Heidelberg is without a doubt one of the most romantic cities in Germany, comparable to places like Durham in England thanks to its picturesque riverside location, beautiful old bridges and castle ruins. With nearly four million visitors each year, the city is packed with historic sights and attractions, as well as excellent dining and entertainment experiences. The ancient capital of the Palatinate and an ancient university city celebrated in song and poetry, Heidelberg lies at the point where the River Neckar emerges from the Odenwald hills to the Rhine plain. It is also one of the warmest places in Germany, as evidenced by sightings of the occasional almond, fig and olive trees, as well as the wild African parakeets.
1 main street in the old town (oude stad)
Heidelberg’s Hauptstrasse is the place to explore this beautiful city. From this narrow main street you will find countless, even scarier side streets and alleys just begging to be explored, each packed with things to discover: unspoiled medieval architecture; beautiful old churches; and countless boutiques, galleries, cafes and restaurants. Highlights include the early 15th century Heiliggeistkirche , the Church of the Holy Spirit, and Haus zum Ritter , a Renaissance building dating from 1592. Other highlights include the Neckarstaden where you will find Marstall , the old court stables and home of the art collection of the University of Heidelberg, as well as the Stadthalle adjacent to the moorings for the many tour boats from places such as Mannheim. If you visit during winter, be sure to sample the delights of Heidelberg’s World Christmas Market so large it fills three city squares.
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2 Heidelberg Castle
Heidelberg Castle can be reached via the Bergbahn, a mountain railway that runs from the Kornmarkt, or via a 15-minute walk from the old town. Built of red Neckar sandstone on the terraced hill about 195 meters above Heidelberg, this 16th-century castle is one of the best examples of German Renaissance architecture. After its destruction by the French, who ravaged the Palatinate in the 17th century, it has remained the largest and most picturesque ruin in Germany. The castle is home to many excellent festivals, most of which are held in the atmospheric courtyard, as well as theater performances, concerts and fireworks shows. One of the most popular is the Heidelberg Castle Festival from June to August, with an eclectic mix of theatre, choral music, chamber orchestras, jazz, folk and opera.
Adres: Schlosshof 1, 69117 Heidelberg
Official site: www.schloss-heidelberg.de/en/home/
3 University of Heidelberg
On the south side of Hauptstrasse is Universitätsplatz, with the Old University dating from 1711. On the east side, in Augustinergasse, is the Pedellenhaus with the former Karzer student prison, in use from 1778 to 1914. The new university was built in 1928-31, behind which rises the Hexenturm or Witch’s Tower, once part of the city’s fortifications. Nearby, in Grabengasse, you will find the richly stocked University Library whose main treasure is the 14th century Manessian manuscript , an illuminated manuscript of medieval songs. Also of note: the Seminargebäude, the Mensa students’ refectory and the 15th-century Peterskirche, a small chapel now mainly used as a university church.
Adres: Grabengasse 1, D-69117 Heidelberg
Official site: www.uni-heidelberg.de/university/
4 Karl Theodor-brug
Also called the Old Bridge, Heidelberg’s spectacular Karl Theodor Bridge has been immortalized in countless poems and paintings, a testament to the romance surrounding the structure. The famous bridge with its beautiful statues spans the two sides of historic Heidelberg and is named after the man responsible for the design and construction of the nine red sandstone arches in 1788 as a replacement for the many wooden bridges that existed before . The bridge is worth walking to enjoy the views of Heidelberg and its sister bridge, the twin-towered Brückentor.
5 The Philosophers ‘Walk
Another great way to explore Heidelberg is along the well-marked Philosophenweg, or Philosophers’ Walk. On the north side of the Neckar, this beautiful path runs along the side of Heiligenberg, or the Mount of the Saints, and where the philosophers of the university would walk. It’s not hard to see the appeal: the views across the Neckar to the old town are incredible, and provide an excellent excuse to visit a few other notable sights, including the ruins of the 11th-century Monastery of St. Michael and the adjacent Thingstätte, a Nazi-era amphitheater. Also worth making the mountain walk to the trail are the ruins of an ancient 4th-century Celtic hillfort.
6 Königstuhl – The King’s Seat
Just seven kilometers east of Heidelberg, the Königstuhl – or King’s Seat – is a hill with a height of 567 meters and spectacular views as far as the Rhine Valley. Access to the summit, part of the Odenwald, is via the Heidelberg Mountain Railway , the same cable car that takes visitors to Heidelberg Castle. It’s an excellent place to explore the beautiful countryside around Heidelberg, especially since the hard part – getting there and back – is handled by the railway.
