The point of Baden-Baden is to take the waters, walk the gardens, see a concert, and eat well. The Friedrichsbad is the great spa experience; the Caracalla Therme is the easier modern alternative; and the Roman Bath ruins between them prove that the tradition is two thousand years old. Above ground, the Kurhaus and its casino, the colonnaded Trinkhalle, and the elegant Lichtentaler Allee are the central walks.
For walks higher up, take the Merkur Funicular to its summit, or hike up through the Battert rocks to the impressive Hohenbaden Castle ruin. Music is a serious part of the calendar — the Festspielhaus hosts top international orchestras, and the Brahms House preserves the composer's summer flat. The Museum Frieder Burda is the standout among the town's small museums; the Iffezheim Racecourse ten kilometres away hosts Germany's most prestigious thoroughbred meetings.