Wiesbaden’s Roman Baths and Kaiser Spas
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About the Tour
About the Tour
Why did the Romans develop Wiesbaden’s public baths but never live there, and what made Prussian royalty holiday in the town for months on end?
On this walking tour, you’ll hear the fascinating stories behind this spa town and trace the footsteps of the aristocrats who made it their personal playground.
The tour starts at the Bowling Green opposite the Kaiser-Friedrich-Denkmal Memorial. You’ll discover how Dostoevsky lost and regained a fortune at the Hotel Nassauer Hof’s famous gambling tables, and how a Prussian Kaiser transformed Wiesbaden into a world-renowned destination in the late 1800s.
On your way to see Roman relics at the Roemertor and the Pagan wall, you’ll meet the larger-than-life green man statue, (25 Jahre Deutsche Einheit) which celebrates 25 years of German unity. The tour ends at Markplatz, where I’ll show you three examples of Wiesbaden’s unique architecture: the quaint medieval old town hall, the extravagant New Town Hall, and the Evangelical Market Church Wiesbaden with its chiming carillon bells.
Along the way, you’ll have a chance to:
- Sample medicinal mineral waters at three historic springs, the Kochbrunnen, the Baker’s well (Backerbrunnen), and the Schützenhofquelle spring
- Explore the Goldgasse, Wiesbaden’s favourite dining street
- Discover the surprising connection between the European Union, Friedrich Schiller (Germany’s most accomplished classical playwright), and the Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden (the Hessian State Theater)
- Stand where Kaiser Wilhelm laid a foundation stone at the Palast Hotel and learn about the city’s royal history
- Visit Xocoatl, a chocolate lover’s paradise, and the traditional Café Maldaner
- See the world’s largest cuckoo clock in Burgstrasse and learn its unique story
During this 40-minute tour, you’ll begin to find that Wiesbaden is quite unlike other German towns and, once you’ve completed this tour, you’ll understand why!
After the tour, you could try a glass of local apple wine at one of Markplatz’s many market traders’ stalls. And for the truly history-obsessed there is the free city museum (Stadtmuseum am Markt) which is set below ground within the old market storage vaults.
Tour Producer
Tour Producer
Anne Noble
I am a British native living in Frankfurt since 2013, before that I lived in New York City and originally come from London. Can you tell I used to be a corporate person?
My ex-pat lifestyle sparked my interest in getting to know new places, delving deep to find new, exciting experiences but also places of common familiarity; what makes Frankfurt so typically German, are there British and American influences? This is why I became a tour guide and city guide author. My book, Walk Frankfurt: A guide to a short break in Frankfurt am Main is available on Amazon and a second book, A guide to a day out from Frankfurt, will be published in May 2026. Hired by an Australian journalist, my knowledge also earned me a mention in the Virgin Australia In-flight magazine, when they decided to feature Frankfurt.
My own life long passions mould my tours, food, history, architecture and wine. Frankfurt has great markets both indoors and outdoors. I’ve spent many an hour there buying local produce to make Frankfurt specialities at home, such as green sauce and buying produce only available when in season. I know when all the best festivals are taking place and where, and regularly update my blog, on the Walk Frankfurt web page, so you can find them too.
I am a member of the German Tour Guides Association (BVGD) and offer private tours of Frankfurt, Heidelberg, Mainz and Wiesbaden. I know the cities inside out, their own specialities and their connections to each other through history too.
I enjoy sharing my knowledge, humour, joy of life and joy in having a glass of wine (not too many, mind!)
Preview Location
Preview Location
Location 30
Bäckerbrunnen
This pretty building is the Bäckerbrunnen, the baker's fountain, named so because it was a source of natural hot water for the local bakers. Having a source of hot water saved on having to buy firewood to heat water in the ... Read More
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Major Landmarks
Major Landmarks
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Bowling Green
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Kaiser-Friedrich-Denkmal
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Spielbank Wiesbaden
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Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden
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25 Jahre Deutsche Einheit
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Kochbrunnen
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Kochbrunnenpavillon
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Palast Hotel
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Baker's well spring
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Café Maldaner GmbH
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pagan wall
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Roemertor
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Wappeninsel
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New Town Hall
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Evangelical Market church Wiesbaden
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Kurhaus
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Hessischer Landtag
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Dernsches Gelände
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Goldgasse
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An der Drei-Lilien-Quelle
Getting There
Getting There
Route Overview
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Start locationWilhelmstraße 47, 65183 Wiesbaden, Germany
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Total distance3km
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Final locationMarktpl., 65183 Wiesbaden, Germany
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Distance back to start location379.77m
Directions to Starting Point
The tour starts by the Bowling Green, along Wilhelmstrasse, opposite the Nassauer Hof Hotel.
Wiesbaden city centre is a 15 minute walk from the main train station. Buses depart regularly to the centre of Wiesbaden. Head for Bus Stop B outside the station and take the number 1 or 8 bus to Kurhaus/Theater. From there it is a short walk to the starting point.
Show Directions
Tips
Tips
Places to stop along the way
For old, Viennese coffee shop charm: Cafe Maldaner (Marktstrasse 34)
For good coffee and home made snacks and cakes: Coffeehouse Tesla (Am Römertor 2)
For chocolate treats: Xocoatl (Grabenstraße 24)
For the best ice-cream: Mazzucco Gelateria (Christian-Zais-Str.3 - The Colonnade), open during summer season
For a glass of local wine: Haus des Weines (Grabenstrasse 4) or Vinotheque Le Sensorique (Webergasse 30)
For lunch: head to Goldgasse and enjoy one of the popular Italian restaurants.
On Wednesday and Saturday take time to held into the bustling market place, there are plenty of stalls offering bites to eat and something to drink.
Don't forget to bring a small bottle or cup so you can sample the mineral springs!
The Kurpark, in front of the Hessen State Theatre offers a lovely walk in itself on a bright sunny day.
Best time of day
The walk can be done on any day and at any time, although on Sundays the shops are shut. Wednesday and Saturday have the added advantage of there being a farmers market at the end point of the tour.
The area around the town hall and market church, at the end of the tour, is the heart of the Christmas market from late November into December, but it still remains possible to find and enjoy the final three locations.
Precautions
Take a small bottle with you if you wish to sample the mineral waters. They are too hot to drink directly from the fountains. Also, the mineral water is not refreshing so you might want to take a bottle of regular water along with you too.
Please take care when crossing the road, and keep a look out for cyclists as well as the usual traffic.
Please be aware that there are unavoidable stairs and steps on this tour.
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