Heidelberg is perhaps the most fairytale-like of the countless towns and cities in the south-western German state of Baden-Württemberg. The city, built in the valley divided by the Neckar River, looks different from every point you step into. Heidelberg, which is visited by thousands of tourists every year and fascinates all visitors, is also famous as the most romantic city in Germany. It is a small, charming and safe city, which we can also call a student city.
Where to visit in Heidelberg?
Considering that we have arrived in Heidelberg by train, the first stop can be Altstadt (Old Town) by passing through Hauptstraße full of cafes, restaurants and shopping opportunities. Here you can observe the old buildings, the historical texture and spirit of the city, and after the journey, you can have a nice coffee break in one of the restaurants and cafes here before starting to visit the city.
The first destination after passing through Altstadt and Hauptstraße is Schloss Heidelberg (Heidelberg Castle) buried in the greenery in the valley. The castle, which is reached at the end of hundreds of steps, is worth every step climbed with the city panorama it offers. With all the streets, houses, historical buildings, churches, the Neckar River and the bridges connecting Heidelberg on both sides of the river, it is impossible not to spend hours in front of the dazzling view. I am sure that you will not want to leave without taking dozens of photos and making all these images permanent. In addition to the opportunity to watch the city from tens of metres above, Schloss Heidelberg is a great place for a picnic break with its dazzling historical texture, lush green surroundings and fresh air that you feel in your lungs from the first moment you feel 80 metres high.
After having had our fill of watching the city from here, we go down into the city again and see these beauties up close. We set off to see the Jesuitenkirche, which attracts attention with its white interior design, Heiliggeistkirche (Church of the Holy Spirit), which is perhaps the most famous church in the city, the buildings of Heidelberg University, which is the first university of Germany and the fifth oldest university in Europe, and the library of the university.
This university, whose full name is Heidelberg Ruprecht Karls University and was founded in 1386, is not only the oldest university in Germany but also a prestigious university befitting its age. In addition to many Nobel Prize-winning scientists, countless artists, philosophers, politicians and literary figures have passed through Heidelberg University. To name a few, the famous German sociologist Max Weber, Dmitri Mendeleev, the architect of the periodic table, whose name we all remember from our high school chemistry lessons, Robert Schumann, one of the German composers of the romantic era, and many other world-renowned names. Today, the building, which houses more than 3.2 million books, is as much an architectural marvel on the outside as it is on the inside. If you wish, you can take a look inside the library, where the entrance is open and free of charge. Afterwards, you can make your way to Heiliggeistkirche and see one of the most visited churches in Germany. This very old church has served different denominations throughout history and today it is a Protestant church.
After seeing all these unique buildings, we turn our route to the other bank of the Neckar River. Don’t forget to say hello to the bronze monkey statue waiting at the bridge to greet you before crossing the Altebrücke , which connects the two sides of the city and is one of the favourite photo spots of tourists.
We turn to Schlangenweg (Snake Way) to watch the skyline of the city from Philosophenweg (Philosophers Way), this time with Schloss Heidelberg. Although it is a bit time-consuming to climb this path, which takes its name from its snake-like shape, you definitely realise that it is worth it with the view you encounter when you reach the summit. Especially if you visit in spring or summer, Schloss Heidelberg, surrounded by a blanket of greenery, looks just as mesmerising from up close. There are stairs waiting for us again, but leaving Heidelberg without taking another look at this view is a great injustice to this fascinating and fairytale city
When to go to Heidelberg?
In my opinion, Heidelberg should be visited in spring or early summer. Going to Heidelberg Castle and then to the Philosophers’ Way when the weather will not swelter but will not chill you will make your visit to the city more enjoyable. I would not recommend rainy weather as it is a city that needs to be visited on foot. However, if you are travelling here in winter, Heidelberg can offer a completely different experience with its Christmas markets and cosy atmosphere.
How to get to Heidelberg?
As it is a small city, there is no airport, but you can of course choose to fly to the big cities nearby. The nearest big cities to Heidelberg are Stuttgart or Frankfurt. Thanks to the extensive train network, which is the case almost everywhere in Germany, travelling to Heidelberg by train is quite easy.
Germany is a city you should definitely not skip if you have a travel plan. Especially if you are travelling to southern Germany or if you are planning a trip to the south-east of France, to cities like Strasbourg, don’t forget to add Heidelberg to your list and spend a day in this fairytale-like city. I am sure you will not regret it.
If you have plans for Germany, you may also be interested in our Berlin travel article .
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