Kurhaus of Baden-Baden

The Kurhaus of Baden-Baden is the grand neoclassical centerpiece of Germany's most famous spa town, on the edge of the Black Forest. Behind its white columned facade lies the legendary Casino Baden-Baden, which Marlene Dietrich called the most beautiful casino in the world, along with ornate ballrooms, restaurants and landscaped gardens. Whether you come to gamble, join a guided tour of the gaming rooms or simply stroll the colonnades, it is the essential sight in Baden-Baden.

Where it is and how to get there

Baden-Baden lies in Baden-Württemberg, in the Upper Rhine Valley. The nearby Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden airport has regional flights, and Frankfurt and Stuttgart are about 1.5 to 2 hours away. ICE trains on the Frankfurt–Basel line stop at Baden-Baden station in the Oos district, a few miles from the center; city buses run downtown, and from Leopoldsplatz it's a short walk through the colonnades. By car, take the A5 autobahn and park in a downtown garage.

History in brief

Architect Friedrich Weinbrenner designed the central building, completed in 1823, with its portico of eight Corinthian columns. The casino, founded in 1812, moved in by 1824. Under the Bénazet family, Baden-Baden became the summer playground of European aristocracy, and Russian writers such as Dostoevsky came to gamble. Gambling was banned in the German Empire in 1872; the casino reopened in 1933 as the first in Germany, and again in 1950 after the war. In 2021 Baden-Baden became part of the UNESCO World Heritage site "Great Spa Towns of Europe."

What to see

• The portico and spa gardens, the classic photo spot, framed by ornate lanterns and flower beds.
• The casino rooms, including the Winter Garden, the Red Hall, the Florentine Hall and the Salon Pompadour, decorated in the style of French royal palaces such as Versailles.
• The Weinbrenner Hall and Bénazet Hall, used today for concerts, balls and conferences.
• The colonnades, two rows of shops dating from 1864 that link the Kurhaus with the town, plus a bandstand in the gardens.

The building has also hosted history: the 1934 world chess championship opened here, and in 1981 the Olympic Congress chose Calgary and Seoul as hosts for 1988.

Visiting the casino

As of October 2026, according to the casino (prices in EUR):

• Table games (roulette, blackjack): Sunday to Thursday 3 p.m. to 2 a.m., Friday and Saturday until 3 a.m.; entry €5.
• Slot machines: from 11 a.m. daily; currently free entry.
• Minimum age 21; bring your original passport or ID card.
• Dress code for table games: men need long trousers and a jacket (rentable for €10); no sneakers or open shoes.

If you don't want to play, book a morning guided tour of the historic gaming rooms through the casino's website. Ask about English-language options when booking.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes. Even without gambling, the Kurhaus and its gardens are a highlight of any day trip from Frankfurt, Stuttgart or Strasbourg. Come in the evening when the facade is lit up, or in December for the Christmas market in front of the building.

Nearby

• Lichtentaler Allee, the historic park promenade along the Oos River.
• The Trinkhalle pump room with its painted arcade.
• Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, one of Europe's largest concert halls.
• Merkur mountain and its funicular.
• The Friedrichsbad and Caracalla Spa thermal baths in the old town.