Fodor's Expert Review Hotel-Gasthof zur Insel

This simple guesthouse-hotel has one great selling point: it's on an island in the lovely River Isar in the former Bavarian capital, Landshut, giving guests pretty waterside views from all sides. Obviously, this hasn't escaped the owners, who have capitalized on the location with a lovely beer garden, too, and a nice waterfront restaurant - and slightly higher prices than some other places in town. Despite being on an island, it's still only a two-minute walk into the center of town.

YOU SHOULD KNOW There's a slight risk of hearing jovial singing drifting up to your room from the beer garden below in summer. Our best advice? Remember the old saying: "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em."

room

Rooms are rustic, with wooden beds and some wood panelling and sloping ceilings making them feel nice and cozy.

bathroom

The all-white modern bathrooms have a mix of showers and baths, and are a reasonable size.

lobby

Staff are welcoming, if often a little busy trying to juggle the demands of the restaurant, beer garden and hotel.

dining

The hotel's restaurant is good, dishing up Bavarian classics in a lush location.

drinking

The beautifully-set beer garden is one of the town's loveliest, and is accordingly popular in the summer months.

Forget history books in this beautiful little town, site of one of the biggest historical paegeants every four years, the Landshut Wedding. The hotel recommends instead a comic to keep you up to speed, featuring a small armor-clad figure, Ritter Eisi, and his daschund-sized dragon. Make of this what you will - available online or in local bookstores.