When the crowds thin along the Rhine, the real texture of Bad Honnef emerges in its lesser‑known footpaths. A short detour from the main riverfront leads to the quiet lanes of Oberkassel, where half‑timbered houses line narrow alleys that date back to the early 19th century. Here, locals still gather at the weekly farmer’s market, offering regional cheeses and freshly pressed apple cider. The route climbs gently onto the Hintere Drachenpfad, a trail less trodden than the popular Drachenfels climb, rewarding hikers with panoramic views of the Sieg valley and a glimpse of the volcanic origins of the Siebengebirge. Pack a picnic, as the modest hilltop cafés are often full, and you’ll discover a side of Bad Honnef that feels more like a lived‑in village than a tourist stop.
Bad Honnof’s reputation as a spa town rests on more than its historic bathhouses; it’s also a hub for contemporary wellness practices that blend tradition with modernity. Many of the town’s smaller Kneipp facilities still use the original water‑circulation system, allowing guests to alternate between warm mineral pools and cool forest streams in a ritual that stimulates circulation. In recent years, a network of yoga studios has opened in repurposed factory lofts, offering sunrise sessions that overlook the river’s mist. Seasonal health festivals, organised by the local university’s kinesiology department, showcase cutting‑edge physiotherapy research alongside artisanal spa products, giving visitors an authentic taste of the town’s evolving approach to well‑being.
Bad Honnef’s connectivity makes it an attractive base for a multi‑city weekend itinerary. The regional rail line links the town to Cologne and Bonn in under thirty minutes, meaning you can enjoy a night in Bad Honnef’s quiet streets and then hop on a morning train to explore Cologne’s cathedral or Bonn’s Beethoven heritage. The same line also serves the small stops of Königswinter and Linz, where you can catch river ferries that glide past the Rhine’s steep vineyards. For cyclists, the Rheinradweg trail runs parallel to the tracks, offering a seamless transition from train to bike without the need for car hire. This blend of rail efficiency and gentle countryside makes Bad Honnef a pragmatic yet pleasant gateway to western Germany.
Town in North Rhine-Westphalia, GermanyBad Honnef TownBad Honnef seen from the Drachenfels Coat of armsLocation of Bad Honnef within Rhein-Sieg-Kreis district Location of Bad HonnefBad Honnef Show map of GermanyBad Honnef Show map of North Rhine-WestphaliaCoordinates: 50°38′42″N 7°13′37″E / 50.64500°N 7.22694°E / 50.64500; 7.22694CountryGermanyStateNorth Rhine-WestphaliaAdmin. regionKöln DistrictRhein-Sieg-Kreis Subdivisions20Government • Mayor (2025–30) Philipp HerzogArea • Total48.17 km2 (18.60 sq mi)Highest elevation455 m (1,493 ft)Lowest elevation53 m (174 ft)Population (2024-12-31) • Total25,061 • Density520.3/km2 (1,347/sq mi)Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET) • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)Postal codes53604Dialling codes02224Vehicle registrationSUWebsitewww.bad-honnef.de Bad Honnef (German pronunciation: [baːt ˈhɔnɛf] ⓘ) is a spa town in Germany near Bonn in the Rhein-Sieg district, North Rhine-Westphalia. It is located on the border of the neighbouring state Rhineland-Palatinate. To the north it lies on the slopes of the Drachenfels (“Dragon's Rock”) mountain, part of the Siebengebirge. Honnef, Aerial view
[edit] Bad Honnef is home to a mineral spring called the Drachenquelle ("Dragon Spring") which was discovered in 1897. This discovery led to Honnef, as the town was called at the time, transforming from a wine-growing town to a spa town, adding the prefix Bad to its name. The mineral spring has been used for both drinking and bathing, and its existence has historically been a big draw for visitors including Queen Sophie of Sweden, who visited from 1892 to 1906. Bad Honnef includes several districts, such as Aegidienberg, Rhöndorf, and Lohfelderfähre, which is located near the Rhine ferry crossing to Rolandseck. During his term as first chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany (then West Germany), Konrad Adenauer lived (and died) in Bad Honnef, as it was near Bonn, then the capital of the republic. Also, German politician and leader of the Free Democratic Party Guido Westerwelle was born in Bad Honnef. Since the 1980s Bad Honnef has developed into an important place for conferences in Germany. Because of the close proximity to the still internationally important Federal City of Bonn, a number federal institutions used to be located in Bad Honnef. A number of important politicians, such as Willy Brandt and Konrad Adenauer, lived in Bad Honnef while active in politics. The head office of the Nationalpark Siebengebirge project was also planned to be in Bad Honnef; however the project was rejected in a referendum on 27 September 2009. Bad Honnef has the highest purchasing power of all towns in North Rhine-Westphalia; its percentage of millionaires is also one of the highest. With 26.5% it has one of the highest percentage populations over 65 years old in North Rhine-Westphalia.
[edit] City council[edit] After the 2025 local elections, the Bad Honnef city council is composed as follows: Party Votes % +/- Seats +/- Christian Democratic Union (CDU) 5,406 42.2 9.6 17 7 Alliance 90/The Greens (Grüne) 2,663 20.8 7.5 8 1 Social Democratic Party (SPD) 1,694 13.2 4.5 5 1 Citizens' Block Bad Honnef e.V. (BB) 1,401 10.9 4.4 4 1 Volt (Volt) 565 4.4 New 2 New Alternative for Germany (AfD) 551 4.3 New 2 New Free Democratic Party (FDP) 546 4.3 2.0 2 ±0 Valid votes 12,826 98.7 Invalid votes 176 1.4 Total 13,002 100.0 40 8 Electorate/voter turnout 20,497 63.4 Source: City of Bad Honnef Mayors[edit] Term of office Mayors 1862–1876 Clemens Joseph Adams (1831–1876) 1877–1889 Aloys Hubert Schumacher 1889–1907 Theodor Waechter 1907–1919 Peter Joseph Brenig 1919–1929 Albert Berns 1929–1933 Alfred von Reumont (1898–1984) 1933–1934 Heinrich Behr 1934–1935 temporary von Wittich 1935–1945 Johannes „Hans“ Schloemer 1945–1946 Heinrich Goertz 1946–1949 Jakob Mölbert 1949–1952 Peter Rustemeyer 1952–1962 Jakob Mölbert 1962–1964 Albert Weidenbach 1964–1972 Jakob Mölbert 1972–1982 Franz Josef Kayser (1928–2015) 1982–1990 Werner Osterbrink 1990–1999 Franz Josef Kayser 1999–2004 Hans-Peter Brassel 2004–2014 Wally Feiden (born 1940) 2014–2025 Otto Neuhoff since 2025 Philipp Herzog
[edit] See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany Bad Honnef is twinned with: Berck, France Cadenabbia (Griante), Italy Ludvika, Sweden Wittichenau, Germany
[edit] Curt Haase (1881–1943), general in World War II Boris Papandopulo (1906–1991), composer and conductor Franz Brungs (born 1936), football player and coach Peter Frankenberg (born 1947), professor and politician (CDU), minister in Baden-Württemberg Peter Hintze (1950–2016), politician (CDU), 2013–2016 Vice-President of the Bundestag Guido Westerwelle (1961–2016), politician (FDP), Foreign Minister and Vice Chancellor of Germany (2009–2013) Sydney Lohmann (born 2000), football player for the Germany national team Alfred Nourney (1892–1972), socialite and Titanic survivor