Bad Honnef – Rhine, hiking trails and history

Bad Honnef lies on the right bank of the Rhine, between the river and the Siebengebirge Nature Park, about 20 kilometres southeast of Bonn. The city is part of the Rhein-Sieg district. When planning your trip, you can choose from a range of starting points, including the river, hiking trails, Grafenwerth Island and historic sites in the districts. When comparing hotels, you might first consider whether you want to focus on hiking, cycling, the island or local history.

Hiking trails and cycling routes around Bad Honnef

The Rheinsteig runs right along the outskirts of Bad Honnef. A connecting route to the Rheinsteig leads from Rommersdorf. The route over Leyberg and Himmerich includes a basalt cone with views of the Siebengebirge and a viewpoint on Himmerich. The Rheinsteig’s location near the edge of the city and the named viewpoints along the Leyberg-Himmerich route therefore offer different points of reference for planning your outings. Bus services to the hiking routes around Bad Honnef run at regular intervals, which you can take into account when planning.

You can also use the direction of travel as a guide when cycling: the Rhine Cycle Route follows the river south towards Linz or Remagen and north towards Bonn. This gives you a choice of different destinations along the river. By comparison, the hiking routes mentioned lead to specific viewpoints or connect to the Rheinsteig.

Grafenwerth Island and routes into the city centre

Grafenwerth Island is Bad Honnef’s main city park. The island has accessible paths, playgrounds and open spaces. It lies in a protected landscape area that is home to rare animal and plant species. Its varied areas make Grafenwerth a destination in its own right, between the surrounding hiking and cycling routes and the city’s historic sites.

The Grafenwerth Bridge provides accessible access to the island. It connects with public transport and visitor parking, as well as with the city centre via footpaths and cycle paths. Built in 1911 and 1912, it is considered one of the oldest concrete structures in Germany and the world. It therefore combines a practical function, providing access to the island, with a remarkable history of construction.

Historic sites in Rhöndorf and Selhof

Rhöndorf’s historic centre includes half-timbered houses around Ziepchensplatz. Rhöndorf is also home to the Konrad Adenauer House, with a permanent exhibition about the life and work of the former Federal Chancellor. The streetscape and the exhibition offer two distinct ways to explore the district’s history: its ensemble of half-timbered houses and the story of a 20th-century political figure.

The area’s long history of settlement and religion can also be traced at individual sites. The earliest traces of St. John the Baptist date back to a basilica from the middle of the eighth century. A Jewish cemetery was established in Selhof in the 1660s. If you want to explore different historical themes, you can visit both a religious landmark and a site connected with Bad Honnef’s Jewish history.

The mineral springs mark further milestones in the town’s history. Honnef’s first mineral spring, the 249-metre-deep Drachenquelle, was drilled on 12 December 1897. A mineral spring drilled on Grafenwerth in 1938 helped Bad Honnef gain recognition as a spa town. The two dates mark different stages in the town’s development.

Bad Honnef in the Rhein-Sieg district

Four regions are relevant to tourism in the Rhein-Sieg district: the Siebengebirge, the Siegtal, the Bergisches Land and the Rhein-Voreifel region. At district level, the quality hiking trails Natursteig Sieg, Bergischer Weg and Rheinsteig are also listed as hiking options. Recreational cycling routes in the Rhein-Sieg district pass through natural and cultural landscapes and cater to leisure cyclists, sporty cyclists and e-bike riders. This regional context complements Bad Honnef’s specific points of reference without conflating them with the offerings of the district as a whole.

Discover more destinations: Meckenheim, Niederkassel, Troisdorf, Eitorf, Lohmar, Rheinbach, Swisttal, Adendorf

For the broader travel overview: Rhein-Sieg district.