Heidelberg's Altstadt

About the audio tour

Explore the streets of Heidelberg's Old Town and hear about catastrophic floods, the princes of Heidelberg Castle, and university students so rowdy, they had their own prison. Wind your way through picturesque streets, taking in the amazing architecture and quaint atmosphere of the beautiful Altstadt on the banks of the Neckar River.

Major Landmarks

Alte Brücke, Church of the Holy Spirit, Student Karzer

Directions to starting point

If you are already within the Altstadt, it's best to walk to the Marktplatz, as there is no transit within the old town. If you're coming from Bismarkplatz, the transit hub, catch a bus or tram to the Alte Brücke, or Universitätsplatz, and the Marktplatz is a short walk.

Tips

Places to stop along the way:

It's worth stepping inside the Church of the Holy Spirit and the Jesuit's Church. The Student Karzer (Prison) is well worth a visit, but charges a small fee. Mahmoud's, the middle eastern restaurant right in front of the Jesuit's Church is lovely, and if you need caffeine, the coffee shop-and-record-shop Pannonica at Ingrimstraße 22 is great.

Best time to walk:

Daytime is best for this tour, as many details of the buildings we pass won't be visible at night.

Precautions:

Watch out for bikes, they come zipping along at high speeds. Though most of these streets look pedestrian-only, cars and delivery vans do use them, so be aware of your surroundings. Finally, the Marktplatz is known for pickpockets, keep an eye on your belongings.