Baden Baden Travel Guide

The Hohenbaden Castle, built in 1102, and known locally as the Altes Schloss (Old Castle), is an absolute must! It was home from the 11th - 15th century to the Margraves of Baden. Try tracing their steps around this fascinating ruin. Discover dark, secret dungeons and tackle the winding staircases all the way up to the lookout point. Your reward, once here, will be a magnificent view of Baden-Baden, the Black Forest and the Rhine Valley. The grounds are open from 10am - 10pm and admission is free

The most beautiful casino in the world, was how Marlene Dietrich described Germany’s oldest casino. With a history dating back over 250 years and fashioned on the lines of French royal palaces, the Baden-Baden Casino is, and always has been, a temple to the alluring game of chance. What was in the last century a social rendezvous for nobles and the elite, nowadays opens its doors to all of Baden-Baden’s guests. Guided tours of the casino and its exquisite rooms take place every morning.

The Festspielhaus (Festival Theatre) is Germany's largest (and Europe's second largest) opera house and concert hall with 2,500 seats. Opened on April 18, 1998, the new building's architecture incorporates the former central train station which, today, is the ticket sales hall and the Festspielhaus restaurant Aida. The program is organized around four annual festival periods spread throughout the year. The Whitsun, Summer, Autumn and Winter Festivals each include at least one opera production and several classical concerts. Renowned ballet companies make guest appearances three to four times a year with entertainment shows completing the rest of the program.

Even the Romans appreciated the relaxing effects of Baden-Baden’s thermal spring water. Now you can admire their masterwork by visiting the 2000 year old bath ruins, which are one of the countries oldest and best kept examples. Experience at close range the sheer magnitude of their work and marvel at their achievement.

Relive the ancient bathing culture either by taking a guided tour, or by asking for a multi-lingual audio guide and viewing the ruins at your own pace. There is also a short computer animated film that should not be missed.

The Roman bath ruins are to be found underneath the Römerplatz. You can enter the museum via the Steinstraße, or the Friedrichsbad underground car park.

Hours: March 16 - November 15, Open daily 11am - 12pm and 3pm - 4pm. Closed November 16 - March 15.

Admission: 2.50 € Adults, 1 € Children to 14 years.

Find out about Baden-Baden under the Romans, its history as a spa town and health resort, the heady days of the nineteenth century when the town soared to being a world renowned spa, and many other fascinating facts and features, right up to the present day.

The museum’s newly constructed glass pavilion is particularly impressive. It currently houses a display of large stone monuments, works of art from Roman to modern times, as well as the late gothic portal figures from the town’s church, the Stiftskirche. The museum is also well known for its collections of historical toys, unusual coins and special medals.

Hours: Tuesday - Sunday 10am - 6pm, Wednesday 10am - 8pm.

Admission: 4 € Adults, 3 € Concessions, 2 € Children.

The gallery, situated on the town’s famous avenue, the Lichtentaler Allee, housing the Museum Frieder Burda, is a sparkling jewel in the Baden-Baden crown. The building itself is outstanding; a naturally lit museum, designed by the famous New York architect, Richard Meier. And the collection within also hosts its fair share of masterpieces, among the 500 paintings, sketches, sculptures and objects, which trace the history of art over the past 100 years.

A part of the collection focuses on Classical Modern art, with works by German expressionists such as Max Beckmann, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and August Macke. There is also a selection of late works by Pablo Picasso. American abstract expressionism is also featured with action paintings by Jackson Pollock, and meditative works by Clyfford Still and Mark Rothko. The core of the collection, however, centers around German post war artists, such as Georg Baselitz, Sigmar Polke and Gerhard Richter.

Hours: Tuesday - Sunday 10am - 6pm.

Admission: 9 € Adults, 7 € Concessions, free for children under 10 years.

Climbing the highest point in Baden-Baden sounds rather strenuous. It need not be, however. The summit of the 2,191 foot Merkur Mountain can be easily reached with Europe’s steepest, and most technically advanced, funicular railway. In little over 5 minutes, and after negotiating inclines of between 23% and 54%, and a difference in altitude of 1,214 feet, you will have reached your target and can stand back and admire the view.

The Merkur Funicular Railway operates to and from the summit, every 15 minutes, between the hours of 10am and 10pm. The railway’s base station can be easily reached from the town center by taking either the 204 or 205 bus. If you intend to use the bus service, we would recommend you buying a combination ticket, which you can purchase from the bus driver. If you find the funicular railway a little too fast, you can hike up the mountain. Simply follow the marked footpaths and enjoy the wonderful countryside, the wild animal reserve and the various other interesting sights on your way to the top.

Hours: 10am - 10pm.

Pricing: Adults 4 € one-way, Children under six 2 €, Family Card 8 €

A glistening golden dome is the hallmark of this Byzantine-styled church, which should definitely be included on your tour of the town. Vladimir Potemkin and Bernhard Belzer built this spectacular structure between 1880 – 1882. Its interior was based on the designs of the master painter Grigor Grigorijewitsch and, as you will see, is liberally decorated with religious frescoes./p>

Services take place on the 1st, 3rd and 4th weekends of the month, Saturdays at 5pm and Sundays at 10am.

Hours: Daily from 10am-6pm (February 1 - December 1).

Admission: 1 €.