Baden-Baden has been taking the waters since Roman times, but its golden age came in the 19th century, when royalty, gamblers, composers and novelists made it the “summer capital of Europe”. The Kurhaus with its casino, the Trinkhalle, the Lichtentaler Allee and two great spas — the historic Friedrichsbad and the modern Caracalla Therme — still define the town.
In 2021 Baden-Baden became part of the UNESCO World Heritage site “Great Spa Towns of Europe”. For Mummelsee visitors it matters for another reason: it is where the Black Forest High Road begins, it has the widest choice of hotels in the area, and it is where many tours start.
Top things to do at Baden-Baden
Soak in the thermal baths
Choose between the Friedrichsbad, a Roman-Irish bathing ritual in a grand 19th-century bathhouse, and the Caracalla Therme with indoor and outdoor thermal pools. Both are a perfect way to finish a day of walking on the High Road.
Stroll the Lichtentaler Allee
The park avenue beside the little Oos river runs for over two kilometres from the Kurhaus past museums, villas and gardens. It is the classic Baden-Baden walk.
Take a guided walk
A short guided city tour is the quickest way to understand the town’s spa history, from the Roman baths to the casino.
How to get to Baden-Baden
- By train: Baden-Baden station is on the main Rhine valley line, with frequent services from Frankfurt, Karlsruhe, Freiburg and Basel. Buses connect it with the town centre.
- By air: Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden airport (FKB) is about 15 km away; Strasbourg, Stuttgart and Frankfurt airports are all within reach.
- To the Mummelsee: about 30 km (40–45 minutes) up the B500 by car; buses also run along the High Road.
Insider tips
- Book spa time for the end of the day, after the Mummelsee — your legs will thank you.
- The Friedrichsbad is a textile-free bathing experience; read the rules before you book.
- Staying in Baden-Baden and driving up to the lake early in the morning beats the midday crowds at the Mummelsee.
Best tours & tickets for Baden-Baden
These top-rated experiences are the easiest way to see Baden-Baden and the rest of the Black Forest:
Walking tour from US$17 Best of Baden-Baden: Guided City Tour
Ninety minutes that explain why kings, empresses and Dostoevsky all ended up in Baden-Baden — and why the town is now part of the UNESCO “Great Spa Towns of Europe”. Inexpensive, well-reviewed and the perfect warm-up before you drive up to the Mummelsee.
- Kurhaus, casino and the Trinkhalle
- Roman bath remains and the thermal quarter
- Stories of the royals and writers who came to take the waters
Private tour from US$888 per group The Best in Baden-Baden and Blackforest
A private, flexible day for up to six people starting in the spa town itself. The guide shapes the route around your interests — thermal baths, wine cellars, Black Forest food and the forest roads above Baden-Baden — which makes it the natural choice if you want someone else to handle the driving.
- Casino, Kurhaus and Lichtentaler Allee with a private guide
- Black Forest food and historic wineries
- Forest scenery tailored to your group
Day trip from US$336 Frankfurt: Baden-Baden, Black Forest & Strasbourg Guided Tour
Two countries in one long day from Frankfurt: the Belle Époque spa town of Baden-Baden, a taste of the northern Black Forest, then across the Rhine to Strasbourg. A good fit if Frankfurt is your only base and you want the region’s highlights in one go.
- Baden-Baden’s spa quarter and Kurhaus
- A scenic Black Forest stretch
- Afternoon in Strasbourg’s old town
Day trip from US$336 From Frankfurt: Heidelberg & Baden-Baden Full-Day Tour
Two of south-west Germany’s most elegant towns in a day: romantic Heidelberg on the Neckar, then Baden-Baden at the foot of the Black Forest. It stops short of the High Road, but it is a well-rated way to see the gateway town before you come back for the lake.
- Heidelberg’s castle and old town
- Afternoon in the spa town of Baden-Baden
- Guided, with transport from Frankfurt
