Heidelberg is one of Germany’s most picturesque destinations, famous for its historic Old town, stunning riverside setting, and the majestic ruins of its hilltop castle. Located in the southwest region of the country along the Neckar River, Heidelberg is one of Europe’s most beautiful cities and one that flies under the radar, and worth definately worth adding to your bucket list!
A quick look at Heidelberg
Country: Germany
Population: 163,000
Language: German
Currency: Euro
Best Month to Visit: June
Must See: Heidelberg Castle
Must Eat: Kurfürstenkugel
How to get to Heidelburg?
The closest major international airports are Frankfurt Airport (FRA) and Stuttgart Airport (STR), Frankfurt is a little closer but you can sometimes find better deals flying into Stuttgart.
Bus: From both airports, you can take a direct Flixbus straight to Heidelberg, it takes 1h20m from Fankfurt and 2h5m from Stuttgart. You can book and check the Flixbus schedule here,
Train: Catch the Deutsche Bahn regional ICE train from either Frankfurt and Stuttgart from the central (Hauptbahnhof) stations. You can find tickets on the Deutsche Bahn website, If arriving by plane you can connect via local city trains from the airport (Flughafen) stations.
If you are already traveling within Germany, Heidelberg’s central train station (Hauptbahnhof) is well-connected by high-speed ICE trains.
Getting Around Heidelburg
Heidelberg is incredibly walkable, and the best way to explore the Old Town (Altstadt) is on foot. For longer distances, the city has an excellent public transport network of trams and buses. You can purchase single tickets or a day pass. To get from the Hauptbahnhof station to the old town (Altstadt) there are multiple bus and tram routes available. Take a train from the Heidelberg-Altstadt station to nearby destinations like Neckarsteinach, where you can visit Dilsberg Castle.
When is the best time to visit Heidelberg?
Spring (April to May) and autumn (September to October) offer the most pleasant weather and beautiful foliage without the massive summer crowds. However, December is also a magical time to visit despite the cold, as the town hosts traditional Christmas markets scattered across the historic squares.
Where to stay?
For first-time visitors, staying in the Altstadt (Old Town) keeps you steps away from the main sights, restaurants, and bars. If you prefer a quieter vibe with beautiful historic villas, look for accommodation across the river in the Neuenheim district. For budget-friendly options or modern hotels, the area around the Hauptbahnhof (Central Station) has many options available but are less convenient to explore the main attractions.
Things to do in Heidelberg
Heidelberg Castle
The Heidelberg Castle was built in the 13th century, and was the residence of the Electors Palatine and seat of power in the holy roman empire. To get there you can take the funicular from the Heidelberg, Rathaus/Bergbahn or you can walk up the stairs if you are after a little exercise. Once inside you can explore the castle which has beautiful intricate architecture all made from that iconic red sandstone that is found in the area. Here you get some of the best views of heidelberg old town especially from the palace gardens. Inside the caslte you will find the Heidelberg Tun a colossal wine barrel. It was built in 1751 and is said to be the largest wine barrel in the world holding 219,000 liters of wine. Another point of interest within the castle is the German Pharmacy Museum. The museum holds over 20,000 items covering more than 2,000 years of medicinal and pharmaceutical history. The castle is open from 9am to 6pm year round and costs €11,00 to enter which includes a return trip on the funicular.
Philosihers Walk
The Philosophers Walk (Philosophenweg) is a scenic path located on the northern bank of the Neckar River. Historically, professors and philosophers from the university would walk along the path here for reflection and conversation. It offers spectacular, postcard-perfect panoramic views of Heidelberg’s Old Town, the Neckar River, and the Heidelberg Castle.
Student Prison
The university prison also known as the Studentenkarzer was established in the 1780s and was in operation until 1914. Students were typically incarcerated for minor wrongdoings These often included singing loudly, public drunkenness, participation in illegal duels and insulting town authorities. Students were allowed to have food and beer brought in from outside, and visitors were permitted. The “punishment” became more of a “rite of passage”, and serving a stint became a badge of honor. The most distinctive feature of the Studentenkarzer is the incredible amount of graffiti covering the walls, ceilings, and doors of the cells and stairwell. The inmates passed their time by immortalizing themselves on the walls with portraits often silhouettes, poems, and the crests and symbols of their respective student fraternities. This is definately a very different type of attraction, it was fun to find all the different things that the students had drawn on the walls. It costs €7.50 per adult to enter and opening days and times vary depending of the time of year.
