Discover Darmstadt
Take your time for one of the numerous attractive leisure offers: Live animals from all over the world can be visited in the "Vivarium". A boat trip over the Steinbrücker Teich at the Oberwaldhaus, public parks and the Botanical Garden of the Technical University Darmstadt lure into the green.
In summer, two bathing lakes invite you to go for a swim. The "Jugendstilbad" in its original historical atmosphere from the year 1909 has its doors open all year round.
You can find information about festivals and events in the event calendar. And if you like shopping, have a look at Darmstadt Citymarketing e.V.
Darmstadt Card
The Darmstadt Card is available as a one-and two-day ticket, it includes the use of all public transport in the city area (fare zone 40) and discounts to numerous cultural facilities.
Darmstadt App
With the official Darmstadt app you have everything you need for your stay in the "City of Science" always at your fingertips. The app offers a city map with points of interest, shops and restaurants, a calendar of events, suggestions for walking tours (e.g. to the art nouveau ensemble "Mathildenhöhe") as well as audio tours by tram and highlights and news about Darmstadt.
The app is available for free app from the App Store and Google Play Store.
Leisure facilities, parks and gardens in Darmstadt
Ihr Eintrag ins Digitale Schaufenster: Onlineformular
WebBMX facility in Bürgerpark-Nord
The newly built BMX facility in Bürgerpark-Nord is one of the largest and most modern outdoor facilities in Germany and offers riders wooden ramps and bowl areas for a wide range of performance levels on a total area of around 2,500 square meters. A special feature is the integrated Resi Ramp. A ramp covered with foam and rubber, which invites you to practice jumps and other tricks thanks to the cushioning and suspension.
Waldfriedhof
The 80 acre cemetry in the woods (Waldfriehof) is Darmstadt’s largest cemetry. It was opened in 1914. The architect was the head of Darmstadt’s city planning, August Buxbaum. The cemetry was designed in the shape of a horse-shoe. In the middle, a north-south pathway runs from the south entrance to the more recent additions to the cemetry. The city crematorium can be found in the Waldfriedhof.
Prinz-Emil Garden
This intimate garden, with tiny castle, pond and wrought-iron pavilion originally contained late baroque elements, but around 1900 it was completely turned into a landscaped garden. From the terrace of the castle, the former owner and finance minister Karl Friedrich von Moser enjoyed an uninterrupted view stretching as far as the Rhine river. The water basin enhanced the impression of distance.
Vortex Garden
The Vortex Garden with a villa on Mathildenhöhe is Darmstadt's only public park in private ownership.
Designed according to the principles of permaculture and the balance of natural eco-systems, the owner would like to make the garden accessible as a "place of vitality, renewal and recreation". On request, the design and the idea of the garden are explained to interested visitors.
From 9 am to 9 pm the garden is open for visitors free of charge.
The "Haus Martinus" (formerly "Haus Hubertus") was designed in 1921 by the architect Jan Hubert Pinand.
bioversum Jagdschloss Kranichstein
The exhibition in the former armoury of the hunting lodge (Jagdschloss Kranichstein) is a vivid and highly interactive presentation of the diversity of nature. The many events are directed especially at children with an interest in nature. Since 2015, they can play, observe, experiment and build things in the 16.000 square metre "outdoor laboratory".
Partner of the DARMSTADT CARD:
reduced admission
Forest Art Trail
The Verein für Internationale Waldkunst e.V. has been organising the "International Forest Art Trail" in Darmstadt every two years since 2002, each with a different theme. It extends in the Darmstadt forest district for 3.3 km from the Böllenfalltor to the Ludwigshöhe, past the Goethefelsen, Goethe pond and Ludwigshöhturm.
The path through the forest can be viewed as a forest adventure path in order to promote the character of scouting and exploration by the visitor. With the means of art, the forest is brought to the attention of the visitors in a new way.
Kinopolis Darmstadt
The KINOPOLIS Group from Darmstadt, with a company history going back more than 100 years, is one of the most traditional German cinema companies.
The programme includes blockbusters and major international productions, from action to comedy, from thrillers to entertainment for the whole family.
