One Day in Baden-Baden, Germany: Baden-Baden Itinerary
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Visiting the spa town of Baden-Baden is a great way to enjoy a relaxing vacation. It’s also a great base to explore the magic of Germany’s Black Forest.
Hit all the top sights in Baden-Baden with a guided walking tour. Plan it fast: filter top-rated Baden-Baden tours and tickets by duration with free cancellation so you stay flexible.
Back in the day, I signed up for one of those ancestry websites spending a few days doing a deep dive into where I came from. It turns out my Great-great-great-grandfather and generations before were farmers in the Black Forest area in and around Baden-Baden. During our trip, I made it a point to visit.
Hopefully someday soon we will make another trip to Germany so we can enjoy much more of the natural beauty of the Black Forest in places like Schwarzwald National Park. This trip we had only about a half-day stopover to check out the spa town of Baden-Baden.
This is part of our Two Week Germany Itinerary.
We checked out of our hotel in Strasbourg and crossed back over the French border into Germany via train. The journey took about 45 minutes. We stashed our bags in the luggage lockers at the station and took the 15-minute public bus ride into town.
We arrived in the town center at about 11 am on the unseasonably warm autumn Sunday morning. Something I learned while in Germany is that they cling to the religious tradition of resting on Sundays. Many shops and attractions are closed. If I had it to do over, I would not have visited on a Sunday. Much of our day will be spent observing the beauty of the town, without experiencing much.
One Day Baden-Baden Itinerary
The Casino Baden-Baden is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Baden-Baden Germany and worth a visit even if you don’t gamble. It’s over the top in every way—red velvet walls, chandeliers, and the kind of place where you’ll want to check the dress code before you walk in.
Stop 1: Casino
Our first stop was the ornate casino of Baden-Baden. Tours of the mid-19th century beauty are available for those interested. We decided to walk around by ourselves to see what we could see. The lush red interior and glimmering chandeliers were a great example of the authentic glamor that is often imitated in places like Las Vegas.
Next door is a gorgeous pump house that helps control the natural spring waters that put Baden-Baden on the map. The waters are said to have healing powers. Their popularity goes all the way back to Roman times.
Stop 2: Breakfast
Start your day near the city center with a German breakfast plate or buttery croissant and espresso at one of the cafés lining Lichtentaler Allee. Many of the best restaurants in Baden-Baden Germany open early and serve quick, hearty options to fuel your Black Forest itinerary.
From the casino, we walked across a pedestrian plaza to the central square of the town where we found some tasty breakfast pastries. There are numerous coffee shops with great options for breakfast. We wandered around the square taking in the quiet morning and the closed storefronts.
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Stop 3: Architecture and Churches
This town mixes grand 19th-century buildings with tucked-away churches that look older than they probably are. Walking the streets here is one of the easiest and cheapest things to do in Baden-Baden Germany if you want photos without big crowds.
The architecture is not as distinct as many places in Germany but has a European small-town beauty. The town is slightly hilly and has an abundance of churches to admire. The residents have put a priority on beautifying the streets with landscaping and potted flowers.
Stop 4: Merkur Funicular Railway
Hop on the Merkur Funicular Railway to reach the best panoramic views in town. This is a top-rated activity on any list of things to do in Baden-Baden Germany and the ride itself is quick and scenic.
The Merkur Funicular Railway (MerkurBergbahn) is the longest funicular railway in Germany. It takes passengers up to the highest point in Baden-Baden where a view of the valley below awaits. We took a bus from central Baden-Baden to the base of the climb. For €6.00 we bought our round-trip tickets to the top.
Stop 5: View From The Top
The view from Merkur Mountain is the real reason to ride the funicular—it's an easy way to take in the surrounding Black Forest Germany Baden-Baden region without hiking. There's a trail network if you want to keep going or a cafe if you're done walking.
The ride is brisk and scenic. At the top, there are two restaurants, a tower, and a grassy hill for relaxing in the sunshine. While we were there a group was doing BASE jumps from the hilltop. It was fun to watch their daring soars (and epic fails).
Stop 6: Late Lunch at a Biergarten
After coming back down from Merkur, a casual biergarten is the best call for a late lunch—look for schnitzel, sausages, or spaetzle on the menu. Eating outside near the thermal bath areas lets you keep the relaxed pace that people visit Baden-Baden Germany for in the first place.
We rode the funicular back down and picked a Biergarten with a beautiful outdoor patio for a late lunch
Stop 7: Train to Stuttgart
Baden-Baden Germany train station is about 15 minutes from the city center by bus or taxi, and trains to Stuttgart run frequently. If you're headed there next, this short trip is an easy way to combine spa-town luxury with a bigger city in the same day.
After our lunch, we took a bus that took us back to the train station. We picked up our baggage from the luggage locker and boarded a 4 pm bus to our final destination of the day, Stuttgart.
This is part of our Two Week Germany Itinerary.
Other Things To See in Baden-Baden
Other Baden-Baden Germany tourist attractions include the Roman bath ruins, Trinkhalle colonnade, and the Museum Frieder Burda for modern art. If you're staying longer or skipping the view from Merkur, you can swap in spas in Baden-Baden Germany like Friedrichsbad or Caracalla.
Visit a Baden-Baden Spa
Baden-Baden is famously a spa town. If you’re visiting for more time plan a day at one of the thermal spas like the Caracalla Spa or Friedrichsbad.
Get in Touch with Nature in the Black Forest
Within the city of Baden-Baden take a walk or bike ride in the Lichtentaler Allee, a tree-lined riverside walkway park. Venture about 20 minutes from the city by car to the Geroldsauer Wasserfall, a cascading waterfall famous for its spring-blooming azalea plants.
Climb to Hilltop Castle Ruins
For an epic view and the unique chance to explore the ruins of a castle, climb to Altes Schloss Hohenbaden. At the top, amongst the ruins, you’ll find a restaurant and a unique wind harp.
Learn About the Art of Faberge
Visit the Faberge Museum to learn about the art of Faberge Eggs. The unique art is truly mesmerizing and a one-of-a-kind Baden-Baden experience.
