bauernhof means accommodation on a farm or next to a working farm. It is not just an overnight stay, but a style of holiday with nature, animals, walks, and a calmer pace.

Horse riding is one of the activities that children and adults especially love on farms.

A farm stay suits:

• families with children;
• travelers with a car;
• people who want peace and nature;
• lovers of hiking, cycling, and regional cuisine;
• trips lasting several days or longer.

There are downsides too: public transport may run infrequently, shops and restaurants can be far away, and the level of service is usually simpler than in a hotel. If you are traveling without a car, check the route from the station and taxi availability in advance.

Ferienwohnung: holiday apartment

A Ferienwohnung is a furnished apartment or flat for a short holiday. It usually has a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom or sleeping area, and sometimes a balcony, terrace, or garden.

This option is especially convenient for families and groups: you can cook, do laundry, live on your own schedule, and not depend on hotel breakfast hours. But unlike a hotel, some everyday responsibilities fall on the guest.

Before booking a Ferienwohnung, check carefully:

• the final price including cleaning, taxes, and service fees;
• the amount of the Kaution and how the deposit is returned;
• whether Nebenkosten, internet, linen, towels, and parking are included;
• house rules: smoking, guests, pets, noise, waste sorting;
• minimum stay and check-in days;
• how the keys are handed over and what to do if you arrive late.

People often search on Booking.com, Airbnb, FeWo-Direkt, Interhome, and regional tourism websites. It is safer to pay through the platform or the official booking channel rather than by direct transfer to an unfamiliar host.

Hotels and Hotelstars Union

A hotel is the most predictable format: reception, regular cleaning, clear room categories, often breakfast, and sometimes a restaurant, bar, parking, gym, or spa. For city trips and business travel, this is often more convenient than an apartment.

In Germany, hotels may be classified under the Hotelstars Union system. The stars reflect not the “beauty” of the room, but a set of criteria and services. The general guideline is:

• 1 star: simple and functional accommodation;
• 2 stars: a basic standard with a somewhat broader range of services;
• 3 stars: a comfortable level for most leisure trips;
• 4 stars: higher service, extra amenities, and stricter equipment requirements;
• 5 stars: a high level of comfort and service.

The label Superior means that a property clearly exceeds the requirements of its category without moving into the next one. Stars are useful for an initial assessment, but reviews, recent photos, and location are often more important than the category itself.

Tourist taxes and extra costs

In tourist cities and resort regions, the price may include an additional Kurtaxe, Gästetaxe, City Tax, or a similar local charge. It depends on the municipality, the purpose of the trip, the guest’s age, and the type of accommodation. Sometimes the fee is included in the final price, and sometimes it is paid separately at check-in.

Also check for:

• paid breakfast;
• cleaning fees in a Ferienwohnung;
• a deposit for the apartment or keys;
• parking;
• towels and bed linen;
• late check-in;
• staying with pets;
• card payment or cash only.

If the trip is for business, ask whether the city exempts you from the tourist tax with proof of a work trip. Rules vary by municipality, so there is no universal answer.

How to choose accommodation for your trip

For a short city itinerary

Choose an area near the train station, U-Bahn, S-Bahn, or the main sights. Even a cheap room on the outskirts may turn out to be inconvenient if you have to travel a long time and pay for transport every day.

Check how far the chosen accommodation is from public transport (U-Bahn, S-Bahn).

For a family

Compare not only the nightly rate, but the total cost: meals, kitchen, transport, parking, children’s beds, washing machine, cleaning. A Ferienwohnung often wins on longer trips, while a Jugendherberge is useful if you need simple infrastructure and meals on site.

For trips into nature and small towns

Pension, Gästehaus, Gasthof, and Bauernhof often offer the best balance of price and atmosphere. But without a car, it is important to check bus schedules, the distance to the station, and the possibility of late check-in in advance.

For popular dates

In summer, during school holidays, Christmas markets, Oktoberfest, major trade fairs, and long weekends, good options are booked up quickly. Book early and compare refundable and non-refundable rates.

What to look for in reviews

• Recent reviews from the last 6-12 months.
• Complaints about noise, cleanliness, smells, heating, hot water, and internet.
• Real guest photos, if available.
• Comments about the neighborhood in the evening and at night.
• Mentions of hidden fees or difficult check-in.
• How the host or hotel solves problems.

An average rating alone says very little. It is more important to see whether the same complaints keep recurring.

Booking safety

• Pay through the platform, the hotel website, or the property’s official channel.
• Do not transfer money to a personal account if the listing looks suspicious.
• Keep your booking confirmation, cancellation terms, and correspondence.
• When checking into an apartment, take photos of the condition of the furniture, walls, floor, and plumbing.
• For a Ferienwohnung, check whether your Haftpflichtversicherung covers accidental damage to someone else’s property.
• For trips with medical risks or expensive bookings, review travel insurance.

Short checklist before booking

• The final price is clear, including taxes, cleaning, and service fees.
• The cancellation conditions match the risk of changing plans.
• The area is convenient for transport and your itinerary.
• The room type, beds, and bathroom are clearly described.
• Check-in and check-out times fit your train or flight.
• There is a clear contact in case of delay.
• House rules, deposit, parking, and extra payments have been checked.
• For Jugendherberge, DJH membership is checked; for Ferienwohnung, Kaution and Nebenkosten; for resorts, Kurtaxe or Gästetaxe.

Germany remains a country with strong domestic tourism: residents travel actively around the country, especially in summer, on holidays, and on weekends. That is why in popular places, including Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Dresden, Heidelberg, resorts, lakes, and Germany’s castles, it is better not to postpone booking until the last week.