Heidelberg - Location
Heidelberg is located in Southeastern Germany along the Neckar river, in the region of Baden Wurttemberg, an hour south of Frankfurt. Heidelberg is part of Germany's "Castle Road."
Population of Heidelberg
Heidelberg's population includes about 135,000 people, 28,000 of which are students at the University of Heidelberg.
Airports Nearby Heidelberg
The closest international airport is Frankfurt Airport (Flughafen) Frankfurt Rhein-Main, 80km away and reachable in one hour. TLS will take you from the Frankfurt airport right to your Heidelberg hotel for 29 Euros per person one way.
Lufthansa Airport Bus runs between the Terminal 1 arrival area to the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Heidelberg every hour. The bus will cost you 19 Euros one way.
Ryan Air uses the smaller Airport Frankfurt Hahn, 1.5 hours from Heidelberg. Transport to Heidelberg by "BKK Buses": phone 01805 - 225287, 16 Euros one way.
Heidelberg HBF - The Train Station
Heidelberg's central train station (Hauptbohnhof) is located at Willy-Brandt-Platz 5. You can get busses and taxis from the front of the station. There is an Ibis hotel at the station. The station is a bit of a walk from the old town, about 25 minutes. In front of the station is a stop for busses and trams--take any one indicating "Bismarckplatz" to get you to the main street in Heidelberg's old town.
Heidelberg Tourist Information
You'll find the Tourist Information in a kiosk in front of the train station.
The Heidelberg Card
Three types of Heidelberg cards are available: 2 days, 4 days, and a family option. The card gives you 10 off in some shops and cafes, and free entrance to some of Heidelberg's main attractions. Read the benefits carefully to see if the Heidelberg card is worth it to you.
Heidelberg Top Tourist Attractions
- Heidelberg Palace (Schloss) - Heidelberg's castle ruins have been famous for centuries as romantic ruins, so they've not been fully restored. Yet this is one of the most evocative castles you might visit in Europe. Inside is a wonderful Pharmacy museum, as well as the world's largest wine barrel (a vat having a capacity of 195,000 liters or approx. 51,514 gallons.) There is a wine bar inside the palace, and a small cafe outside where you can get a drink or eat a light meal (or what passes for one in Germany, anyway). Admission is 2.5 Euros at time of writing.
- Heidelberg University - The cornerstone for Heidelberg's "Old University" was set on June 24th, 1712. The area around abounds in interesting cafes and shops. There is a university museum and very interesting Student's Prison, where students were imprisoned for minor and fashionable transgressions like drinking at night and disturbing the peace. There is a free Botanical Garden in the University of Heidelberg; entrance is free. Closed Saturdays.
- The Old Bridge (Alte Br�) - Prince Elector Karl Theodor built Heidelberg's first stone bridge, erected between 1786 and 1788. The bridge has a well-preserved medieval gate on the town side.
- Shopping in der Hauptstraߥ - Heidelberg features the longest pedestrian zone in Europe. The Heidelberg Card gives you a 10 iscount in many shops and cafes.
