Baden Baden is a beautiful spa town located at the foot of the Black Forest mountains in South Germany, not very far from Germany's border to France. It is famous for its curative waters and healing baths and has attracted the likes of Queen Victoria, Barrack Obama and many more celebrities over the years. I spent a few days there and totally fell in love with the place! Here are the top ten things to do in Baden Baden.
1. Healing Water Baths
One of the most important reasons why Baden Baden is famous is because of its healing water baths. While there are many old styled traditional baths you can go to, I visited the newly built Caracalla Therme (bath) on the recommendation of a friend. It is truly one of the most beautiful and cleanest baths I have ever visited. The interiors are done up in blue and white and there are many different pools with healing waters and a waterfall. People usually just stand submerged in the pools taking in all the healing effects of the curative waters. The floor is marble and you have to be barefoot-no slippers allowed, which is also perhaps why the bath is so clean!
Most hotels in Baden Baden will give you a card so you can get some special discounts at the bath. I took a package that included a back massage, a free health drink and use of the spa facilities for the entire day.
2. A walk in the Lichtentaler Allee by the Oos river
The Lichtentaler Allee is the breathtakingly beautiful 2.3 kms long historic park, alongside the west bank of the river Oos. You can either stroll by the river or just relax and sit on one of the various benches provided in the park. There are also many cafés and hotels located along the Oos river with spectacular views of the Lichtentaler Allee.
Read my post on A walk in the Lichtentaler Allee by the Oos river.
3. The historical park of Goenneranlage
Goenneranlage is a historic park in Baden Baden. It is also called a rose paradise by rose-lovers, thanks to the countless varieties of roses that are found here. A famous landmark in the park is the Josephine Bridge and the Josephine fountain designed in Art Nouveau style. The park is open all 7 days of the week from 8am-11pm except Labour Day.
4. Gelato, shopping & Italian food
In Baden Baden you will find plenty of ice-cream shops selling gelatos in lots of flavors. My favorite shop was the Eisdiele Crema Gelato, Lange Str. 20, 76530. It is located in the heart of the town in a nice area where you can stroll and window shop, or just relax with your gelato on one of the public benches.
For Italian and Mediterranean dining options Osteria Stromboli, Rettigstr. 4, 76530, is very good. It also offers vegetarian and vegan options.
For shopping, Lichtentaler Straße and Sophienstraße are the best. They are also called the 5th Avenue of Baden Baden with high-fashion boutiques like Escada and Maxmara.
5. Afternoon tea at Cafe König
Cafe König is a famous traditional coffee shop in Baden Baden. It is located at Lichtentaler Str. 12, 76530. The cafe serves afternoon tea and coffee with a wide variety of pastries, chocolates and baked sweets, in a charming, old-world-luxury styled restaurant. The influence of French style and elegance is perceptible in the elegantly appointed outdoor seating at Cafe König. Baden Baden is located just 10 km from the borderline to France.
6. A horse-carriage ride
A charming way of discovering Baden Baden is from a horse-carriage. There are regular horse-carriage sightseeing tours that can be booked from the following tourist office numbers. You can also email them.
Baden-Baden Kur & Tourismus GmbH
Telephone +49 (0) 7221 275281, Fax +49 (0) 7221 275260
7. A drive in the Black Forest Mountains
If you can drive, I really recommend to take a driving-tour in the Black Forest mountains. Covered with dense evergreen forests, they are rightly called dream-wonderlands and are associated with fairy-tales.
8. Churches & Castles
The Stiftskirche located at Marktpl., 76530, is the first parish church of Baden Baden. There are a number of other churches like the Russian Church with a golden dome, the Stourdza Chapel from where you can get breathtaking views of Baden Baden, the Lichtenthal Abbey that also offers guest rooms and the Autobahn Church located on the outskirts of the town.
There are also two castles in Baden Baden: the ruinated Altes Schloss built in 1109 and the Neues Schloss situated in the Black Forest hills. The Neues Schloss is private property and not open to public.
9. Art & Culture
Baden Baden also has a theater and many art museums like the Staatliche Kunsthalle, Museum Frieder Burda, the Baden-Baden museum, Brahms' House, Fabergé Museum and the The Lichtenthal Abbey.
10. Casino & night life
The casino in Baden Baden is also the oldest casino in Germany. Richly designed in the belle époque style, Marlene Dietrich called it "The most beautiful casino in the world".