Schloss Elmau, Bavarian Alps, Germany

Schloss Elmau is a castle hotel in a hidden valley of the Bavarian Alps, and one of the most unusual luxury retreats in Europe. Part spa resort, part cultural centre, it hosts hundreds of concerts and readings every year in its historic concert hall, and it is set in an alpine meadow beneath the dramatic Wetterstein mountains. It became world-famous as the setting of the G7 summits in 2015 and 2022.

Location: Bavarian Alps, Germany

Schloss Elmau lies at around 1,000 metres in a secluded high valley between the Wamberg range and the Wetterstein massif, home to the Zugspitze, Germany's highest mountain. It is reached by a private road, about 20 kilometres by car from Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Munich Airport is around one and a half hours away, and Innsbruck about an hour.

The valley is quiet, green and wide, with meadows, forests and trails in every direction, and the nearby towns of Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Mittenwald offer skiing, hiking and classic Bavarian charm.

The valley's isolation is part of its magic: there is no through traffic, and the only buildings for miles are the castle, its farm and a few traditional huts. In summer, cows graze on the meadows in front of the hotel; in winter, the valley lies under deep snow, with cross-country ski trails starting at the door.

Rooms and suites at Schloss Elmau

The estate has two hotels: the Retreat, a timelessly elegant building on the hillside, and the Cultural Hideaway in the historic castle, with an Asian-inspired atmosphere, refined lighting, lounges and a lifestyle shop. Together they offer rooms and suites in a range of sizes, many with balconies and mountain views.

Interiors are warm and sophisticated, combining Alpine materials with art, books and Asian influences. Families are well catered for, with family suites and children's facilities, while couples can seek out the quieter, adults-focused areas of the Retreat.

Facilities at Schloss Elmau

The spas are a major draw, with several spa areas across the two hotels, including indoor and outdoor pools, a rooftop pool, saunas, hammams and a long menu of treatments inspired by Asian and Alpine traditions, along with yoga and fitness programmes.

Culture is what makes Schloss Elmau unique. Its concert hall hosts up to around 200 concerts, festivals and readings each year, from classical chamber music to jazz, and the hotel has its own bookshop with author events. Dining ranges across several restaurants, from fine dining to Asian and Alpine cuisine, and there are activities for children, as well as skiing, cross-country skiing and hiking from the door.

Children are well looked after, with dedicated children's areas and activities, and many families return year after year for the combination of mountain adventure, spa time and evening concerts, which few other hotels can match.

The mountain moment

The defining moment is a summer evening in the meadow in front of the castle, with the Wetterstein peaks glowing in the last light above the valley, followed by a concert in the historic hall. Few places combine mountains and music so beautifully.

By day, hike to the Schachen, where King Ludwig II built a royal hunting lodge with an exotic Moorish room, or ride the cable car and cog railway to the summit of the Zugspitze for views across four countries.

Why Schloss Elmau is one of the best mountain hotels

Schloss Elmau earns its place because it offers something genuinely different: a luxury spa retreat with a serious cultural heart, in a spectacular and peaceful mountain setting. It is expensive and can feel busy at peak times, and its Asian-inspired style may surprise those expecting a traditional Bavarian castle. But for couples, families and anyone who loves music, books and mountains, it is extraordinary.

Its history adds depth to the experience: the castle was built between 1912 and 1916 by the writer and theologian Johannes Müller, survived wartime and post-war roles as a military hospital and a home for displaced persons and Holocaust survivors, and was rebuilt after a fire in 2005 under his grandson, Dietmar Müller-Elmau.

When to go to Schloss Elmau

Schloss Elmau is open year-round. Summer, from June to September, is ideal for hiking, meadow walks and outdoor concerts, and autumn brings golden larches and clear, settled weather. Winter, from December to March, brings cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and downhill skiing at Garmisch-Partenkirchen, with festive concerts and cosy spa days. Check the concert programme when booking, as many guests plan their stay around it.