Location: Heidelberg
Top Things to do in Heidelberg
The 10 Best Points of Interest & Landmarks in Heidelberg, Baden-Wurttemberg
Home to the oldest university in Germany, Heidelberg was hit hard during 17th-century wars and rebuilt in the 18th century with baroque buildings. For a pleasant walk, stroll through the historic city center's Gothic streets. Be sure to take in Heidelberg Castle, the symbolic heart of the city; Alte Brucke, a beautiful 18th-century bridge; and the Student Jail. Built as long ago as the 16th century, it was used to keep mischievous students off the streets for three days to a month at a time. And they say Penn State is the number-one party school!
Restaurants in Heidelberg
1. Market Square (Marktplatz)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 854 reviews
Reviewed By tinylass - Sheffield, United Kingdom
The Christmas Market took over the square and made it look lovely with all the fairy lights and market stalls lit up. Quite busy but worth the visit.
2. Altstadt (Old Town)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,152 reviews
The Old Town of Heidelberg starts from Sofienstrasse and brings you to the castle. In the middle there is the University Area (the oldest university in Germany), the main shopping street (Hauptstrasse) and it includes to famous Karl-Theodor-Bridge / the Old bridge.
Reviewed By Mairwen1
Exploring the Old Town makes the best day trip. It is such a beautiful city and it is very easy to walk between all of the main sights in this area. TIPS: 1. TRAIN - My most important tip if you’re arriving by train is to make sure that you get off at Heidelberg Alstadt station. This will place you right at the Old Town. Don’t do what we did and leap off at Heidelberg Hbf (Central Station). We had to walk about 30 minutes to get to Alstadt. Mostly we could walk along the river which was at least a pleasant walk. 2. PLANNING AHEAD - although everything is close together, there is too much to see in only one day so I’d recommend deciding what you’ll see and what you’ll skip before you go. 3. TIMING - We arrived at around 11am and left around 4pm. We had enough time to look at the Old Bridge, walk through Kornmarkt and Marktplatz squares, catch a cable car to the Schloss (castle) and walk the Philosophers Path in the afternoon. 4. KING’S THRONE FUNICULAR - If you are planning to catch the funicular train up to King’s Throne (Königstuhl), be aware that there can be a long wait at the mid-section station so I’d recommend asking at the ticket desk before you buy the ticket. We’d planned to go but changed our mind when they warned us to expect a 2 hour wait at the second funicular. Instead we opted to get the funicular to the castle only. 5. VISIT CASTLE IN THE MORNING - The queue to the castle can be long too. It took us about 30 - 40 minutes to queue for tickets and get the cable car. From memory, we got there around midday. When we came down a few hours later, the queue had snaked out the door and around the building so I'd suggest doing this earlier in the day. 5. HIGHLIGHTS – The highlight was definitely the Schloss (Castle). The views over the town and river were outstanding, the castle (although in ruins) is very picturesque and the grounds are beautiful. The castle ticket also includes the Apothecary Museum (surprisingly interesting) and the Tun (world’s largest wine keg).
3. Jesuitenkirche
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 220 reviews
Reviewed By weekinhaiti - Stuttgart, Germany
The Jesuit church in Heidelberg is plainly decorated in an overall white theme. The courtyard is peaceful and adjacent to the seminary with gardens on both sides of the wall. Wonderful organ near the entrance on the second level and another organ toward the front on the right side. Stylish cross free swinging in the breeze, Recommended for some quiet time and meditation.
4. Bergfriedhof Heidelberg
5. Bruckentor
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 148 reviews
Reviewed By stantp1916 - Farakka, India
Very lovely towers followed by the old bridge. It was a bright sunny day so the view from the bridge was magnificent. The old castle and all the greenery on both sides of the river were worth watching. The bridge is crossed by vehicles as well which I thought was quite annoying. Probably they should leave some of the touristy stuff to pedestrians only.
6. Alte Johanneskirche in Neuenheim
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 2 reviews
7. Stolpersteine
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 5 reviews
8. Kornmarkt
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 252 reviews
Reviewed By alcor1922
The plaza is an excellent spot for a photo op with the beautiful monument against the backdrop of the magnificent ruins of the Heidelberg Castle.
9. Bruckenaffe
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 315 reviews
Reviewed By TarynJana - Waroona, Australia
Beautiful old bridge and the monkey statue with plents of folklore about it. There are several beliefs about what will happen to you if you touch the parts of the monkey, if you touch his mirror you will have a baby, if you touch his butt there is something about getting rich. The bridge provides a beautiful outlook, beware it is still used by the odd car.
10. Elizabeth Gate
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 17 reviews
Reviewed By 586RobertA586 - Phoenix, United States
During my prior 3-year plunge into Ancestry.com, I discovered that Prince, Palatine Elector and King Frederick V von der Pfalz (1596-1632) (who had this gate built "overnight" with love for his wife (m;1613), Elizabeth's birthday) was the husband of my 3rd Cousin, 11X removed: Elizabeth "of Bohemia" Stewart (1596-1662), originally of Scotland. She being the daughter of King James I of Scotland & VI of England Stewart (r:1603-1625) (who chartered the King James version of the Holy Bible) and Queen Anne of Denmark Oldenburg. Frederick V and Elizabeth residents of this Schloss Castle are known in history as as the Winter King and Winter Queen for his short-live one winter excursion into the Bohemian (Austrian) kingship. Enjoy. Hope this is helpful.
