Lots of information. She guided us thought e castle with very good awareness of timing and crowds. Monika adjusted to mobility needs within our group.
About Activity
What's Included
Includes
- Heidelberg Castle and Funicular Tickets
- Private guided tour exclusively for you
Excludes
Departure & Return
Departure Point
- At the Lion fountain (Löwenbrunnen), the tour guide shall be waiting with a Signboard. Meeting point can also be fixed at your hotel (if centrally located).
Return
- The drop-off location can be changed as per your preference.
Itinerary
Start your tour at the Lion Fountain in Universitätsplatz, located in front of the main portal of the Old Assembly Hall. Here you will pass by Heidelberg University, founded in 1386, which is the oldest university in Germany and one of the oldest continuously operating universities in the world. The university has long been recognised for its academic excellence and remains highly ranked internationally. Universitätsplatz itself is one of the most popular squares in Heidelberg’s Old Town and serves as a lively meeting point for students and visitors, surrounded by historic university buildings and cafés.
Continue your walk along Hauptstrasse, one of the oldest and most famous pedestrian shopping streets in Europe. As you make your way through the heart of the Old Town, you will arrive at the Church of the Holy Spirit, the largest and most prominent church in Heidelberg. Located in the centre of the historic district, the church was constructed between 1398 and 1515 and features a blend of Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles. Over the centuries, it has served as an important religious and cultural landmark for the city.
Just outside the church lies the Marktplatz, the historic marketplace of Heidelberg and the oldest square in the city. Dating back to the medieval period, the square has existed since the early development of Heidelberg and has long been the centre of civic and commercial life. Today it remains a lively gathering place where visitors can admire the historic Town Hall as well as the impressive Church of the Holy Spirit, both of which frame this picturesque square.
From the Marktplatz, continue towards the Neckar River to reach the Old Bridge, officially known as the Karl Theodor Bridge. This elegant stone bridge, with its distinctive arches, has stood on this site since 1788 and was commissioned by Elector Charles Theodore. Over the past 700 years, nine different bridges have been built at this crossing. Today, it is one of Heidelberg’s most iconic landmarks and offers beautiful views of the surrounding hillsides, the Old Town, and the river. At the southern end of the bridge, you will also see the historic bridge gate towers, which provide a popular photo opportunity.
After crossing the river, you will walk along the Philosopher’s Walk, a scenic path located on the northern bank of the Neckar River. This peaceful trail is said to have been frequented by philosophers, scholars, and artists who sought inspiration while enjoying the tranquillity and views of the city. The path offers spectacular panoramic vistas of Heidelberg’s Old Town, the Neckar River, and the famous Heidelberg Castle rising above the rooftops.
Return to the Old Town and pass through the Kornmarkt, one of Heidelberg’s most charming squares. From here you can enjoy one of the best views of Heidelberg Castle standing prominently on the hillside in the background. At the centre of the square stands the Kornmarkt-Madonna, a column with a statue of the Virgin Mary created in 1718 by Peter van den Branden, accompanied by three decorative fountains. The square has long been a focal point of the Altstadt, and it is said that the American writer Mark Twain visited this area during his stay in Heidelberg in 1874.
Your tour concludes at Heidelberg Castle, one of the most famous and romantic castle ruins in Germany. The origins of the castle date back to before 1214, and over the centuries it served as the residence of the Electors Palatine. Although it suffered damage from lightning strikes, fires, and wars, the castle remains one of Heidelberg’s most significant landmarks. Within its cellars you will find the Heidelberg Tun, the world’s largest wine barrel, with a capacity of approximately 58,000 gallons. From the castle grounds, visitors can also enjoy spectacular views over the Old Town and the Neckar Valley.
Language Offered
Additional Info
Cancellation Policy
Reviews
Our guide was outstanding. Very informative. But the tour according to the description should have included walk on the old Town Bridge and philosophers way. We did not do either of these. 2 hours were spent in old Town. We ended up walking the bridge on our own and were not able to do Philosophers way
We had an amazing private tour with Martin. He was extremely knowledgeable about history and had great stories and humor too. He was prompt and even helped us find a local place to have lunch after the tour. I recommend without reservation.
