This article includes the most comprehensive information on everything there is to do in and around Baden.
- The Story of the Famous Spa Town
- The Jewish Community in Baden
- Recommended Hotels in Baden
- The Baden Spa + 7 Must-Visit Places
- 4 Museums
- 3 Historical Places near Baden
- How to get to Baden by public transport from Vienna?
The Story of Baden
The town of Baden was a spa town as early as the Roman period, and its ancient name is Thermae Pannonicae (the Pannonian Springs). For many years, the place was a prosperous center despite repeated attacks by various invaders who came to the area, such as the Hungarians and the Turks.
A large fire that broke out in the town in 1812 destroyed it almost completely, but it was restored and rebuilt in the Biedermeier style (like the style of the Great Synagogue in Vienna). At the beginning of the 19th century, Baden was connected to Vienna by new railway lines. This infrastructure development led to a boom and prosperity in Baden as a result of the arrival of many Viennese to the town. Even members of the Habsburg family built themselves beautiful villas in the Baden area. A theater, a casino, and a military hospital were also built. The famous composer Beethoven also visited Baden at times, and his residence is now a tourist attraction in the town.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Baden was the most popular tourist destination among the Viennese and residents of the region. About 20,000 people would come each year to relax and unwind in the hot springs (at that time, only about 10,000 people lived in the town).
The Jewish Community in Baden
Many Jews came to settle in Baden as early as the Middle Ages, but they were not granted rights until 1861. In that year, Jews were permitted to live permanently in the town, and in the following years, the Jewish community of Baden was founded. This community was the largest in Lower Austria. In the period before World War II, about 2,400 Jews lived in Baden, and community life was vibrant. There were a variety of Jewish places in the town: synagogues, an orphanage, a mikvah (ritual bath), kosher shops, a Chevra Kadisha (burial society), and more.
Most of the Baden community was destroyed in the Holocaust. Only about 30 people survived, and the thriving community life never returned to its former state. Today, there is one central synagogue where prayers are held on holidays and sometimes on Saturdays. The community consists of a few dozen members. You can read more information on the website of the Jewish Community of Baden.
Recommended Hotels in Baden
- Thermenhotel Gutenbrunn – This hotel is connected to the main spa of Baden and offers free spa access for its guests. Highly recommended!
- Villa Schönfeld
- Hotel Schloss Weikersdorf
- At the Park Hotel
- Hotel Herzoghof
If these places don’t suit you, you can check out other accommodations in Baden here using the Booking.com search engine or the map:
8 Recommended Places to Visit in Baden
1. The Baden Spa (Römertherme)
The Baden spa complex is what attracts many tourists from all over the world. It is a 3,500-square-meter complex with mineral springs and pools. You can also enjoy saunas, a fitness center, and massages.
- Opening Hours: Every day from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- Prices: Starting from €19 per adult for 3 hours.
- Official Website
- Address: Brusattiplatz 4, Baden
2. The Old Town Center (Hauptplatz)
The heart of Baden is not very large, but the small streets and diverse shops will make you want to stay longer than you expected. The city center is closed to car traffic, so you can walk leisurely and enjoy the old buildings, cafes, and restaurants. In the old town, you can see places like the Emperor Franz I’s House (Kaiserhaus), the old Town Hall (Rathaus), and the Plague Column (Dreifaltigkeitssäule), which was built back in 1713.
Near the town hall, there is a small museum about Beethoven’s life in Baden (Beethoven Schauräume). The museum is located at Rathausgasse 10, and admission costs about €3.
3. The Thermal Swimming Pool (Thermalstrandbad)
This complex was built during the time of the Habsburg emperors. The complex is impressive in its architecture. It includes an outdoor swimming pool and an artificial sandy beach (one of the largest in Austria). The complex is open from May 1st to September 30th, from 8:30 AM to 7:00 PM during the summer months.
- More information.