Planet Trail on the Ludwigshöhe
The planet trail deals with the closer cosmic environment of our earth and informs about the most important objects of our solar system. Starting from the sun, one walks through the solar system on a scale of 1 to 1 billion - every meter walked corresponds to 1 million kilometers in the solar system.
The distance of the path is 2.8 km and can be done in 1.5 to 2 hours. More information about the planet path on the website of the Geo-Naturpark Bergstraße-Odenwald.
Plane Tree Grove
On the occasion of the exhibition of the Artists’s Colony in 1914, the Platanenhain, a grove of plane trees planted in the 1830’s, was decorated by the sculptor Bernhard Hoetger with a row of sculptures and reliefs, which symbolise the circle of life.
Ice stadium Darmstadt
From late August to mid-March, the Eissporthalle in Bürgerpark Nord attracts many visitors to its 30 x 60 meter ice rink. Here you can slide, curve and dance. On Fridays, the ice rink becomes Disco on Ice.
The season ends at the beginning of April and starts again at the beginning of October.
Programmkino rex
The main focus of the cinema rex is a diverse range of arthouse productions. Mainly on Mondays, the rex shows a selection of the films in the original version with subtitles.
All rex cinemas can be reached barrier-free.
Darmstadt sculpture garden
The Darmstadt sculpture garden is a place of diverse encounters for art and garden lovers. Guests get an insight into the specific features of the artist's garden, which has been created on Ludwigshöhe in the past eighteen years: sculptures, sculptures, objects, installations, natural sculptures, found and collectibles with the surrounding ambience develop into a total work of art on a 4,000 m2 forest area.
Guided tours
The sculpture garden can only be visited with a tour. The tours serve to better understand the art project and its public appreciation.
Sunday tours from 20. June 20 to 14. November 2021
Sundays / public holidays, without registration
Rosenhoehe
The rose garden (Rosarium) with its enormous variety of roses is the centre of attention on the Rosenhoehe, which came into being under Landgrave Ernst Ludwig. The hill became a park as early as 1810, when Grand Duchess Wilhelmine created a landscaped garden, with pavilions, swings and a tea house. The Rosenhoehe, with its old and new mausoleums, is also the final resting place of the families of the grand dukes.
Bezirksbad Bessungen
The Bessunger Bezirksbad is a well-kept and cozy indoor swimming pool in the district of Bessungen, close to the Orangery garden in Darmstadt.
Partner of the DARMSTADT CARD:
reduced admission
TerminZoo Vivarium
Noisy monkeys, colourful birds, tropical fish and exotic reptiles are at home in natural enclosures, terrariums and aquariums. 2,000 exotic and native animals of 190 species live on 5 hectares. The walk-in kangaroo facility and the petting zoo with African pygmy goats offer close-up animal observation.
Participation in numerous national and international breeding programs underlines the conservation work in Darmstadt's zoo. Several important breeding groups of endangered reptile and mammal species live here.
The zoo school offers the opportunity to learn a lot of interesting facts about the animals. In the extracurricular learning location "Zoo Vivarium Darmstadt", the little guests experience biology lessons with all their senses - seeing, hearing, smelling and touching.
Tip:
Forest and meadow adventure path with barefoot path and discovery game in the zoo Vivarium
ShopGroßer Woog - Naturfreibad
The popular bathing lake is located in the center of the town and nevertheless forms an island of peace and seclusion. The "Großer Woog" is not only a place of rest and bathing pleasure. The nature paradise is also a meeting place for many waterfowl, such as Stockenten, Gießhühner and Great Blue Heron. The beautiful spacious park invites you to rest and linger.
The Woog was probably created as a quenching pond in the middle of the 16th century. Around the year 1820 he was first mentioned as a public bathing pond.
The entire ensemble, consisting of "family bath" and "island", is under monument protection. The functional building on the family pool side was rebuilt following the example of the "Frauenbad" ("womens' bath"), which was created in 1927/28, and was handed over to the public in 1994.
Swimming pool "Family Bath"
Landgraf-Georg-Str.121
Swimming pool "Island"
Heinrich-Fuhr-Str.20
The summer season for the Woog swimming pool is mid May to September.
In order to apply the necessary distance rules to the spatial conditions and to avoid queues at the ticket office, please buy a ticket in andvance in the Darmstadt Shop Luisencenter or online: darmstadt.de/darmstadt-erleben/freizeit/schwimmbaeder.
