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Things to do in Baden-Baden - 16 tips for an ancient German spa town

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What to do in Baden-Baden, Germany? This town is an ancient and beautiful spa town that offers a wonderful and slightly exclusive holiday feeling. Here are our top tips for things to see and do!

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Baden-Baden in Germany

Baden-Baden is a city that is different from many other German cities we have visited, which is why it was interesting to come here. The city's history dates back to the Roman Empire, when the first baths were built. Later, the city became a very popular health resort, where the rich came to bathe in thermal water.

Still today, the city offers beautiful buildings and a slightly luxurious feel, surrounded by mountains and lush greenery.

Göra i Baden-Baden

Baden-Baden is located in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg in south-west Germany.

What to do in Baden-Baden?

So what can you see and do in Baden-Baden? In this old spa town you can of course take advantage of the thermal waters, but there are also many other things to see and do. We've compiled our top tips in the following list.

1. Strolling in the Old Town

Just off the pedestrian and bathing districts, Baden-Baden's historic old town is located between the New Palace (Neues Schloss), the Stiftskirche church, the Market Square and Friedrichsbad. Here the atmosphere is peaceful and you can stroll through charming cobbled alleys.

2. walk along Lichtentaler Allee

The Lichtentaler Allee offers fantastic greenery in the centre of the city. Here you can stroll along water, fountains, statues and a variety of trees and flowers.

3. Visit the rose gardens

Baden-Baden has no less than two rose gardens. The "Gönneranlage" offers over 400 varieties of roses and many statues. "The New Rose Garden" displays bowers and arches of roses, among other things.

4. admire the drinking hall

"The 'Trinkhalle' is undoubtedly one of the most impressive buildings in Baden-Baden. Here you are greeted by a 90 metre long colonnade with 16 columns, reminiscent of the city's Roman history.

The name of the building (drinking hall) relates to the fact that the thermal spring water was once drunk here for better health. Today the water is not recommended for drinking, but only for bathing.

Göra i Baden-Baden

5. try your luck at the casino Baden-Baden

The casino in Baden-Baden, one of the oldest in Germany, was described by Marlene Dietrich as 'the most beautiful casino in the world'. If you're not interested in gambling, guided tours are also organised here.

WIFI.se
Göra i Baden-Baden - casino

6. Shopping and coffee

Baden-Baden is a town that invites you to enjoy both coffee and shopping. The outdoor cafés are densely packed, as are the shops on the shopping streets. It is worth mentioning that there is a relatively large focus on exclusive shopping and designer clothes.

7. Nude bathing in Friedrichsbad

Friedrichsbad is a traditional Roman-Irish bath from 1877, where you bathe naked in thermal water. You go through 17 different stations, with pools and saunas at different temperatures, and finish with rest and tea. Private bathrooms and treatments can also be booked.

Nakenbad i Tysklan - Friedrichbad i Baden-Baden

8. swimming in the Caracalla spa

Those who prefer to swim in their swimwear can choose the Caracalla spa. Here you will find pools, saunas and wellness centres.

Göra i Baden-Baden - Caracalla spa

9. Fascinated by the Roman baths ruins

In the car park under Friedrichsbad are the remains of an old Roman bathhouse. The ruins are displayed in a neat little museum.

Göra i Baden-Baden - romerska badruiner

10. See golden eggs at the Fabergé Museum

The Fabergé Museum in Baden-Baden is a privately owned museum displaying objects made by the Russian jewellery company Fabergé. Opened in 2009 by Russian art collector Alexander Ivanov, the museum displays a collection of 1500 Fabergé artefacts.

11. Visit the Russian church

The Russian Church in Baden-Baden was built between 1880 and 1882, by Vladimir Potemkin and Bernhard Belzer. The interior of the church is richly decorated with frescoes, but was unfortunately not open when we were here.

Göra i Baden-Baden - ryska kyrkan

The area around the church is also nice, with lovely green areas, rippling water and trees with huge trunks.

12. Travelling through the city by horse and carriage

Want to feel the vibes of the spa life of the past? Then book an exclusive horse and carriage ride through the city.

Göra i Baden-Baden - häst och vagn

13. Experience the "Paradise Cascade" fountain

"Paradies Cascade" is an ornamental garden, the centrepiece of which is a long and stunningly beautiful multi-storey fountain. We got here by bike from the city centre, but be prepared for some steep climbs.

