When you think of Germany in the fall, you probably think of Munich!
Huge crowds descend on the city to enjoy the famous Oktoberfest celebration.
But there is another German region where you can enjoy locally brewed beers as well as iconic attractions and world-famous spas this fall.
Tourism in Baden-Wurttemberg is booming! The region has seen 26.8 million overnight visitors in the first half of the year alone.
As an army brat, I was raised in Germany, and the country has a soft spot in my heart.
Here’s why I think it’s time for Munich to move aside, and you should visit Baden-Wurttemberg instead:
A Wellness Industry Icon
One of the most famous and iconic destinations in the Baden-Wurttemberg region is the town of Baden-Baden.
If you’re looking to relax and embrace all things wellness, then there’s nowhere better to be.
When UNESCO released a list of the Great Spa Towns of Europe, Baden-Baden was front and center.
Now the town has a reputation worldwide for its spas and top-class healthcare facilities.
Underneath the town lie 12 springs at a depth of around 2,000 meters. Thermal waters bubble upwards from these into the town’s spas and baths. These expansive springs pump out 800,000 liters of warm water a day, with temperatures as high as 68°C.
The Friedrichsbad Spa is one of the best spas in the town, although there are others to choose from. This is a traditional Roman-Irish style spa bath.
Entry costs 35 euros (£38) and includes towels and slippers, body lotion and hair/body shampoo for use in the bath and tea in the reading room. For an additional 19 euros (£20) you can add a traditional soap and brush massage to your visit.
When you’re feeling as relaxed as possible, Baden-Baden has plenty of cultural attractions for its visitors too.
The Festspielhaus is the largest concert and opera house in Germany set inside a beautiful neoclassical building.
If you don’t have the time to enjoy a performance then you can take a backstage tour of the building, taking you behind the scenes of the foyer, auditorium, technical center and the stage.
Then, take a walk down the Baden-Baden Museum Mile, which, as the name suggests, is packed full of museums and galleries to suit every interest.
Explore Picture-Perfect Castles
There are 20 castles in the Baden-Württemberg region, so when it comes to exploring beautiful castles, you’ll be spoilt for choice.
The most famous of these is the Heidelberg Castle, which is partially ruins. This is considered the most important Renaissance structure in Germany.
On a budget? The walk up to the castle, exploring its gardens, and the views over Heidelberg are all completely free of charge. To go inside the castle is affordable too with the admission fee sitting at just 9 euros ($10).
For a truly fairy tale-inspired castle experience, visit Lichtenstein Castle, which has imposing rounded turrets that look like something out of a storybook.
This castle is located near Reutlingen and has been lovingly restored. Lichtenstein Castle is actually still privately owned (by the Urach family who restored it between 1842 and 1844) but you can visit the exterior courtyard and some of the interior of the castle on a pre-planned guided tour.
Entry to the castle courtyard costs 4 euros ($4.30) and a 30 minute tour of the castle interior costs 12 euros ($13) per adult.
Finally, don’t skip Guttenberg Castle, which sits on a hilltop and has been beautifully well-preserved and equipped for travelers.
You’ll find a museum, a traditional tavern, and a highly regarded bird of prey show here.
If you’ve always dreamed of staying in the castle then this one also offers rooms to turn that dream into a reality!
Getting To Baden Wurttemberg
Although not as well-known as Munich or Berlin, Baden Wurttemberg is still accessible to American travelers.
Its largest city, and the regional capital, of Stuttgart boasts a large airport and Delta operates direct flights between the city and Atlanta.
The flight time between the two cities is 8 hours 55 minutes for the outbound leg of your journey and 10 hours 40 minutes for the inbound leg of your journey. To give an example of flight prices, booking this journey direct with Delta from 16 October to 24 October would cost $1,022 for a return flight in economy class.
Getting around beyond the airport relies on some infamous German efficiency: the public transport network here is excellent!
Tourists can take advantage of the Baden-Wurttemberg Ticket which is valid on weekdays, weekends and holidays provided you don’t start your journey until after 9am.
This allows you to use all of the regional trains in the area as well as trams and buses and is a great way to explore.
And it’s affordable too. The ticket costs 26.50 euros ($29) for one traveler, but if you’re traveling in a group of up to 4 additional travelers can pay just 8 euros ($8.70) for their ticket.
Children under 6 are always free, and children between the ages of 6 and 15 travel free with a paying passenger.
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