Hotels in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

North Rhine-Westphalia is a state in western Germany, straddling the Rhine River-famous for its industrial history and the massive Cologne Cathedral that took over 600 years to build. The climate is mild, with summers around 25°C (77°F) perfect for biking the 200-plus-mile Rhine Cycle Route or touring the UNESCO-listed Zollverein Coal Mine in Essen, and winters hovering near 5°C (41°F) when you can hit the world-famous Christmas markets in Cologne and Düsseldorf. If you want a change of scenery, head to the Sauerland hills in spring for hiking trails and lakes, or stick to the Ruhr region in autumn for the Equitana horse show-the biggest on Earth.