Baden combines a long tradition of bathing with historical heritage, cultural offerings and routes into the countryside. The city is the central town of the Baden-Wettingen region, which is the largest urban area in Aargau. Culture and relaxation are among Baden’s defining features: thermal water shapes its bathing tradition, while concerts, art exhibitions and festivals are part of the offering, alongside theatres, museums and galleries.
Experience thermal water in different ways
The FORTYSEVEN thermal spa offers thermal water at 47°C, along with five indoor and three outdoor pools. At the Hot Springs, you can bathe publicly in natural thermal water. Depending on the weather, the pools are between 37 and 43°C. Choose between two different thermal water experiences: a thermal bath with indoor and outdoor pools, or public bathing in natural water.
Habsburg history and museums
Stein Castle ruins once served as an administrative centre of the Habsburgs. What remains includes sections of the circular wall, foundation trenches for building walls cut into the rock, the remains of a fortified palas and a small watchtower. One stage of the Habsburg Way also leads to the ruins: the third stage runs from Brugg to Baden via Gebenstorfer Horn and Baldegg, then continues to Stein Castle ruins and Baden’s Old Town.
The Langmatt Museum is one of Europe’s most significant private collections of French Impressionism. The villa as a museum and its park offer an established programme of exhibitions and events, bringing the collection into dialogue with contemporary perspectives. The property in the Römerquartier includes a park with an extensive variety of trees. At the Landvogteischloss, you can explore rooms from different periods and ways of life, including the bailiff’s kitchen and a Biedermeier parlour.
The Swiss Children’s Museum uses historical objects, interactive stations and shared play to show how children’s lives have changed over the past 300 years. The permanent exhibition traces changes in play and toys, as well as children’s everyday lives across different centuries, with historical originals, hands-on stations and audio drama stations. Weekend activities are part of the offering; storytelling sessions at the museum and theatre performances in the park are regular parts of the programme.
Art trails and city walks
The 7 km Limmat Cultural Trail passes through the Old Town and features around 30 sculptures, three-dimensional artworks and site-specific art installations. For views beyond the city, the “Chänzeli” tour offers a 9 km panoramic city hike around Baden that takes about three hours. It passes four viewpoints, including two “Chänzeli”, and provides information about Baden’s history, geology, flora and fauna. The two routes have different focuses: art in the urban landscape on the Cultural Trail, and views alongside nature and history on the “Chänzeli” tour.
“Sato Code Baden: The Keepers” is a self-guided game through the Old Town. The route takes about an hour and can be started at any time. As activity details may change, check the latest information before setting off.
Green spaces, views and outdoor activities
The promenade lift at Unterer Bahnhofplatz offers the quickest route from Baden station to the Limmat promenade. There, the riverside path combines nature and water with urban vibrancy; it is suitable for walking, jogging and cycling. For a different perspective, visit the Baldegg Water Tower above Baden, in the heart of the forest: climb 172 steps to reach a viewing platform with 360-degree views across the Central Plateau, the Alps and the Black Forest.
In the Teufelskeller nature reserve, the forest has been protected since 1987 and is no longer managed, allowing it to develop freely as a diverse ecosystem. A well-marked, family-friendly hiking trail runs through the reserve, with large barbecue areas along the way. Baden’s offerings range from thermal water and museums to city trails and nature experiences, without requiring all these interests to be part of the same outing.
Discover more destinations: Stetten, WĂĽrenlingen, Killwangen, Gebenstorf, Mellingen, Remetschwil, Busslingen, WĂĽrenlos
For the regional travel overview: Baden.
