Discover Bad Honnef: the Rhine, Grafenwerth and history

Bad Honnef lies between the Rhine and the Siebengebirge Nature Park, on the right bank of the Rhine in the Rhein-Sieg district and around 20 kilometres southeast of Bonn. The river, hiking trails and historic sites offer different ways to shape your stay. Visitors who want to explore the area on foot will find plenty of options, as will those interested in the history of Rhöndorf or the island of Grafenwerth.

When planning your stay, it is worth first considering which experiences you want to focus on: hiking and cycling, time in the city park or historical discoveries. These different themes can also help you choose accommodation to suit the kind of trip you have in mind.

Hiking trails and cycle tours around Bad Honnef

The Rheinsteig runs along the outskirts of Bad Honnef. A connecting trail leads to it from Rommersdorf. Another hiking option is the route via Leyberg and Himmerich, which features a basalt cone with views of the Siebengebirge and a lookout point at Himmerich. Hiking trails around Bad Honnef have bus connections at regular intervals—a useful consideration when planning a hike.

The Rhine Cycle Route also offers a clear choice of direction: it follows the Rhine south towards Linz or Remagen and north towards Bonn. Hiking and cycling are two different ways to experience the landscape. When choosing a route, you can base your decision on the activity you prefer and the destinations mentioned.

Grafenwerth: city park and island paths

The island of Grafenwerth is Bad Honnef’s main city park. The island has accessible walking paths, playgrounds and open spaces. This combination of amenities makes it a different kind of destination from the hiking trails on the outskirts: here, island paths and open-air space go hand in hand. The playgrounds are a practical point of reference when planning a visit with children.

The Grafenwerth Bridge provides step-free access to the island and connects it to public transport, visitor parking and walking and cycling routes to the town centre. The bridge itself also has a remarkable history: it was built in 1911 and 1912 and is described as one of the oldest concrete structures in Germany and worldwide. Grafenwerth is also located within a protected landscape area that is home to rare animal and plant species.

Rhöndorf and the history of Bad Honnef

In Rhöndorf’s historic centre, half-timbered houses stand around Ziepchensplatz. The Konrad Adenauer House is also located there, with a permanent exhibition about the life and work of the former Federal Chancellor. The exhibition adds a political and biographical dimension to the story of the town.

Bad Honnef’s history goes back a long way: the oldest traces of St. John the Baptist Church lead to a basilica dating from the mid-eighth century. The town’s development as a spa resort is also linked to its mineral springs. On 12 December 1897, Bad Honnef’s first mineral spring was drilled: the Drachen spring, at a depth of 249 metres. A mineral spring drilled on Grafenwerth in 1938 helped Bad Honnef gain recognition as a spa resort.

The town’s historic heritage also includes a Jewish cemetery, established in the Selhof district in the 1660s. Alongside the half-timbered houses in Rhöndorf, the church and the exhibition at the Adenauer House, this history takes different forms: in the townscape, religious architecture, remembrance and the historic use of mineral springs.

Bad Honnef within the wider Rhein-Sieg district destination

Four regions are particularly relevant to tourism in the Rhein-Sieg district: the Siebengebirge, the Sieg Valley, the Bergisches Land and the Rhine-Voreifel region. Hiking routes in the district include the Natursteig Sieg, the Bergischer Weg and the Rheinsteig. This gives the wider regional context; Bad Honnef’s local trails, the island of Grafenwerth and its historic sites each offer their own distinct focus.

If you are looking for accommodation, start by deciding whether hiking, cycling, Grafenwerth or local and cultural history will shape your stay. You can then tailor your search to the experiences that interest you most.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Meckenheim, Much, Wachtberg, Hennef, Königswinter, Niederkassel, Alfter, Adendorf.

Go to the wider travel guide: Rhein-Sieg district.