On 7th July in 1877 the first steamboat, appropriately named “Kissingen”, was delivered to the spa resort by train. Carl von Paschwitz, the designer and constructor of the “Reichsbahn”, had founded the “Steamboat Association” in Bad Kissingen the year before.

Everyone delights at the sight of the steamboat moving up the middle of the majestic Saale river on one of its hourly trips between the Rose Garden and the Saline.

A pleasant afternoon trip for families with children is a ride up the Saale to the Salinenblick Café, where you are not only served a wonderful variety of reasonably priced meals and snacks on the outdoor patio but can also take part in a round of “crazy golf”.

Bad Kissingen is situated in a basin and surrounded by many pretty small hills, all within walking reach of the town centre and most with their own restaurant and café, where you can sit in the beer garden and enjoy the fantastic views over the town. Choose from the “Jagdhaus” on Staffelsberg, “Café Sinnberg” on Sinnberg and “Wittelsbacher Turm” on the Scheinberg.

Bismarck basement – jazz

Enjoy an evening below the Bismarck Museum in the Bismarck Basement, where first-rate Jazz sessions are regularly held. The Bismarck Basement is the only smoke-free Jazz basement in Germany.