Altstadt (Old Town)
Altstadt (Old Town)
4.5
About
The Old Town of Heidelberg starts from Sofienstrasse and brings you to the castle. In the middle there is the University Area (the oldest university in Germany), the main shopping street (Hauptstrasse) and it includes to famous Karl-Theodor-Bridge / the Old bridge.
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- Sue MWilliamsburg, Virginia1,502 contributionsWonderful Old Town!We walked the Old Town, covering numerous Heidelberg sights. Such a lovely old town with lots of great shops and plenty of places to eat. I'm so glad that we decided to do this Viking included tour of Heidelberg from our river cruise. I read Rick Steve's guide book on Germany and he did not recommend visiting Heidelberg, saying that it was too modernized. I usually like his travel recommendations but I definitely disagree with his opinion of Heidelberg. It was worthwhile visiting.Visited May 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 19 May 2023
- Phi SomchaiBangkok, Thailand3,795 contributionsLots of historical buildingsWe came here after our visit to the Heidelberg Castle. The old town has many historical buildings and interesting shops. The bridges over the Neckar river, Church of the Holy Spirit, the Markplatz and many more. It is really enjoyable going around town and visiting these attractions.Visited April 2023Travelled with friendsWritten 26 June 2023
- Steve_of_N21London, United Kingdom2,283 contributionsHistoric Old TownThere are several places of interest in the historic old town of Heidelberg and any walk of its streets should take in the Church of the Holy Spirit, The Haus zurn Ritter ( house of the almighty) built in 1592, the two main squares, the Marketplatz and Kornmarkt, and obviously the Old Bridge. But like most other German Old Towns, this one is genuinely old, with several buildings dating from the 16th century, and not a fairly recent reconstruction. It also encompasses part of the longest pedestrian street in Europe, but if coming from the train station this street doesn’t really get interesting until you reach the start of the restaurant section towards the Old Town , eg Louenbrau for example, as the first two thirds is a fairly mundane shopping street. Although you have to walk this street, once is enough for the shopping section and then you should explore the parallel and interconnecting streets. For example the most lively is Untere Street with its many bars and when you get to the Church of the Holy Spirit. Take the lane to the left to find Vetters Brew House, my favourite of the three brew houses around the Old Town for its beer styles.Visited September 2023Travelled with friendsWritten 18 September 2023
- Kelly BIowa4,371 contributionsPicturesqueQuite a lovely place to walk around. It was very crowded when we were there. We parked at a nearby transit station, and then took the train in (about a 5 minute ride). The streets are very narrow, and it seemed like parking would be a nightmare.Visited October 2023Travelled with friendsWritten 25 October 2023
- Aniello SaggeseBaronissi, Italy1,872 contributionsVisiting the Old TownThe first time I heard the name Heidelberg was during my studies in computer science. Some pretty good software tools were developed within its university. While nearby, I heard that Heidelberg is also a popular tourist destination, so we decided to spend a day visiting the Old Town and in particular its castle. The old town, developed between the castle hill and the river Neckar, was a little damaged during the Second World War and is very pleasant to visit. Here, there are monuments, religious buildings, beautiful squares and, to finish, its famous church and old bridge. A Beautiful panoramic view may be enjoyed from the terraces of the castle.Visited May 2023Travelled with friendsWritten 6 January 2024
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4.5
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Aniello Saggese
Baronissi, Italy1,872 contributions
May 2023 • Friends
The first time I heard the name Heidelberg was during my studies in computer science. Some pretty good software tools were developed within its university. While nearby, I heard that Heidelberg is also a popular tourist destination, so we decided to spend a day visiting the Old Town and in particular its castle. The old town, developed between the castle hill and the river Neckar, was a little damaged during the Second World War and is very pleasant to visit. Here, there are monuments, religious buildings, beautiful squares and, to finish, its famous church and old bridge. A Beautiful panoramic view may be enjoyed from the terraces of the castle.
Written 6 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
irve2016
Sydney, Australia1,075 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
What could I say other than beautiful another great town with had the joy of visiting on our tour of Europe.
Written 23 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vadim
Murmansk, Russia26,794 contributions
Nov 2022 • Solo
Heidelberg, like the neighboring Wiesbaden, is a pleasant exception against the background of other German cities burned to the ground by Anglo-American aviation in 1943-1945. Local Old Town is exactly what it was originally (after french occupation), and not stylized like in Cologne. As a matter of fact, the whole Old Town of Heidelberg is a rectangle along the Neckar with a length of no more than a kilometer. I passed it after descending from the castle. You can start with the most noticeable landmark - the huge church of the Holy Spirit visible from everywhere. The huge apse of the Heiliggeistkirche overlooks the Marktplatz, on the opposite side of which is the Town Hall. The Neptune Fountain is located in the center. Now everything is beautiful and noble here, but in the Middle Ages it was at this place that witches and heretics were burned. But the most beautiful building here on the square and in Altstadt as a whole is the hotel "Zur Ritter". One of the oldest buildings in Altstadt was built in 1592 by a family of cloth merchants. His mannerist facade is a champion in the number of photos. Moving along the main street (Hauptstrasse), you will get to the University Square, which will be on the left in the direction of movement. It is clear that the main thing here is the building of the Old University, built by the local architect Johann Adam Breuning in 1711-1735. The University of Heidelberg is the oldest and most famous university in Germany. A little to the side will be the church of the Jesuits, who reached Heidelberg in 1698 as part of the Counter-Reformation. Built in 1712-1751, it attracts attention with its facade by Paul Egell. A little away from the square will be the oldest church in the city of Peterskirche. Its age is more than Heidelberg itself. Returning to Hauptstrasse, you can once again look at the people walking here. It is difficult to recognize who is who of them: an overage student, a professor or just a tourist.
