Bad Homburg v.d.Höhe: Palace, Spa Park and Old Town
Accommodation in Bad Homburg vor der Höhe
Bad Homburg v.d.Höhe offers a variety of ways to shape your stay: the history of the palace complex, museums, the spa park, the old town and opportunities for exercise. As you plan, you can consider which aspects of the town interest you most.
Oberes Tor im Innenhof von Schloss Bad Homburg
Photo: Johannes Robalotoff via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 de
Palace and historic buildings
Bad Homburg Palace once served as the residence of the Landgraves of Hesse-Homburg and as a summer residence for the Prussian king and German Emperor Wilhelm II. The Kaiser’s Apartments, used by the last German imperial couple, are among the sights in the palace complex. Enjoy the view from the White Tower. Check the latest access information before your visit.
Another historic building is the Gothic House in the Großer Tannenwald. In 1823, Landgravine Elizabeth had the hunting lodge built for her husband, Landgrave Frederick VI Joseph. Today it houses the Gothic House Museum in Bad Homburg. Its collections cover the history of the town and the Landgraviate of Hesse-Homburg, as well as exhibits on cultural and art history. You can combine a visit to the building with a museum visit.
Spa park, church and seasonal activities
The Russian Church was consecrated as the Church of All Saints and remains the religious center for Russian Orthodox believers in Bad Homburg and the surrounding area. The town offers a guided tour of the spa park that includes a visit to the church; check the current booking calendar in advance. Goethe’s Rest can also be found in the park: the rotunda is named in honor of J. W. von Goethe, and a path from there leads to the large palace pond.
The Thai Festival takes place in the spa park once a year. It is organized by the Royal Thai Embassy, the Royal Thai Consulate General, the Thai Tourism Office, Thai Airways International and Kur- und Kongreß-GmbH Bad Homburg. Check the specific date of your visit separately. Anyone can play on the mini-golf course in the spa park; its stated opening period is from April to early October. Check the latest hours before your visit.
The springs in the Brunnenbezirk are open to everyone. Since access information may be important for a specific visit, it is advisable to check in advance.
Museums and the old town
The Sinclair House Museum presents changing themed exhibitions about plants, animals, fungi and ecosystems. Its exhibition focus therefore differs from the historical collections at the Gothic House. Narrow, winding lanes and romantic courtyards characterize the old town. The Ritter-von-Marx Bridge, built in the early 20th century, spans the area. A walk through the old town thus offers a different focus from a visit to the palace complex or the museums.
Golf and longer routes
Bad Homburg Old Course is one of the few public golf courses. The term “public” does not mean that there are no participation requirements: players must be members of a German or foreign golf club and have a registered handicap on their club card. Golfers who are not club members need a handicap of 54 and must have passed a rules test. Check the practical details with the operator before playing.
The 22-kilometer Hölderlin Trail connects the center of Bad Homburg with Frankfurt am Main and extends beyond the town. This makes it quite different from a walk around the old town. If you plan to take the trail, bear in mind its full length and the route described rather than treating it as a short city walk.
Discover more destinations: Schmitten, Weilrod, Kronberg, Neu-Anspach, Glashütten, Oberursel, Königstein im Taunus, Usingen.
Go to the overview of the wider area: Hochtaunus.
