Würzburg is compact enough that almost anywhere in town puts you within reach of the Residence, the old bridge and Marktplatz, but where you stay still changes the trip. This is baroque palace country and vineyard country at the same time, and the hotels here split fairly cleanly into old town options built for walking everywhere and practical picks just outside the center that trade a short drive for a much lower price. We're covering both, including where we stayed, what we'd book next time and the trade-offs between staying in the old town and just outside it.

We booked the Melchior Park Hotel with less than 24 hours' notice after canceling a very different trip, and it worked out well. It's not walkable into the old town, more like a ten-minute drive, but the price made up for that: around 110 to 120 euros a night, inexpensive for the region. The hotel has a small indoor pool and an outdoor pool built more like a natural swimming pond, and the enormous park directly behind it gave us space to let Rex off leash away from traffic, which is usually the hardest part of finding a hotel with a dog. If you want to be inside the old town instead, keep reading, because that's a real trade-off worth thinking through before you book.

Quick Picks: Best Hotels in Würzburg

1. Melchior Park Hotel, our pick and where we actually stayed. Best value with a huge park for dogs, a short drive from the old town
2. Best Western Premier Hotel Rebstock, best for history in the old town, a guest house since 1408
3. Hotel Residence, best budget-friendly pick actually inside the old town
4. Maritim Hotel Würzburg, best for Marienberg Fortress views and a proper spa
5. Hotel Alter Kranen, best riverside pick near the Main
6. Hotel Wittelsbacher Höh, best for a quiet hilltop stay with a view over the city

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Your Guide to Staying in Würzburg

Würzburg's old town sits on one bank of the Main, anchored by Marktplatz and the Marienkapelle at one end and the Würzburg Residence a short walk away at the other. Marienberg Fortress sits across the river on its own hill, visible from most of the old town's riverside stretches. The old bridge, the Alte Mainbrücke, connects the two halves of the city and is where the evening wine crowd gathers.

For a first visit, staying in or right next to the old town means you can walk to the Residence, Marktplatz and the bridge without needing a car, which matters here since parking in the historic center is limited and the streets are cobblestone. If you're driving in, as we were, a hotel just outside the center with easy parking and more space, like a park for a dog or a pool for kids, can be worth the short drive in, especially since Würzburg is small enough that a ten-minute drive still gets you everywhere.

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Best Old Town Hotels in Würzburg

We didn't stay in the old town ourselves this trip, but these are the hotels we'd consider based on their locations and guest reviews if walkability is the priority.

1. Best Western Premier Hotel Rebstock ($$-$$$): One of Germany's oldest hotels, a guest house since 1408 behind a listed rococo facade, a short walk from Marktplatz and about ten minutes on foot from the Residence. Individually decorated rooms and a Michelin-starred restaurant on site. If history is part of why you're visiting Würzburg, this is the pick that puts you inside it.
2. Hotel Residence ($$): A straightforward 3-star option actually inside the old town, close to the river and the main sights, with strong guest reviews for cleanliness. A good pick if you want old town walkability without the price of a historic property.
3. Maritim Hotel Würzburg ($$$): Sits near the Main with views toward Marienberg Fortress and is about 600 meters from the old town, close enough to walk. It has a modern spa with an indoor pool, spacious rooms and a fitness center, which makes it a good choice if you want a proper hotel experience rather than a boutique guesthouse.
4. Hotel Alter Kranen ($$): A smaller riverside hotel named for the old crane monument nearby, with straightforward rooms and an easy walk into the old town along the Main. A solid mid-range choice if the Rebstock and Maritim are booked up or out of budget.

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Best Value and Practical Hotels in Würzburg

If you're driving, traveling with a dog or just want more space for the price, these are the picks outside the immediate old town.

1. Melchior Park Hotel ($$): This is where we stayed, booked with less than a day's notice, and it worked out well. About a ten-minute drive from the old town, with an indoor pool, a natural outdoor swimming pond and a large park directly behind the hotel that made walking Rex easy. At 110 to 120 euros a night, it's one of the better values in the area. If you're picturing a standard hotel pool, know that the outdoor one is more of a natural pond, which won't be for everyone.
2. Hotel Wittelsbacher Höh ($$): Set on a hill above the city with views over the rooftops and vineyards, this is a quieter option for travelers who don't mind a short drive or taxi into the center in exchange for space and a view.

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What to Know Before You Book in Würzburg

Würzburg gets hot in summer, and not every hotel outside the old town has reliable air conditioning. We ended up in Würzburg in the first place because our original booking fell through over exactly this, so confirm AC directly if you're visiting in July or August.

The old town is walkable but cobblestone throughout, and parking inside it is limited and often restricted to residents. If you're driving, a hotel with its own parking just outside the center, like Melchior Park Hotel, is usually less stressful than trying to find street parking in the Altstadt.

Würzburg is a dog-friendly town, and hotels with outdoor space nearby make a real difference if you're traveling with one. Confirm pet policies directly before booking, since they vary by hotel and sometimes by room type.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Where to Stay in Würzburg

What is the best area to stay in Würzburg?

The old town, close to Marktplatz and the Residence, is the best base for a first visit since it puts everything within walking distance. If you're driving or want more space for the price, a hotel just outside the center, a short drive or taxi away, is a reasonable trade-off in a town this small.

Is Würzburg worth visiting?

Yes. It's a compact wine town with a baroque palace that gets far less attention than it deserves, a genuine wine culture and an old town you can see in a few unhurried hours. We only had one evening and one morning there and it was still enough to want to go back.

How many nights do you need in Würzburg?

One night is enough to see the old town, the Residence gardens and the bridge at sunset, which is roughly what we did. Two nights gives you time to actually tour the Residence interior and make it up to Marienberg Fortress, which we missed.

Is Würzburg expensive?

Less expensive than Munich or Salzburg. Hotel prices outside the old town, like the one we stayed at, run noticeably lower than similar options closer to the center, and food and wine here are reasonably priced compared to bigger Bavarian cities.

When is the best time to visit Würzburg?

Late spring through early fall, when the wine gardens and festivals are running. We visited in summer during a heat wave, which we'd avoid if we were planning it again on purpose. See our full guide to the best time to visit Würzburg for more detail.

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Our Würzburg Hotel Takeaway

Würzburg is small enough that where you stay doesn't make or break the trip the way it might in a bigger city, but it does change how much walking you're doing and how much you're paying for it. Staying inside the old town gets you everything on foot. Staying just outside it, like we did, trades a short drive for a noticeably better price and, in our case, a lot more space for a dog.

If budget and space matter more to you than walking distance, book Melchior Park Hotel or something similar just outside the center. If you'd rather be able to walk everywhere and want the town's history built into your stay, Best Western Premier Hotel Rebstock is the strongest pick in the old town. Either way, confirm air conditioning if you're visiting in summer.

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More from The GetAwayZ on Franconia

• Würzburg Travel Guide: Is It Worth a Stop in Bavaria?
• The Best Things We Ate and Drank in Würzburg
• One Day in Würzburg: How Our Backup Plan Won Us Over
• Bamberg Travel Guide: Is It Worth a Stop in Franconia?
• Franconia Travel Guide