One of our lifelong desires was to visit Baden Baden, Germany’s famous natural spring bath spas, and we were not disappointed. Baden Baden is a quick two hours from the Frankfurt airport via Intercity Express Trains and costs approximately $40 each way. Trains leave virtually every hour from the FRA airport station.
Baden Baden is a beautiful, wonderfully walkable, and very natural city between the mountains in the Black Forest Region of Germany. There are two major mineral water spas in Baden Baden. The Friedrichsbad Therme and Caracalla Therme.
We went to the Friedrichsbad Spa, and the process was wonderful. You begin with a full body brush massage and then proceed through 17 Roman-architected rooms of mineral baths and showers. The cost is approximately $40 per person, and the bath spas are open from 9 AM to 10 PM. A note, these bath spas are mandatory naked and co-ed five days a week. The other two days, both sexes are split into two halves of the spas.
There are many hotels in Baden Baden at all price points. We were fortunate to stay at the popular Marriott Roomers Baden Baden Hotel, an Autograph Collection Hotel. This hotel is rated 5-stars at $287.00 per night (this rate reduces in the winter season). This designer hotel has gorgeous rooms, an outdoor pool on the roof that is open all year, and an indoor spa.
The spa had an exceptional area, offering free vodka shots from frozen ice well; this was very interesting. The hotel also has an excellent restaurant for breakfast and dinner. The downtown area of Baden Baden is spectacular, with buildings that reflect both an old and new world feeling. A 1-1/4 mile jogging path called the Die Lichtentaler Allee aligns itself with the River Oos; it was specially constructed in 1839 with parks and trees to ensure that this area always remains a perfect place to unite with nature. Overall, Baden Baden is a beautiful and natural city that is not to be missed. The winter season is a great time to visit and the entire city is deeply discounted during this time of year.
We have been to other European spa towns, and one in particular that we recommend is an excellent and famous spa in Brussels called Waer Waters. This spa has 20 indoor and outdoor pools and many different types of wet and dry saunas that are highly unusual, entertaining, and enjoyable. This spa also offers many meditation and relaxing areas; we must add that this spa offers both clothing and a nude side. The spa has several bars, and we usually end the day with a fantastic buffet dinner, in which everyone arrives in bathrobes, so there’s no need for formal attire.
Waer Waters also has an excellent 4-star hotel and spa. Waer Waters is special and definitely should not be missed.
