A traditional German spa town where Elvis Presley lived during his military service, known for its Art Nouveau bathhouses and natural salt springs dating to 1850.
Bad Nauheim sits 35 kilometers north of Frankfurt, where mineral-rich springs bubble up from underground. You can walk through Europe's largest Art Nouveau bathhouse complex, smell thousands of roses in Steinfurth's gardens, or follow Elvis Presley's footsteps at his former home. The town's natural springs serve as active treatment centers, while the Kurpark and ice rink welcome visitors year-round.
The Art Nouveau Sprudelhof
Seven Art Nouveau bathhouses from the early 1900s surround Bad Nauheim's natural springs. Each building contains its original wooden furnishings, marble-tiled waiting rooms, and geometric courtyards with flowing fountains. Walk through bathhouse 3 to see preserved bathing cubicles with copper tubs and ceramic tiles, plus changing exhibitions about Art Nouveau design and architecture. Stop at the Trinkkuranlage to taste mineral water from the spa fountain - the water has a strong salt content due to the underground rock formations it passes through.
Medical Springs and Wellness
Natural springs emerge from 200 meters underground in Bad Nauheim, carrying minerals, carbon dioxide, and iron. Local medical centers use these waters for cardiovascular treatments, including carbon dioxide baths at temperatures between 32-34°C. Walk along the graduation houses where water trickles down blackthorn branches, creating a fine mist of mineral droplets you can inhale. The Nauheim bathing method, which combines specific water temperatures with carbon dioxide, influenced spa treatments worldwide, including at Battle Creek Sanitarium and Arkansas's Bathhouse Row.
Elvis Presley's Bad Nauheim
Elvis Presley lived in Bad Nauheim from 1958 to 1960 during his U.S. Army service. His house near the Kurhaus became a gathering spot for fans, where he would sign autographs between 7:30 and 8:00 PM. Each August, the town celebrates with an Elvis Festival - rockabilly bands play on street corners, 1950s cars line the streets, and visitors dress in period clothing. You can see his former home at Goethestrasse 14 and visit places like the Hotel Grunewald where he first met Priscilla.
Parks and Recreation
Walk through the Kurpark from the main station to the Kurhaus, passing flower beds and century-old oak and maple trees. The park's paths wind past fountains and rest areas with wooden benches. In winter, skate at the Colonel Knight stadium's ice rink, which opens daily from October to March. The rink rents skates in all sizes and includes a separate practice area for beginners. Climb the 236-meter Johannisberg hill on marked trails to reach viewpoints overlooking the red-roofed town center and the rolling Taunus Mountains.
Steinfurth Rose Village
Rose cultivation began in Steinfurth in 1868 when Heinrich Schultheis brought growing techniques from England. Visit during the July Rose Festival to see flower-covered parade floats, browse rose markets, and watch evening fireworks over the village. Between June and September, walk through garden plots where local growers cultivate over 2,000 rose varieties. The village's rose museum explains traditional growing methods still used today, including grafting techniques and winter protection methods.