Göra i Baden-Baden - Paradies Cascades
Göra i Baden-Baden - Paradies cascades

14. Take a ride on the Merkur Bergbahn mountain railway

A nice little excursion you can do in Baden-Baden is to take a ride on the Merkur Bergbahn mountain railway. The line first opened in 1913 and goes all the way up to the top of Mount Merkur, at 668.3 metres above sea level.

At the top you can enjoy beautiful nature and wonderful views. There is also an observation tower, a restaurant and a playground.

15. Discover the ruins of Altes Schloss Hohenbaden

On the outskirts of Baden-Baden is the ruin of the old castle, "Altes Schloss Hohenbaden". We took the motorhome here, and were greeted by a really impressive ruin, where you can walk around for a while.

Göra i Baden-Baden - Altes Schloss Hohenbaden

The castle has a history dating back to the 12th century, recalling the Margraviate of Baden, which was a territory of the German-Roman Empire.

Today, the ruin is open to visitors during daylight hours. At certain times during the summer there is also a restaurant and beer garden.

16. Take an excursion to Schloss Rastatt and Schloss Favorite.

At a relatively short distance from Baden-Baden you will find two fantastic castles, namely Schloss Rastatt and Schloss Favorite. Schloss Rastatt is a baroque castle from the early 18th century, and Schloss Favorite is a summer residence just outside the city. Both castles are wonderfully decorated and well worth a visit.

Schloss Rastatt in the centre of Rastatt

More things to do in Baden-Baden for culture and history lovers

Want to experience even more in this lovely town? Here you will find more suggestions for things to do in Baden-Baden for those interested in culture and history.

  • Baden-Baden Theatre is the city theatre (Goetheplatz)
  • Brahms house is a biographical museum dedicated to Johannes Brahms (Maximilianstrasse 85).
  • Museum Frieder Burda is an art museum with collections of modern and contemporary art. (Lichtentaler Allee 8B)
  • Opera House (Festspielhaus) is an opera and concert hall with a capacity of 2500 guests (Beim Alten Bahnhof 2).
  • State Art Gallery shows art. (Lichtentaler Allee 8A)
Art museums in Baden-Baden

More things to do in Baden-Baden for nature lovers

Are you a nature lover? Then you'll find even more tips for things to see and do in Baden-Baden here:

  • Geroldsau waterfall can be reached on foot via "Panoramaweg" or by car via "Wasserfallstrasse".
  • Scenic route starts at the Kurhaus Baden-Baden and is divided into four parts. The total distance is 45 kilometres.

Where can you live or stay with your campervan?

There are of course many different hotels and other accommodation options in Baden-Baden to choose from. We visited the town by motorhome and first stopped at the car park. Tennis hall, Aumattstrasse 34to be as close to the city as possible. This is an ordinary car park with no services, but it's free and within cycling distance of the city, and we were here with other motorhomes.

One night we also stood in the car park Motorhome site Baden-Baden, Hubertusstrasse 2. This site has all the services you need, but it is a bit far from the centre.

Motorhome site Baden-Baden

Things to do in Baden-Baden - on film

Here you can also watch a film from Baden-Baden.

More to see and do near Baden-Baden

There is of course more to see and do in the neighbourhood of Baden-Baden, including Rastatt, which offers several beautiful castles. You can also visit Karlsruhe or Stuttgart, or perhaps continue on to the popular Lake Constance.

All our top tips about Germany. Click on the image!

More tips for things to do in Baden-Baden?

Have you been to Baden-Baden? Tell us about your experiences and your relationship with the city! Do you have any other tips for things to see and do in Baden-Baden?

Facts about Baden-Baden

  • Country: Germany
  • Federal Republic of Germany: Baden-Württemberg
  • Residents: More than 55 000 (2021)
  • Read more: You can find more information at the city's website.

Travelling to Baden-baden

  • Flight: Fly to Karlsruhe and continue from here by public transport or car hire.
  • Car: You can take the Öresund Bridge and drive to Baden-Baden (about 11 hours from Malmö). Other options include taking a ferry, for example Finnlines Malmö-Travemünde, Nynäshamn-Rostock, Göteborg-Kiel or Rödby-Puttgarden.

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