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City in Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Photo: Rudolf Stricker, Attribution via Wikimedia Commons
Heidelberg is a jewel among German travel destinations. Heidelberg has retained its baroque charm of narrow streets, picturesque houses and of course the world-famous Schloss (castle ruins). It is home to the oldest university in Germany (est. 1386).
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Hauptstraße is the main street, which leads from Bismarckplatz across the old town. Approximately 1.6 km in length, it is reputedly the longest pedestrian shopping street in Germany.
The castle is above the old town, south of the river, and can be reached by mountain railway (included in the ticket price) or staircase. An audio guide tour of the castle and its grounds is available for a fee near the entrance. It is available in several languages, including English. There is also a statue to the German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe in the castle gardens. The castle grounds are free to visit, and offer a great view of the city and river.
Dokumentations- und Kulturzentrum Deutscher Sinti und Roma
Street on the northern side of the city. It provides a wonderful view across the oldest part of the city. Here you can find the site of the famous Merian Stich, an engraving that is a popular illustration of Heidelberg.
The Heiligenberg mountain, north of the river, boasts a wonderful view over the old town. Also on the Heiligenberg are the remnants of a wall ancient Celts built to keep Germanic tribes out, the Heidenloch, a deep well with unknown origins, and the ruins of the 10th-century cloister St. Michael.
The Thingstätte on top of Heiligenberg (an open-air theatre built by the Nazi regime in 1934 to host propaganda events)
Palatinate Museum
This city-run museum contains interesting exhibits of items from Heidelberg's pre-history to modern times, and a fine-art collection. Audio guide available, including in English
The old university in the old city.
The university has its own museum, in the main building of the old campus. Visitors are able to view the Great Hall (when not in use), and the former "student jail".
The old armoury is now a student cafeteria (open to the public and offering good food and drinks at reasonable prices).
2 hectares of gardens, with a primary focus on its greenhouse collections (4000 m² total area), with strengths in succulents, orchids, and bromeliads.
It has 1712 Baroque construction with modern touches inside.
The Heiliggeistkirche (Church of the Holy Spirit) is only one of many large and small churches, but definitely the one with the most interesting history. During the Dark Ages, it was the shelter of the Bibliotheca Palatina, Germany's oldest library. The Bibliotheca was stolen and brought to Rome but eventually returned in pieces. Today, parts of it can be visited in the University Library (also the oldest and probably the most valuable of its kind in Germany), which is situated close to the old university. You can get a great view of the Heiliggeistkirche, Old Town, and the Neckar river bridge from the castle (Schloss Heidelberg).
Old Bridge, Alte Brücke
Bridge constructed in 1788.
Theater und Orchester Heidelberg
Large theatre house, home also to the philharmonic orchestra. Concerts, music theatre, dance and other performances.
Germany's oldest private theatre.
One of the progressive culture center in the east-end of the old city.
Hosting concerts and exhibitions in a converted warehouse. The area used to be one of the barracks of US Army.
568 m (1560 ft) high, 450 m (1480 ft) above Heidelberg, is a nice option to escape the hustle and bustle of Heidelberg downtown. The mountain top of Königstuhl offers a nice view over Heidelberg and the Rhine Valley. In good weather conditions you can see the Northern Black Forest. The same funicular railway that carries visitors to the castle continues to the mountain top. You will have to change trains once—the final one to the top is a historical wooden funicular train. (A separate fare is required for the historical funicular.) On the top you can have a look at the more-than-100-year-old engine that just pulled you up. (No worries—made in Germany!)
If you feel more energetic, you can take the Himmelsleiter (Heaven's Ladder or Sky Ladder) – a stairway of 1200 steps winding up 270 meters (890 ft) up to Königstuhl. It ends 10 meters east of the mountain top funicular station. The lower end of stairs is just above the castle, but a bit hidden.
The Tourist Information centre at the rail station has a wide range of information. Whether you need a room, tickets for city tours and the castle, ideas for things to do or are simply looking for souvenirs.
Mid-sized bowling alley with beer garden,. String-bowling, but still good for a few games with friends. Drinks are fairly reasonably priced though choice in beer is not massive, but it is a bowling alley.
Maybe the most beautiful university canteen in Germany, offering food and beer at low prices in a historic building and a beer garden! Everybody is welcome, 'outsiders' need to pay cash. Open till 21:00, closed on Sunday.
Bakery and cafe.
A seemingly little-known, but great sushi place (also serves Korean food).
Restaurant BrunnenStube
Nice restaurant with modern German cuisine and moderate prices. Great fish, lamb and many seasonal specials. Patio dining in summer.
Maybe the most beautiful University Canteen in Germany and maybe also Heidelberg's cheapest beer garden. Serving Welde-Beer (the beer with screwed bottle necks and answering on any question.) Everybody is welcome, Open till late.
Vetter´s Alt Heidelberger Brauhaus
Vetter's is famous for brewing one of the strongest beers in world (Vetter 33). Also does food.
Small brewery.
Small but highly recommended. Tuesday night the odds are high to find the Mohr besieged by medical students.
