Are you looking for a surprisingly fun day trip out of Frankfurt, Wiesbaden, or Kaiserslautern? Bad Dürkheim bundles up the warm German spirit and delivers a great day out.
Don’t you hate it when you’ve heard about a place for years, never made an effort to go, only to find out it’s a true hidden gem? That’s what happened to me with the small city of Bad Dürkheim. After I finally made it there, it’s now become one of my favorites to take visitors to, to wander around, or just to go have lunch. I absolutely love it.
Bad Dürkheim
Located on the German Wine Road, or Deutsch Wein Strasse, in the middle of Riesling and Grauburgunder wine country, Bad Dürkheim has so much to offer and makes the perfect day trip. Inhabited since the Celts, Bad Dürkheim has a long history, so there’s plenty to do in this small city.
Things to do in Bad Dürkheim
No matter what time of year it is, you can enjoy a day trip to Bad Dürkheim. I love to bring my visitors here because it has so much to offer in one day.
Some of the things you can do in Bad Dürkheim include:
- In September, the Wurstmarkt
- Hiking/Volksmarching in and around the wine fields
- Enjoying the almond trees in March
- Wander the Old Town
- St. Michael’s chapel
- Hardenburg Castle
- Limburg Abbey
- The Palatinate Museum of Natural History
- The Gradierwerk or Saline
- Swim in the Salinarium
- Visit the Römerkelter- Roman ruins
- Visit a winery or do a wine walk
Bad Dürkheimer Wurstmarkt
Originally a stopover to stock up on supplies, the Wurstmarkt, has been the go-to wine fest for decades. Held every September in the second and third week, you will want to wander the grounds, try the local Pfalzer specialty foods, and then hang out in a fest tent.
Here are the upcoming dates:
- 2025: 12-22 Sep.
- 2026: 11-21 Sep.
- 2027: 10-20 Sep.
- 2028: 8-18 Sep.
- 2029: 7-17 Sep.
- 2030: 6-16 Sep.
Hiking and Volksmarching
There are plenty of permanent volksmarches as well as other hikes in the Bad Dürkheim area. I love to take my visitors on a hike in the morning before we hit the other things to do and see in the town. To find out about the permanent volksmarch, just go to the Tourist Information Center in town, and they will give you instructions. If you just want to hike, follow any of the signed paths.
Almond Tree Viewing
Arguably the most spectacular time of year in Bad Dürkheim is spring when the almond trees are blooming. From mid-March to mid-April the various species have different colors from white to pink, and they really liven up the landscape. There are also lots of festivals and wine events to celebrate the almond season as well.
Old Town
The small old town of the city, really celebrates Bad Dürkheim’s love affair with grapes and wine. It doesn’t take long to stroll around, enjoy the architecture and the many statues, as well as stop in for a coffee and cake.
St. Michael’s Chapel
Once a very important chapel for pilgrims, St. Michael’s Chapel is an eye-catching blip on the hill by the main parking lot. It’s a quick climb to the terrace where you have a great view, and during Almond season a view of their trees.
Hardenburg Castle
If you love a castle, a castle museum, and great views, Hardenburg Castle is a must. Mostly ruins, it’s fun to wander up and down the staircases, along the walls, and overlooks. Then when you’re finished exploring, and taking some fun photos, check out the museum. It is surprisingly full of great artifacts and of course tells the history of the site.
Limburg Abbey
Again the ruins of the Limburg Abbey allow fantastic views. There are paths to the abbey along a beautiful foot path, and if you are like me, you love exploring new heights.
The Palatinate Museum of Natural History
We have yet to visit this museum, but we have visited the Geoskop at Litchenburg Castle, and we love it, so I’m pretty sure this one will be even better. Stay tuned, because yes, I will be going…soonish.
Bad Dürkheim’s Gradierwerk or Saline
The Bad Dürkheim Gradierwerk, or Saline, is a Roman wonder. It’s gigantic! The first time we came across it, we were intrigued. We knew we just had to check it out. Basically, it’s a way to filter water and for breathing. Weird, I know.
Salinarium
If you know anything about traveling in Germany, you should know their swimming pools are pretty epic, and then to add in places like Bad Dürkheim that is known for its waters, you will find even better pools. The Salinarium is a great place to go, with or without kids. There are outdoor and indoor pools, heated and cooler temps. It’s got it all.
Römerkelter
The Roman ruins between Bad Dürkheim and Kallstadt are worth a quick stop. It won’t take long to wander the area, but it’s so interesting that so much exists from a couple of thousand years ago during the Roman occupation. We actually walked to the ruins from our hotel in Kallstadt.
Visit a Winery or Participate in a Wine Walk
As I mentioned, Bad Dürkheim is situated on the famous Deutsche Wein Strasse, smack dab in the middle of so many wineries that you absolutely must stop in for a tasting.
One Day Itinerary for Bad Dürkheim
You want to arrive in Bad Dürkheim early enough to really get everything you can out of your day.
My perfect day in Bad Dürkheim always looks the same. I start out doing the 5 kilometer permanent walk, then after I collect my stamps, I do lunch at the Riesenfass, and afterwards, wander the old town, before going to the castle.
Where to Eat in Bad Dürkheim
Riesenfaß – This famous restaurant is in a huge wine barrel. Not only is it a fun place, it has surprisingly great food, including some local specialties. I’ve eaten here more than a few times now, and I have to say, it never disappoints.
Where to Stay
We’ve only spent the night once when visiting Bad Dürkheim, and that was during a night wine walk that is extremely popular. Needless to say, there were no rooms in the city proper. So we booked a fantastic hotel in Kallstadt, just down the road at the Kallstadter Hof. It had everything we were looking for: parking, a great breakfast, and conveniently located in a really cute village.
How to Get to Bad Dürkheim
The closest big city to Bad Dürkheim is Mannheim. It’s conveniently located between two large autobahns, the A6 and the A65.
Approximate Driving Distance from Major Cities and Military Communities
| Community | Driving Distance/Time | Time via Train |
|---|---|---|
| Frankfurt | 104 km / 1 hr 10 min | 1.5 hrs |
| Kaiserslautern Area | 36 km / 45 min | 1 hr 15 min |
| Wiesbaden | 92 km / 1 hr 10 min | 2 hrs |
| Spangdahlem | 154 km / 2 hrs | N/A |
| Grafenwoehr | 335 km / 3.5 hrs | N/A |
| Stuttgart | 156 km / 2.5 hrs | 3-4 hrs |
| Brussels, Belgium | 378 km / 4.5 hrs | 7.5 hrs |
| Schinnen, Netherlands | 307 km / 3 hrs 10 min | N/A |
If you are looking for a perfect day trip from Kaiserslautern or Frankfurt, head to Bad Dürkheim. It’s got German charm oozing out of all its corners!
Author Bio: Corinne Vail is a travel photographer, food lover, and a perpetual traveler who has been travel writing for over 14 years. For many years she lived overseas in Germany, Japan, Turkey, South Korea, and the Netherlands teaching the children of the US. military. She’s visited over 90 countries, and she’s not stopping anytime soon.