The municipality lies on a plateau in the southern Volcanic Eifel at the northern edge of the Kondelwald forest.

Hontheim's Ortsteile, besides the main centre, are Wispelt, Krinkhof and Bonsbeuern.

The council is made up of 12 council members, who were elected by proportional representation at the municipal election held on 7 June 2009, and the honorary mayor as chairwoman.

The municipal election held on 7 June 2009 yielded the following results:[3] The municipality's arms might be described thus: Per fess Or a cross gules and gules a hound courant of the first.

The state spa town of Bad Bertrich, with Germany's only Glauber's salt (sodium sulphate decahydrate; Na2SO4•10H2O) hot spring, is only 3 km away.