Wiesbaden, Germany became our little hub while traveling in Germany. Matt’s cousin, Jason, is living there and he graciously hosted us for a little over a week. We knew nothing about Wiesbaden and didn’t have any idea what we were going to do there. Lucky for us, Jason knew all the best things to do in Wiesbaden to send us off to explore while he was at work to explore together!
Marvel in the Brick Beauty of Marktkirche
Marktkirch is the tallest building in Wiesbaden, and in addition to that it’s a super-stunning building! This church is built from brick, which really makes it stand out in the landscape. Most larger churches are built of stone, and this detailed, brick exterior just really caught my attention and stuck with me – its spires command attention, even from across town. It’s just beautiful! Marktkirch is located near the center of the city in the square that holds a lot of “happenings” like the farmer’s market and even the World Cup watch parties we attended while in Wiesbaden. Marktkirch was completed in 1862 and it’s free to enter.
Check Out the Hot Spring
You could probable guess from the “baden” in the name Wiesbaden that there are hot springs and baths in the area. Wiesbaden literally means “meadow baths”. One of the most famous hot springs is one that was turned into a fountain in the middle of town, Kochbrunnen. The fountain in the photo to the left stays a consistent 150 degrees Fahrenheit! Under a small gazebo near this larger fountain is the smaller fountain on the right. This is a spot that you can snag a drink of fresh hot spring water!
In addition to these fun stops, you can also soak in baths around Wiesbaden. The Kaiser-Fredrich-Therme and Thermalbad Aukammtal are great spas to visit to relax and heal your body.
Take the Funicular to the Top of the Town
There’s a large hill at the edge of Wiesbaden called Neroberg that you can either walk up/down or you can take the funicular to the top! The funicular costs €4 or €5 for an adult (one-way or return) or €2.50 or €3 for a child (one-way or return). It’s a short trip, but it’s a lot of fun. You go up through the trees and pop out on top where you can walk around and enjoy the views on top of Neroberg.
Explore Neroberg
In addition to the stellar views from the top of Neroberg there’s a lot to see and do up there! There’s a park with a beautiful pavilion and monuments from WW1. It’s interesting to walk through and take those in. There are some amazing open areas to take in some stellar views of the cityscape of Wiesbaden. There are vineyards lining the hillside and you can see the stunning gold domes of the Russian Orthodox Church found at the top of the hill. The thing we didn’t make it to this time, that I want to do next time is visit Opelbad! It’s hilltop pool with slides and looks like all kinds of fun. Plus, it has that stellar cityscape view.
Stroll Through Kurpark
Kurpark is located behind the beautiful Kurhaus. If you’re looking for a beautiful stroll through a wooded area without climbing a big hill, this is the place for it. There are garden areas, fountains, sculptures and so much more. We love visiting parks because it allows us to get into nature and escape the city life for a bit. This is a fantastic park to do just that.
Visit St. Elizabeth’s Russian Orthodox Church
This beautiful Russian Orthodox Church sits on top of Neroberg. We weren’t able to go inside, but it’s insanely beautiful from the outside. I loved taking in all the gorgeous details of this stunner.
Shop at the Local Farmer’s Market
I love local markets and farmers markets. I’m a huge fan of enjoying fresh fruit + veggies and trying out local flavors while we’re in a new place, or even at home. Wiesbaden’s local farmers market is one you should definitely check out. They have food trucks, smoothie trucks and even a cheese truck! Another thing that makes this farmers market stand out is the location. It’s in the square just behind the Marktkirche so it makes for a stunning backdrop.
Be Dazzled by Kurhaus
Kurhaus literally translates to “cure house” which is appropriate as its humble beginning, if you can call anything about this stunner of a building humble, was as a spa. Inside it now holds a casino, a conference center and the most stunning entrance to the Kurpark behind it.
Check Out the “World’s Largest Cuckoo Clock”
This is one of those glorious pieces of kitsch that I am such a sucker for. This little souvenir shop boasts a self-ascribed title of “world’s largest cuckoo clock” to this big cuckoo clock out front. While it isn’t something to visit Wiesbaden for alone, it one thing to do in Wiesbaden that will make you chuckle. According to Wikipedia, it was the world’s largest cuckoo clock in 1946. Although it has been dethroned, it’s still a big clock!
Take a Day Trip Across the Rhine to Mainz
I know it seems crazy when someone says one of the top things to do in a city is to leave that city, but Mainz is literally just across the river from Wiesbaden and has some really interesting things to do. For example, you can visit the Gutenberg Museum (you know, the guy who invented the printing press and printed the bible for the first time), many other museums, churches and festivals. You can find festivals all over Germany with just a smidge of research – pretty amazing!
Wiesbaden is an absolutely stunning city filled with amazing architecture, spas, views, restaurants and bars to explore. There are all kinds of festivals to attend, markets to wander through and all-around fun to be had. It also makes a beautiful day trip from Frankfurt or stop along a Rhine River route.
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