The latter boasts a huge collection of absinthe, whiskeys and whiskys, as well as a very distinctive atmosphere.
There is a tree in the center of the establishment.
An Irish pub north of the river, just over the bridge from Bisi (Bismarckplatz).
A good Irish pub.
A great place to chill, drink, and smoke.
A very relaxed and chill place to enjoy a drink and party.
Great place to party. It's a B.Y.O.A. (Bring your own alcohol) and you can crash anywhere in the house.
Friendly bar on Haspelgasse, just opposite the old bridge. Good crowd and all staff also speak fluent English.
If you are looking for coffee rather than alcohol, Star Coffee has two branches, one off Bismarckplatz and the other on the Hauptstraße, serving a variety of coffees and offering free Wi-Fi access.
Fewer computers but more style are found in the two Moro Cafes, directly at the Alte Brücke and one on the Hauptstraße.
Jugendherberge Heildelberg
Large well maintained hostel, on the eastern bank of the Neckar River, 25 min walk away from the central rail station. Public transportation: take bus 32 from central rail station towards north (Sportzentrum Nord), get off at Jugendherberge stop. Dorms from €28.30 including breakfast and linen, various concession apply. Towels can be rented from the reception for additional €2.
In the suburb of Boxberg about a 15-minute taxi ride from central Heidelberg. Fitted out in the Bauhaus style the rooms are comfortable enough (and the bathrooms are excellent) but there is nothing to do in Boxberg.
A nice, quiet, reasonably priced hotel in the suburb of Schriesheim, a short tram ride north of Heidelberg. Schriesheim is built on a hill so if you are hitting the clubs, don't forget about the late 30 min. night walk up the hill from the tram stop (Schriesheim Bahnhof).
The opposite of what the words "B&B" usually mean – it's new, efficient and impersonal. About 1 km from the station in the direction away from the old town (it's walkable), in an industrial zone (across from a car dealership, between a NATO installation and a disused rail line), this concrete box with a free parking lot provides surprisingly quiet, modern rooms with all amenities (including free Wi-Fi). For truly sociofobic (or after midnight) it is even possible to check in without interacting with staff – a terminal in the lobby will take your credit card and issue the code for opening your room door; when it's time to leave, there's no key to turn in. If bed (comfortable) and breakfast (uninspired; €8) is indeed all you're after, this is the place. Don't believe Google Maps – they will send you to the wrong end of Rudolf-Diesel St., and eat in town before heading home – there are no decent restaurants around.
Small cozy hostel with a home-like feeling to it.
The Ritter is the oldest building (1592) in Heidelberg that has outlasted all fires and wars that have haunted the city over the times. It can get a little noisy considering its location directly at the heart of the Altstadt. Also a picturesque photo opportunity.
This was revamped in 2005 as a boutique hotel. Each room is modeled after a famous city, the most interesting room being the Zermatt (for Heidi and skiing fans).
In the west of Heidelberg's center. 3 star hotel with a restaurant, breakfast buffet, terrace, garden, WiFi, bicycles for guests, free parking, various international TV channels. Easily reachable by car and public transportation.
1 km west of the edge of the Altstadt, in an old brewery. However it's been totally renovated and fitted out in a modernist decor, all glass, wood floors and exposed metal. Some of the rooms are very pleasant, though the ones overlooking the main road can be noisy. Food in the bar is disappointing.
A fairly standard anonymous business hotel just off Bismarckplatz. Rooms near the lifts can be extremely noisy, so are best avoided.
The hotel has a unique view of the Neckar River and the Philosopher's Walk. It is just opposite the Old Bridge.
Waterfront hotel.
Cheaper riverside hotel, above a cafe/bakery, with decent breakfast included in the Cafe downstairs.
From 90€ for a single room to 170€ for a triple (double bed and sofa bed).
Most rooms have balconies, too.
A classic privately owned five star hotel just on the edge of the Altstadt. Pleasant atmosphere and attentive staff. Most of the rooms look out over the courtyard and are therefore admirably quiet.
The oldest hotel in Heidelberg and the oldest student dwelling house in Germany. It was first mentioned in a love story in 1472 and is nestled in a little side valley of a select residential area opposite the Heidelberg castle. An impressive walk along the River Neckar will take you to the Altstadt on the other side of the river. Mark Twain wrote about this in his book "A Tramp Abroad." The rooms are all unique and will delight Laura Ashley fans and the ones seeking a good shot of authentic romantic ambiance. It comes along with two restaurants: the historic Mensurstube with regional dishes and over 250-year-old tables, even Count Otto von Bismarck carved his name into. The elegant Le Gourmet is a classic French restaurant with attentive but yet uncomplicated service and will delight your credit cards with a good value for a swipe. A vineyard only a stone's throw away from the hotel "Sunnyside upon the Bridge" provides a good local Riesling or Late Burgundy.
For books in English.
By train
By car
The A5 connects Heidelberg directly to Frankfurt and Karlsruhe. It's easy to reach from any direction.
The city runs a small but rather effective system of trams and buses. The two most important nodal points are the main station and Bismarckplatz.70.
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