Thermal baths, art and paths through a park landscape: Wiesbaden offers a range of themes for a stay. Those who tailor their choices to what interests them most will find both cultural destinations and experiences in nature and at the thermal baths in the city. The places and activities below offer specific ideas to help you plan.
Thermal Baths and Hot Springs
The Kaiser-Friedrich-Therme combines a bathing atmosphere inspired by Roman baths with clothing-optional bathing, a sauna area, wellness treatments and massages. Wiesbaden’s hot springs supply the pools at the Kaiser-Friedrich-Therme and the Aukammtal thermal baths. When planning, it is worth distinguishing between the thermal spa’s bathing and sauna facilities and the thermal baths in Aukammtal; current services and access arrangements may change.
The Kochbrunnen spring offers another perspective on the thermal water: it produces 360 liters of water per minute at a temperature of more than 66 degrees Celsius and is one of Wiesbaden’s 26 so-called primary springs. Visitors can sample the water at the drinking fountain in the pavilion or at the Kochbrunnenspringer, a few meters away. Check whether the drinking fountains are accessible before your visit.
Neroberg: Paths Through the Park Landscape
At 245 meters high, Neroberg is Wiesbaden’s local mountain and a popular destination for excursions. Walking paths wind through a park landscape, past Opelbad and all the way to the Russian Orthodox Church. The church still has an active congregation, where Russian chants can often be heard; services and visiting opportunities may vary. Neroberg is also home to Wiesbaden’s only vineyard, cultivated by the Hessian State Winery Kloster Eberbach.
The Nerobergbahn is another of Wiesbaden’s distinctive features: it is Germany’s oldest water-ballast funicular railway. Those interested in trails and exercise will find a range of other options. The forest sports trail in Wiesbaden-Rambach is a 3.7-kilometer running and fitness course with eleven stations. The first stage of the Rheinsteig, from Wiesbaden-Biebrich to Schlangenbad, starts at Biebrich Palace; it is a moderately difficult 17.9 kilometers long. The distances provide a concrete point of reference when choosing between a fitness course and a longer stage. Check trail conditions before setting out.
In the Wiesbaden city forest, the route stretches from Frauenstein in the west to Breckenheim in the east. At selected locations, visitors can use the Hörwald audio experience on their smartphones to explore the forest and learn more about ecology, geology, zoology and botany. This offers a different way to discover the forest than on a running or fitness course.
Palaces, Museums and Literature
Biebrich Palace is a magnificent three-winged Baroque building on the banks of the Rhine. It was built between 1700 and 1750 as a residence for the Princes and later Dukes of Nassau. The Biebrich Palace Park is also home to the Mosburg, a small, purpose-built castle in the Neo-Gothic style. The park is also the venue for the annual LONGINES PfingstTurnier, featuring international equestrian sport and traditionally opening with a carriage procession. Dates and programs may vary.
The Museum Wiesbaden is the state museum of art and nature in the Hessian capital. It presents art spanning nine centuries and an extensive natural history collection. Its permanent exhibition includes an Art Nouveau collection with more than 500 objects; exhibitions and displays may change. The Museum Reinhard Ernst focuses on postwar German and European art, Japanese art and American Expressionism. Across around 2,000 square meters of exhibition space, it displays 860 paintings and sculptures in the field of abstract art.
For literature, Villa Clementine is a dedicated destination: since 2001, it has served as a literary center and a regular venue for numerous readings. Kurhaus Wiesbaden is also regularly used for concerts, balls, receptions and conferences. Film enthusiasts can find screenings exclusively in the original version at “Filme im Schloss.” Usually, there are two film events each month, with two screenings at each event in Biebrich Palace. For readings, events and film screenings, it is advisable to check the latest dates.
Markets and Choosing Where to Stay
Large festivals take place throughout the year at Schlossplatz and the Dern’sches Gelände, including Rheingau Wine Week and the Sternschnuppenmarkt. A weekly market with more than 100 stalls is also held there on Wednesdays and Saturdays. As festival dates vary, check the dates for your trip in advance.
The destinations listed differ in what they offer and—in the case of the trails—in their stated distances.
Discover more travel destinations: Wiesbaden, Wetterau, Lahn-Dill District, Fulda, Main-Taunus, Schwalm-Eder District, Darmstadt-Dieburg, Hersfeld-Rotenburg.
Go to the main travel overview: Hesse.
