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Best Things to Do
Top 10 Best Things to Do in Heidelberg [2025]
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Heidelberg Castle
4.5
/5
308 reviews
7.7
Based on 7,708 reviews
3.4 km from downtown
Phone +496221658880
Address: Schlosshof 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
Featured in 2025 Europe 50 - Night Attractions
Highlights:
Panoramic view of Neckar Valley
Gothic & Renaissance fusion
Saved by 113 users25% positive reviews
Verified user reviews
The Heidelberg Palace is a must see when visiting Heidelberg. To get there 🥾: you can take a cablecar from the old town. However, I would recommend to skip the queue and just enjoy the around 15min walk up. You will pass by beautiful old villas on the way. What to do 🏰: In my opinion the outside appearance of the castle is more beautiful than the inside. So it’s not worth to spend the entrance fee for a ticket inside. The garden around the castle is free to enter and has great views.
Heidelberg Castle is a must-see on any trip to Germany! 🏰✨ Take the funicular up for stunning views of the city and the Neckar River. 🌆🚠 Explore the beautiful gardens, the impressive castle ruins, and the Great Barrel. 🍇🍷 Don’t forget to visit the German Pharmacy Museum inside the castle. 🏺💊 Plan a half-day for this iconic landmark. #HeidelbergCastle #TravelGermany #CastleViews #HistoricSites #GermanyTrip
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Heidelberger Altstadt
4.3
/5
139 reviews
6.7
2.6 km from downtown
Phone +4998614090
Address: Heidelberg, Germany
Recommended sightseeing time: 0.5-1 day
No.1 of Night Attractions in Heidelberg
Highlights:
View castle & bridge panorama
Free castle tour & 23-foot hall
Verified user reviews
The old town of Heidelberg was not destroyed on a large scale during World War II. You can still see the old times. During the Holy Roman Empire, the princes of the empire built many towering castles and interesting cities. You must visit Heidelberg if you have the chance.
The Old Town of Heidelberg is located on the main street parallel to the Neckar River. As the longest pedestrian street in Europe, it is the center of the Old Town with various attractions, restaurants and shopping places along the street. The Old Town of Heidelberg is not large and can be easily visited on foot.
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Heidelberg University
4.3
/5
33 reviews
5.4
2.8 km from downtown
Phone +496221540
Address: Grabengasse 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Highlights:
Philosopher's Walk overlooks Neckar River
Nobel laureates studied & taught here
74% positive reviews
Verified user reviews
In addition to the castle on the mountain, the old town of Heidelberg is also worth a visit. It is considered a university town with characteristic buildings with a bookish atmosphere, river banks, old bridges, and antique beauty. It feels great to stay here.
Founded in 1386, Heidelberg University is the oldest university in Germany. From theology, law, medicine, and philosophy, it has developed into 12 colleges with nearly 30,000 students today. Heidelberg is a university town, and the university campus is integrated into the old town without any boundaries.
No.
4
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Old Bridge Heidelberg
4.3
/5
156 reviews
5.0
Based on 2,106 reviews
3.2 km from downtown
Phone +4962215844444
Address: Alte Brücke, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
Recommended sightseeing time: 0.5 hour
Highlights:
Heidelberg views & Neckar River
Neckar castles & Odenwald views
26% positive reviews
Verified user reviews
historical bridge linking philosopher pathway and heidelberg oldtown, good view to the castle as well
Heidelberg is located on the Neckar River. Here, the Neckar River flows from the narrow and steep Odenden Valley to the Rhine Valley and meets the Rhine River in Mannheim, 20 kilometers northwest of Heidelberg. The Heidelberg Castle and the Old Bridge are relatively close to each other.
No.
5
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Hauptstraße
4.6
/5
58 reviews
4.5
3.1 km from downtown
Address: 69117 Heidelberg-Heidelberger Altstadt, Germany
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
Highlights:
900m aerial walkway overlooks mountains
Historic sites along pedestrian street
25% positive reviews
Verified user reviews
I love this pedestrian main street of Heidelberg which goes through the old town. It is filled with shops, breweries, Coffeeshop. It can be very busy since it is very touristic. Totally loved it
Heidelberg Pedestrian Street is located in the center of the old town. This 1.6-kilometer-long pedestrian street concentrates the main shopping and dining places in the old town. There is a chocolate shop called College Student Kiss on the pedestrian street, which is a specialty of Heidelberg.
No.
6
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Church of the Holy Spirit
4.2
/5
73 reviews
4.5
Based on 521 reviews
3.1 km from downtown
Phone +49622121117
Address: Hauptstraße 189, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
Recommended sightseeing time: 0.5-2 hours
Highlights:
Heidelberg views from tower
Gothic sandstone church tower soaring
Verified user reviews
The Baroque-style Protestant Cathedral of the Holy Spirit stands on the square, and its beautiful spire is particularly eye-catching. After visiting the church, you can also climb to the top of the tower to overlook the entire Gothenburg city.
This church covers a large area and is also a very important tourist attraction in the old city. It has a strong Baric style, a tall tower structure in the front, and a large structure in the back that can accommodate hundreds of people.
No.
7
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Brass Monkey Statue
4.0
/5
74 reviews
4.1
Based on 347 reviews
3.1 km from downtown
Phone +4962215844444
Address: Neckarstaden 66, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Highlights:
Touch the bronze monkey for blessings
Qianlong-era Yuanmingyuan bronze statues
Verified user reviews
This bronze monkey in Heidelberg is very famous and is said to be a popular check-in spot. The monkey has a very strange shape. If the tour guide hadn't told me, I wouldn't have realized it was a monkey. The monkey holds a round mirror in its hand and there are two little mice at its feet. Everyone who comes to Heidelberg to travel will touch this bronze monkey, so it becomes very bright. Next to the bronze monkey is a statue of the Elector.
Touching the bronze monkey on the Old Bridge in Heidelberg is said to symbolize ugliness and shamelessness, while the mirror represents vanity. The finger of the right hand pointing at the other person is a mockery of the other person. It warns people not to be arrogant, as everyone has an ugly side.
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