Category
Parks & Nature in Heidelberg
Heidelberg sits exactly where the Neckar river leaves the Odenwald hills, so forest, water and vineyards reach right into town. If you are looking for green space, you are rarely more than a few minutes from a park, a riverside path or a forest trail.
The green classics
The Schlossgarten (castle garden, the historic Hortus Palatinus) combines a garden design of its own with a view over the city. The Neckarwiese, the long riverside meadow in the Neuenheim district, is the city's big open-air gathering place in summer, used for grilling, picnicking and sunbathing. The Philosophenweg (Philosophers' Walk) on the hillside is lined with Mediterranean plants and offers the best view of the Old Town.
Forest and high ground
From the Königstuhl, hiking trails run out into the Odenwald, for example to the Thingstätte amphitheater on the Heiligenberg or to the Bismarckturm (Bismarck Tower). The Heidelberg zoo and the university's botanical garden round out the options for families and plant lovers.
Sights in this category (3)
Philosophers' Walk Heidelberg: Best Views, Trails and Photo Spots
The Philosophenweg (Philosophers' Walk) runs along a sunny hillside on the far side of the Neckar and delivers the single most famous view in Heidelberg: the castle, the Old Bridge and the red roofs of the Old Town all in one frame. Here is how to get up there, when the light is best and how much time to plan.
Königstuhl Heidelberg
The Königstuhl (King's Chair) is a mountain in the city of Heidelberg. It is located on the eastern edge of the old town and is the highest point of the city with a height of 570 meters. Although this only makes it the 21st highest mountain in Baden-Württemberg, it is still the highest mountain in the small Odenwald region and offers an impressive view.
Neckarwiese Heidelberg
Humboldt once said "Nature must be felt", because it was not only him who was so fond of the green. The Neckarwiese is one of the most visited and important places in all of Heidelberg, both ecologically and culturally. But why is that?
Keep exploring Heidelberg
Every sight in this category has its own page with history, directions and practical tips. The background stories behind them are collected under Heidelberg facts.