What to do in Heidelberg, GERMANY

 
Heidelberg is a large city in the state of Baden-Württemberg in the southwest of Germany, situated on the river Neckar. With over 160,000 inhabitants it is the fifth largest city in this state. Together with the surrounding cities of Ludwigshafen am Rhein and Mannheim, Heidelberg forms the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region.
 
Heidelberg has a lot to offer; especially with the high percentage of young people and students, you definitely won't be bored when visiting this city. 
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​The Old Town of Heidelberg
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​Since Heidelberg is one of the few major German cities that wasn’t destroyed during the Second World War, the layout of its Old Town is still based on the medieval layout. In addition to this special feature, Heidelberg's Old Town also has many other things to offer. For example, it is home to important churches, historical sites, various museums, and ancient and modern buildings. Besides that, countless small cafés, delicate restaurants, and bars invite you to linger.

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​Shopping Arcade
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​Another special feature is the approximately 1.8-kilometer-long pedestrian zone, which is one of the longest in Europe and invites you to stroll around. The main street, which is located between Bismarckplatz and Marktplatz, is home to numerous stores such as C&A, Mango and Hallhuber. In addition, the Darmstädter Hof Centrum, which is located near the Bismarckplatz, offers numerous stores, services, and places to stop for refreshments. The stores here are usually open from Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. A definite dream for all shopaholics! 

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​Heiliggeistkirche
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But tourists interested in history and architecture will also get their money's worth in the Old Town, as most of Heidelberg's important buildings are located here. For example, the famous Heiliggeistkirche (Church of the Holy Spirit) is located in the center of the city. Its octagonal bell tower and its striking facade of red sandstone characterize the silhouette of the city. It is considered the most famous church in Heidelberg and a building of high artistic power. The Church of the Holy Spirit is also known as the former location of the Bibliotheca Palatina, where medieval manuscripts used to be kept. You can visit this church from Monday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sundays and holidays from 12.30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
 

Heidelberg University
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You should not only visit this sight if you are a student. Even if you have already completed your degree, Heidelberg University is definitely worth a visit. The Ruprecht-Karls-University of Heidelberg is one of the oldest universities in Europe and the oldest university in Germany. It was founded in 1386 by the Palatine Elector Ruprecht I and reorganized in 1803 by the Margrave Karl Friedrich of Baden. The university has an excellent reputation worldwide and is associated with a total of 33 Nobel Prize winners. In addition, renowned personalities such as Max Weber, Alfred Wegener, Gottfried Keller, Friedrich Hebbel, and Helmut Kohl completed their studies here.
 

The two most famous sights of the university are the university library and the Studentenkarzer. The main building of today's university library was not opened until 1905, although large collections of works had been in the possession of the university since its foundation. It will also make the hearts of people interested in architecture beat faster, because it is an architectural masterpiece. It combines elements of stylistic pluralism, the German and French Renaissance and Art Nouveau. This makes it a unique building, which was listed as a historical monument in 1971.  

Attached to the Old University is the Heidelberg Studentenkarzer. This is a very special and probably unique sight. So definitely worth a visit. The Studentenkarzer was a kind of dungeon for students, who had offended certain rules and thus needed to be disciplined. The students, who sometimes had to spend weeks in these cells, immortalized themselves with small drawings on the walls, which you can still see today.
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Alte Brücke
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Not far from the marketplace, there is an equally well-known landmark of Heidelberg: the Karl-Theodor-Brücke (Karl Theodor Bridge), better known as Alte Brücke (Old Bridge), which connects the Old Town with the opposite bank of the Neckar. It is mainly used by pedestrians and bicycles, but on weekdays between 4 p.m. and 11 a.m. it is also open to other traffic. The bridge was built in 1788 under Elector Karl Theodor and since then has shaped the panorama of Heidelberg and exudes a certain magic, especially because of how I it is embedded in the landscape. As a result, it is not only a motif in countless photographs, but is also mentioned in numerous poems by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Friedrich Hölderlin and Gottfried Keller, for example.

Heidelberg Castle
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Not directly in, but above the roofs of the Old Town is Heidelberg's landmark: the Heidelberg Castle. Breathtakingly beautiful, it towers above the old town and radiates an incredible charm, so it is no wonder that this castle is considered the epitome of the romantic era.
Until its destruction in the Palatinate War of Succession, it was the residence of the Electors of the Palatinate. Today, it is an attraction visited by several million tourists every year. A castle ticket costs € 8 for adults, the reduced tickets are € 4.

​The castle ticket includes the return trip (from the Kornmarkt to the Molkenkur) on the mountain railroad, the entrance to the castle courtyard, the visit of the "Großes Fass" and admission to the German Pharmacy Museum. So, you will get a lot for the price. There is also the possibility to buy an audio guide for € 5. Guided tours of the castle are also offered, for which you must pay in addition to the regular ticket price.

Königstuhl
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If you have already arrived at Heidelberg Castle anyway, it is only a stone's throw to the next highlight: the Königstuhl. This 567.8-meter-high mountain is the highest mountain in the small Odenwald forest, and together with the Heiligenberg, it is considered Heidelberg's local mountain. It can be reached from the castle via a staircase, the so-called "Himmelsleiter", or by catching a ride on the mountain railroad that runs from the old town via the castle up to the Königstuhl. Once you reach the top, you have a breathtaking view of Heidelberg and the Neckar valley. This place is the perfect retreat for those who want to relax a little and enjoy some peace and quiet after the turbulent hustle and bustle of the city. There is also an amusement park up here, a falconry with spectacular air shows and an observatory you can immerse yourself in the world of astronomy. Finally, more active people get their money's worth here as well, because from the Königstuhl, numerous hiking and cycling trails lead through this beautiful area.

So, Heidelberg offers countless possibilities for everyone. Your stay here is guaranteed not to be anything but boring. It is simply a beautiful city that is just waiting to captivate you as you come and explore.

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