A spa break with your dog is easy to plan in Willingen: several spa hotels welcome dogs, with fees such as from € 10 per day at Fürst von Waldeck and from € 25 per night at Sauerland Stern Hotel. Dogs are not allowed in the spa or the restaurant almost anywhere, though. This guide covers which hotels accept dogs, which house rules apply and the best outings with a dog.
Best for swimming outdoors even in winter: year-round heated outdoor pool at the Carpe Diem spa, dogs welcome.
Best for nature lovers: small bed-and-breakfast hotel right by the lake in the Hoppecke valley, with an indoor pool and two saunas.
Best for a family-run stay in the centre: compact spa with pool, steam bath and beauty studio.
The Sporthotel Zum Hohen Eimberg targets guests with dogs with its own dog package and charges from € 18 per day, food not included. Göbel’s Landhotel and the Romantik Hotel Stryckhaus each take one animal per room for from € 20 per night, and the Best Western Plus Hotel Willingen also charges from € 20. The Sauerland Stern Hotel asks from € 25 per night and allocates standard rooms only. Cheaper options are Hotel Bürgerstuben at from € 15 by arrangement and the Sunday Hotel Willingen in the Usseln district at from € 15 for up to two dogs; at the Waldhaus am See a dog costs from € 18 per night including a blanket, bowl and treats. The cheapest is Hotel Fürst von Waldeck at from € 10 per dog per day, although dogs are not allowed in the breakfast room. Hotel Hochsauerland 2010 also welcomes dogs but quotes its fee on request only. A stay with a dog is not possible at the Familotel Sonnenpark, where pets are not allowed. Always ask before booking, as dog-friendly rooms are limited in every hotel.
With the “Urlaub mit Hund” package (holiday with dog), a soft dog blanket is already waiting in your room on arrival, along with a bowl and a small welcome gift. Your dog may join you in the bar and on the terrace, while the restaurant stays off limits, as in most hotels. For a quick walk, forest trails start right outside the hotel.
Dogs are not allowed in spas, saunas or pools. Dining rules depend on the hotel: Sauerland Stern Hotel allows them in Trattoria La Stella, but not its other restaurants. Hochsauerland 2010 has a designated restaurant area for dogs, to be arranged with staff. Eimberg allows dogs in the bar and on the terrace, but not in the restaurant. Fürst von Waldeck can arrange breakfast with your dog in the front dining room instead of the breakfast room.
The Uplandsteig, a circular hiking trail of about 66 km, runs right around the municipality and is recommended by the tourist information office as three day stages of around 22 km each. At the Diemelsee (a reservoir in the Diemelsee Nature Park), the H6 loop circles the lake in about 12.7 km and passes two dog beaches (shore sections where dogs may go into the water). Both combine well with a spa stay: out with the dog in the morning, wellness at the hotel in the afternoon.
| Hotel | Dogs | Fee per dog |
|---|---|---|
| Sauerland Stern Hotel | yes, standard rooms only | from € 25 per dog/night |
| Göbel’s Landhotel | yes, 1 animal per room | from € 20 per dog/night |
| Romantik Hotel Stryckhaus | yes, 1 animal per room | from € 20 per dog/night |
| Best Western Plus Hotel Willingen | yes, not in spa and restaurant | from € 20 per dog/night |
| Sporthotel Zum Hohen Eimberg | yes, with dog package | from € 18 per dog/day |
| Waldhaus am See | yes, with blanket and bowl | from € 18 per dog/night |
| Hotel Bürgerstuben | by arrangement | from € 15 per dog/night |
| Sunday Hotel Willingen (Usseln) | yes, up to 2 dogs | from € 15 per dog/night |
| Hotel Fürst von Waldeck | by arrangement, not in the breakfast room | from € 10 per dog/day |
| Hotel Hochsauerland 2010 | yes | on request |
| Familotel Sonnenpark | no, pets not allowed | not applicable |
Ten of the twelve hotels accept dogs: Sauerland Stern from € 25 per night; Göbel's Landhotel, Romantik Hotel Stryckhaus and Best Western Plus from € 20 per night each; Waldhaus am See from € 18 per night; Sporthotel Zum Hohen Eimberg from € 18 per day; Bürgerstuben and Sunday Hotel Willingen from € 15 each; Fürst von Waldeck from € 10 per day; and Hotel Hochsauerland 2010 by arrangement. The Stern uses selected Standard rooms; Bürgerstuben and Hochsauerland also restrict dogs to certain rooms. Göbel's Landhotel and Stryckhaus allow one animal per room, with more on request. Sonnenpark does not allow pets; the policy at Vis á Vis Parkhotel is not documented.
Dogs are not allowed in spas, saunas or pools. Dining rules depend on the hotel: Sauerland Stern Hotel allows them in Trattoria La Stella, but not its other restaurants. Hochsauerland 2010 has a designated restaurant area for dogs, to be arranged with staff. Eimberg allows dogs in the bar and on the terrace, but not in the restaurant. Fürst von Waldeck can arrange breakfast with your dog in the front dining room instead of the breakfast room.
The Uplandsteig circles Willingen as a loop trail of around 66 km and can be walked as three day stages of around 22 km each. At the Diemelsee, the H6 loop runs around the reservoir in about 12.7 km and passes two dog beaches.
Last checked: · How we check