- Address: Helenenstraße 19-21, Baden
4. The Spa Park (Kurpark)
The park, located next to the spa complexes, covers a huge area of 52 hectares. In terms of size, it is one of the largest spa parks in Europe. It is a quiet, calm, and well-kept place with colorful flowerbeds and several interesting historical sites. In the park, you will find the famous and beautiful Beethoven Temple, the Undine Fountain, the Flower Clock, statues of artists and emperors, and a music pavilion where short concerts are held during the summer months. The park was dedicated to Empress Maria Theresa and opened in 1792.
Among the important statues in the park, you can see the statue of Emperor Franz Joseph, Lanner, and Strauss, as well as the Grillparzer statue.
The park is partly on a hillside, at the top of which is the “Beethoven Temple,” erected for the 100th anniversary of the famous composer’s death. You can reach this place with a short walk on the park’s paths and enjoy the wonderful view from the top of the hill.
- Address: Kurpark, Baden
5. St. Stephen’s Church (Stadtpfarrkirche St. Stephan)
This parish church was founded in the 15th century and built in the Gothic style. In the 17th century, it underwent a complete renovation and was rebuilt in the Baroque style. The church is located at the northeastern edge of the old town. Inside the church, there is an ancient organ on which Mozart, and possibly even Beethoven, played. The premiere of Mozart’s work Ave verum corpus took place in this church in 1791.
- Address: Pfarrplatz 7, Baden
6. Doblhoffpark
Another beautiful park is located west of the spa, with a large lake and ducks. The park also has exceptional rose beds (in German, the rose area is called Rosarium). In an area of 75,000 square meters, there are no less than 30,000 colorful roses of 800 different types. This is a very nice place to sit and relax in the fresh air. If you come with children, you can find activities for them in the park’s playground. You can reach the park by walking from the old town center through a nice little street called Schlossergässchen.
- Address: Doblhoffpark / Rosarium
7. Casino Baden
The Baden Casino is one of the largest and most popular in Austria (larger than the casino in Vienna). Its ancient building makes it one of the most beautiful casinos in Europe. The casino is active, and you can enter and gamble to your heart’s content. Just be aware of the elegant dress code required for entry.
- Address: Kaiser-Franz-Ring 1
- Official Website
8. The Municipal Theater (Stadttheater)
Baden’s theater world began in the 18th century with the construction of the municipal theater in 1716. The original building has not been preserved, and another building was built in its place at the beginning of the 20th century. The place is still active today, hosting musical performances and operas. Even if you don’t go to a show, you can be impressed by the ancient building.
- Address: Theaterplatz 7
- Official Website
4 Museums in Baden
1. The Baden City Museum (Rollettmuseum)
In the old town hall of Baden, there is a historical collection that presents the development of the city from the Neolithic period, Roman times, and the Middle Ages up to the 20th century. The museum focuses on the Biedermeier period when the city was the favorite holiday destination of the Habsburgs.
- Opening Hours: Every day from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM. The museum is closed on Christmas and New Year’s Day.
- Admission Cost: Adult €5.
- Address: Weikersdorfer Pl. 1, Baden
2. The Emperor Franz Josef Museum (Kaiser Franz Josef Museum)
This museum presents the regional history and the influence of the Habsburg emperors on it. The transformation of Baden into a leisure destination for the emperors and nobility contributed to the city’s prosperity and development. The influence of the high-ranking officials was great and distinct. The museum displays art objects, weapons, and uniforms.
- Opening Hours: Tuesday – Sunday and holidays from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. From June to September, open on Sundays and holidays from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
- Admission Costs: Adult – €5. Child – €2.50. Senior – €3.
- Address: Hochstraße 51, Baden
- Official Website
3. The Arnulf Rainer Museum
This museum is located in an ancient bathhouse from the 19th century and actually serves as a gallery for the artworks of the famous Austrian artist Arnulf Rainer, who was born in Baden.
- Opening Hours: Every day from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
- Admission Costs: Adult €10. Child €3. Student €8. A combined ticket can be purchased for the Beethoven Museum, the Kaiserhaus Museum, and the Arnulf Rainer Museum. Price: Adult – €12. Child/Student – €6.
