Baden-Baden: Getting there & around

Karlsruhe-Baden-Baden airport (Baden Airpark, www.badenairpark.de) is 15km (9.3mi) west of town and is linked to London and Dublin by Ryanair.

Baden-Baden is close to the A5 (the Frankfurt-Basel autobahn) and is the northern starting point of the scenic Schwarzwald-Hochstrasse (Black Forest Hwy), also known as the B500. The Schwarzwald-Bäder-Strasse (Black Forest Spa Road) is a loop road connecting all of the region's spa towns. Badische Weinstrasse (Baden Wine Road) goes south from Baden-Baden to Lörrach, winding through the vineyard territory. Michaelstunnel is a tunnel on the D500 that routes traffic away from the town centre.

Baden-Baden is on a major north-south rail corridor. Twice-hourly destinations include Basel (1.5hr), Frankfurt (1.5hr), Offenburg (30min), Freiburg (45-80min) and Karlsruhe (20min).

Buses to a variety of Black Forest destinations depart from the bus station (next to the Bahnhof). Bus 212 makes hourly trips to Rastatt; bus 218 goes to Iffezheim; bus 245 goes to Mummelsee.

Baden-Württemberg is a cyclists' paradise, with its paved bike paths, including the Rheintal-Weg which goes along the Rhine from Konstanz westward to Basel and then northward via Freiburg (or Breisach) to Baden-Baden, Heidelberg, Mannheim and beyond.

Much of the centre is either pedestrianised or blocked off to traffic, so it's best to park and walk. Note though that Baden-Baden is very hilly. Most sights are within easy walking distance of Leopoldstrasse and the streets are well signposted - also directing you to hotels, restaurants and car parks.

The Bahnhof is in the suburb of Oos, 4km (2.5mi) northwest of the town centre.

For bus information call 07221 27 71 (www.stadtwerke-baden-baden.de). Bus 201 (every 10min) links the Bahnhof with Leopoldsplatz. Mon-Fri, bus 205 links the Bahnhof with the airport.

Bicycles can be hired from any of the car parks at the Kurhouse, Vincenti and Alter Bahnhof.