A smart old spa town on the edge of Germany's Black Forest, with Roman baths, a grand casino and forest walks above the rooftops. Here's what Baden-Baden is like, when to go and how long to stay.
Germany is in the Schengen area, so the new EU entry checks apply. Bathing at the Friedrichsbad is nude, so check the rules before you go. Check entry rules on GOV.UK before you book.
Temperatures are the average daytime high in °C.
Baden-Baden is a year-round town. Spring and early autumn are lovely for walks along the Lichtentaler Allee and into the Black Forest, and September and October bring the wine harvest. Summer is warm and fairly busy with festivals. In winter the thermal baths feel at their best, and from late November to early January a Christmas market fills the park in front of the Kurhaus.
Indoor and outdoor thermal pools, whirlpools and saunas. Young children aren't let in, so check the age limits.
A 19th-century Roman-Irish bath, with a 17-step ritual of steam, warm and cold pools. Bathing here is nude.
A riverside park full of old trees, flowers and grand villas, perfect for a slow walk.
A steep funicular railway up the Merkur hill, for forest trails and views over the town.
Germany's oldest casino, decorated like a French palace. Morning tours show it off without gambling.
A scenic drive along the ridge to the Mummelsee lake and forest viewpoints.
It suits couples and families with older children best. The main spas have age limits, but there are forest walks, playgrounds, a small toy museum and the Black Forest on the doorstep.
Two to four nights is plenty for the baths, the town and a day in the Black Forest. It also makes a relaxing stop on a longer German road trip.
Fly into Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden Airport, about 15 km away, or into Frankfurt or Stuttgart and take the train. Fast ICE trains stop at Baden-Baden station, a short bus ride from the centre.
No. The town centre is walkable, buses connect the station and sights, and many hotels give guests a free bus pass. A car helps for the Black Forest.
Put Baden-Baden on standby with everyone's other ideas. You each spread your points in secret, get one veto, and the draw picks where you go.