Klaus was very informative, personable, and flexible! He was happy to share what he knew, show up good photo spots, and give us local insider tips! We will definitely be back.
A wonderful experience. Iris was the best. So friendly, accommodating knowledgeable and made us feel so welcome. We learned lots of information on the city, history and current culture. We went at our own pace and stopped for gelato as well.
Bring a lot of water if you don’t like being outside and wear appropriate/comfy shoes and bring some money to pay for fairs and other expensive
Ralf was Amazing! He was very knowledgeable and funny. Very flexible. He was great a communicating ahead of time. He warned us it was suppose to rain so we could plan accordingly. I highly recommend this tour especially if you get Ralf!
Martin was a great tour guide. He was able to really bring the past and the present of Heidelberg to light. Anyone wishing to explore Heidelberg should take this tour.
Excellent tour with Monika! We had a good walk all over the old town and visited the castle.
Be prepared for a full 3 hours of walking rain or shine! It was wonderful even with intermittent rain. Martin was informative and helpful with suggestions on future sightseeing ideas, shopping and eating out! Well worth the money.
Informative tour of Heidelberg and the Castle. Our guide Martin was very knowledgeable about all the dates and places. Would recommend the Private Tour, you get to ask questions that are of interest to you. Heidelberg is a beautiful town well worth exploring
Martin was a local born here and was very informative and funny; we enjoyed the tour. Well worth the money.
Monika was a wonderful guide. She was so knowledgeable about Heidelberg and its history. I highly recommend this tour.
Martin is one of the best tour guides we’ve had in our many travels. He makes Heidelberg come alive with fascinating history, stories and factoids.
We had such a great experience on this tour. It was extremely informative, fascinating, and entertaining. Our guide was excellent, too! We’d highly recommend this tour of Heidelberg if you want to get the history of the area and a lay of the land while you’re visiting.
Ralph was very knowledgeable, personable and the tour was terrific! We learned so much about the beautiful city of Heidelberg!
We were so fortunate to have our guide, Monica, to ourselves for this Heidelberg tour. She was fantastic and we learned so much about the history of this city throughout the ages. Highly recommend this tour to anyone to learn and experience the charm of Heidelberg!
Wonderful tour! Monika was wonderful and knew so much about the city! Our whole family enjoyed the tour! Highly recommend!
Daniela was a fabulous tour guide. She showed us all around the beautiful city that she is so proud to call home. From the streets of the university, the funicular ride to the castle, the views, the church visits and walk to the bridge, all were fabulous. She provided special dinning and shopping ideas and took time to get to know our family.
The views were absolutely breathtaking, and some of the best photos from our entire trip through Germany, France, and Switzerland came from this tour! We really enjoyed spending time with Daniela and learning more about her beautiful country. Although the rain put a slight damper on the day, Daniela went above and beyond to make the most of it. We ended the tour sharing a bottle of wine overlooking the castle—such a memorable and fun experience!
This tour was wonderful for kids. Very informative and fun. We especially loved the stories in the castle, learning the history of the town and visiting the University!
The tour of the old town and castle was wonderful! Sylvia was a kind and informative tour guide who went out of her way to engage with our kids and make the history of the city and castle appealing to them, telling stories that interested even our 6 year old. A great time. Highly recommended!
Ralph met our group of 12 at our hotel on time. He was friendly and extremely knowledgeable about Heidelberg’s rich history and overall made the city come alive for us! Highly recommend!
Fabulous experience!!!! Martin was fantastic!!!! Highly recommend Martin and this tour!!! We learned so much about the city and history of the city. Martin is very engaging!!!!
Ralph took us on an excellent tour of the castle and the surrounding old town, ensuring we learned the rather incredible history of each. He was entertaining, knowledgeable, and sensitive to the needs of our group of 4 adults, on a rather cold day. There was a story around every corner, and his tour brought Heidelberg to life for us.
Monika was a very knowledgeable and pleasant guide. The tour focused on churches and religions more than we were expecting
Very knowledgeable guide in Ralf. The tour accommodated us for a last-minute change. We covered all the bases from University Plaza to the Big Barrell and Perkeo. Highly recommended.
