Heidelberg Altstadt (Best 3-Minute Video Guide)

Heidelberg Altstadt is an amazing location that draws visitors from around the globe.

The city has some incredible history dating back to 1196 when Heidelberg Castle was built.

Heidelberg Altstadt or Old Town in English is a beautiful cobblestoned village that sits below the famous Heidelberg Castle.

This location is not only famous for its architecture but its restaurants, shopping, and historic structures.

Today, I will share with your our experience at Heidelberg Altstadt, including how to get there, things to do, and things to consider to help you plan your visit to Heidelberg Germany.

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Heidelberg Altstadt Details

Website: N/A

Location: Google map link

Opening Hours: N/A

Best Time to Visit: Anytime/Summer

Pricing: N/A

Things To Do:

Shopping
Restaurants
The Church of the Holy Spirit

Jesuitenkirche
Heidelberg Castle
Rathaus/Bergbahn

Palmbräu Gasse (Best Pork Knuckle)

Where is Heidelberg Altstadt?

Heidelberg Altstadt (Old Town) is located in the east of Heidelberg on the southern bank of The Neckar River, at the foot of Königstuhl.

How Do You Get To Heidelberg Altstadt?

Getting to Heidelberg Altstadt can be done via bus or tram to Bismarckplatz, which is the main junction directly beside Old Town.

Here you can choose to walk down Hauptstraße (main road) or catch a second bus to Universitätsplatz which is located halfway through Old Town.

How Old is Heidelberg Altstadt?

Heidelberg Altstadt dates back to 1196 at a similar time when the Heidelberg Castle was first built.

Our Experience

Our visit to Heidelberg Altstadt began with an easy tram ride from Heidelberg Main Station.

Just a short tram ride to Bismarckplatz and we had arrived just outside Heidelberg Altstadt.

Here we walked across the road into the famous Hauptstraße (main road), a walking street dominated by foot traffic.

In the beginning, you will notice that many of the retailers are clothing and fashion stores.

As you continue your trip further down Hauptstraße, particularly past Universitätsplatz where the number of cafes, pubs, and restaurants begin to increase.

Heidelberg Altstadt has so many different roads and laneways, all containing restaurants and small shops.

We visited multiple times over the course of our 5-week stay and still have so much to explore.

Things To Do

The length of Heidelberg Altstadt’s 2km length provides tourists and locals with some of the best sights in all of Europe.

The streets contain many different shopping options, bars, restaurants, and cafes.

For the shoppers and fashion enthusiasts, the list of retailers includes:

H&M
Kiki Milano (Cosmetics)
MANGO

BRAX
JACK & JONES (Men’s clothing)
Galeria (Department store)

(With hundreds more!)

For history and architecture fanatics the list includes:

Heidelberg Castle

Old Bridge
The Church of the Holy Spirit
Jesuitenkirche

For the kids:

Gelati
Ice cream shops

Candy shops
Crepes
Toy Stores

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Things To Consider

If you are planning a trip to Heidelberg Altstadt consider visiting in the warmer months, and even at dusk.

While the Hauptstraße (main road) is incredible to walk down, it does not have much cover, which can prove challenging in wet or hot weather.

The streets can be quite busy, so consider visiting during the week if you want to avoid crowds.

We also suggest visiting multiple times.

This will allow you to take your time and enjoy the streets, food, and sights.

Things To Consider

Visit in warmer weather
Visit multiple times to see as much as possible
Have dinner on Hauptstraße (main road) at dusk

Visit during the weekdays to avoid crowds

One of our highlights was having dinner on Hauptstraße (main road) in the evening.

There is nothing like sitting back with a German pilsner, soaking up the views, and watching the crowds go by.

Final Thoughts

Heidelberg Alstadt is one of our all-time favourite destinations to visit.

Its stunning architecture and beautiful cobblestone streets lead you on a journey to historic buildings, excellent shopping, and incredible restaurants.

If you are planning your trip to Heidelberg Germany, spend as much time as possible in Heidelberg Altstadt, you won’t be disappointed.

So, are you planning a trip to Heidelberg?

What are you looking forward to the most?

Let us know in the comments below.

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