Heidelberg
Germany
Backpacking Heidelberg
Information on Heidelberg, sights to see, nightlife, activities and more.
Heidelberg is buried deep in the forests of southwest Germany. Flanking both sides of the Neckar River, Heidelberg's red and white baroque old town looks like something from a book of fairy tales. On the hillside above the town, you'll see the looming remains of Heidelberg's Gothic-Renaissance castle, Heidelberger Schloss. The thick forest around the north of Heidelberg is known as the Odenwald. To witness the magic of the Odenwald for yourself, just visit at the turn of a season. The brightening colors of the fall leaves or the green spring buds mean that this area is a must for hiking. If you're feeling active, you can trace the Neckar river from Heidelberg down to the town of Neckarsteinach, on foot or by bicycle. For an easier walk, however, you don't need to leave Heidelberg. In the forest, just beyond the town, you can hike to the wistful, mossy stone ruins of St. Michael's monastery. These lie just above a path known as The Philosophers’ Way, named for the passage of local scholars. Heidelberg University is the oldest in Germany, and its leafy, temple-like campuses contribute to the gentle, contemplative atmosphere of the town.
Must See
Heidelberg Castle - From the moment you arrive in Heidelberg, the tumbledown turrets and red stone walls of the city's castle beckon from the hillside above the Old Town. Once a grand palace of the Renaissance and home to the Rhine's nobility, over time, Heidelberg Castle was ravaged by fires, twice struck by lightning, and beset upon by townspeople, who used the stones and wood to build their houses.
Heidelberg’s Old Town - Has many of the things people love about Germany; sociable squares with street bars at Kornmarkt and Marktplatz, cobblestone streets and a lots of historic landmarks. One of the interesting features of the old town is that it has a uniform Baroque appearance, a result of fires caused by a French assault in 1693. The Town Hall was built in the aftermath and dates to 1701.
Must Do
The Philosophers Walk - Takes you from the riverside area of Neuenheim, through former vineyards, and up to the Heiligenberg peak. Here are stunning views across the Neckar River and the valley floor, over to the castle beyond. If you venture deeper into the forest, you'll come across the mossy, atmospheric ruins of St. Michael's monastery. The forest is also home to Thingstätte, a weird pseudo-Grecian amphitheater built by the Nazis in the mid-1930s.
Old Bridge Walk - Since the 15th century, there has always been a statue of a monkey on the city's main bridge. The bridge the monkey stands on has been replaced eight times and is 250 years old. The current monkey, made of bronze, holds a mirror, which local legend says will bring wealth to anyone who touches it - a popular activity for visitors as they cross the river.
Nightlife
Nights out here are bursting at the seams with the energetic eagerness of Heidelberg’s student population. There are many options for where to spend a night out in Heidelberg - more than 300 bars, pubs, clubs, and the like, from Bavarian style tourist restaurants with deer antlers on the walls to to crazy clubs full of students. You name it. Heidelberg knows no curfew. Most bars close at 01:00, but the students bars are often open until the early morning.
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