Written 3 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kelly B
Iowa4,371 contributions
Oct 2023 • Friends
Quite a lovely place to walk around. It was very crowded when we were there.
We parked at a nearby transit station, and then took the train in (about a 5 minute ride). The streets are very narrow, and it seemed like parking would be a nightmare.
We parked at a nearby transit station, and then took the train in (about a 5 minute ride). The streets are very narrow, and it seemed like parking would be a nightmare.
Written 25 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steve_of_N21
London, UK2,283 contributions
Sept 2023 • Friends
There are several places of interest in the historic old town of Heidelberg and any walk of its streets should take in the Church of the Holy Spirit, The Haus zurn Ritter ( house of the almighty) built in 1592, the two main squares, the Marketplatz and Kornmarkt, and obviously the Old Bridge. But like most other German Old Towns, this one is genuinely old, with several buildings dating from the 16th century, and not a fairly recent reconstruction.
It also encompasses part of the longest pedestrian street in Europe, but if coming from the train station this street doesn’t really get interesting until you reach the start of the restaurant section towards the Old Town , eg Louenbrau for example, as the first two thirds is a fairly mundane shopping street.
Although you have to walk this street, once is enough for the shopping section and then you should explore the parallel and interconnecting streets. For example the most lively is Untere Street with its many bars and when you get to the Church of the Holy Spirit. Take the lane to the left to find Vetters Brew House, my favourite of the three brew houses around the Old Town for its beer styles.
It also encompasses part of the longest pedestrian street in Europe, but if coming from the train station this street doesn’t really get interesting until you reach the start of the restaurant section towards the Old Town , eg Louenbrau for example, as the first two thirds is a fairly mundane shopping street.
Although you have to walk this street, once is enough for the shopping section and then you should explore the parallel and interconnecting streets. For example the most lively is Untere Street with its many bars and when you get to the Church of the Holy Spirit. Take the lane to the left to find Vetters Brew House, my favourite of the three brew houses around the Old Town for its beer styles.
Written 19 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
gfsc5
Perth, Australia1,479 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
We visited a few 'old towns' during our river cruise and were a tad disappointed by Heidelberg's version. There are some interesting old buildings and a nice church but the focus seems to be on shops (retail and restaurants). Each to their own, I suppose.
Written 28 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KKRC
Los Angeles, CA11 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
The Old Town is a beautiful place to walk around. There are many shops, restaurants and cafes there.
Written 27 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Avidan L
Kfar Saba, Israel53 contributions
Jul 2023 • Friends
Nice place to walk, old very nice streets and buildings nice to look at the people and the area, and to seat there, eat and drink
Written 23 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David N
Hawthorne, CA799 contributions
Apr 2023 • Solo
This lovely old town is what draws people to Heidelberg. Here you will find the historic old university, many churches, museums, restaurants, cafés, and shops.
Hot tip: the best spot for dinner is down the side-street Bauamtsgasse called Schnitzelbank.
Hot tip: the best spot for dinner is down the side-street Bauamtsgasse called Schnitzelbank.
Written 16 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Clevlander
Springfield, IL4,984 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
One of the best preserved old towns in Germany, since it was spared by World War II, since there was no strategic value to the city, since it did not have any particular industry of importance, and it was mainly a college town. We were very pleasantly surprised about its beauty, and how well it was preserved
Written 10 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
해용 강
Bucheon, South Korea
Best parking place for looking around old town?
Hope not too expensive..
Germanyguide
Frankfurt, Germany214 contributions
Parkhaus Kornmarkt/Schloss is best parkingspot in Heidelberg.
Sonali2014
Pune, India1 contribution
Is Heidelberg castle open to tourists on a sunday
marelte
Bucharest, Romania86 contributions
Yes, but take into account that it's Sunday and you might face a queue after 11 a.m. On the other hand if you want to take advantage of the surroundings you can walk to the castle from downtown area is not so far. But this depends on how much you like walking!
Thiago L
Rio de Janeiro, RJ4,621 contributions
Pretendo visitar a cidade num bate e volta de trem com base em Frankfurt. Porém vi que a estação de trem de Heidelberg é um pouco longe do centro e do castelo. Além disso, o Caminho dos Filósofos fica mais longe ainda. Gostaria de saber qual a melhor forma de mobilidade la, especialmente para o trajeto entre o centro turístico e a estação de trem.
