Caracalla Spa

The Caracalla Therme (Caracalla Spa) in Baden-Baden is the modern thermal bath of Germany's most famous spa town, on the edge of the Black Forest. It sits in the historic bath quarter next to the Friedrichsbad, and its round domed hall, outdoor pools and clothing-free sauna area are fed by the same hot springs the Romans used. It makes an easy, relaxing stop on any Baden-Baden trip, in any season.

History and design

The spa is named after the Roman emperor Caracalla, who expanded the baths at Baden-Baden's springs around 200 AD. Today's building went up between 1983 and 1985, designed by Freiburg architect Hans-Dieter Hecker, with a circular bathing hall on white columns. It belongs to the state of Baden-Württemberg and is run by Carasana, which also operates the Friedrichsbad. Since 2021, Baden-Baden has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage site "Great Spa Towns of Europe".

What to expect

• Pools: more than 900 square meters (9,700 sq ft) of water surface indoors and out, refreshed with about 800,000 liters of thermal water a day.
• Temperatures: 34 °C (93 °F) in the main indoor pool, 32 °C in the large outdoor pool with a current channel, 35 °C in the small outdoor pool and 38 °C (100 °F) in the whirlpools.
• Hot and cold grottos, an aroma steam bath and a brine inhalation room.
• Sauna area: seven saunas on the castle hillside, including a new panorama sauna overlooking the town. Like most German saunas, it is clothing-free – no swimsuits, just a towel.

Tickets and opening hours

The spa is open daily 8 a.m.–10 p.m.; last entry is 90 minutes before closing. It is closed on December 24 and 25.

Prices (as of October 2026):

• Pools only: 2 hours €21, 3 hours €25, full day €35
• Pools and saunas: 2 hours €26, 3 hours €30, full day €40
• Overtime costs €1 per 10 minutes; towel rental €6 plus deposit

Note that children under 7 are not admitted, and under-14s must be accompanied by an adult. On weekday evenings from 5 p.m., a three-hour pool ticket costs €21.

How to get to Caracalla Therme

Baden-Baden lies on the main Rhine Valley rail line, with direct ICE trains from Frankfurt in well under two hours and good connections from Stuttgart and Strasbourg. The station is in the suburb of Oos, a few kilometers from the center; take a city bus into town – there is a "Caracalla-Therme" stop right by the spa. Drivers should navigate to the "Bädergarage" at Rotenbachtalstraße 1, where spa guests get a reduced parking rate. The nearest airport is Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden; Frankfurt Airport is the main international hub.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, especially if the historic Friedrichsbad next door feels too formal or you prefer to keep your swimsuit on in the pools. Afterward, stroll along the Lichtentaler Allee to the Kurhaus and casino, or ride the funicular up Mount Merkur for views over the Black Forest.