The Best Hotels Near The Bird, by the Record

1. Michelin Guide Selected Hotels

Rooms here overlook either the Volkswagen factory or the Autostadt canal, which tells you everything about where you are. This Forbes Four Star, Michelin Key hotel was designed by Andrée Putman, whose interiors manage to feel modern without the usual preciousness. The Kraftwerk spa and a heated outdoor pool handle leisure, while Newman's Bar runs live jazz most nights beneath Arnold Newman's portraits.

1. Forbes Travel Guide Forbes Four Star
2. Michelin Guide 1 Key

A natural spring on the property feeds the thermal pool, the saunas, and the steam baths, which sets the tone for this wellness resort in the Harz Mountains biosphere reserve. Rooms in the original lodge face a beech forest through oversized windows; the newer wing adds private terraces and custom art installations for anyone who wants their forest bathing with more square footage. Hikers and cyclists fill the trails outside; the restaurant keeps things local and seasonal.

1. Michelin Guide Selected Hotels