Wiesbaden is a city in southwestern Germany and the capital of the federal state of
Hesse. It has about 276,000 inhabitants, in an area of 204 sq km. Wiesbaden is situated on the Rhine River. Frankfurt am Main is located about 38 kilometres east. To the north of the city are the Taunus Mountains. The city centre lies about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from the Rhine. Wiesbaden, renowned in the early days as a spa town, had as many as 27 hot springs, the number of which has reduced to fifteen as of now.
How to Get There:
The nearest airport is Frankfurt International Airport(30 km) and discount airline flights are available at Frankfurt-Hahn Airport around an hour's drive to the southwest. Wiesbaden's main railway station and several minor railway stops connect the town with Frankfurt, Darmstadt, Mainz, Limburg and Koblenz via Rüdesheim.
Wiesbaden Hauptbahnhof is connected to the Cologne-Frankfurt high-speed rail line. Hamburg, München, Leipzig, Dresden, Stuttgart, Mannheim and Hanover are connected directly to Wiesbaden via long distance service of the Deutsche Bahn. Six autobahns directly service Wiesbaden, connecting to the rest of the country. The city´s public transportation service ESWE Verkehr connects all city districts to downtown by 45 bus lines in the daytime and 10 bus lines in the night. Five more bus
lines operated by the public transportation service of Mainz, connects Wiesbaden´s districts Kastel and Kostheim to Mainz downtown. Small container ports operate nearby on the Rhine and the Main.
What to See:
Wiesbaden has long been famous for its thermal springs and spa, finding mention in Roman documents. Thousands of visitors would visit the many bath houses annually. Known also as a gambler’s delight, the closed Wiesbaden casino reopened in 1949. The new town hall was built in 1887. The old town hall (1610), is the oldest preserved building in the city centre and now is used as a civil registry office. The beautiful Neo-Classical Kurhaus ("spa house") was built between 1904 and 1907 and its renowned casino is spinning the wheels again. The Kurhaus Kolonnade was built in 1827 and the 129 m structure is the longest pillar-supported hall in Europe. The Nerobergbahn is a water ballast funicular railway. It is the last and the one water ballast funicular in Germany. The Bahá'í Temple or House of Worship, while not located in Wiesbaden, it's in a small town called Langenhain, only about a 15 minute drive. Once you are in the city centre, just amble around. There's a main pedestrian area (Fußgängerzone) which is similar to an open-air mall, but more relaxed. Shops line the street and alleys, with no cars. Shops, cafes and eateries are plentiful. Do stroll through the "Old City" (Altstadt).
Where to Eat:
1001 Nacht, Vapiano, El Greco, Thai Express, Kafer's, Spital and Brauhaus Castel come well recommended.
Where to Stay:
There are over 60 hotels in Wiesbaden. The Dorint Sofitel Pallas Wiesbaden, Dorint Sofitel Pallas Wiesbaden, Hotel Nassauer Hof, Hotel Oranien Wiesbaden and Hotel Drei Lilien are high-budget hotels. The Penta Hotel, Etap Hotel Wiesbaden Nordenstadt, Luisenhof Hotel, Hotel Klemm, Hotel am Landeshaus and Am Schlosspark Hotel are mid-range. Hotel Adler, Altes Haus, Roswitha, Motel One Wiesbaden and Zum Feldberg are lower end hotels.