7 Schwetzingen Castle
About 12 kilometers west of Heidelberg, in the Rhine plain, lies Schwetzingen, famous for its spectacular 18th-century palace. Schloss Schwetzingen was built as the summer residence of the Electors Palatinate and is now known for its excellent program of summer concerts and beautiful gardens. Spanning over 180 hectares, Schlossgarten is laid out in a mix of French and English styles and contains a number of 18th-century buildings, including a Rococo theatre, built between 1746-52, and a mosque. A variety of excellent tours are available and are well worth the small extra cost. If possible, plan your visit to coincide with the Schwetzingen Festival , an annual event that takes place from late April to mid-June and includes opera, symphonic, choral and chamber concerts, as well as recitals and dance performances. Events take place both inside the Schwetzingen Palace – appropriate, given that Mozart performed here as a seven-year-old – and outside in the Palace Park.
Address: Schloss Mittelbau, 68723 Schwetzingen
Official site: www.schloss-schwetzingen.de/en/
8 Heidelberg Zoo and the oldest botanical garden in Germany
The Heidelberg Zoo is definitely worth a visit, especially if you are traveling with young people. On the north bank of the Neckar, this fun zoo has more than 1,100 animals covering around 250 species. As a registered member of the European Endangered Species Program (EEP), as well as the West African Primate Conservation Action (WAPCA), the zoo has a special focus on conservation and breeding programs for endangered species. Afterwards, visit the Botanischer Garten next to the university. Founded in 1593, it is one of the oldest – and largest – botanical gardens in Germany. Another great place for a walk in the garden is Skulpturenpark Heidelberg , a sculpture park, which is also next to the university.
Adres: Tiergartenstrasse 3, Heidelberg
9 The German Pharmacy Museum
On the grounds of Heidelberg Castle, the German Pharmacy Museum covers the history of pharmacists in the 18th and 19th centuries. Displays contain fascinating ancient instruments and tools of the trade, as well as examples of the preparations these early apothecaries used. Furniture from pharmacies since the Baroque period, manuscripts, pharmacy emblems and books are also on display, and together make for a pleasant way to spend an hour or two. Tours are also available during both regular and after-hours (advance reservations required).
Adres: Schloss Heidelberg, D-69117 Heidelberg
Official site: www.deutsches-apotheken-museum.de/englisch/index-en.php
10 The Palatinate Museum (Kurpfälzisches Museum)
Halfway along Hauptstrasse in Heidelberg, in the baroque Palais Morass, is the excellent Palatinate Museum. Founded in the late 1870s, the museum houses a collection that includes a calf from the lower jaw of the 500,000-year-old Heidelberg man. The museum’s Applied Arts collection has many fine examples of porcelain, medallions, coins and glassware. Also interesting are the numerous sculptures from the 12th to the 20th century, including ancient tombstones and early Baroque sculptures.
Address: Hauptstrasse 97, 69117 Heidelberg
Official site: www.museum-heidelberg.de/pb/,Len/896835.html
Where to Stay in Heidelberg for Sightseeing
Hauptstrasse runs car-free through the Altstadt (old town), past the Palatinate Museum and 16th-century Renaissance buildings; Next to it, along the Neckar, is the Neckarstaden, where you can find the art collection of the University of Heidelberg, as well as the Stadthalle and the moorings for tour boats. Heidelberg Castle can be reached from the Altstadt by the Bergbahn, a mountain railway that runs from the Kornmarkt. Here are a few highly rated hotels in the Altstadt area:
- Luxury Hotels : Two blocks from Hauptstrasse, Der Europaische Hof Heidelberg is in the traditional, classic style, with spacious rooms, high ceilings and excellent service, along with a spa and a small indoor pool with an underwater stream for swimmers. Mark Twain stayed at the historic Hotel Die Hirschgasse Heidelberg, just across the bridge from the Old Town off Philosopher’s Way; parking is free. Crowne Plaza Heidelberg, on the edge of the Altstadt near the main station, has a swimming pool, sauna and shuttle service to Frankfurt Airport.
- Mid-Range Hotels: On Hauptstrasse, the striking Hotel Zum Ritter St. Georg is rich in old-world charm and ambiance, but with modern amenities. Located on Hauptstrasse, Hip Hotel offers imaginative themed rooms and free breakfast, but no public areas or lobby. Located on a quiet side street in the center of the Altstadt, between Hauptstrasse and the river, Gasthaus Hotel Backmulde offers large rooms.
- Budget Hotels: Located in the historic Kornmarkt, just off the Hauptstrasse at the valley station of the cable car to the Bergbahn, Hotel Garni Am Kornmarkt offers rooms with a balcony and castle views. Ibis Heidelberg Hauptbahnhof, at the train station on the edge of Altstadt and a short tram ride or walk from attractions, offers free parking. Hotel Perkeo, on Hauptstrasse in the center of the old town, has spacious rooms and excellent service, but no elevator.
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