10 Things to Do in Heidelberg, Germany
Heidelberg is the prettiest small city in Germany, and I say that after visiting plenty of them. It sits on the Neckar River with a ruined castle looking down on a compact old town of cobbled lanes and a very old university. I spent three days here and these are the ten things I would do again, in the order I would do them.
1. Tour the Castle Above Town
The castle is the reason Heidelberg is on the map, a grand ruin that climbs the hillside above the old town. I took the funicular up and walked the terraces, peering into the great courtyard and the towers. The views down over the river and the rooftops are the classic Heidelberg picture, and seeing the place in person does not diminish it.
2. See the Apothecary Museum and the Great Barrel
Inside the castle grounds sit two oddities worth a look. The pharmacy museum holds rooms of old apothecary jars and tools, and the Great Barrel is a wine cask so large you can walk inside the frame. I spent an hour among them and left smiling at how strange and wonderful history can be.
3. Walk the Philosophenweg
Across the river, a path known as the Philosophenweg winds along the hillside and gives a clear view back over the city. I crossed the bridge and climbed it in the morning, and the sight of the castle and old town across the water was worth every step. It is named for the thinkers who walked it, and you will understand why.
4. Cross the Old Bridge
The Old Bridge over the Neckar is the heart of Heidelberg foot traffic. I walked it several times a day, past the little monument at its midpoint, with the river rushing below and the castle looming behind. In the evening it fills with people watching the light go. It is the connection between the hills and everything else.
5. Explore the Old Town Streets
Below the castle, the old town runs along a single main street with lanes shooting off it. I spent an afternoon walking every one of them, past the shops and the old university buildings and the little courtyards. It is a working town, not a museum, and that is part of its appeal. The buildings are old but the people are current.
6. Visit the Old University
Heidelberg is home to one of the oldest universities in Europe, and a couple of its pieces are open to the public. I walked the old lecture halls and the student jail, where misbehaving students once served short sentences in rooms covered in their own drawings. It is a small, odd corner of history that you will not find elsewhere.
7. Climb the Kolnigstuhl for the Far View
The funicular continues past the castle to the top of the Königstuhl, the highest point around. I rode it all the way up and walked out onto the summit, where the whole valley spread below and the horizon stretched to the hills beyond. On a clear day it is the best view in the region, and the ride up is part of the fun.
8. Taste Local Wine From the Region
The hills around Heidelberg grow wine, and the old town is a good place to drink it. I sat at a wine bar and let the owner pour me a flight of local whites. The wines are light and food friendly, and the bars along the lane make it easy to try several in one evening.
9. Walk Along the Riverbank
On the far bank, a path follows the river and gives a steadier view than the climb. I walked it in the late afternoon as the sun came down and the crowds thinned. Rowers passed on the water and the castle turned gold above the town. It is the calmest way to take in the whole scene.
10. Save an Evening for the Castle Lit Up
On some evenings the castle is lit against the dark, and it is a sight to save. I found a spot on the bridge and watched the ruin glow on the hillside while the lights of the old town blinked below. It is a small thing, but it ends your Heidelberg day in the same way the postcards do. Do not miss
How to Plan a Heidelberg Visit
Two days gives you the castle, the old town, and the best views without a rush. Do the castle and the Philosophenweg on day one, crossing the Old Bridge between them, then give the next day to the university sights and the Königstuhl climb. Keep an evening for the wine bars and the lit castle. The funicular handles the height for you, so the only hard walking is your own. Book the big sights online and start early, because the day tour crowds roll in mid morning. Bring layers, since the hilltop runs cooler than the valley. It is a compact city, and that is its gift, everything close enough to let you wander and still see it all.
