Save on Top Luxury Hotels in Weimar, Germany

Stay in the Hotel Elephant, Grand Russischer Hof, Dorint or Leonardo

Mar 29, 2009

The top luxury hotels in Weimar - the Elephant, Grand Russischer Hof, Dorint am Goethepark, and Leonardo - often have cheap deals and low prices on advance reservations.

Weimar in Thuringia (Thüringen) is one of Germany’s most important cultural centers. As a result, Weimar has a remarkable number of very pleasant hotels that often have cheap deals on advance reservations. The top four luxury hotels in central Weimar are the Elephant, the Grand Hotel Russischer Hof, the Dorint am Goethepark, and the Leonardo Weimar. All four hotels offer luxury and comfort but are completely different in character.

The Elephant Hotel Weimar – a Starwood Luxury Collection Hotel

The Hotel Elephant, part of Starwood’s Luxury Collection, has the longest history of the best luxury hotels in Weimar. Food has been served here since 1696 while guests could spend the night from 1741 onwards.

The Elephant is conveniently located on Markt (Market Square) in the heart of old town Weimar. The exterior of the hotel is rather plain but inside opulent luxury is the norm. Furniture and decorations remind of Bauhaus and Art Deco and are not standard Sheraton.

The Elephant Hotel has been famous for its excellent food for years. The Anna Amalien restaurant sports a Michelin star and is arguably the best in town. Food is modern with Italian overtones. Things are more gemütlich (jovial) in the vaulted Elephantenkeller where typical Thuringian specialties can be enjoyed.

Famous former guests at the Elephant include writers (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Friedrich Schiller, and Leo Tolstoy) as well as musicians (Johann Sebastian Bach, Clara Schumann, Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Franz Liszt, and Richard Wagner). The Elephant Hotel became famous throughout Germany after Thomas Mann set his novel Lotte in Weimar (usually translated as The Beloved Returns) in the Elephant.

The Grand Hotel Russischer Hof – A Weimar Hotel with Tradition

The Grand Hotel Russischer Hof is second only to the Elephant as far as illustrious history is concerned. The building dates back to 1797 but recent refurbishing brought the Grand Hotel Russischer Hof (literally, Russian Court) up to date with the most modern comforts. The location of the Russischer Hof on Goetheplatz makes it especially popular for visitors to the German National Theatre and Bauhaus Museum.

Rooms at the Grand Hotel Russischer Hof are decorated in the French style. The more expensive rooms are furnished opulently without any hints of Bauhaus and form-following-function notions.

The Anastasia Restaurant serves international cuisine with strong Austrian influences while the Wiener Kaffeehouse is a Viennese style café.

Former patrons at the Grand Hotel Russischer Hof include Goethe, Liszt, Clara and Robert Schuman, Richard Wagner, and Theodor Storm.

Dorint Hotel Am Goethepark Weimar with Classy Wellness Facilities

The Dorint am Goethepark Weimar is a great luxury choice located in between the Goethehaus and the Park an der Ilm. In contrast to the Elephant and Russicher Hof, the Dorint is free from the trappings of history. The Dorint hotel successfully combines two historical villas with a modern Bauhaus-like central building.

The bedrooms in the Dorint hotel are fairly large and very stylish with modern furniture. The four restaurants in the hotel vary in décor from Biedermeier to Belle Époque while the pub sports a Tiffany ceiling.

The Dorint am Goethepark Weimar has a very large wellness area with a gym, hot tub / whirlpool, saunas, and spa facilities spread over two floors.

Leonardo Hotel Weimar – Cheap Prices, Swimming Pool and Bowling

The Leonardo Hotel Weimar (formerly Hilton Weimar) is to the south of the old town adjacent to the Park an der Ilm. Guests are rewarded for this somewhat longer distance from the old town by cheaper prices. Astonishingly good deals are often on offer for advance reservations.

The Leonardo Hotel Weimar is thoroughly modern inside and out with a relaxed atmosphere. Rooms are modern and comfortably furnished.

The Leonardo sports a large fitness and wellness area. In contrast to the other luxury hotels in Weimar, the Leonardo has a large indoor swimming pool and its own bowling alley.

It is an easy ten minutes’ stroll from the Leonardo Hotel to old town Weimar. Alternatively, guests can use bus line 1, stop Falkenburg, to the old town and Weimar train station.

Getting the Best Deals on Luxury Hotels in Weimar

Weimar is mostly visited for leisure purposes. As a result, the best deals on hotels are generally early in the week rather than on weekends. This is true even for luxury hotels, which in many other cities would be cheaper over weekends when business travelers stay away. Travelers to Weimar who can arrive on Sunday or Monday may well find the cheapest deals in especially luxury hotels.

Transportation to Weimar is easy as Weimar is in the geographical center of Germany. Although a small town of only around 60,000, Weimar has many interesting sights including UNESCO World Cultural Heritage listed sites associated with Weimar Classicism and the Bauhaus.

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