One Day in Heidelberg, Germany: Heidelberg Itinerary
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Famous for its castle ruins, Heidelberg is a beautiful gem of a city on the River Neckar. Our one day in Heidelberg will serve as a perfect guide for planning a Heidelberg Itinerary.
This post is part of our Two Weeks in Germany Guide.
We headed to Heidelberg on the train from Phantasialand near Brühl. The trip took about three hours and included a transfer in Cologne and in Frankfurt. It was a bit chaotic but manageable. After getting a good night’s sleep we planned to visit Heidelberg in one day.
Arriving in Heidelberg by Train
We checked into our hotel the Hotel NH Heidelberg where we planned to stay just one night. The hotel was surprisingly modern and comfortable. It was also within walking distance from the train station. We were pleased to learn that we were located across from a university, so there were plenty of low-cost local places to eat. We had a delicious dinner at Cafe Merlin, located around the block from our hotel. They also have a bar and great happy hour prices. It was a good find.
One Day in Heidelberg Itinerary
Stop 1: Heidelberg Castle
Early the next morning we planned to visit Heidelberg Castle. The castle is a complex of ruins and some small museums located on top of a hill overlooking the Neckar River. This is a very popular castle and the highlight on any Heidelberg one day trip.
After some math, we figured it would cost about the same to hail a taxi as it would to take the streetcar and bus. It also was quicker and avoided a steep uphill climb.
So we hailed a cab and were at the doorstep of the castle grounds in under ten minutes. We purchased a Schlossticket for €8 that included castle admission, a ride on the funicular, and entrance to the German Apothecary Museum.
We walked the castle grounds exploring the largely intact ruins then headed inside to the castle courtyard. Inside the courtyard is a huge facade decorated with statues of historical heroes and Roman Emperors. The original statues are located inside the building which was reconstructed in the 20th century.
We visited the adjacent Barrel Building. Inside you’ll get to see a giant barrel-shaped wine vat that is a strangely popular tourist destination. Through the buildings, we led our way to the castle viewing platform flanked with stone battlements. From here you get a view of the entire city of Heidelberg nestled in a valley on the river. It’s a beautiful sight.
Because it was included, we popped into the German Apothecary Museum, which covers the history of pharmaceutics. Despite one ancient unicorn on a wall behind a staircase, we found the museum to be pretty lackluster.
Stop 2: Hillside Funicular to Market Square
We exited the castle grounds and took the included funicular ride on The Heidelberg Mountain Railway back down to the old town area of Heidelberg. We continued our one day in Heidelberg with a walk around the area near the Church of the Holy Spirit. There are plenty of great cafes and restaurants, particularly near Market Square.
Stop 3: Hiking Philosophers' Way
Our next destination was Philosophers' Way, a path on the northern hill above the river. We crossed the river via Old Bridge Heidelberg, a bridge built in 1788 that has become a well-known landmark in Heidelberg. On the other side of the river, we crossed the street to find the path marked with a sign reading Philosophenweg.
This path became a popular contemplative hike in the Romantic period for its solitude and beauty. The path is a pretty easy incline that is paved for most of the way. It’s a great way to see the entire city of Heidelberg with the castle on the hilltop behind. There are benches and some informational plaques along the way. The entire path is about one kilometer and, depending on your speed, will take less than an hour.
Stop 4: Bismarck Tower
Don’t miss the Bismarck Tower located a small climb above the Philosophengärtchen. It’s a largely abandoned and forgotten monument tower erected for Prussian Prime Minister Otto von Bismarck. It is free to climb to the top for another view of Heidelberg. It’s an off-the-beaten-path thing to do in Heidelberg.
From there we walked back down the hill where the trail combines with roads through a quaint hillside residential neighborhood. At the bottom of the hill, we took a bus to the train station where we picked up our 3:30 pm FlixBus to our next destination, EuropaPark.
We loved our one day in Heidelberg, it was the perfect amount of time to see all the top Heidelberg attractions.
Things To See in Heidelberg:
Heidelberg Castle
Barrel Building
German Apothecary Museum
The Heidelberg Mountain Railway
Market Square
Church of the Holy Spirit
Old Bridge Heidelberg and the Neckar River
Philosophers' Way
Bismarck Tower
