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Heidelberg

Travel Guide > Europe > Germany > Baden-Württemberg > Heidelberg

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Introduction

Heidelberg Alt Stadt

Heidelberg Alt Stadt

© All Rights Reserved nikio

Heidelberg is a city in Baden-Württemberg, in the central southwestern corner of Germany. Located just over 100m above sea level along the Neckar River, it has about 150,000 inhabitants and is a popular touristic place.

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Neighbourhoods

Heidelberg consists of six sectors with a total of fourteen districts:

  • Central area: Altstadt, Bergheim, and Weststadt.
  • North: Neuenheim and Handschuhsheim.
  • East: Ziegelhausen and Schlierbach.
  • South: Südstadt, Rohrbach, Emmertsgrund, and Boxberg.
  • Southwest: Kirchheim.
  • West are Bahnstadt, Pfaffengrund, and Wieblingen.

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Sights and Activities

  • The old town (Altstadt)
  • The Heidelberg Castle, 80m above the old town
  • The University (see below for link) is one of the oldest functioning educational institutions in Europe, dating back to 1386
  • Church of the Holy Spirit
  • Church of the Jesuit's
  • Providence Church
  • St. Peter's Church
Frosty Afternoon

Frosty Afternoon

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Events and Festivals

  • Heidelberger Castle Festival - July/August
  • Ball of the Vampires - February, Carnival
  • Classic Music Festival - March/April
  • Half marathon - last weekend April
  • Frühlingsmesse on the Messplatz - May
  • Heidelberger Schlossbeleuchtung fireworks display - June, July and September
  • Old Town Autumn Festival - last weekend September
  • Heidelberger Theater Days - October/November
  • International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg - November

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Weather

Heidelberg has relatively warm summers and winters which are still relatively mild, though snow and frost is certainly quite common. Summer temperatures from June to early September are generally around 25 °C while nights are around 15 °C or a little lower. Winters last from December to February when temperatures are above zero during the day, with nights around or just below zero.
Precipitation is quite evenly distributed throughout the year, though May/June and November/December tend to be just a little wetter. Most months see about 60-70mm of rain/snow, June almost 90mm. March and September are driest, around 50mm.

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Getting There

By Plane

Although Heidelberg doesn't have its own airport, there are three other options nearby: Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden.

KLM has regular flights to Amsterdam and other destinations with airlines include Atlanta, Helsinki, Paris, Tel Aviv, Copenhagen and Malta.

  • Frankfurt is Germany's main International Airport. Flughafen Frankfurt am Main (IATA: FRA) is found at 12 Kilometres from the city centre, and receives flights from almost all national and countless international destinations. Among others, Frankfurt is the primary hub of German national carrier Lufthansa.

The Lufthansa Airport Bus links Frankfurt Airport with Heidelberg almost hourly. It takes about 75 minutes one way.

By Train

Deutsche Bahn (DB) has frequent trains to Baden-Baden (1 hour), Frankfurt (1 hour) and Stuttgart (40 minutes).

By Car

Heidelberg is located just east along the A5 highway from Frankfurt to Karlsruhe.

By Bus

By Boat

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Getting Around

By Car

Parking is expensive, €1.50 an hour, €16 per day!

By Public Transport

Tram 5 links the Hauptbahnhof with Bismarckplatz and buses 11, 21, 33, 34, 41 and 42, as well as tram 1, run between Bismarckplatz and the Hauptbahnhof. Buses 11 and 33 go directly from the Hauptbahnhof to Neckarmuntzplatz.

By Foot

Much of Heidelberg is easily explored on foot.

By Bike

Eldorado offers bike-rentals.

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Eat

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Drink

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Sleep

PropertyAddressTypePopularity
Hotel Kranich HeidelbergKranichweg 37AHotel64
Hotel SchnookelochHaspelgasse 8Hotel100
Ritter ApartmentFriedensstrassee 27 69121 HeidelbergApartment63
Steffi´s Hostel HeidelbergAlte Eppelheimer Str. 50Hostel90
Sudpfanne HostelHauptstrasse 223Hostel76

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Work

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Keep Connected

Internet

Phone

See also International Telephone Calls

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This is version 1. Last edited at 9:32 on Sep 24, 09 by Utrecht (+6783). 1 article links to this page.

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