For more info about a weekend in Wiesbaden
In cooperation with Wiesbaden Congress & Marketing GmbH
There are so many reasons for a trip to Wiesbaden! The capital of Hesse combines the pleasant aspects of life in the most beautiful way: shopping and cultural enjoyment, splendid flair and short distances, top regional delights on the plate and in the (wine) glass. You only have one weekend? No problem, here are our recommendations for three perfect days in Wiesbaden:
Welcome to Wiesbaden! An important question for every city trip: What do we do first? Our recommendation for getting to know Wiesbaden for the first time: Find a place where you can get in the mood for the weekend. Where you can get a feeling for the flair of the city and its character. In other words, head for Wiesbaden's Mauergasse! Here you will find numerous wine bars and restaurants where you can make plans for the next few days while enjoying culinary delights and a good glass of (Rheingau) wine.
Very close you are to the old townwhich is also called "Schiffchen" because of its bow-shaped ground plan. Traditional retail meets modern boutiques and owner-operated stores here. The whole is framed by the elegant facades of Wiesbaden's old buildings. Despite its central location, hustle and bustle is a foreign word here. Maybe you still have time for a first little stroll?
Back to the Wall Lane: How about a stop at Pearls sparkling wine factory? A fascinating insight into the craft of sparkling wine awaits you: Here you can watch live how the sparkling wines are disgorged after the second fermentation - that is, "freed" from the yeast after an ice bath. And of course you can also enjoy the sparkling top products from the region as well as a fine selection of international wines and spirits here yourself in a relaxed atmosphere. Another top address for wine lovers is the Vinotheque Laquai. The focus here is on the typical mineral Rieslings, elegant Burgundy wines, and sparkling wines and brandies from the Laquai winery. In addition, there are small snacks and regional products for sale. In and around Mauergasse, numerous restaurants invite you to linger and enjoy. Your taste determines the direction!
If you want to get to know the soul of a city, you should definitely visit the local Weekly market visit. So, nothing like there: Saturday starts at the Wiesbaden weekly market. It attracts visitors not only with an incredible variety of regional specialties and unusual delicacies, but also with its historic setting between the town hall and the market church. An atmospheric mixture of Wiesbaden residents and their guests, of communication and enjoyment - is there a better way to start the weekend?
If, in addition to the culinary experiences, you are also interested in the fashionable ones you can combine your visit to the market with a stroll through the pedestrian zone. Here, no wish remains unfulfilled! The Wilhelmstraße is an exclusive area with many galleries, art and design stores. Or in the Wilhelmstraße with numerous noble boutiques and furniture stores. Also worthwhile is a look at the Taunusstrasse with many preserved house facades from the historicism. And of course in between the one or other break in one of the many cafes!
Are the feet tired running? Then get into the "THermine". The charming little city streetcar makes its rounds through Wiesbaden every day. On the approx. 50-minute tour you get a good overview of the most interesting sights. Start is at the market place.
For those who still have the desire and strength to explore the city on foot, we recommend the City tour "Multifaceted Wiesbaden. In about one and a half hours, it will take you to the Schlossplatz, to the Marktkirche as the highest building in the city, and to the former city palace of the Dukes of Nassau, today the seat of the Hessian Parliament. The tour always starts on Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. at the Marktplatz (from April to October also at 2:30 p.m.). Afterwards you will be well informed!
After the active morning, it's time for a little relaxation! Wiesbaden, with its 26 hot springs, is perfect for this. A few numbers to get you in the mood? Here you go: Day after day, more than two million liters of hot mineral water bubble up from Wiesbaden's springs. With a spring temperature of around 67 °C, they are among the hottest springs in Europe. Their use can be traced back some 20,000 years.
But enough of the numbers, and better off to the spa! You have the choice between two baths: The Thermal bath Aukammtal is located in the northeast of the city and offers an indoor and outdoor area with top-class wellness facilities, which include many different saunas. The Kaiser-Friedrich-Therme is a textile-free bathing palace in the heart of the city. Here you will find bathing luxury in the style of an ancient thermal bath - on weekends even until 10 pm, so you can really enjoy the relaxation!
Maybe you feel like entertainment and culture in the evening? Wonderful, we have just the thing for you: Wiesbaden has a great theater scene. The Hessian state theaters is one of the most successful stages in the German-speaking world. There are four stages, and you can choose between classical drama, opera, ballet and concerts. In addition, there are numerous cabaret stages. How about an interactive "dinner theater evening" at kuenstlerhaus43 in Obere Webergasse, for example?
Also for the cineastes among you there is a real highlight in Wiesbaden: The Caligari Film Stage. In the unique atmosphere of the beautifully renovated Ufa Filmpalast, a sophisticated program is offered: German and international arthouse cinema, but also documentaries and short films can be enjoyed here as a conclusion to an eventful day.
Now that you've gotten to know Wiesbaden well, it's time on the last day of the weekend for a Change of perspective: It goes up to the Neroberg, the "local mountain" of the city. From a height of 245 meters, a fantastic view opens up. No wonder that the mountain is one of the most popular destinations for the people of Wiesbaden. Even the ride up with the water-powered Nerobergbahn is an experience in itself. At the top, not only the popular vantage point at the Neroberg Temple from 1851 awaits you, but also a wide range of recreational opportunities. The Opelbad on the Neroberg is considered one of the most beautiful swimming pools in Germany and is definitely worth a visit in the summer. Adventurous and sporty is also the Climbing forest on the edge of the city forest on the Neroberg.
After this excursion, our recommendation takes you back to the city once again: to the Museum Wiesbaden, State Museum of Art and Nature with an exhibition area of 7,000 square meters. The collections include art from prehistory to the present. Our tip: Don't let the Art Nouveau Collection by Ferdinand Wolfgang Neess. It is one of the most important European private collections of Art Nouveau and Symbolism. Furniture, glass, ceramics, lamps, paintings and silver are united as a total work of art and let you immerse yourself in the Fin de Siècle lifestyle. Absolutely fascinating!
And then the weekend ends as it began: With pleasure! Only a short walk from the museum you will find the Café Maldaner. In this original Viennese coffeehouse on Marktstraße, sweet works of art from the in-house pastry shop and delicious coffee specialties await you. Be sure to take the time to enjoy these delicacies and review your weekend in Wiesbaden. Perhaps you have also acquired a taste for it and are already planning your next visit?
Take the train to Wiesbaden comfortably and without traffic jams: Plan arrival.
Cover photo: On the Neroberg you can overlook the city of Wiesbaden from above © David Vasicek