Heidelberg walking tour & city guide
A romantic castle ruin above an old university town.
Video by HazelFrame on YouTube. All rights belong to the creator. Like or comment on YouTube ↗
Heidelberg, on the Neckar River, inspired the poets and painters of the Romantic movement, and it is easy to see why. A red sandstone castle ruin looks down on a baroque old town and Germany's oldest university, framed by wooded hills.
The castle
Heidelberg Castle was the residence of the Electors of the Palatinate. It was destroyed by French troops in the late 17th century and later struck by lightning, and its half-ruined walls became a symbol of German Romanticism. Inside, the Heidelberg Tun is one of the largest wine barrels in the world.
You can walk up to the castle on steep paths or take the funicular, which continues up to the Königstuhl hill for even wider views.
The old town and the river
The Hauptstrasse, one of the longest pedestrian streets in Europe, runs through the old town past the Church of the Holy Spirit and the Market Square. The University, founded in 1386, is the oldest in Germany, and its Student Prison, where students were locked up for misbehavior, is covered in graffiti.
The Old Bridge, with its gate towers and bronze monkey statue, crosses the Neckar. On the other side, the Philosophers' Walk climbs the hillside and offers the classic view of the castle, old town and river.
Visiting tips
Heidelberg is under an hour from Frankfurt by train. In summer, the castle is lit up by fireworks on a few evenings. Mornings are the quietest time to explore before day-trippers arrive.
Top sights in Heidelberg
- 1
Heidelberg Castle
A romantic red sandstone ruin.
- 2
Old Bridge
A stone bridge with gate towers over the Neckar.
- 3
Philosophers' Walk
A hillside path with the best views.
- 4
Hauptstrasse
A long pedestrian street through the old town.
- 5
Student Prison
Graffiti left by locked-up students.
- 6
Königstuhl
A hilltop reached by a historic funicular.
Food markets & where to eat in Heidelberg
Untere Strasse
A lively old town street of student pubs and taverns.
Market Square
Cafés around the Church of the Holy Spirit.
Weekly farmers' market
A market on the Marktplatz with local produce.
Neckar riverside
Beer gardens by the water in summer.
Food to try in Heidelberg
Heidelberger Studentenkuss
The 'Student Kiss', a chocolate created for courting students.
Maultaschen
Large stuffed pasta pockets from the southwest.
Flammkuchen
A thin crust tart with cream, onions and bacon.
Baden wine
White wine from the region's vineyards.
Opening hours and prices change often. Please check with each place before you visit.
Plan your trip to Heidelberg
Enjoyed the walk? Here is everything you need to see it for real.
- Hotels in HeidelbergCompare places to stay and prices.
- Tours & ticketsWalking tours, museums and day trips in Heidelberg.
- eSIM for GermanyStay online from the moment you land.
Some links may be affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
More cities in Germany
▶ 6 videosBerlin
History, street art and a city that never stands still.
▶ 6 videosMunich
Bavarian beer gardens, palaces and the Alps on the horizon.
▶ 6 videosHamburg
A great port city of canals, warehouses and music.
▶ 6 videosCologne
A giant gothic cathedral on the Rhine.
▶ 6 videosDresden
The baroque 'Florence on the Elbe', reborn.
▶ 6 videosRothenburg ob der Tauber
A perfectly preserved medieval fairytale town.
▶ 6 videosNuremberg
An imperial castle, half-timbered houses and a famous Christmas market.
▶ 6 videosFrankfurt
Skyscrapers by the river and a half-timbered old town.
▶ 6 videosLeipzig
A city of music, arcades and peaceful revolution.