2 Best Sights in Wiesbaden, The Rhineland

This impressive city museum offers a heady mix of natural history and fine art. The permanent Aesthetics of Nature exhibition is spread across the two floors and divided into four fascinating themes: Color, Form, Movement, and Time. Expect to learn about the functional white fur of polar bears, the swimming legs of crabs, the fossils left behind from when this region was a large sea, and much more. The art collection is spread across all three floors and includes everything from the figurative paintings of Dutch Old Masters to the abstract sculptures of European and American modernism. Look out for the bright, expressionist paintings of Russian artist Alexej Jawlensky, who lived in Wiesbaden for the last 20 years of his life, and don't miss the Jugenstil exhibit, featuring more than 500 magnificent Art Nouveau paintings, furnishings, and ornaments. Temporary exhibitions focus on art and culture from around the world. Don't miss the spectacular, gold-colored mosaics on the interior of the cupola, just to the left as you enter the museum.

Built in 1907, the neoclassical Kurhaus is the cultural center of the city—and it's home to this beautiful, grand casino. The Klassiches Spiel (table games area: roulette, blackjack, and poker) is a magnificent wood-paneled hall known for allowing very high stakes play; it's said to have been the inspiration for Dostoevsky's novel The Gambler. Jackets are required. To play here—or in the less formal Automatenspiel (slots) in the neighboring Kolonnade—you must be at least 18 (bring your passport).

Aside from the casino, the rest of the Kurhaus is given over to Thiersch-Saal, a splendid setting for concerts, and a Parisian-style bistro. The building is flanked by The Staatstheater (1894), appointed in baroque and rococo revival styles, and two beautifully landscaped parks—one with a boating pond.