Baden-Baden
Baden-Baden is a spa town in southwest Germany where about 29 natural hot springs feed the baths, a 19th-century casino stands by the river, and forest trails start at the edge of town.
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Baden-Baden is a spa town in southwest Germany, in the state of Baden-Württemberg, on the northwestern edge of the Black Forest. It sits about 10 km east of the Rhine and the French border. The town centre sits on a hillside on the right bank of the Oos river, and the main spa buildings lie across the water. About 29 natural hot springs feed the baths, and Romans used them when the settlement was called Aquae. Visible Roman ruins can still be seen in town.
In the 19th century the town was called the summer capital of Europe, while Paris was the winter capital. Queen Victoria and Berlioz were among its guests. The Kurhaus, with its casino, is still the town's social center and landmark. Today Baden-Baden also hosts opera, concerts and art, including the Festspielhaus and the Museum Frieder Burda. The climate is mild, and the spa is busiest in spring and summer. A day trip can cover the main baths and a walk along the Lichtentaler Allee, while an overnight stay gives you time for more than one bath visit.
Baden-Baden in five
- Choose Caracalla or Friedrichsbad on purposeCaracalla Spa is the modern, swimsuit-friendly thermal pool. Friedrichsbad is a historic Roman-Irish bath with a clothing-free circuit and set mixed days, so check its rules before you book a session.
- Take the bus from the station into townBaden-Baden station is in the Oos district, several kilometers from the center. A city bus runs into town in about 20 minutes, and the ride is the easiest way to arrive with luggage.Is a Eurail Pass worth it?
- Walk the Lichtentaler Allee in the morningThe riverside promenade runs from the Kurhaus past an abbey and rose gardens, and it is calmest before the day-trippers arrive. Plan a slow walk and a coffee before the baths.
- Ride the funicular up the MerkurThe funicular reaches a viewpoint over the town and the Rhine plain from the Merkur hill. Combine it with a short forest walk if the sky is clear, and skip it in low cloud.
- Build in the Black Forest, not just the spaThe Black Forest High Road runs close by, and Freiburg and the central Black Forest are a short train ride south. A two-night stay with one day out is more balanced than three days in the spa.Black Forest travel guide
Things to do in Baden-Baden
See all attractions in Baden-Baden
Need to know
- Airport
- Small FKB nearby; Stuttgart (STR) or Strasbourg (SXB) are the usual gateways
- Getting there
- Karlsruhe about 20–30 minutes; Stuttgart about 1 hour; Freiburg about 45–60 minutes
- Getting around
- On foot in the center; local buses for the station and the hills
- Best base
- Near the Kurhaus or Lichtentaler Allee for a spa trip
- Time needed
- One day for the baths; two nights for a slower trip with a day out
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain16 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh5°Low0°Cold, mistJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 5°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 107 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, mist
- FebruaryRain13 rainy daysHigh8°Low1°Cool, spa seasonFebruaryRain
Poor
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 82 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, spa season
- MarchPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh11°Low3°Mild, showersMarchPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 84 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, showers
- AprilRain12 rainy daysHigh15°Low5°Spring, blossomAprilRain
Good
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 79 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, blossom
- MayRain13 rainy daysHigh19°Low9°Warm, long daysMayRain
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 95 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, long days
- JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh24°Low14°Warm, open airJuneRain
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 87 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, open air
- JulyPartly cloudy12 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh25°Low15°Warm, busyJulyPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 90 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Warm, busy
- AugustPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh26°Low16°Warm, festivalAugustPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 83 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, festival
- SeptemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh21°Low12°Mild, clearSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 81 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, clear
- OctoberRain13 rainy daysHigh16°Low8°Autumn colorOctoberRain
Good
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 86 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn color
- NovemberRain14 rainy daysHigh9°Low4°Damp, early darkNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 92 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Damp, early dark
- DecemberRain15 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh6°Low1°Christmas marketDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 6°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 97 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Christmas market
Average daily high and low in Baden-Baden, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Baden-Baden
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
5
- Feels like
- 2°
- Humidity
- 74%
- Wind
- 9 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Baden-Baden
09:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today10°0°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue10°1°0%Tuesday: Partly cloudy. High 10°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed10°4°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu11°1°0%Thursday: Fog. High 11°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri8°0°3%Friday: Fog. High 8°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Sat9°1°7%Saturday: Fog. High 9°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 7%.
- Sun11°2°23%Sunday: Fog. High 11°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 23%.
Updated 07:24 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- Apr–JunSchwetzingen FestivalHeidelberg, a day trip
- Jul–AugNibelungenfestspiele WormsMannheim, a day trip
- Jul–AugZelt-Musik-FestivalFreiburg, a day trip
- JulRossini in WildbadBlack Forest, a day trip
- Sep–OctCannstatter VolksfestStuttgart, a day trip
- SepWurstmarkt DürkheimMannheim, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Freiburgabout 45–60 minutes by ICEA university town on the edge of the Black Forest with a gothic minster.Read the guide
- Strasbourgabout 1–1.5 hours by train and tramAlsace's capital across the Rhine, with a cathedral and canals.Read the guide
- Black Forest High Roadabout 30–40 minutes by bus or carForest viewpoints and lake walks above the town; check the bus schedule.Read the guide
Before you go to Baden-Baden
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Rules for Baden-Baden, checked
- Most non-EU visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area. Check entry rules on the German Federal Foreign Office site before you book.Source
- Dial 112 for fire or an ambulance and 110 for police anywhere in Germany.
- When you enter or leave the EU with cash, you must declare it if the amount is above the limit set by customs rules. Check the current limit on the German customs website before you travel.
- The Friedrichsbad is a textile-free bath house, so you bathe without swimwear. Read the house rules on its website before you go.
Plan around Baden-Baden
Hiking, villages and the high road in the forest
Read the guideFreiburg travel guideA university city at the southern edge of the forest
Read the guideBreisach travel guideA Rhine border town on the Kaiserstuhl wine route
Read the guideStrasbourg travel guideAlsace is across the Rhine, about an hour away
Read the guideThe Schengen 90/180 ruleSpa weeks add up if you cross into France
Read the guideAll of GermanyRegions, trains and entry rules for a Germany trip
Read the guideBaden-Baden FAQ
Is Baden-Baden worth visiting?
Yes, if the thermal baths and a calm, elegant town are what you want. Add the Lichtentaler Allee and the Black Forest hills, and skip it if you only want city nightlife or a big museum scene.
What is the difference between Caracalla and Friedrichsbad?
Caracalla is a modern thermal spa with swimsuits and large pools. Friedrichsbad is a historic Roman-Irish bath with a clothing-free circuit and set mixed days. Check the spa pages for current times and rules.
How do you get from the station to the center?
By city bus, in about 20 minutes, or by taxi. The station is in the Oos district and not within walking distance, so allow time on arrival and departure, especially with heavy luggage.
Is Baden-Baden a day trip from Strasbourg or Freiburg?
Yes, from either, in about an hour by train. You will have time for the Lichtentaler Allee and one bath, but not both baths and a hill walk. Stay a night to do both without rushing.
When is the best time to visit Baden-Baden?
May to June and September, for gardens in bloom and warm afternoons. December suits the Christmas market and a hot bath, though hotel rates can rise on festival weekends.