I lived in Heidelberg for a year and hiked many times to the top of Philosophers Way (also known as Philosophenweg) with my friends. It’s a moderate hike with a few uphill parts and fantastic scenes of the city below.
The path pays homage to the main philosophers and poets who lived in Heidelberg and shaped the city, including Hegel and Hölderlin. Today, you too can enjoy that same inspiration through the beautiful path that spans several historical sites, while offering views of the castle, bridge, and Neckar River.
Time Needed for Philosphers Way
How long you will need at Philosopher’s Way will depend on how high you decide to go. To get all the way to the top (the 16th-century monastery), it would usually take my friends and I two hours. However, you can already get incredible views shortly into the hike.
I’d recommend planning a full day for this, so that you have time to hike up and enjoy the views. Plus, if you go down Schlangenweg (see below), you can reach the old town with enough time to enjoy the Heidelberg nightlife at Unterestrasse.
How to Get to Philosopherweg
Philosophers Way is located on the opposite side of the river from the main downtown. Below are the ways to get there.
Via the Main Path
The main path is located right off of Bergstrasse and easy to access via the bus or a taxi. This path features less stairs than the path below. Instead it’s a gradual incline to the first major viewpoint.
Via the Old Town
You can access this by a thin road directly across from the old bridge (This is usually how my friends and I would hike up). Be warned: You will climb a lot of stairs via a road called Schlangenweg.
However, if closed for any reason (or icy), we recommend just going up the main path.
Exploring in Philopsher’s Way: Reasons to Go
There are many reasons to go, including fun sites along the way. Below is an overview.
The Views
If you are looking at the postcards in the shop and wonder where the photos for those views were taken from, look no further. You don’t need a drone to capture incredible photos of the castle and bridge. You can simply hike up Philosophers Way!
These views can also be enjoyed without having to reach the very top if you are short on time.
Heidelberg views
The Amphitheater (Thingstätte)
Thingstätte was built during World War II and was a site for performances and was part of the Thingspiel movement. Today, it is a historic site, located close to the top of Philisophers Way.
The Monastery
At the very top of Phlosopher’s Way is St. Michael’s Monastery, which you can explore (My friends and I played capture the flag up here when I was a student studying at the local university).
The original church was built in 807, with the monastery replacing that site in 1023. In 1503, the last three monks stationed there died when a tower fell on them. In 1589, the city had decided to destroy the monastery so they could make some money by selling the stones. Luckily, this never happened and the ruins are still there to explore today.
To access this, walk up the amphitheater stairs. This historic site is only a short distance away.
The monastery
The Other Hiking Trails
Philiosphenweg is just part of a network of hiking trails located in this region. If you love the outdoors, there are plenty of places to explore in the nearby region.
Exploring the other hiking trails
Final Thoughts
If you’re wondering if Heidelberg is worth exploring, Philosophenweg is just another cool reason to go. Have you climbed this historic trail? Leave your impressions in the comments below.
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