Discover Bad Bentheim

Bad Bentheim offers a range of options for your stay: historic paths in the old town, hiking routes of varying lengths and thermal brine. When planning, it is worth treating these options as separate activities. That way, you can decide whether you are more interested in the history of the Stiegen, longer routes or an activity in warm water.

Stiegen, old town and sandstone

The historic Stiegen are a hallmark of Bad Bentheim’s old town. Their origins are connected to the growing settlement along the Bentheim ridge: paths between neighbors, as well as routes to a nearby well, meadows, fields and gardens at the foot of the hill, were cut into the rock. The Stiegen also tell the story of the everyday routes that shaped life on the ridge.

The “Through the Bentheim Stiegen” hiking route is 3.07 kilometers long. This makes it considerably shorter than the two longer sections of the Sandstone Trail. The Sandstone Museum is another cultural attraction in Bad Bentheim that complements the historic paths. It is generally open year-round from Wednesday to Sunday, 2:00–5:00 p.m.; it is closed in January, on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve. Check opening hours before your visit.

Hikes and trails through green spaces

The Sandstone Trail consists of two longer sections: the western section is about 18.2 kilometers long, and the eastern section about 17.3 kilometers. Compared with the 3.07-kilometer route through the Bentheim Stiegen, the difference in length is considerable. This information can help you tailor your hiking plans to your preferred distance without treating the two options as equivalent.

The Bentheim Forest, north of Bad Bentheim, also invites you to enjoy longer walks. It stretches around the spa center as far as the open-air theater. So, in addition to the two sections of the Sandstone Trail, woodland walks are another option. Which one you choose depends mainly on whether you prefer a longer hiking route or an extended walk.

Thermal brine, ceramics and exhibitions

The Bentheim Mineral Spa offers a different way to spend time outdoors: its thermal brine comes from a depth of 1,200 meters, making it possible to swim outdoors year-round in water heated to 29°C. This year-round option is quite different from hiking and walking; when planning your day, you can weigh up walking the trails against swimming in warm water.

At the Tonfuchs ceramics studio, you can take pottery classes with Kathi Bosink, a ceramic artist and coach. Classes have been offered since 2018 and are also suitable for beginners. As class offerings may change, check current availability before your visit. In Gildehaus, the Otto Pankok Museum presents three to four exhibitions each year. Together, the studio and the museum offer two different ways to engage with creative work and art.

The County of Bentheim as a wider regional setting

The County of Bentheim also offers its own regional perspective, distinct from the features of Bad Bentheim. The county’s landscapes alternate between heathland, raised and lowland bogs, wooded ridges and the Vechte river valley. The Itterbeck Heath is a nature reserve covering around 85 hectares. These landscapes add further themes to explore during a stay in the region, alongside local trails and cultural attractions.

Kunstwegen, an open-air museum stretching more than 180 kilometers through the Vechte Valley, showcases contemporary art, nature and history. More than 80 sculpture projects line the route, which also passes through Nordhorn. Museums there offer further points of interest: the Shipping Museum covers 350 m² and displays, among other things, historic ship models, nautical instruments, nautical charts and information about shipbuilding. The City Museum uses three heritage-listed industrial buildings for permanent and temporary exhibitions.

If you would like to explore the County of Bentheim by bike on a longer route, the main route of the Grafschafter Fietsentour is about 220 kilometers long and passes through every municipality in the district. Tourists staying overnight in the County of Bentheim can use the Grafschafter guest card to travel free of charge on buses and trains throughout the district. The guest card and its area of validity are therefore a regional consideration when planning your trip; check the current terms before traveling.

Discover more destinations: Laar, Getelo, Wilsum, Nordhorn, Itterbeck, Georgsdorf, Engden, Uelsen.

Return to the main travel overview: County of Bentheim.