Eric A
Rio de Janeiro, RJ120 contributions
Para a altstadt tem transporte público, para o caminho dos filósofos talvez tenha que pegar táxi.
Heather D
East Moline, IL135 contributions
Are most of the places open on Easter Monday?
Eric H
Vancouver, Canada173 contributions
I'm not 100% sure but you are likely to find attractions such as Heidelberg Castle open (at least limited hours) on Easter Monday. We were there on Dec 26th and while it is a public holiday in Germany (St. Stephens Day) and most of the businesses were closed, some restaurants were open in the old town and a few tourist shops. To expand further it is generally not permitted to sell commercial goods on Sundays and public holidays.
As I mentioned, we were able to tour Heidelberg Castle on a public holiday so if that is one of the attractions you want to visit on Easter Monday, I would just double-check their website. The same for any other attraction you might be interested in visiting while you are in this lovely old city. Good luck and enjoy your trip!
skc111nyu
New York City, NY
What is the shopping hours during weekend?
Cael P
Lee's Summit, MO280 contributions
During the week the shops are open until about 9pm. Saturdays they allow for weekend tourists many places stay open until well past 9pm. Of course restaurants, bars etc are open later. Area appeared to be very safe, had no problems. Although they say that Sunday shops are closed we found quite a few open in the afternoon. Most are going to church in the AM.
Airstreaming1976
Bethel, CT42 contributions
HI again, what is the best way to travel from Dusseldorf to Heidelberg? I'm assuming the train but not sure what train. Thanks for your help!
helloq8
Kuwait
deed the train is ideal, if you do not have a car. It is a smooth ride. trains go on the average every hour, but you will have to check the DB schedule. They have fast as well as slower trains, depending on the number of stops. there also are first and second class cabins. enjoy.
Airstreaming1976
Bethel, CT42 contributions
HI! We will be in Heidelberg June 3-5 (traveling from Dusseldorf) and are trying to find accommodations in Old Town (Altstadt). Any suggestions? Maybe an apartment or studio for the weekend?
Simon M
Cambridge, UK232 contributions
I only recommend hotels that I have stayed in and rate 5* or 4*. In Heidelberg I recently stayed at Hotel zum Ritter St Georg in the Aldstadt. It's on the Haupstrate and looks down towards the old bridge. Originally a merchant's house, it has been a hotel for 250+ years. The interior has had a complete makeover so the rooms are tasteful and comfortable. You might assume that the bustle in the street will be one awake at night but that's not the case - the Aldstadt is very quiet after 10.00 pm, apart from the tolling of the clocks, which is quaint. What you will get from staying here for a couple of nights is a beautiful sense of history, and you'll remember that for a long time, believe me. You can find my recent review of Hotel zum Ritter St Georg on tripadvisor
nancyGalena_Il
Galena, IL22 contributions
Hi! We have been to the castle . We want to see the old town center, the cathedral, but what else is there?
Carolina B
Mexico City, Mexico253 contributions
Something else to see the old town is the University which is the oldest in Germany and one of the most important specially in science. Also there is the Studentenkarzer (the student Jail) created around 1386. The buildings around that are also from the same time.
The church of the Holy Spirit is one of the most important downtown Heidelberg. Its original structure is from the XIII century and it was finished around the 1440.
Also you can see the Zum Ritter Hause in Market Square, which is a beautiful building that is now a hotel.
Carl-Theodor-Brücke or the Alte brucke has a very nice entrance, but I will recommend to go to the other side where you will have a beautiful view of the castle and some buildings of the old town that you may be able to see when you go back to the other side. Take a stroll by the river Neckar is a very nice experience. Also on the other side of the riveryou will find the Philosophenweg where you will have very nice views of the city.
Then go visit Karlsplatz, another nice place with a fountain and Kornmarket which many people say it is the pretiiest square in the Old Town. There are many restaurantes, stores of many different things, from fossils, to amber, clothing etc.
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Claim your listingALTSTADT (OLD TOWN): All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Altstadt (Old Town)
- According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Altstadt (Old Town):
- Heidelberg old Town Tour. (From £33.81)
- Heidelberg's Altstadt: A Self-Guided Audio Tour (From £4.11)
- Beer and Old Town Tour (From £79.04)
- Heidelberg Public Walking Tour With A Professional Guide (From £90.08)
- Exclusive Private Tour of Heidelberg. (From £368.86)
- Hotels near Altstadt (Old Town):
- (0.02 mi) Boardinghouse Goethehaus
- (0.03 mi) Hotel Goldener Falke
- (0.03 mi) Pension Jeske
- (0.03 mi) Hotel am Rathaus
- (0.09 mi) Lotte - The Backpackers
- Restaurants near Altstadt (Old Town):
- (0.01 mi) Max Bar
- (0.01 mi) Marktstube
- (0.01 mi) Hans Hirsch's Kurpfalzbräu
- (0.02 mi) Ristorante Papi
- (0.02 mi) Cenmoro Cafe Bar Restaurant