All hotels have been independently reviewed and selected. We will earn a commission if you book via the links below, but this never affects our rating. Our expert writers are usually hosted on a complimentary basis in order to gain the first-hand experience necessary for their review.

For history fans, there's plenty to see you and do in Berlin – after all, it was at the heart of much of the turbulent 20th century. The city is also a welcoming destination for families thanks to a wealth of green spaces, sparkling lakes and a generally child-friendly infrastructure. But for a bit of light relief, you can't beat a sumptuous soak in a five-star spa. It was only recently, with the opening of the Vabali Spa, that Berlin really got the wellness temple it deserved. In the meantime though, the city’s hotels have been filling in the gap with a slew of luxurious spas spanning pools, steam rooms and saunas, and a swathe of cosmetic treatments. Here's our pick of the best spa hotels in Berlin.

This swish five-star mixes a warm and sophisticated interior design with a contemporary hospitality concept. Das Stue's classically curved main building was constructed in 1938 by German architect Johann Emil Schaudt, and once housed the Danish Embassy. Most rooms come with views of the adjacent Tiergarten, with some of the Embassy rooms and all of the suites boasting generous balconies; some also come with funky free-standing bathtubs. In terms of facilities, the first-floor Susanne Kaufmann Spa has treatment rooms, a 16-metre indoor swimming pool and a sauna, and the reception can arrange personal yoga, training sessions, surfset classes and sightseeing jogging.Read expert reviewFrom£198

• An insider guide to Berlin

This smart five-star boasts a modern, eco-friendly design and a convenient location right next to Berlin’s main train station. Rooms are spacious and designed with a contemporary aesthetic that continues in the light-filled restaurant and all-white spa. Situated on the seventh floor, the Season Spa & Fitness Club has three saunas, a terrace with a quiet zone and treatments such as massages, relaxation rituals and facials. The fitness area is a decent size, with top-notch TechnoGym machines, several free weight areas, and excellent views across the Spree and the Government quarter; there are options for personal power training and running workouts.Read expert reviewFrom£104

• The best things to do in Berlin

Berlin’s most glamorous hotel address has hosted many luminaries, including Her Majesty the Queen. Overlooking the Brandenburg Gate, the hotel's location is a stone’s throw away from primary sights. The main hotel highlight is the spa, a self-contained universe of luxurious pampering complete with heated pool, whirlpool and treatments that range from facials, massages, meditation to yoga lessons. The two Michelin-starred Lorenz Adlon Esszimmer, helmed by Hendrik Otto, is a memorable place to dine, offering a constantly changing menu of refined European dishes.Read expert reviewFrom£302

• The best restaurants in Berlin

The first – and only – Guerlain Spa in Germany is located on the fifth floor of the hotel, and is almost certainly one of the best in town. Spanning a whopping 11,000 sq ft, this 'beauty universe' features no less than eight therapy rooms, a pool shaped like a cloud, sauna, steam room and Vichy shower. There's also a 24-hour fitness centre. Naturally, there are also lots of lovely Guerlain products for sale. Book a Zoofenster room for views of the Berlin Zoological Garden. Also not to be missed at the hotel is the Michelin-starred Les Solistes by Pierre Gagnaire, which offers high-concept fusion cuisine. Read expert reviewFrom£250

• The best budget hotels in Berlin

The Pullman offers a great spread of amenities for leisure travellers in an excellent location close to the Berlin Zoo and Tiergarten. From the large, airy lobby, with its shiny floors and large artwork on one wall, to the neutral-but-smart rooms, the ambience here is quietly stylish and crisply efficient. The main draw for guests is the downstairs spa and fitness area, which offers an 18-metre pool (with sun terrace), three saunas and a steam bath. There’s also a Turkish bath/hammam and massages, manicures and pedicures are available. The fitness room, which overlooks the pool, is open around the clock. Read expert reviewFrom£109

• The best bars in Berlin

One of the best things about this hotel occupying eight floors of a late Bauhaus building in Mitte is the cosy Cowshed spa. It has a hammam, sauna and gym. Treatments on offer include evening primrose body wraps, Udderly Gorgeous massages, and a special range of grooming treatments for men. As with all Soho House properties, the hotel is a sort of universe unto itself, with three restaurants and bars, a library with a private cinema, a rooftop pool and a design emporium (The Store) that sells clothing, vinyl and more. Bedrooms at the front have great views of the city; all have rain showers and freestanding tubs.Read expert reviewFrom£100

