Located about 26 km (16 mi) south of Vienna, the municipality consists of cadastral areas Baden, Braiten, Gamingerhof, Leesdorf, Mitterberg, Rauhenstein, and Weikersdorf.

[5] Baden is located at the mouth of the Schwechat River's St Helena Valley (Helenental)[6] in the Vienna Woods (Wienerwald) range.

The nearby abbey of Heiligenkreuz's Romanesque church was constructed in the 11th century; it subsequently served as the burial place for members of the Babenberg family.

[9] The town was largely destroyed by a fire in 1812 but was excellently rebuilt[6] in a Biedermeier style according to plans by architect Joseph Kornhäusel, it is therefore sometimes referred to as the "Biedermeierstadt".

[7] In the 19th century, it was connected to the railway running between Vienna and Graz, which led to thousands of Viennese visiting each year to take the waters, including members of the imperial family, who constructed extensive villas nearby.

[8] The composer Ludwig van Beethoven stayed a number of times in Baden and his residences still form local tourist spots.

By the time of the First World War, Baden was Vienna's principal resort: 20 000 came each year, double the town's local population.