Germany City Travel Guide: Heidelberg

Heidelberg on the River Neckar is one of Germany's most beautiful cities

Heidelberg

Located in southwestern Germany, surrounded by castle towns, ruins, and lovely woodlands
A university town since 1386, with a vibrant student quarter
Left unscathed by the bombings in World War II
Gateway to Baden-Baden, Strausbourg (France), & France
A romantic's dream city
3.5 million visitors annually

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Heidelberg Castle

This is a romantic city. And a Romantic's city. When Heidelberg was "discovered" by the Romantic Movement in the eighteenth century, it had fallen into shabby disrepair.

Though the capital of the Palatinate for 500 years, two sackings courtesy of the French had left their mark. And perhaps why the city--then and today--was so charming. Set on the banks of the River Neckar, Heidelberg is the German landscape brought to life in a vibrant riverside setting.

And thus came the tourists and artists. JMW Turner and Mark Twain decamped in Heidelberg, the former leaving a series of paintings, the latter memorable scenes in A Tramp Abroad.

Of the city's 130,000 residents, there are some 30,000 students. Heidelberg draws students from around the world for its relatively mild climate, its ancient cityscape, and its proximity to France.

The Neckar River flows through the city

Heidelberg has appeared in the works of the aforementioned Twain, Goethe, and opera. One of the few cities not bombed during the War, Heidelberg today is defined by the Heidelberg Castle, or Schloss, which costs €9 for adults, €4.50 for children. Admission includes entrance to the German Apothecary Museum (Deutsche Apotheken-Museum). Founded in 1937, the museum has extensive collections of medicines which cover the entire German-speaking area from antiquity to the 21st century. The pharmacy garden can only be visited as part of a guided tour.

Heidelberg Castle is one of Germany's finest Gothic-Renaissance castles. Like most of the city‘s best sites, the castle is on the south side of the Neckar River in the Altstadt neighborhood. The Heidelberg Mountain Railway (Heidelberger Bergbahn) is a funicular railway that runs up to the castle from Kornmarkt in the Altstadt.

Markplatz is in front of the Rathaus and on market days is filled with flowers, fish, and vegetables. Along this street is the Heiliggeistkirche (church of the holy ghost), a Gothic Gothic red stone church that was founded in the fouteenth century.

The Museum of the Palatinate (Kurpfälzisches Museum) is located in a baroque palace, the Palais Morass. The museum houses an excellent collection of paintings from the 15th to the 20th century as well as sculpture by such masters as Tilman Riemenschneider and Wilhelm Lehmbruck. The applied arts collection alone includes coins, furniture, glassware, medallions, and porcelain. The museum opened in 1908.

Heidelberg Castle from the Marktplatz, Germany

Heidelberg Castle from the Market Square

Another place of interest is the Dokumentations-und Kulturzentrum Deutscher Sinti und Roma, which is a museum devoted to atoning for the horrific acts committed against Roma by the Third Reich. It is open from 10:30-8 pm weekdays and is free. Also worth seeing is the city's University Quarter, which comprises much of the western part of the city. Wonderful for strolling.

The KÖRPERWELTEN Museum "Anatomie des Glücks" (Body Worlds Museum) is a fascinating and unique exhibition that offers visitors an in-depth look into human bodies (donated for scientific purposes). Created by anatomist Gunther von Hagens, this museum showcases real human bodies that have been preserved through a process called plastination. Plastination involves replacing bodily fluids and fats with reactive plastics, resulting in specimens that are odorless, dry, and completely preserved. These specimens are then displayed in various poses and dissected to reveal the intricate structures and systems of the human body, from muscles and organs to nerves and blood vessels. Open daily from 10 am to 6 pm.

Dokumentations-und Kulturzentrum Deutscher Sinti und Roma

Heidelberg Zoo, located along the Neckar River, offers visitors a captivating journey through diverse ecosystems, housing over 1,100 animals from around the globe. With its commitment to conservation and education, Heidelberg Zoo provides an enriching experience for all ages, fostering a deeper appreciation for wildlife and our natural world.

The nearby Heidelberg University Botanical Garden (Botanischer Garten der Universität Heidelberg), established in 1593, is the third oldest botanical gardens in Germany, boasting a rich history and an extensive collection of plant species. Located within the university campus, this botanical oasis serves as both a research hub and a tranquil retreat for visitors.

Heidelberg Tourist Office

Willy-Brandt-Platz 1, 69115 Heidelberg
Tel: (06221)-19433, Fax 1388111
Opening hours: 1st April - 31st October
Monday - Saturday 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.,
Sunday and Holidays 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
1st November - 31st March
Monday - Saturday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.,
Closed Sundays and Holidays (changes possible)

Heidelberger Kongress und Tourismus GmbH - Convention and Visitors Bureau
Ziegelhäuser Landstraße 3, 69120 Heidelberg
Tel. +49 (0) 62 21-14 22-0
Fax +49 (0) 62 21-14 22 22
E-Mail: info@cvb-heidelberg.de

Heidelberg has attracted painters and artists throughout its history

Getting to Heidelberg

Air

The closest major airport is in Frankfurt, which has a direct bus link to Heidelberg. The airport shuttle to Heidelberg costs from €8 to €28. For information, call 06221/77-00-77.

Train

Heidelberg's Hauptbahnhof is on the Mannheim Line, which has frequent service to Frankfurt (40 trains a day; 40 minutes), Stuttgart (30 trains; 45 minutes), and Munich (3 1/2 hours). For information, call: 01805/99-66--33.