Altstadt (Old Town)
Altstadt (Old Town)
4.5
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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 M
    Williamsburg, Virginia1,502 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderful 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 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 19 May 2023
  • Phi Somchai
    Bangkok, Thailand3,795 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Lots of historical buildings
    We 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 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 26 June 2023
  • Steve_of_N21
    London, United Kingdom2,283 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Historic Old Town
    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.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 18 September 2023
  • Kelly B
    Iowa4,371 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Picturesque
    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.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 25 October 2023
  • Aniello Saggese
    Baronissi, Italy1,872 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Visiting the Old Town
    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.
    Visited May 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 6 January 2024
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Aniello Saggese
Baronissi, Italy1,872 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
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
5.0 of 5 bubbles
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
5.0 of 5 bubbles
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
5.0 of 5 bubbles
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.
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
5.0 of 5 bubbles
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.
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
3.0 of 5 bubbles
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
4.0 of 5 bubbles
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
5.0 of 5 bubbles
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
5.0 of 5 bubbles
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.
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
5.0 of 5 bubbles
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.

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ALTSTADT (OLD TOWN): All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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