Visiting Heidelberg

Heidelberg is an absolute must-see for anyone studying in Mannheim. Less than a 20 minute train ride away (which is free for those of you with a semester ticket), it's a beautiful, traditional German town with a castle, shopping and lots of places to eat!

The Castle

You can get to the castle by foot, or a little train up the hill. The views from the top of the castle are stunning and there are plenty of good viewpoints! I wouldn't necessarily recommend paying for a tour of inside the castle; the ruins and views are by far the most impressive aspect. If you are interested in history though, the castle has a pretty varied and impressive one so that's definitely worth checking out. If, like me, however, you're more interested in how it looks and the views from the top, here are a few more photos just to give you an idea of what to expect.

As impressive as the castle is, there's much more to Heidelberg than just that!

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Altstadt

At the foot of the castle is the Altstadt (or Old Town) which is definitely worth a wander around. There are lots of cute gift shops where you can pick up souvenirs or presents, as well as a variety of restaurants and cafes. I'd recommend trying out a traditional German restaurant while you're there, but there's also Italian restaurants, burger places, kebab shops and more.

If you're not too afraid of heights (or narrow spiral staircases), I can definitely recommend going up the church tower! You have to pay but it's not too expensive, and it gives you a great all-around view of Heidelberg.

Shopping

Heidelberg isn't just a traditional, touristy town. It's also home to a university, and a pretty bustling centre. I would even say that the shopping in Heidelberg is better than in Mannheim! So if you get tired of the sightseeing, just wander a little further in and you'll soon find yourself in a more modern part of town with lots to offer.

Travel tips

Like I already mentioned, you can get to Heidelberg for free with your student semester ticket. If you don't have one, don't worry as it's not particularly expensive to buy a ticket either. If you want to check out the castle and the Altstadt, you'll want to get off at the Altstadt stop to save yourself a very long walk. If you're more interested in the city centre and all it has to offer, then the main station is the stop for you.

Enjoy!

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