Heidelberg Old Town – Heidelberg Castle loop from Heidelberg Hauptbahnhof

Hiking trails & Routes

Germany

Baden-Württemberg

Heidelberg Old Town – Heidelberg Castle loop from Heidelberg Hauptbahnhof

Moderate

4.6

(118)

940

hikers

Heidelberg Old Town – Heidelberg Castle loop from Heidelberg Hauptbahnhof

02:26

8.99km

120m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: August 13, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

Naturpark Neckartal-Odenwald

Geo-Naturpark Bergstraße-Odenwald

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

2.55 km

Heidelberg Old Town

Highlight • Historical Site

The old town of Heidelberg is a MUST - not only for Japanese tourists!

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2.90 km

The historic city center is the lively old town with cobbled streets, centuries-old buildings and busy market squares, over which Heidelberg Castle, located on a hill, with its gardens towers. The student detention center is a former university prison sprayed with graffiti. Product packaging and trademarks are exhibited in the German Packaging Museum. The Main Street is the city's main shopping street and features bookstores, casual cafes and traditional restaurants.

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3.54 km

Kornmarkt Fountain and View of Heidelberg Castle

Highlight • Viewpoint

Idyllic place full of flair in the old town.

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3.58 km

Kornmarkt

Highlight • Monument

From the 13th century, the Holy Spirit Hospital was located on the Kornmarkt. The outline of the former chapel of the hospital is identified by the paving on the square.

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4.38 km

View of Heidelberg Castle and the Old Town from Scheffel Terrace

Highlight • Viewpoint

Beautiful view from the palace gardens of the Neckar and the palace.
SPECTACULAR GARDEN
The ingenious planner of the garden was the French architect and engineer Salomon de Caus (1576–1626). His client, Elector Friedrich V, had the gardens laid out between 1616 and 1619 on the terraces southeast of the palace. In order to make room for the garden areas at different heights, parts of the steep mountain slope had to be blasted. The rich spring water on the slope of the Königstuhl supplied the numerous fountains and water features that enlivened the garden.
Source:
schloss-heidelberg.de/erlebnis-schloss-garten/schloss-garten/garten/hortus-palatinus

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4.87 km

Heidelberg Castle

Highlight • Castle

The huge castle of Heidelberg is itself as a ruin one of the most beautiful castles of Germany. Unlike Neuschwanstein Castle, Heidelberg Castle has a history of almost 900 years. Its foundation goes back to Konrad the Staufer, half brother of King Friedrich Barbarossa, who relocated his seat of rule to Heidelberg around 1180. In the centuries of its existence, the enormous fortification was repeatedly expanded, besieged, conquered and damaged. The greatest devastation suffered the palace in the Palatinate War of Succession, when the victorious French blew up large parts of the castle. For many years, the ruin fell into ruin and was partially restored only from the late 19th century. Today, the castle is lovingly maintained and houses a medieval museum and the German Pharmacy Museum. Opening times and entrance fees can be found at schloss-heidelberg.de/besucherinformation/preise

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5.31 km

Heidelberg Castle Moat and View of the Castle

Highlight • Castle

From here you have a fantastic view of the castle

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5.91 km

Heidelberg Old Town Pedestrian Zone

Highlight (Segment) • Settlement

The pedestrian zone in Heidelberg stretches along the main street in the historic old town and is one of the most beautiful and longest pedestrian zones in Europe. It runs between Bismarckplatz and the market square and is about 1.4 kilometers long.

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8.99 km

End point

Train Station

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

4.55 km

2.69 km

870 m

567 m

323 m

Surfaces

5.18 km

3.29 km

458 m

< 100 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Thursday 8 October

13°C

6°C

84 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 17.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

July 5, 2022,Heidelberger Schloß

Today the 1st stage of the Neckarsteig (from Heidelberg to Neckargemünd) was on the program - see separate tour publication at komoot.de/tour/832176047.

What could be more obvious than to pay a visit to the Heidelberg Castle right at the beginning and to let these time-honoured walls, which already impressed Goethe beyond measure, have an effect on you.

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April 30, 2022,🇩🇪Heidelberg Tag 2

Today for the carnation wedding in continuous rain first in the body worlds exhibition and then up to the castle.
Watched the HSV victory in a super cool sports bar.

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April 13, 2023,🥾 Heidelberg Körperwelten und 🏰

Unfortunately, the last two kilometers were no longer recorded.
I can highly recommend the body worlds and the 🏰 Heidelberg, which attracts around 1,000,000 visitors every year 😊

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August 6, 2024,2024-08-06 - Heidelberg walk

My first time in Heidelberg. We tried to combine a stroll through the city with a hike in the woods. Sadly, we got tired by the heat and annoyed by the less-than-beautiful western part of the city, so the hike got narrowed down to a walk around the castle gardens. Next time maybe.

August 2, 2025,Geburtstagsausflug

Wellness weekend in the Odenwald 🧘🏽‍♂️
Unfortunately, it was too wet🌨 for biking
So, with a heavy heart, we left the bikes at home 😪😪, but our trip to Heidelberg was really nice too 💫
Lots to see, a great old town🏫🏘 with nice shops, and the weather was perfect too 🌤 So, even without a bike ride, @johnny 🤓💥 …

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June 20, 2026,Heidelberg Altstadt und Schloss

The old town of Heidelberg is one of the most beautiful historic city centers in Germany. With its winding alleys, baroque buildings, and lively squares, it conveys a unique flair. Especially the Hauptstraße, one of the longest pedestrian zones in Europe, invites you to stroll, shop, and linger in cozy cafés.

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September 28, 2024,Heidelberg Wanderung

Off to Heidelberg for Heidelberg Autumn with Kim.
A bit of a castle 🏰, a bit of a flea market, various stages with different music bands, delicious food, April weather.
If you don't have any plans for tomorrow, off you go 👍

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December 14, 2024,Weihnachtsmarkt in der altehrwürdigen Stadt am Neckar....

....with an unusual journey using technology from over a hundred years ago. It was an eventful and beautiful Advent day on the rails and along the Neckar.

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