By air
Frankfurt (FRA), ~1 h
Europe · Germany
Heidelberg, Germany
A romantic castle above the Neckar
Getting there
Best time to visit
May to September — summer
Don't miss
Heidelberg Castle
The Old Bridge
The Old Town
The Philosophers' Walk
Things to do
Heidelberg Castle
The old bridge
The university quarter
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Miholz · CC BY-SA 3.0
What to pack
Walking shoes
A quieter corner
The Königstuhl funicular
Questions travellers ask
Where do I fly into for Heidelberg?
Frankfurt (FRA), about 1 hour away.
What are Heidelberg's main sights?
Heidelberg Castle, the Old Bridge, the Old Town and the Philosophers' Walk, plus the university quarter.
Is there a funicular in Heidelberg?
Yes, the Königstuhl funicular. Bring walking shoes, too.
Is summer a good time for Heidelberg?
Yes — May to September. Pick up some Studentenkuss chocolates while you're there.
About Heidelberg
- Riverside
- Hills
Where it is
Heidelberg is a university city in Baden-Württemberg, south-west Germany, on the Neckar river where it leaves its narrow valley through the wooded Odenwald hills and enters the Upper Rhine Plain.
History
Heidelberg became the seat of the Electors Palatine, and in 1386 they founded Heidelberg University, Germany's oldest. French troops wrecked the town and castle in 1689 and 1693, lightning ended attempts to rebuild the castle in 1764, and in the 19th century the ruined castle and the river valley made Heidelberg a centre of German Romanticism; it was spared from bombing in the Second World War.
People
Heidelbergers speak German with the local Palatinate dialect, and a large student population gives the city much of its life. In summer the castle illuminations, with fireworks and red light, recall the castle's burning, and the surrounding hills grow grapes for local wines.
Known for
- Heidelberg Castle
- The Old Bridge over the Neckar
- The Philosophers' Walk
- Heidelberg University
- The baroque streets of the Old Town
Did you know?
A prehistoric human jawbone found in 1907 in the nearby village of Mauer gave its name to an early human species, Homo heidelbergensis.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.