Home > Destinations > Europe > Germany > The Neckar Valley > Heidelberg > Planning a Trip
Bookstore Community Tips and Tools Book a Trip Deals and News Trip Ideas, Activities, Lifestyles Hotels Destinations Frommers.com Home
Frommer's - The best trips start here. Frommer's - The best trips start here.
Sign up for our FREE Newsletters! Win a FREE Trip
Most Active Heidelberg Discussions
Most Recommended Articles
Most Commented Articles
  Print This Article Print Get Frommer's RSS Feed RSS

Planning a Trip

Getting There

By Plane -- The nearest major airport is Frankfurt, with a direct bus link to Heidelberg. The shuttle bus between Frankfurt and Heidelberg costs 32€ ($42) per person. Call tel. 06221/770077 for shuttle information.

By Train -- Heidelberg's Hauptbahnhof is an important railroad station, lying on the Mannheim line, with frequent service to both regional towns and major cities. From Frankfurt, 56 trains arrive per day (trip time: 1 hr.); from Stuttgart, 35 trains (trip time: 45 min.). Travel time to and from Munich is about 3 1/2 hours. For information, call tel. 01805/996633.

By Bus -- Regional bus service is provided by BRN Busverkehr Rhein-Neckar at Heidelberg (tel. 06221/60620).

By Car -- Motorists should take the A5 Autobahn from the north or south.

Visitor Information

Contact Tourist-Information, Willy-Brandt-Platz 1 (tel. 06221/19433). It's open April to October Monday to Saturday 9am to 7pm, Saturday 9am to 7pm, and Sunday 10am to 6pm; and November to March Monday to Saturday 9am to 6pm. Here, visitors can purchase a Heidelberg Card, which provides discounts on attractions and free use of public transportation. Cards valid for any consecutive 2-day period cost 14€ ($18) per person; cards valid for any consecutive 4-day period go for 21€ ($27) per person. A family card is available as well. Valid for two adults and two children under 16 for any consecutive 2-day period, it sells for 28€ ($36) and carries the same provisions.

Getting Around

Heidelberg is crisscrossed with a network of trams and buses, many of which intersect at the Bismarckplatz in the town center. Bus nos. 41 and 42 travel frequently between the railway station and the Universitätsplatz. The Altstadt stretches on either side of the Hauptstrasse between the Bismarckplatz and the Universitätsplatz. Bus or tram fares cost 2.10€ ($2.75) for a single ride.

Exploring on Two Wheels -- Unique in Germany, the Neckar Valley Cycle Path allows you to ride all the way from the source of the Neckar in Villingen-Schwenningen, 375 km (233 miles) to the confluence of the Rhine at Mannheim. The path is marked with a signpost showing a green bicycle and a red wheel mark. The route follows the river the whole way, though many cyclists go only as far as Heidelberg. Along the way, you'll pass castles, manor houses, vineyards, country inns, and such old towns as Rottweil and Esslingen. Most cyclists average about 50km (30 miles) per day on the trail.


Back to Top


Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.


  Print This Article Print Get Frommer's RSS Feed RSS
Frommer's Germany 2009 Frommer's Germany 2009

Author: Darwin Porter
Pub Date: December 03, 2008
Price: $24.99

Buy Now!
Related Titles:
Frommer's Germany 2008
Frommer's Germany's Best-Loved Driving Tours, 8th Edition
Frommer's Munich & the Bavarian Alps, 6th Edition
Add Frommers.com RSS Feed  Add Frommers.com RSS Feed (What's This?)
Add Frommers.com Deals & News to Your Web Site
Add to My Yahoo!     Add to My MSN     More RSS Readers
Add Frommers.com Podcast Add Frommers.com Podcast (What's This?)
Home > Destinations > Europe > Germany > The Neckar Valley > Heidelberg > Planning a Trip