Wiesbaden

Hesse’s state capital pairs grand spa architecture with natural hot springs and the elegant Kurhaus building. Budget travelers skip the spa fees and simply wander the free historic thermal fountains, the villa-lined avenues, and the Kurpark, all of which cost nothing. The climb to the Neroberg hilltop viewpoint is free on foot, and rooms here run cheaper than across the river in Frankfurt, which makes Wiesbaden an easy day base. Spring and early autumn bring mild weather and thinner crowds than the summer peak.