- Address: Josefsplatz 5, Baden
- Official Website
4. The Doll and Toy Museum (Puppen und Spielzeugmuseum Baden)
This museum will take you back to childhood… of people who lived in the 18th and 19th centuries! You can see a collection of about 1000 dolls from the 18th century to the mid-20th century. It is a different and nice museum that allows you to learn about history from a slightly different perspective. You can book a tour in English in advance.
- Opening Hours: Tuesday to Friday from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
- Admission Cost: Adult – €6. Child and youth – €4.
- Address: Erzherzog Rainer-Ring 23, Baden
- Email for tour coordination: puppenmuseum@baden.gv.at
- Official Website
3 Historical Places near Baden
If you have already seen all the important places in Baden, you can drive a short distance to see several interesting historical sites.
1. The Ruins of Rauhenstein Castle (Burgruine Rauhenstein)
A short distance from the center of Baden are the mostly ruined remains of a castle built in the 12th century. This castle was one of the largest in the Vienna area. In the 18th century, the castle was abandoned and has stood ruined and empty ever since. You can reach the castle via a marked path. The walk to the castle takes about 10 minutes, and it is advisable to have good walking shoes.
Another option is to continue from the castle on the green hiking trail that passes through the forest. At the end of the green trail, you reach a road, and after crossing it, you continue on the blue trail that leads to a beautiful viewpoint over the Helenental valley. From the viewpoint, continue towards the Cholerakapelle, an ancient building at the edge of the forest. From this building, there is a paved path back to the starting point. The circular route is of easy difficulty and takes between two and two and a half hours.
If you arrive by car, you can park in the free parking lot behind the nearby Sacher Hotel. From the parking lot, you have to walk back towards the road and cross it at the traffic light. After crossing, there is a small street that leads to the beginning of the trail to the castle.
Please note: Due to maintenance work, the castle is closed to visitors until further notice. It can still be clearly seen from the road.
- Map:
2. The Ruins of Rauheneck Castle (Burgruine Rauheneck)
About 2.5 kilometers from Baden is another castle that was also built in the 12th century. The castle is on a hill 384 meters above sea level. The castle withstood many attacks and was destroyed several times, but to this day it has not been restored. You can walk up the hill to the castle and enjoy a spectacular view of the entire area. One of the parts of the castle that survived is a 25-meter-high watchtower. You can climb to the top and look out over the area. The climb to the castle is easy and suitable for everyone.
- Address: Brusattiplatz, Baden
- Map:
3. Heiligenkreuz Abbey
The ancient monastery was founded in 1133 for the Cistercian order in the small village of Heiligenkreuz, located about 13 kilometers (a 15-minute drive) west of Baden. This monastery is still active and is the oldest continuously occupied Cistercian monastery in the world.
Watch a special ceremony that took place in the monastery:
You can book a tour of the monastery. Tours are held from Monday to Saturday at: 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 2:00 PM, 3:00 PM, and 4:00 PM.
- For reservations: tourismus@stift-heiligenkreuz.at
- Address: Heiligenkreuz 1, 2532 Heiligenkreuz im Wienerwald
- Map:
Please note! You can get a 10% discount on the tour if you also buy a ticket to the wonderful Sparbach Nature Park.
How to get to Baden by public transport from Vienna?
The town of Baden is only 25 kilometers south of Vienna and can be easily reached by trains that depart frequently from Vienna.
The Suburban Train to Baden (Badnerbahn)
This train departs from Karlsplatz, right next to the Vienna State Opera. It is a relatively slow train with many stops (this train also stops at the SCS shopping city), but it will take you to the center of Baden. The journey takes about an hour.
The train operates from 5:37 AM to 11:30 PM. It departs every 15 minutes. The fare is €6.50 one way.
- You can see the timetable here.
- Purchase tickets online.
Another option is to take a regular train from Vienna to Baden. The trains depart from the main station (Wien HBF) and the southern train station (Wien Meidling). The journey on these trains takes about 20 minutes. The station you need to get off at is the main station of Baden, and from there you will have to walk about 15 minutes to the city center or take a taxi from outside the station.
The fare starts from €6.50 one way.
You can plan your trip on the railway website.
