Heidelberg – Truly Romantic City
Heidelberg is one of the most romantic places to visit in Germany and it is a city of ‘magical thinking’ (UNESCO City of Literature). This picturesque town is perfect for a weekend get-away.
One-day itinerary in Heidelberg:
For a one day itinerary, you can go hiking and climbing the hills and castle in the morning and exploring the old town sights in the afternoon and evening. If you are not up for hiking, you can also take the funicular to see the castle and KoeningStuhl. The main sights to visit are all within walking distance around old town.
How to get there?
Heidelberg Castle is located atSchloss Heidelberg, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany, 90 km south of Frankfurt. Here’s how to get there:
By Car
Take the Autobahn (motorway) A5 or A6 into the direction of Heidelberg; exit onto the Autobahn A656, which will take you into the center of Heidelberg.
Parking: For visiting old town or castle, park at P12 Kornmarkt/Schloss or P13 Karlsplatz/Rathaus. Check all the available parking garages at Heidelberg online parking.
By Train
Take the train to Mannheim and then, hop on a regional train to Heidelberg, which is only 15 minutes away. From Heidelberg central station, take bus line 33 to the stop Bergbahn. More information at Deustche Bahn website .
By Plane
There is no airport in Heidelberg. The nearest airports to Heidelberg are Mannheim (MHG) about 15 km away, Frankfurt (FRA) (80 km), Karlsruhe Baden-Airpark (90 km) and Stuttgart (STR) (120 km).
Things to do in Heidelberg
The most popular things to do are visiting Heidelberg Castle, the historic Old Town including the famous Old Bridge and the sights along the Neckar River.
You can get the HeidelbergCARD – where the castle ticket is already included! Plus, you can use public transport for free and get several special deals for guided tours, museums, leisure activities, restaurants and shopping.
Heidelberg Castle (Schloss Heidelberg)
The principal thing is to visit the Heidelberg Castle. The castle offers panoramic view of the old town and the Neckar River below.
You can reach it by climbing up steps that run through the middle of a lush landscape, or by taking the funicular (Bergbahn) at Kornmarkt in the old town.
Show your ticket to enter the Schlosshof, the castle’s central courtyard, which is framed by reconstructed Gothic and Renaissance buildings with elaborate facades.
Heidelberg Tun – Humongous Wine Barrel
The castle offers an amazing view of the city, as well as the opportunity to see the world’s largest wine barrel.
In the cellar of the Castle Heidelberg, you can see the Heildelberg Tun – an enormous wine barrel. It was built in 1751 during the reign of Charles Theodore and it was able to hold 221,726 litres of wine.
King’s Seat (KöningStuhl)
The 600-metre (1,969-foot) peak of the Königstuhl (King’s Seat), a high hill above the valley offers magnificent views.
KoenigStuhl is not just about the views, there are forest walking trails for hiking, a small theme park for children known as “Märchenparadies” and a falconry.
From the castle, you can either take the funicular or follow the path and climb the stairs instead. Try to get here in time for the sunset to enjoy the romantic sunset.
Old Town (Altstadt)
At the foot of the Castle, you can the explore Heidelberg’s Altstadt (Old Town) for architectural gems. It extends along the river, with Karlstor on one end, and Bismarckplatz on the other. You can visit the Rathaus (Town Hall), the University, 1592 Renaissance House Knight St. George, and unique market squares.
Pedastrian street – Hauptstrasse
The Hauptstrasse is the main pedestrian street through the Altstadt, going parallel with the Neckar River. Here you can find most of the shopping and incredible variety of restaurants. This street is always busy with both locals and tourists.
Market Square (Marktplatz)
Located in the center of the Altstadt (Old Town), the Heidelberg Marktplatz has been the city’s main gathering place since the middle ages. At the Marktplatz, you can find the Hercules fountain – this is where petty criminals were dragged from the Chruch of the Holy Spirit and chained in medieval times.
Old Stone Bridge (Alte Brüke)
Heildelberg’s Alte Brücke (Old Bridge) is an impressive stone bridge built in the 18th century, known all over the world through countless paintings and poems.
The bridge spans the Neckar River and leads to the Old Town. The twin-towered medieval bridge gate on the old town side was once part of the town’s fortifications. At the West of the gate, visitors often pause to have their photograph taken before the Heidelberg Bridge Monkey. The monkey holds up a mirror that is rumored to bring wealth if you touch it; other gifts like a return to Heidelberg if you touch its fingers and children if you touch the mice.
You can stroll the bridge for more fabulous views of Heidelberg as well as its neighboring twin-towered Brückentor.
Other Places to Visit in Heidelberg
Two-day itineray in Heidelberg:
For a two-day itinerary in Heidelberg, include these other attractions in your plan:
The Philosophers’ Way: A two-kilometer scenic walk at the top of the hill along the Neckar River.
Heiligenberg: Part of the Philosophers Way and a scenic hike from the Old Bridge.
Pharmacy Museum: Located at Heidelberg Castle and featuring exhibits of medical science in Germany.
Neckarwiese: The green open space along the right bank of the Neckar River.
It’s a superb travel blog. Really detailed and helpful.
Great work! Simple yet detailed.
Heidelberg is now in my list of places to visit. 🙂
Excellent start to the blog – just like how I started my Germany travel with a trip to Heidelberg. I agree to every word here – its indeed one of the beautiful places to see.