Oberkirch Hotel
From your room at the Oberkirch, look on to the Cathedral and its busy square. Mornings you'll watch farmers set up their stalls in the marketplace. In the evening, listen to street musicians serenade guests at the cafes below. If you crane your neck out the window you'll see the hotels famous neighbor, the 16th-century Historic Merchant House with its four splendid arcades.

The Oberkirch has been in the same family since 1738 and carries a sense of tradition. Each of the 26 guestrooms is individually decorated with soft colors, rich wall coverings and dark wood furniture. Except for a handful designed as small singles, rooms are spacious. Although the hotel was last renovated in 1992, it feels more like 2002. Everything is spotless, with nary a smudge or scrape on the walls.

Ask for accommodations facing the Cathedral.

Daily Rates: Singles €56-107, doubles €126-147. Indoor parking garage €10.
Contact: Oberkirch Hotel, Mnsterplatz 22, D-7908 Freiburg, tel. +49/761/2026868, fax 2026869, e-mail: info@hotel-oberkirch-de,  Web: www.traube-freiburg.de.  Innkeepers: Doris Hunn and Gudrun Johner.
Rating: Quality 15/20 Value 15/20

Hotel Kreuzblume
This is a straightforward travelers' stopover on Konviktstrasse, one of Freiburg's new hot-spot districts. The rooms are bright, cheery and spacious with showers. It's on the outskirts of the pedestrian district but a quick walk to any point within the Old City.
Daily Rates: Singles €60, doubles €90.
Contact: Konviktstrasse 31, D-79098 Freiburg, tel +49 0761 3119495, fax +49 0761 26836, e-mail info@hotel-kreuzblume.de,  Web www.roter-baeren.de www.hotel-kreuzblume.de
Rating: Quality 14/20  Value 16/20

Park Hotel Post
The reasonably priced four-star Park Hotel Post is midway (about 150 paces) between the train station and the pedestrian district overlooking peaceful Columbi Park. The hotel was built in early 1900s' Jugendstil (art nouveau) style, but the interior is modern. Guestrooms are large and creatively decorated with pastel colors and fabrics, wood trim and soft lighting.

The best chambers have balconies overlooking the park with the Cathedral steeple rising over the Altstadt. Families and friendly couples traveling together should consider the two- and three-room apartments.

Daily Rates: Singles €89-119, doubles €114-159, two-room apartments €199-249, three-room apartments €249-299. Garage €8.
Contact: Park Hotel Post, Am Colombipark, Eisenbahnstrasse 35/37, D-79098 Freiburg, tel.: +49/761/385480, fax: 31680, e-mail: info@park-hotel-post.de,  Web: www.park-hotel-post.de.
Rating: Quality 15/20  Value 14/20

Colombi Hotel
Without question, the Colombi is the city's most upscale hostelry. Built in the 1950s, it recently underwent renovations to eliminate all traces of that often less-than-stellar architectural period. Indeed, there's nothing 50s about this place anymore (certainly not the prices). Guests walk in under a glass-covered entry and ascend a sweeping marble staircase from the open lobby. A feeling of luxury dominates, not least of all in the spa area with its circular swimming pool, Roman steam bath and extensive beauty farm.

The 120 guestrooms feature subdued colors and elegant wood paneling, some with floor-to-ceiling windows and French doors opening to a balcony and overlooking the Old Town. (The views from the upper floors are quite stunning, especially at night.)
Daily Rates: Singles €175, doubles €230-260, suites €275-820. Breakfast is an additional €9.  (Weekend rates are about 20% less). Garage €13.
Contact: Colombi Hotel, Am Colombi Park, D-79098 Freiburg, tel. +49/0761 21060, fax 31410, e-mail: rezeption@colombi.de,  Web: www.colombi.de.  Proprietor: Roland Burtsche (twice German hotelier of the year)
Rating: Quality 17/20  Value 15/20

Hotel Barbara
This privately owned haven is on a quiet side street one block from the train station and a few minutes walk from the pedestrian zone. It is small, just 22 rooms, but offers many of the services of a larger hotel. Erika and Armin Wahl and their team will arrange for theater tickets, wine tastings, gourmet dinners, excursions, sightseeing tours and visits to area spas. If you choose the hiking package, they'll prepare a picnic and lend you walking sticks and rain jackets. There's Internet service off the lobby. The comfortable rooms, many with balconies, offer the expected amenities.

Daily Rates: Singles €69-79, doubles €89-102, apartments €119-139.
Contact: Hotel Barbara, Poststrasse 4, D-79098 Freiburg, tel. +49/761/296250, fax 26688, e-mail: mail@hotel-barbara.de, Web: www.hotel-barbara.de.  Innkeepers: Erika and Armin Wahl and family.
Rating: Quality 15/20  Value 17/20