Hauptstrasse & Marktplatz
Hauptstraße is Heidelberg’s historic pedestrian main street, stretching over one kilometer. It is packed with boutiques, cafes, and restaurants. This bustling thoroughfare leads directly into the Marktplatz, the town’s central market square. This historic plaza is anchored by the grand Church of the Holy Spirit and the majestic City Hall. Surrounded by traditional outdoor cafes, it serves as a scenic hub for markets, events, and relaxing with a view of the nearby castle ruins.
Heiliggeistkirche
The Heiliggeistkirche or the Church of the Holy Spirit is the largest and most famous church in Heidelberg’s Old Town. it was built between 1398 and 1515 and one interesting fact this church was divided by an internal wall from 1706 to 1936, allowing both Protestant and Catholic services to be held simultaneously. Today, it is exclusively Protestant, and its tower offers stunning views of the city.
Old Bridge
The Old Bridge Heidelberg, officially known as the Karl Theodor Bridge, is an iconic 18th-century sandstone pedestrian bridge spanning the Neckar River and connecting the old town with the Neuenheim district. The southern end features the prominent Old Bridge Gate, a medieval stone gatehouse that was originally part of the city’s defensive walls, complete with twin towers. It’s popular for its vantage points, offering panoramic views of the Heidelberg Castle, the surrounding hills, and of the old town. Make sure you look out for the famous bronze Bridge Monkey sculpture located near the gate towers, which holds a mirror and symbolizes self-reflection.
Half-Day Trip to Dilsberg
Dilsberg is a historic hilltop village famous for its well-preserved medieval castle ruins that offer epic panoramic views. The small, quaint village is located within the old fortress walls, featuring picturesque houses and narrow, winding alleyways that have a medievil feel. To get there take a train from the Heidelberg-Altstadt station to Neckarsteinach, from the station follow the 6.7 km out and back trail on this AllTrails map. When you visit the Dilsberg castle make sure you ask the staff for the Dilsberg well key. A short distance from the castle is a 80m subterranean well passageway that leadsd to the bottom of the old castle well. Our half day trip to dilsberg was our favourite part of visitng Heidelberg and there was hardly any tourists there.
TRAVEL TIP: All these places and more are all listed in the map near the top of the page!
Where/What To Eat & Drink
There are many restaurants and cafe’s around the old town area and you can’t go wrong at any of them. Remember to book ahead for dinner to avoid disapointment, we learned this the hard way when we couldn’t find anywhere to eat!
Some regional dishes to look out for:
Heidelberger Studentenkuss (Student Kiss): A historic, dark-chocolate-covered praline nougat treat invented in 1863 as a secret token of affection between students.
Kurfürstenkugel (Elector’s Ball): A decadent ball of sponge cake, marzipan, and nougat coated in smooth chocolate.
Saumagen: A savory, pan-fried blend of spiced pork and potatoes.
Maultaschen: Large pasta pockets stuffed with seasoned minced meat and spinach, served in broth or pan-fried.
Vetter
Vetter is a local brewery that is famous for having the worlds strongest beer! It has a good vibe but can be really busy especially on weeekends so make sure you book a table well in advance if you plan to visit in the evening. Make sure you get a flight of beers to get a good sample of the beers on offer that are brewed in house.
Schnookeloch
A really nice and historic restaurant in the heart of the old town that has been running since 1703. Schnookeloch has awesome decor (tables with te uiversity prison style graffitti) and really nice German food including some local specialties like maultaschen, and they also serve a giant 1 litre beer in a boot shapped glass! what is there not to like about this place!
Cafe Gundel
Cafe Gundel is the best place’s in town to get German Kaffee und Kuchen (coffee and cake) and all in the shadow of the Heidelberg Castle. Cafe Gundel has an excellent mouth watering selection of cakes including local specialties like Kurfürstenkugel a sponge cake ball filled with nougat cream and coated in marzipan and chocolate and it is delightful!