Partner of the DARMSTADT CARD:
reduced admission
Art Nouveau Bath
The "Darmstadt City Bath", built between 1907 and 1909, offered separate swimming pools for men and women as well as showers and bath tubs for people with no bathroom.
Following extensive renovation, the complex with its three wings and Art Nouveau decor is today a true wellness temple with swimming pool, outdoor pool, sauna and SPA.
Please book an e-ticket in advance to get guaranteed entry due to the limited number of visitors.
Ludwigshöhe
The Ludwigshöhe, also called Bessunger Hausberg, is a popular excursion destination in the south of Darmstadt.
Discovered as a destination at the beginning of the 19th century, the flow of visitors increased from year to year. After the construction of a small wooden temple, a massive inn was built in 1838, which was constantly rebuilt and expanded over the years. The excursion destination was crowned by the construction of a 27.5 m high lookout tower, the Ludwigsturm
Herrngarten
Initially laid out as a large vegetable garden, the Herrngarten became a baroque pleasure garden in the 17th century und later, in the 18th century under Countess Caroline, an English-style park. To the north-east, it borders on Prinz-Georgs-Garten, a Rococo-style complex in which fruit and vegetables can be found in between the trees and shrubs.
Orangerie
In 1716 Count Ernst Ludwig established a baroque orangery garden in Bessungen. His architect Louis Remy de la Fosse planned a small castle to be used as winter quarters for the valuable citrus trees. Lack of money meant that only the west wing and a greenhouse were built. These buildings are used today as a restaurant and as a venue for various events.
Citydome Darmstadt
The Darmstadt city centre cinemas offer space for 1,550 visitors in 13 cinemas, divided into the four cinema locations "Helia Kinos", "programmkino rex", "Festival" and "Pali". The cinema location is centrally located on Luisenplatz and can be reached by public transport (bus stop Luisenplatz) and very easy to reach by car. Public parking is available in the parking lot "Q-Park Grafenstrasse".
DSW-Freibad
The DSW-Freibad is located directly next to the Nordbad and is surrounded by a generous outdoor area. Its ten 50-meter tracks in the modern stainless steel basin and the water kept at constant 26 degrees makes it particularly interesting for athletic swimmers.
It is a popular training place for Darmstadt swim clubs and on summer weekends it' a frequent venue for some of the top-class swimming and water sports events.
Prinz-Georg-Garden
In 1764, Ludwig VIII gave the former Prettlackschen Garden to his son, Prince Georg Wilhelm. The garden, which bears his name, was of a closed geometric shape. Today the baroque garden house is home to the porcelain collection of the grand duchy. A free public library can be found in the prettily painted and renovated Prettlackschen garden house. The basic structure of the garden has remained unchanged over the centuries.
Alter Friedhof – the Old Cemetry
Known today as the "Alter Friedhof“, Darmstadt’s old cemetry between the Nieder-Ramstaedter-Straße and Herdweg dates back to 1828. Originally rectangular in shape, additions in 1848, 1873 and 1894 have led to its current form. The oldest tombstones are to be found in the northern part of the cemetry.
Darmstadt’s oldest graveyard was around the parish church (Stadtkirche) and was used until 1739. But soon there was no more space there and the Kapellplatz became the new cemetry. By the start of the 19th century, this too had no more room for burials. As a result, the city opted for a new cemetry in the Nieder-Ramstaedter-Strasse. In 1847, the cemetry on the Kapellplatz was turned into a public park.
Hochschulbad
The university stadium was one of the first university competition sites in Germany. It was established in 1928 and could be used by the population from the very beginning.
With a renovation by the Technical Universaty in 2009 and 2010 the swimming pool now visually resembles the original state of the 1920s. Both swimming pools are heated.
The swimming pool is open until 1. September.
Arheilger Mühlchen
The Arheilger Mühlchen in Darmstads northern district Arheilgen is idyllically located in the middle of the green corridor of the stream Ruthsenbach and away from traffic. The natural bathing lake has been used as a public swimming pool since 1924 and is an oasis for families with children as well as for those seeking peace. There is also a kiosk for guests' convenience.
