Hotels in Bielefeld

Bielefeld is best known in Germany for a joke: the long-running internet gag that the city doesn't actually exist, a "conspiracy" locals now cheerfully lean into. It is very real, though: a mid-sized East Westphalian city that grew rich on linen and is home to Dr. Oetker, whose puddings and frozen pizzas fill German supermarkets. It sits against the wooded ridge of the Teutoburg Forest, crowned by the medieval Sparrenburg castle, and the long-distance Hermannsweg hiking trail runs right past town.

The Kunsthalle, designed by Philip Johnson, punches above the city's weight, and a large university keeps the place younger than you might expect. Be honest: wartime bombing and functional rebuilding left much of the centre plain, and this is a business and university city rather than a sightseeing destination, so a day or two covers it. Stay in or near the Altstadt, where the old market square, restaurants and the walk up to the Sparrenburg are all on your doorstep and the main station is a short stroll away.