Darmstadt Car Hire

Guide to Darmstadt

Geography

This Upper Rhine Plain city is between Frankfurt to the north and Basel to the south on the Rhine River. Southeastern Darmstadt is situated in the Odenwald, a low mountain region in southern Hesse that lies between the Main and Neckar rivers.

Climate in Darmstadt

The warm climate of southern Hesse is well-known for allowing large-scale wine production in the area south of Darmstadt. Summers are hot and humid, with frequent thunderstorms, while winters are moderate with regular spells of thick fog. The weather is frequently unpredictable. In January and February, snowfall is most common, however, mild winters without much snowfall are possible.

Culture

As part of the Mathildenhöhe, the Darmstadt artists' colony and the Russian Chapel in Darmstadt have been designated World Heritage Sites by UNESCO for their significance in Jugendstil art and architecture.

Things To Do in Darmstadt

Explore the magnificent Hessisches Landesmuseum

The Landesmuseum, one of Germany's biggest museums, is a must-see for art lovers. Alfred Messel created this exquisite neoclassical museum, which is almost a century old. Natural history, ancient archaeology, and contemporary art are among the exhibitions on display. Highlights include Eocene Epoch fossils, the 1410s Ortenberg Altarpiece, and Peter Brueghel the Elder's renowned oil-on-wood panel painting called 'The Magpie on the Gallows.' Collections of Art Nouveau from several European nations are also on show. In addition, the museum includes a wonderful café in its basement that serves refreshments.

Visit the Mathildenhöhe Darmstadt

Ernst Ludwig, Grand Duke of Hesse, founded the Darmstadt Artists Colony in 1897 as a centre for rising reform movements in art, culture, and architecture. This UNESCO World Heritage Site, which was renovated in the 1980s and 1990s, draws thousands of tourists each year. Ludwig commissioned leading members of Germany's Jugendstil (art nouveau) Movement, such as Hans Christiansen, Peter Behren, and Joseph Maria Olbrich, to create residences, studios, and monuments for four international exhibits held over a 13-year period. The 50-meter-tall Hochzeitsturm, or Wedding Tower, was created by Olbrich to commemorate Ludwig's marriage to Princess Eleonore of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich. Inside the tower, the magnificently furnished Room of the Grand Duchess is periodically rented out for weddings. A stylised viewing deck distributed over the tower's five looping gables is thought to represent Ludwig's hand.

Go for a stroll at Parc de Rosenhoehe

Park Rosenhoehe, located on a hill on the city's eastern outskirts, is a 19th-century park with stunning planted gardens, pavilions, and antique mausoleums. The Rosarium, constructed by Ernst Ludwig, is the park's showpiece, with over 200 rose species flowering from June to November. He also built graves in honour of his parents here. The park now even boasts two biodegradable toilets. A walk in the early evening will certainly lift your spirits.

Eating Out in Darmstadt

Darmstadt boasts various restaurants that serve traditional German food as well as other gourmet delights. Here are a few of our favourites. The Sitte is a century-old enterprise that serves as a restaurant as well as a brewery. Traditional menu items such as tafelspitz (boiled beef Viennese style), Hesse potato soup, and vesperteller (cold dish) will appeal to you from their extensive and delectable menu. Haroun’s is another well-known restaurant serving Middle Eastern food. Their kebabs, meze platters, and wok-cooked lamb will keep you very satisfied. Enchilada Darmstadt is a Mexican restaurant that is open till late at night. It is one of the most popular restaurants in town, serving delicious meals at reasonable prices.

Transport

Airport

Darmstadt is serviced by Frankfurt Airport, which is 20.8 kilometres away. When you arrive in Frankfurt, you may take the HEAG Airliner (a bus route) straight to Darmstadt.

Getting Around Darmstadt

Darmstadt's public transportation system includes bus, rail, and tram lines that connect to the larger Rhine-Main region network. In the central city, main bus lines often overlap routes with tram lines, and both are typically accessible at half-hour intervals. Bicycles may also be used to navigate about the city since most major streets have bike lanes. Many visitors also opt to hire a car to explore the surrounding countryside or if they’re travelling in a larger group as it works out to be most cost-effective and offers more flexibility