Top 15 Places to Visit in Darmstadt

Darmstadt is a lovely city in Hesse, Germany. With a population of around 150,000, this city is not as crowded as other major cities in Germany. Despite its small size and population, this city is known for its Football team SV Darmstadt 98, University ( TU Darmstadt) and many important companies like Deutsche Telecom, Software AG, Merck etc.

Darmstadt also holds an important place in the history of Hessen and Germany. For a couple of centuries, from the middle ages till the 20th century, Darmstadt was the state capital and the residence of the landgraves. This explains the presence of many historical structures and monuments in the city.

Luckily I live in this city and can visit all the important places leisurely. However, if you are visiting Darmstadt for the first time or want to include it in your holiday itinerary, you will find this list of Top 15 Places to Visit in Darmstadt helpful.

Before I start, let me give you details about how to reach Darmstadt, accommodation and how to travel within the city.

How to reach Darmstadt?

Darmstadt is located in the southern part of Hessen. It is well connected by bus and train to other major cities in Hessen. The central railway station in Darmstadt is called Darmstadt Hauptbahnhof. The Deutsche Bahn connects Darmstadt to other cities.

The closest big city is Frankfurt. Let’s say you are coming from Berlin and wish to reach Darmstadt; you can reach Frankfurt and, from there, take a train to Darmstadt.

You can book a train to Darmstadt Hauptbahnhof using the official website of Deutsche Bahn.

Where to stay in Darmstadt?

If you are in Darmstadt as a tourist, it is best to stay close to the city centre- near Hauptbahnhof or Luisenplatz. Most places to visit in Darmstadt are close to the city centre; therefore, you can avoid travelling on public transport by staying close to these places. However, even if you have to take public transport, the above locations are the best as they are well connected to other locations in Darmstadt.

You can book a stay of your choice using Booking.com’s official website

How to travel around the city?

You can either travel using public transport, which is very convenient. RMV is the company that operates public transport in Darmstadt. You can buy a ticket at the ticketing kiosks at the Bus/Tram stops or at the HEAG Mobilo office at the Central Railway Station ( Darmstadt Hauptbahnhof) or Luisenplatz.

You can also buy a combi ticket that allows you to use public transport and access some of the important sites in Darmstadt at reduced prices. You can check out the details here.

Alternatively, if you choose to travel on your own, you can either rent a car from Book-n-Drive or SIXT. If you wish to learn more about car rentals in Darmstadt, read about my experience here.

Now, let’s see the 15 Best places to visit in Darmstadt:

Top 15 Places to Visit in Darmstadt

1. Mathildenhöhe
   
   
   
   Mathildenhöhe is a UNESCO World Heritage site in Darmstadt and the most prominent landmark. It is the former artist’s colony and houses a couple of monuments like the Der Hochzeits­turm (the wedding tower), Aus­stel­lungsgebäude (Exhibition Building), Maria Magdalena Kirche(Church of St. Mary Magdalene) and houses of artists and architects and much more. You can stop by a small cafe in the Patananhein and enjoy the lovely vibes of this format artist’s colony. Read more about Mathildenhöhe here.
   
2. Residenzschloss
   
   
   
   Residenzschloss, often just called Schloss, is the former residence and administrative seat of the Grand Dukes of Hessen-Darmstadt. It is located in the centre of Darmstadt, just a few meters from Luisenplatz, the main market square of Darmstadt. You can visit the palace and the museum that is housed inside. Also, you can walk or relax in its gardens. During summer, you can visit the Biergarten, located inside, to enjoy the city’s lively atmosphere. Read more about Residenzschloss here.
   
3. Hessisches Landesmuseum
   
   
   
   Hessisches Landesmuseum is a large multidisciplinary museum in Darmstadt. This magnificent and impressive structure stands across the road from the Schloss. Here, you can see various mosaic works, models of prominent structures, a lovely stone collection, church collections, life-like dioramas, and fossil finds from a fossil site called Grube Messel, which is located a few kilometres from Darmstadt. Visiting this museum is a great learning experience and certainly an enjoyable one. Read more about Hessisches Landesmuseum here.
   
4. Ludwigskirche
   
   
   
   Ludwigskirche (St. Ludwig church)  is the main catholic church in Darmstadt. At the end of the boulevard of Wilhelminenstraße, one can find this striking structure in pink, with a dome that rises 35 meters high, making it a place that can’t go unnoticed. This structure, built in the early 19th century, is inspired by the Pantheon in Rome. Its massive pillars and vast dome give it a grand look. So, don’t miss it when in Darmstadt. Read more about Ludwigskirche here.
   
5. Grube Messel:
   
   
   
   Located about 10 km northwest of Darmstadt is Grube Messel-UNESCO World Natural Heritage site. It is the first of the three natural heritage sites in Germany. So far, more than 10,000 fossils from the Eocene period have been recovered from the Maar Lake, located at the site, and around 3,000 new finds are added every year. This place holds a treasure of information for history and science lovers. Read more about Grube Messel here.
   
