How to Spend a Weekend in Baden-Baden

Back in the 1800s, Baden-Baden was an incredibly popular tourist destination thanks to its stunning landscape, its healing waters, and its famous casino. Situated on the edge of the Black Forest, this spa town could not be any more picturesque. Although some of the more traditional spa towns have fallen out of favor with modern-day travelers, Baden-Baden could be the one to put them all back into the guidebooks. This gorgeous town oozes charm. With stunning architecture, historic tourist sites, and all of the totally modern conveniences a holiday-maker could need, there really is no excuse not to follow in the footsteps of Tchaikovsky, Dostoevsky, and Queen Victoria, and make this your favorite vacation spot!

One of the most important things, when you’re planning a vacation, is to find the right hotel. For this break, we’re aiming for the ultimate luxury. There are hostels, Air BnB’s, and budget hotels available if you’re looking to save some money, but if you’re looking for a luxury hotel that’s right in the heart of town, then you can’t beat Hotel Belle Epoque. This gorgeous 4-star hotel is the ultimate luxury. A 19th-century villa, set in its own private grounds, the Hotel Belle Epoque screams decadence from the moment your car tires crunch on the gravel drive.

The rooms offer all of the mod-cons that you could need, including free wifi throughout the building, powerful showers, and air conditioning, but retain the feeling of old-world charm. Each of the suites is decorated in the style of a Belle Epoque era, so if you visit more than once, it’ll feel as unique as your first stay. Once your bags have been taken up to your room for you, treat yourself to a carefully prepared afternoon tea on the sunny terrace overlooking the gardens. From the terrace, you can see the tree-lined walkway called Lichtentaler Allee. That’s where we’re heading next.

Even on a misty Autumn morning the Lichtentaler Allee is absolutely breathtaking.

In a town the size of Baden-Baden, the best way to begin exploring is on foot. As with seemingly every other aspect of this town, they’ve created the most picturesque way possible to do it, through the Lichtentaler Allee. This walkway runs right alongside the River Oos, so with a bit of luck, you’ll be able to spot wildlife and even rowing boats as you go. On the other side of the walkway to the river, you’ll find sprawling parkland, planted with hundreds of roses and exotic trees.

The Lichtentaler Allee will take you right into the center of town. There are too many beautiful buildings to do a tour through each one here, but one of the oldest and most famous is the Kurhaus. This building dates all the way back to 1821 and still serves its original function to this day, a glamorous casino. Back in the early 1800s, gambling was illegal in France, so fans of casino games would hop over the nearby border in order to play at the Kurhaus. The reputation of the Kurhaus quickly spread throughout Europe and it became a hot destination with notable people of the time.

Nowadays the glamorous reputation still remains and whilst you’re unlikely to find the best money-saving casino bonuses here, the Kurhaus makes up for it with its decadent atmosphere. Online casinos can offer things like free spins and free play money thanks to their low overheads. Unfortunately for the Kurhaus, historic buildings don’t come cheap! So, if you want to enjoy a lengthy play time, there are no rules against spending a little time in the Kurhaus and indulging in some online casino fun after. Once inside you’ll find enormous chandeliers dripping with crystals, original murals and frescoes across the ceilings and walls, and huge velvet swags draped across doorways. Whilst land-based casinos everywhere clamor to keep up with the incredible deals that modern, online casinos can provide, places like the Kurhaus allow their silent opulence to help them stand out from the crowd.

Once you’ve had your spin of the roulette wheel at the Kurhaus, you’re likely to have worked up a bit of an appetite. On days when the horse racing track is open, you’ll find stands selling local dishes right outside of the Kurhaus in the bandstand, but if you’re not so fortunate then Baden-Baden has plenty of hidden gems that you can choose to visit. One of the most picturesque eateries is the Goldenes Loch. This restaurant is not only located in a historic castle, that castle is also set in the grounds of a famous vineyard. If the weather is fine then Goldenes Loch offers a spectacular picnic hamper, bursting with local cured meats and cheeses, soft fruits, fresh bread, and sweets too. You’re invited to relax in the vineyard as you wash it all down with a bottle of wine from the estate.