DanckTravel

Heidelberg is a beautiful city, with numerous hiking trails on either side of the river. 

When I was 20, I did a study abroad year here. My friends and I would spend our weekends exploring the various trails. We would walk to the castle and soak in the views as we prepared for tests or did our homework. We would climb Philosophenweg to check out the views or play capture the flag (The monastery is a great place to do this!). Heidelberg hosts a number of paths you can explore, no matter your hiking abaility.

 Below are the places to go:

Philosopher’s Way

Philosopher’s Way (also known as Philosophenweg) is perhaps the most famous hiking trail in Heidelberg and is named for the many philosophers who used to reside here. The trail itself also contains historic sites, in addition to views, making it also an interesting place to explore (see more details below).

It’s on the opposite side of the river from the castle and boasts some great views of the old city.

These are some of the views and it’s not a very 

How to Get Here

There are two ways to get here. You can either access Philosopher’s Way via Bergstrasse. This path features fewer stairs and offers more of a gradual incline. 

However, if you are starting from the old town, you will likely want to enter Philosopher’s Way from a road known as Schlangenweg, which is near the old bridge. Be warned: There are a lot of stairs here.

Highlights of Philosophenweg

As noted above, Philosophenweg has a few historic landmarks to explore. These include the following:

The Amphitheater (Thingstätte)

Thingstätte is a big amphitheater that was constructed as part of the Thingspiel movement. It was created during World War II.

St. Michael’s Monastery

Keep climbing up those steps of the amphitheater and you’ll make your way to St. Michael’s Monastery. This place got nearly destroyed after the last three monks died there, and Heidelberg wanted to make some extra money by selling the stones. Luckily, this never happened, and you can still explore it today.

The Castle

The castle is the most famous site in Heidelberg and offers beautiful views of the old city. There is a lot to see, including tours, offered both in English and German. Here you can explore the Pharamcy Museum, see the world’s largest wine barrel, and take a look at the gardens. T

How to Get Here

There are many ways to get to the castle. The shortest is Burgweg. This is located south of Kornmarkt and will split into two paths, including a direct one with steps and a scenic route involving a more gradual incline.

However, you can also take the main roads and just continue going up. There are some beautiful old mansions on the way up. Some of these are fraternity homes, which you can tell based on the flags outside.

We’d recommend taking one path up and another down so you can both enjoy the views and beautiful homes.

Königstuhl 

Königstuhl is the name of the mountain the castle resides on, and you can continue past to make it to the top of this hill. At the top, there aren’t only spectacular views (It’s the highest point in the city), but a Fairy Tale Theme Park, with rides for kids.

How to Get Here

In order to reach the summit, you will need to travel up the Himmelsleiter (translation: Heaven Ladder), which is a staircase with 1,200 steps that was built in 1844. It begins at Molkenkur-Weg, right past the Heidelberg castle.

Please note: If you don’t want to hike all the way up or if you’d prefer to only hike one way, you can take the Heidelberg Bergbahn, which can deliver you to the top.

Neckarsteig: 

The Neckarsteig spans 126 kilometers and connects Heidelberg to Bad Wimpfen. If you plan to do the hike, you can earn a pin in recognition for your efforts, by going to the tourist information services and getting a “passport” stamped by points along the trail. Once you have collected 10, you can get a pin and certificate.

How to Get Here

The path starts near the Heidelberg castle and is marked with a blue ant. We recommend mapping out your route on All Trails.

Neckar River Path

If you want to go for a walk or run, but are looking for flat terrain, look no further than the Neckar path. This path is located on the opposite side of the river from the Altstadt (or old city) and includes the famous Neckarwiese. This lawn spans wide sections of the river. On sunny days, you’ll see university students and locals enjoying the sun, grilling, or having picnics.

How to Get Here

You can easily access this path via the Theodor-Heuss Brücke. There are stairs connecting the bridge to the Neckar waterfront

Burg Schauenburg

Heidelberg castle isn’t the only castle worth seeing in the area. While less intact and technically outside of Heidelberg, Burg Schauenburg in neighboring Dossenheim is also a cool place to visit.

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.