We really enjoyed our tour with Ralph! He was a wealth of information and he clearly enjoyed telling us about his city. Heidelberg is definitely worth visiting and it was great to understand more about its history and that of the castle. Highly recommend!!
As with most all castles, a must see and visit adventure. Put your walking shoes on, you'll need them! Lots of cobblestones and the the castle itself will take your breath away. You'll also see the world's "largest wine barrel"... go with a guide to get all the stories behind the history...ie; the windows, etc.
Our tour guide had a wonderful and thorough knowledge base of so much of the historic details. Highly recommend! It's easy to just walk around and look at stuff, but the experience is so much fuller with all the context and history behind it.
Best visit ever! Enjoyed every second of it. The tour guy was amazing, very knowledgeable and cheerful. Private tour was worth every penny.
Monika was a wonderful guide. She helped us understand the history of Heidelberg and appreciate the layers of architectural history. Monika also have wonderful dining and shopping recommendations.
Iris was a delightful guide for our private Heidelberg stroll. A tour replete with history and beautiful sights, this tour is a MUST. My 20 & 18 year-olds really enjoyed the castle ruins, university history and funicular ride.
Monika was a wonderful tour guide! She had was very fun and knowledgeable and we received an amazing tour of the castle and Heidelberg!
Anne our tour guide was outstanding . Friendly knowledgeable and witty . I would highly recommend this tour and ask for Anne if at all posdible
My son and I took a private tour with Sophie that was exceptional. She provided the history, information of the buildings and architecture as well as some local folk tales that really were of interst. I plan on coming back w my gf and doing this with her and Sophie as well.
We viewed only the outside from a few blocks away, also from the Old Bridge and lastly, from across the Neckar River. The castle is simply a magnificent site and definitely a MUST SEE!! Talk about photo ops!! Tours are available as well as using an audio guide. There is a funicular should you rather not walk to the castle.
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Very nice leisurely morning. Interesting facts and beautiful sights. Andress was a wonderful host, showing us his home time. Highly recommend.
Me. Andreas was a superb guide. We toured Heidelberg castle as well as churches. He was very knowledgeable and pleasant Thank you. I would book with Viator again.
We did a 3 hour walking tour of the castle, and the funicular. Both were very well worth the time. The views from the top of the railway were beautiful overlooking the town and valley. The castle and grounds were charming, well maintained and we really enjoyed the Apothake (pharmacy) museum. When we were done the downtown platz offered many choices for pastries, as well as restaurants and bier gartens.
Our tour guide did a great job of customizing the tour. We really enjoyed the castle the most. She had lots of great stories and things to keep my kids interest.
Sarah was flexible as we asked to adjust our meeting time due to a conflict. The pace was pleasant and the information was interesting. As a history major, I ask a lot of questions and she answered all of them. She was extremely knowledgable with older details as well as the newer information. She had several city sites on her route but also adjusted as we asked about landmarks or information we had read about. Very personable and easy to communicate with!
Daniella was amazing, so knowledgeable about the town, the castle, the University. We saw so much in just a short period of time. Heidelberg is beautiful.
Very good tour. Tour guide was exceptional! We would recommend this tour. Guide was very knowledgeable on history of Heidelberg and answered all of our questions.
Inga was a wonderful guide. Being close to 80 years young and having live most of her life in Heidelberg she had lots of knowledge about the city and area. We enjoyed every mo ent with her. I highly recommend this tour while visiting Heidelberg.
Excellent tour. We loved our guide. She taught us about the entire city. Very pleasant with our son.
He was a great experience. The guide was very very competent and informed the guests exactly with the right knowledge. The three hours flew by! A very big thank you again. The leadership will be remembered very well. Castle tour should always be taken
Sehr angenehme und interessante Führung mit Fr. Clara. Gemütlicher Rundgang durch die Stadt und zum Schloss mit diversen Erläuterungen.
Susanne has adapted the tour perfectly to our wishes and presents us with a very informative old town and castle tour. Susanne has a great historical knowledge of Heidelberg and conveyed this very clearly. We would book anytime again with Susanne this or another tour.
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