When reviewing our options for stops with Justin’s parents, we wanted to find a city with a castle. Heidelberg, Germany was the perfect addition to our itinerary. It’s a university town that sits on both sides of the Neckar river with mountains surrounding it and a castle sitting up on the hill overlooking the old town.
With two nights in the city, we had enough time to see many of the city’s main sights and enjoy a few German beers. We arrived on a Sunday which meant there was lots going on in the old town area – live music, tons of street vendors and some amazing food.
Once we had a good idea of the city layout, we had a better plan on how we wanted to spend our one full day there. We got an earlier start with coffee and pastries, did a little hike for some amazing views and then explored the castle for the afternoon. We checked out a couple of the other attractions and finished with a great dinner.
Our Favorite Heidelberg Spots
Altstadt “Old Town”
I would suggest wandering to this part of town first. You will find endless amounts of restaurants and beautiful historic buildings. The old bridge is a great place to start and you can wind your way through the streets to Hauptstrasse – a long pedestrian only street with stores and restaurants.
Schloss Heidelberg
The castle in this city is perfectly located above old town so it finds its way into the background of so many photos. For 8 euros, you can take the funicular up the hill to the castle and gain entry to the grounds. For an additional 5 euros, you can take a guided tour. I recommend doing it because you get a lot of the history of the grounds and the city. I had no idea that Germany used to have their own kind of “electoral college” where the prince-electors would select the monarch. This castle was home to a few of those leaders for the Electorate of the Palatinate.
Although it is partially in ruins now, you can explore a few areas that were restored and still get an idea of what it looked like in its prime. You can also make your way to the basement and taste some wine next to possibly the largest wine barrel in the world. Make sure to take a few minutes to wander the gardens for some of the best views.
Studentenkarzer
The university in Heidelberg has lots of history, but one of the most interesting spots on campus is the student jail. These were rooms that students were locked in when they committed minor offenses such as insulting authorities or drunken conduct. Many of these rooms have been preserved even though the jail hasn’t been used since 1914. It costs just a few euros and doesn’t take long to look around, but I would recommend it for an interesting stop while in town.
The Philosopher’s Walk
My absolute favorite part of our visit to Heidelberg was the Philosopher’s Walk. It is a path the leads you through the neighborhoods on the opposite side of the river from Altstadt to some of the best views in the area. There are beautiful gardens, overlooks and quiet spots to sit for a while. Completing the whole loop will bring you right back to the old bridge on the river. There are alternate paths leading off this walk for longer and more challenging hikes as well.
Food & Drink
Palmbräu Gasse was one of our favorite restaurants. They had great vegetarian options and the food was wonderful. We also had delicious pizza at Da Baggio. I would recommend trying Flammkuchen and some kind of local German beer or wine. It’s easy to find a place to eat (even for vegetarians) so just wander and find a spot that looks fun to you. If the weather is nice, I encourage outdoor seating just to do some people watching and enjoy the beautiful city.
Other Details
We stayed at this lovely hotel. The price was great, the bed was incredibly comfortable and it was close to the train station as well as the old town area. I know they have other locations in Europe and we’ll be return customers for sure. Book your stay here.
Getting there is simple via train. Heidelberg has a bigger station with tons of routes leading there. We came via Frankfurt and left towards Strasbourg. Both were comfortable and had lots of extra room.
Last, but not least, if you are planning a trip to Heidelberg, check out Helene’s blog. She lived there for three years and has some more in-depth posts with things to do. This would be a fun city to add onto a trip to Munich.
