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.
