Top 6 Things to Do in Heidelberg, Germany

I was very excited to visit Heidelberg. Before my trip to Europe, I met a German woman named Jackie in Honolulu. She’s from Heidelberg, and she convinced me to add her hometown to my itinerary. I hadn’t even heard of Heidelberg until I met Jackie, but I’m so glad I went!

I visited for the day while I was staying in Frankfurt. I liked how quaint Heidelberg was, especially compared to the busy financial hub that is Frankfurt. Heidelberg was cute, and it was off the beaten path. I saw some, but not many, tourists in Heidelberg, and they were all European. I didn’t notice any American tourists, and I thought that was kind of cool.

After spending weeks hopping from city to city, I really enjoyed visiting a small college town and spending time outdoors on the Philosopher’s Walk. I definitely recommend going to Heidelberg.

I was looking forward to the Philosophenweg (Philosopher’s Walk) most of all. The Philosophenweg travels up the Holy Mountain and is named after the many philosophy students and professors who enjoyed this walk for its solitude, natural beauty, and views of Heidelberg’s Altstadt. There’s a bus that runs to the mountain top, but it only runs in the summer months.

Philosophenweg

Philosophenweg

At the top of the Holy Mountain is Hitler’s Thingstatte (Amphitheater). Hiking the Philosopher’s Trail led me right to it. The Thingstatte is an outdoor theater that was designed by the Third Reich to host propaganda rallies. It was never finished and has since been transformed into a historical monument and public park. When I visited, I saw children playing amongst the perfectly symmetrical bricks. It felt kind of eerie to me. Today, organized gatherings are forbidden in the Thingstatte.

Heidelberg’s Altstadt (Old Town) is charming. It’s a great place to take pictures and have lunch. If you visit during the holiday season, be sure to check out the Marktplatz (Market Square) to experience Heidelberg’s Christmas Market.

Lunch in the Altstadt

Schloss Heidelberg (Heidelberg Castle) is well worth a visit. It’s a stunning brick castle overlooking the Neckar River.

The Alte Bruck (Old Bridge) connects the north and south sides of the city. Strolling over the bridge is popular among tourists and locals alike. On the south side of the bridge, make sure to look for the Bruckenaffe (bridge monkey) statue. I didn’t realize this until after I visited, but the statue is meant to be interactive. Tourists can take pictures with their head inside the monkey’s head. Want to learn more? You can check out photos on tripadvisor here.

Heidelberg is a college town and is best known for its historic school, Heidelberg University. Heidelberg University has been around since 1386! It was founded during the Holy Roman Empire and is one of the world’s oldest surviving universities.

In the early days of the university, students who were caught causing mischief were sent to the studentenkarzer (student prison), and they were only allowed to leave for classes. Instead of feeling exiled, most troublemakers felt a sense of pride in pulling off a prank good enough to land them in the studentenkarzer. To commemorate their prank, prisoners wrote stories and drew pictures on the walls of their cell. Today, tourists can pay €3 to enter the studentenkarzer and see the graffiti. The studentenkarzer is closed on Sundays and Mondays.

Have you been to Heidelberg? What did you enjoy most about this charming college town?

– Travel Alli