6. Jagdschloss Kranischstein & Bioversum:
   
   
   
   Located just 5km northeast of Darmstadt is Bioversum- a museum and open-air laboratory and Jadgschloss-the- the former hunting lodge of Hessen’s landgraves. Here, you can see deer trophies, paintings, weapon collections, tapestries, and furniture. You can walk in the Schlossgarten (adjoining garden), visit the lake and enter the adjoining forest (Buchenwald) for a casual walk or hike. Read more about this place here.
   
7. Waldkunstpfad & Ludwigshöhe
   
   
   
   Located just 3.5 km south of Darmstadt City centre, the Waldkunstpfad is an open-air exhibition and home to many creative works by German and International artists, which have been put up on display.Ludwigshöhe, also known as Ludwigsturm ( Ludwig Tower ), is a 27.5 m high observation tower located close by. It was built in the late 19th Century and is named after the Grand Duke Ludwig I of Hessen. You can climb the tower or access the terrace to get lovely city views. Read more here.
   
8. City Center:Luisenplatz, Friedenplatz &Schlossplatz
   
   
   
   If you are in Darmstadt, visiting the city centre is a must. Historical structures, such as Ludwig’s statue, the white tower ( Der Weiße Turm) and the equestrian statue of Ludwig IV, adorn this place. This place is always buzzing with activity and is where important fests such as Heinerfest, Schlossgrabenfest & the Christmas market are held. Read more about Luisenplatz, Friedenplatz and Der Weiße Turm.
   
9. Herrngarten & Prinz Georg Garten
   
   
   
   Herrngarten is the largest and oldest park in Darmstadt, Germany. It was created in the 16th century by merging three big gardens with several smaller ones. Its location right in the heart of the city makes it easy to reach and access. It is a big garden with important historic structures, a cafe, and a man-made lake. It is connected to Prinz Georg Garten, which has beautiful lawns with ornamental flowers, and vegetables. It also houses Prinz-Georg-Palais ( which has a collection of ceramic and porcelain products ) and Das Prettlack’sche Gartenhaus (which houses a library). Read more about Herrngarten and Prinz Georg Garten.
   
10. Park Rosenhöhe
    
    
    
    Park Rosenhöhe is a beautiful historic park on a hill in eastern Darmstadt, Germany. Because of its rich past, this park serves as more than just a green space for relaxation and leisure. It is also a historical site with many places of interest for history lovers. Some notable structures are the Lion Gate, The palace gate, the old and new mausoleums, and the Spanish Tower. In June, the roses in this garden bloom and make it look absolutely amazing. Read more about Park Rosenhöhe here.
    
11. Steinbrücker Teich & Oberwaldhaus
    
    
    
    Der Steinbrücker Teich ( Steinbrücker Pond) is an artificial pond and a popular site located about 11 km from the city centre. One can easily spend half a day here boating, walking along the pond or at Minigolf, the children’s play area or Oberwaldhaus-a beautiful, old-style house at the pond’s edge that functions as a cafe, Biergarten, and restaurant. Read more about this location here.
    
12. Großer Woog
    
    
    
    To the east of Darmstadt lies the Großer Woog– a natural outdoor swimming pool. It is a 5.7 hectares lake with an average depth of 2 meters. Although close to the city’s centre, this lake is calm and secluded. You can swim, dive or relax on the island (das Inselbad), with sunbathing lawns, a children’s playground, a volleyball court, a slide, and a shallow beach. Here, rowing boats and sun loungers are available for hire. Read more about Großer Woog here.
    
13. Waldspirale
    
    
    
    Located about 2.5 kilometres from Darmstadt city centre is The Waldspirale – a residential building complex designed by Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser. The distinguishing feature of this building is its unique facade. Unlike other apartments, it is not uniform and symmetrical. It looks irregular and doesn’t follow a specific pattern. Do have a look at this piece of art when in Darmstadt. Read more about Waldspirale here.
    
14. ESOC and EUMETSAT
    
    
    
    Headquartered in Darmstadt, EUMETSAT (European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites) boasts of an impressive and state-of-the-art campus from which weather data is collected and used for weather forecasting and environmental monitoring. A few kilometres away is ESOC (European Space Operations Center), which takes care of the design and control of space missions. Visitors are allowed to visit the campus, the control room etc. Read more about these locations and how to visit them here.
    
15. Staatstheater & Theater Mollerhaus
    
    
    
    The Staatstheater, is a multi-genre theatre house in Darmstadt. It is the biggest and organises shows and plays frequently. Adjacent to it is Theater Mollerhaus, where you can see plays by children. Buy a ticket for a show and visit this important place in Darmstadt. Read more about it here.

Here is a summary of the top 15 places to visit in Darmstadt, Germany:

1. Mathildenhöhe
2. Residenzschloss
3. Hessisches Landesmuseum
4. Ludwigskirche
5. Grube Messel
6. Jagdschloss Kranischstein & Bioversum
7. Waldkunstpfad & Ludwigshöhe
8. City Center:Luisenplatz, Friedenplatz &Schlossplatz
9. Herrngarten & Prinz Georg Garten
10. Park Rosenhöhe
11. Steinbrücker Teich & Oberwaldhaus
12. Großer Woog
13. Waldspirale
14. ESOC and EUMETSAT
15. Staatstheater & Theater Mollerhaus

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