SAVE THIS for your Germany trip 🇩🇪
Most people only know Rothenburg or Heidelberg when they think “fairytale towns,” but Idstein (just 40 minutes from Frankfurt) is one of those hidden gems that hardly makes it to tourist lists which is exactly why you should go.
Here’s why Idstein is worth a detour ⬇️
✨ Less crowded, more authentic – Unlike Rothenburg, Idstein isn’t overrun with tour groups. You’ll find locals out shopping, cycling, or sipping coffee, which makes wandering here feel more real.
✨ Half-timbered houses with a story – The colors on the houses weren’t random — they were literal flexes of wealth and power. The brighter the paint, the richer the family.
✨ A mix of charm + dark history – Between flower-filled windows and cozy cafés sits the Witches’ Tower, where women accused of witchcraft were once imprisoned. Few towns balance beauty and history like this.
✨ Café culture done right – Skip the tourist traps and head to Café zum Löwen for their Black Forest Cherry Cake sundae. Pro tip: pair it with a cappuccino and sit outside if the weather’s nice.
✨ Easy accessibility – You don’t need a car. Direct trains from Frankfurt make this one of the easiest day trips from the city. If you’re driving, park at Schlossplatz, it’s free and right by the center.
Travel tip: Idstein pairs perfectly with Wiesbaden or Limburg if you want to make it a full day of exploring smaller German towns.
This isn’t just another fairytale stop, it’s a town where history, charm, and a little mystery all meet.
Would you add Idstein to your Germany itinerary?
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If you think fairy tales aren’t real, wait till you see this real life story book town just 40 minutes from Frankfurt. Welcome to Its Time, where every corner feels like it belongs to a postcard. The old town is lined with colorful halftimbered houses, many of which are over 400 years old. And get this, the red, yellow, and the blue paints weren’t just for fun. Back in the day, the colors were a status symbol showing how rich or important the owner was. The more colorful the house, the richer the owner. Stein is also famous for the crooked house which was built back in the 1700s and still standing strong and one of the most photographed buildings in town. You must stop by at Cafe Sum Lowen and have their housemade black forest cherry cake sundae that the locals swear by. It is full of houses with flower filled windows, cobblestone streets and a castle right in the middle of town. But it’s not just fairy tale and rainbows. The town holds a deadly secret that not many people know about. It has a witch’s tower that dates back to the 16th century and women accused of witchcraft were locked up in here. If you’re coming here by car, you can park at Schlloth Plats parking which is a free parking lot. Alternatively, you can also take a train from Frankfurt. Unlike a busy city like Frankfurt, it is so offbeat and rare, you can literally feel the magic of history. It’s just 40 minutes away from Frankfurt. So, don’t miss it. And of course follow me to know more such hidden gems around the