Heidelberg, Germany: Things to See

On the last day of our road trip through Southern Germany, my parents and I had to drive from Baden-Baden to Frankfurt Airport in order to catch our evening flight back home. We planned to get up early so that we could stop for a couple of hours in Heidelberg, which was on the way to the airport. Unfortunately, we ended up sleeping in that morning, so we only had about 30 minutes in Heidelberg! Nevertheless, I am so happy that we still made a pit stop in the beautiful historic town. Although I didn’t spend enough time in Heidelberg to create a full guide or itinerary, I still want to share some things to see. I definitely want to return to Heidelberg and I hope that this post inspires you to visit the town as well!

A Bit of History

Heidelberg is mostly known as a university town. Heidelberg University was founded in 1386 and it is Germany’s oldest and one of Europe’s most reputable universities. One quarter of the town’s population is students! Heidelberg is a hub for science and the arts, especially literature. It was even designated a “City of Literature” by the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. Heidelberg is a popular tourist destination due to its beautiful cityscape and popular attractions, such as Heidelberg Palace, the Philosophers’ Walk, and the Baroque old town.

Things To See

After parking in one of the public lots, we stopped at this restaurant patio in the Karlsplatz. We enjoyed a cold drink and this beautiful view of Heidelberg Palace!

The next square over is called the Kornmarkt (Corn Market). This square was once used for the collection and trade of agricultural goods.

A short walk will bring you to the old town centre/marketplace. Here you can see the Church of the Holy Spirit.

Also located in the marketplace is Hotel Zum Ritter St. Georg. This is the oldest bourgeois house in Heidelberg. Stunning!

Head toward the Old Bridge of Heidelberg.

Down by the Neckar River, which runs through Heidelberg, is the beautiful Old Bridge. Since the 13th century, there have been eight bridges on the site. The current bridge was built in 1788 and it’s one of the best-known landmarks in Heidelberg.

The infamous Heidelberg Bridge Monkey! The original Heidelberg Bridge Monkey was a stone statue from the 15th century and it sat in the tower of the Old Bridge. The purpose of the tower was to instill fear and respect in anyone arriving in the town, while the monkey represented mockery. The current bronze Heidelberg Bridge Monkey was installed next to the old bridge in 1979 and it’s a popular tourist attraction.