Things to do in Darmstadt

Top Things to Do in Darmstadt, Germany - Darmstadt Attractions

Things to Do in Darmstadt


Book these experiences for a closer look at the region.

Top Attractions in Darmstadt

These rankings are informed by traveller reviews—we consider the quality, quantity, recency, consistency of reviews, and the number of page views over time.

Learn more about this content
Tours, activities and experiences bookable on Tripadvisor, ranked using exclusive Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, popularity, user preferences, price, and bookings made through Tripadvisor.

What travellers are saying

  • Vadim
    Murmansk, Russia26,794 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The artists' colony on Matilda Hill was included in the UNESCO list 2 years ago. Looking at this green-covered hill, you will not immediately see 23 objects that have become the World Heritage of Mankind. Of course, it is not difficult to see the Wedding Tower and the Exhibition Hall of Joseph Olbrich, erected in 1908, and the Orthodox Church of St. Mary Magdalene, reflected in the lily pool created by Albin Muller in 1914. But all the other objects hid in the trees on the right. These are Sycamore Grove (1833, 1904-1914), ), Gottfried Schwab Memorial (1905), Pergola and Garden (1914), Garden Pavilion "Swan Temple" (1914), Ernst Ludwig Fountain and 13 houses and workshops of artists. This was the idea of the last Duke of Hesse, Ernst Ludwig, to invite the leading intelligentsia to raise his duchy, which entered the German Empire in 1871. The idea is not new. So the Netherlands rose due to the immigration of the persecuted Jews of Spain and Portugal in the XV-XVI centuries, or Prussia at the expense of the French Huguenots in the XVII century. However, no one expelled the seven modernist artists. The aim of the artists was to design modern housing. A little later, the German Bauhaus, Corbusier and Soviet constructivism will do this. However, of the seven, only Josef Olbrich had an architect's diploma. Self-taught architects presented their projects at exhibitions here. Due to the uneven composition of the participants, exhibitions sometimes ended in failure. The first stage consisted of 9 houses . Two of the nine houses of the first stage were completely destroyed on the night of September 11-12, 1944, when 226 Lancasters of the Royal Air Force burned down the entire city center, while not destroying the chemical plants declared the target of the bombing. After the war, both houses were not restored. The damaged houses of Peter Behrens, Josef Olbrich and Ludwig Habich were rebuilt in 1951-1952. Their interior is irretrievably lost. Thus, only 4 houses were preserved. We arrived at half past five, so we didn't get anywhere, limiting ourselves to an external inspection.
    Written 12 November 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Sue
    Menai Bridge, UK63 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Very well laid out museum. The guide at the front desk explained about each room to us, such a lovely lady. Had a lovely cup of tea and yummy apple strudel in the cafe at the end … Really worth a visit
    Written 10 January 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • AshMaC
    11 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    This is a great church. Patriarchal looking after this cathedral in all aspects, cleaning very best.
    Written 15 October 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • David M
    Minneapolis, MN289 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    This is a beautiful park on the highest hill inside Darmstadt. The most amazing thing about it is that it is free! Which is shocking based on the level of maintenance and upkeep on the grounds. If you are a fan of roses, this is the place for you with many, many varieties that are all labeled. Lucky for us, we were there at the peak (or slightly after) of the summer blooming season. Many interesting buildings and walks. Contains little cottages for artists in residence. Great views and refreshing breezes. Perhaps most unexpected were the giant Sequoias that apparently had be planted in 19th century and are pretty big, but not yet giants.
    Written 21 June 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Afia Sharin
    Munich, Germany107 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Yes, it should be like a painting as in fact some Austrian artist designed it not an architect. As it's an existing residential building you won't be able to go inside but you will be able to go around and witness all the curved lines and shapes weird windows and columns. Good place to visit for the people who have interest in architecture.
    Written 16 November 2018
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Rudy B
    Ocean City, MD720 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    My German wasn’t good enough to really enjoy the show, but it was a good time being with my wife’s family. We ate at the restaurant that’s attached to the playhouse and the food was okay. Nothing rememberable, but it was my mother in-law’s 80th birthday and she was having a good time. The crowd seemed to enjoy the performance and the show is good for all ages. I recommend going here.
    Written 8 March 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Ortwin
    Breda, The Netherlands991 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    The palace has only been a residence and the actual size of it never fitted what the archduke originally possessed. Plus it had to be rebuilt after WWII, so what you see is merely a copy of how it was or might have been.
    Still the guided tour, which is the only way to visit the museum, brings you through several rooms that are fitted and decorated in a historical manner so that you will be guided through history. From the 16th century up to the 1920s. The guide has an excellent and interesting story which the entourage, paintings and furniture support. A very interesting hour wandering through four centuries of Hesse-Darmstadt reign, marriages and lifestyle.
    The tour can only be taken on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, so plan your visit.
    Written 28 October 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • stefan paul M
    Redhill, UK35 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    The vivarium is a nice little zoo, a few minutes away from city centre by bus number K or KU, close to nice walking trails in the odenwald. There are lots of small animals, birds and reptiles to be seen. If you lucky a peacock might be walking behind you. As children it was a must on a school trip in primary school time. In spring and summer it is a busy location.
    Written 20 April 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • teichmeister
    Darmstadt, Germany235 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    ...fresh air during a 30 min. walk in the forest...some cultural impressions....and the best is ..at the beginning and the end of the pathway you find a place to sit down and relax and take a nip or more, even in the Restaurant Bölle or at the top of the hill at the Ludwigsturm.

    Final remark: take care about those wild pigs living in this forest..particularly in springtime they are on the run while lots of People enter the forest to have a walk....best advice is to run up the hill in 90° angle to the boars.
    Written 3 February 2015
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Annushka01
    Moscow, Russia39 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nice farm, very clean and well taken care of. Excellent if you travel with kids and they want to run and have fun a bit. The food at the cafe was delicious, the only thing I regret is that I wasn't able to buy anything at the supermarket on Sunday. I still can't understand why all shops in Germany are closed on that day....for Russians it's ridiculous...
    Written 30 December 2016
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Vadim
    Murmansk, Russia26,794 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    In addition to the official tower has an unofficial name "Tower with five fingers". The name Wedding Tower dates back to the wedding of Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig and Princess Eleonora zu Solms-Hohenzolms-Lich in 1905. No, he didn't get married in the tower, but he wanted something to remind the city of his wedding all the time. Or maybe the motive was the same one that Freudians explain the construction of skyscrapers. Also, at first they were in the same style - Art Deco (Jugendstil or Secession), as anyone wants to call it. The Grand Duke entrusted the construction of the tower to the Viennese architect Josef Maria Olbrich, the only one from the local colony of artists who had an architect's diploma. The 48-meter hand-shaped tower was erected in 1908. The north side of the tower is decorated with a golden tower clock, on the reverse side - a sundial. There's the south! Four semi-naked female figures on the facade symbolize the declared virtues of a pair of grand dukes: strength, wisdom, justice and gentleness. The tower has seven multi-level floors. For example, the "Grand Duke's Room" with a vaulted ceiling on the 4th floor has a height of about seven meters. Solemn weddings of Darmstadt residents take place here, so the name is not only historical, but also relevant. I hope that couples who marry here can also boast of the ducal virtues displayed on the facade. ..
    Written 12 November 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • David M
    Minneapolis, MN289 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    This is a pleasant little private park that winds its way around a big house that is an artist colony - I think. Or meditation center or something. But the short walk through the garden to see all the water features on a hot day was really fun and refreshing. It is also FREE and I didn't even see anything for a donation jar or I would have left one.
    Written 21 June 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions about Darmstadt