In the small pond beside the Mühlchen which is overgrown with water lilies, fish-breeders and other water-birds are frequently observed. The old trees of the lovingly tended park provide the necessary shade on hot summer days. The holiday atmosphere of the bath is complemented by the changing rooms and showers, restored according to historical models.
In order to apply the necessary distance rules to the spatial conditions and to avoid queues at the ticket office, please buy a ticket in andvance in the Darmstadt Shop Luisencenter or online: darmstadt.de/darmstadt-erleben/freizeit/schwimmbaeder.
Winter break from September until April.
Eberstädter Mühltalbad
The Mühltalbad is located in Eberstadt, the southern part of Darmstadt, at the foot of Odenwald and Bergstraße with a wonderful view of the hill Frankenstein.
The bath was opened in July 1959 and offers as an architectural feature a large window front, from which one can observe the swimmers under water.
The bathroom is exclusively solar heated. There is also a kiosk for guests' convenience.
In order to apply the necessary distance rules to the spatial conditions and to avoid queues at the ticket office, please buy a ticket in andvance in the Darmstadt Shop Luisencenter or online: darmstadt.de/darmstadt-erleben/freizeit/schwimmbaeder.
The outdoor pool season will start in May and will finish in September.
Partner of the DARMSTADT CARD:
reduced admission
Messel Pit World Heritage Site
In 1995, the Messel pit was the first German natural monument in the list of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. It provides a unique insight into the early evolution of mammals and documents the development of the Earth 48 million years ago when, after the end of the dinosaur age, explosive changes determined the animal and plant world.
Several 10,000 fossils from the Eocene period have been excavated in the Maarvulkan Lake which was created 48 million years ago, and about 3,000 new finds are added annually. In addition to the high number and diversity of animal and plant fossils, their unique preservation of whole body skeletons, skin and coat shadows, feathers and stomach contents is particularly in the Messel pit.
Guided tours are held every day and invite visitors to discover this unique place. Anyone who visits this place will be amazed by the diversity of topics, which is also reflected in the permanent exhibition "Zeit und Messel Welten" (visitor centre). Here, industrial history, landscape, volcanism, rainforest and evolution are explained. The treasure chamber with several original finds also exerts a great fascination.
Botanic Garden of the Technical University Darmstadt
The botanic garden of the Technical University Darmstadt dates back to 1874. Visitors can experience hundred year old exotic trees, winding paths by the local stream as well as heather and alpine gardens and swampland. Between eight and nine thousand different varieties of plant can be found in more than 10 acres of open land and about 1300 square metres of greenhouse, many times more than the number of indigenous plants.
Steinbruecker Teich / Oberwaldhaus
The former forest of Darmstadt's nobility surrounding the large "Steinbruecker Teich" lake is a much-loved recreational area just outside the gates of the city. Mini-golf, pony rides, pedal boots and a playground for children with and without handicaps all await the vistor.
Since 1901, the café-restaurant Oberwaldhaus offers refreshments, a beergarden and also rooms for overnight guests.
Pony riding Oberwaldhaus: www.ponyhof-oberwaldhaus.de
Pony riding: for children from 3 to 5 years
Take a pony walk (a pony without a rider!): from 6 years
from March to October: Saturday / Sunday / Holidays: 12 pm to 6 pm
Only in dry weather, without registration.
Observatory Darmstadt
The observatory on Ludwigshöhe, a popular destination in southern Darmstadt and one of the highest points in the city, has existed since 1981. The building was built and expanded with a great deal of work, in large part by the club members themselves. The observation devices are distributed over a large roller roof platform and a dome. These include workshops, exhibition and group rooms, a lecture hall and an extensive library with over 600 volumes of astronomical literature.
Hofgut Oberfeld
The Hofgut Oberfeld is the last farm in the heart of Darmstadt. Many offers such as e.g. the Hofcafé and the farm shop, the Saisongärtel or the "Lernortbauernhof", an agricultural educational initiative at the Hofgut Oberfeld invite you to join in and experience.
The Hofcafé is open daily from 9 am and from 2 pm on public holidays (closed on Sundays)
The farm shop is open Mon-Fri from 9 am to 7 pm and on Saturday from 9 am to 4 pm.
Bread rolls at the bakery counter: Mon-Sun from 8 am. No bread roll sale on public holidays.
