Bad Homburg and the Saalburg

Bad Homburg vor der Höhe lies about 17 km north of Frankfurt at the foot of the Taunus in Hesse. The S-Bahn S5 from Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof reaches Bad Homburg in about 25 minutes, running every 15 to 30 minutes and covered by the Deutschlandticket. Driving via the A661 also takes about 25 minutes, with parking near the Kurpark. The Roman fort Saalburg lies about 6 km further north and is reached by a local bus from Bad Homburg in roughly 15 to 20 minutes; the current line should be checked on rmv.de.

Bad Homburg grew into a fashionable spa in the 19th century, and the Kurpark remains its centre, with mineral springs, the Kurhaus, mature trees and a Siamese temple gifted by the King of Siam. The Kaiser-Wilhelm-Bad is a thermal bath complex, and the Landgraves' castle (Schloss) at the edge of the old town, with its White Tower, was used as a summer residence by the German emperors. The Saalburg is a reconstructed Roman fort on the Upper Germanic-Rhaetian Limes, itself a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a museum, a rebuilt gate, the headquarters building and a bathhouse that give a picture of garrison life.

A good day starts with arrival at about 9:30 and a morning at the Saalburg, allowing roughly two hours for the fort and museum. Lunch fits in Bad Homburg, where the pedestrian Louisenstrasse has cafés and restaurants. The afternoon can go to the Schloss and its gardens, followed by a walk through the Kurpark and a coffee near the Kurhaus before an evening S-Bahn.

The best period is April to October, when the Kurpark is in bloom and the Saalburg's outdoor areas are comfortable. The Saalburg hosts Roman festival days and demonstrations in summer, which add interest but also visitors. Weekdays are calm, and winter visits are possible but outdoor sections are less pleasant.