• The best hotels in Berlin

This sumptuous five-star hotel on Potsdamer Platz has an enduring appeal for both business and leisure travellers. The hotel’s distinctive skyscraper-style building fits perfectly into the area’s NYC-esque cityscape. The interiors are classic Old Europe, with baroque chandeliers, marble staircases and Art Deco-inspired furnishings lending an aura of monied refinement throughout. There’s a very comprehensive wellness area in the basement with pool, whirlpool tub, sauna and fitness centre. Soothing beiges and browns are mixed with Markus Luepertz watercolours and gorgeous cherry wood furniture in the bedrooms; most have views of either Potsdamer Platz or across the Tiergarten Park. Read expert reviewFrom£283

• The best boutique hotels in Berlin

This historic hotel, once the haunt of celebrities such as Vladimir Nabokov and Brigitte Bardot, combines a splendorous Art Nouveau structure with intimate, high-end service. Compact and bijou it might be, but the hotel has pretty much everything you could want, from a bright and airy rooftop fitness area (running and cycling machines, free weights) and spa (body treatments and massages using high-quality Thalgo products) to an excellent bar and restaurant, a lobby with fireplace and a leafy inner courtyard. Opt for a Spa suite, which are on the same floor as the wellness centre, and have rain showers and freestanding tubs; one even has its own sauna. Read expert reviewFrom£198

• The best shopping in Berlin

The hotel occupies the site of a former Dresdner Bank building, which was built in 1889. The architects have retained many original features, especially in the spa, which is located downstairs where the bank vaults used to be. There’s a relaxation vault, indoor pool, Finnish sauna, steam room and gym. Treatments on offer include express vegan facials, apricot scrub back treatments, reflexology and reiki healing. Afterwards, retreat to the undeniably comfortable and luxurious rooms, or the wonderful rooftop terrace, which offers majestic views across the city.Read expert reviewFrom£290

• The most romantic hotels in Berlin

A Prussian-era mansion that has been immaculately restored, complete with handmade, multicolored stained glass windows, trompe l'oeil in the library and antique furnishings. The spacious basement spa has a decent-sized pool plus a fitness room, sauna, rooms for massage and cosmetic treatments, and an Udo Walz hair salon. Relaxation continues in the huge, lavishly appointed rooms: The Junior suites are among the biggest rooms in Berlin, with the Luisa Suite more like a presidential quarters. Restaurant SAVU, run by chef Sauli Kemppainen, is a minimal but nicely designed space, with a menu of Nordic cuisine updated with the occasional Mediterranean influence. Read expert reviewFrom£212

• The best nightlife in Berlin

This graceful five-star offers exclusive apartment-style suites, an innovative top-floor spa and Michelin-starred dining right on Potsdamer Platz. It’s an island of luxurious calm amidst the bustle of the city, topped off with highly polished service. Fine-dining restaurant FACIL is a highly enjoyable space. Carefully landscaped foliage hides the world outside and the trickling fountain, and Asian-esque interiors create a serene environment for enjoying a menu of playful global fusions. The unique ONO Spa, located on the 11th floor, is known for its progressive light-synchronised and infrared-based detoxes and therapies as well as a full range of traditional and beauty treatments, from neck rubs to intricate Thai yoga massages. Read expert reviewFrom£168

• The best hotels in Germany

This upscale four-star provides a comfortable and comprehensive experience in a convenient location close to Berlin’s centre. The hotel’s spacious, polished lobby area gives a swanky and professional first impression; think lots of wood with patterned aqua-marine carpets, outsized sculptural vase and colourful artworks in the circular seating area. Rooms are chic, modern and comfortable. One of the property's main leisure draws is the two-floor Ottoman-style spa area, which includes a large, skylit indoor pool (a rarity for Berlin hotels), a very large fully equipped gym plus a hammam, steam room and treatment rooms.Read expert reviewFrom£95

Contribution by Soo Kim