Travel information

This page offers some useful information to make the best out of your stay in Heidelberg.

Arrival

The closest airport is Frankfurt am Main (FRA). By taking a train at Frankfurt airport long-distance station, you can reach Heidelberg central station in about an hour.

Getting around

The easiest way of making use of Heidelberg’s public transportation is to either download the local public transport provider myVRN app (links: Android; Apple) or the German railway company DB Navigator app (links: Android; Apple). Simply type in your current and desired location, choose the bus or tram connection that works for you, and purchase a ticket directly through the app.

Prefer to cycle? Try bike-sharing by NextBike to rent a bike for 1€/15 minutes.

Many places in Heidelberg are also within walking distance of each other.

Where we are situated and where to go:

Our conference is taking place at the Marsilius-Kolleg in the popular district Neuenheim, which lies north of the famous Old Town of Heidelberg, on the opposite side of the river Neckar. Neuenheim is also home to the largest of our university campuses (Campus Im Neuenheimer Feld), which takes up large parts of the area west of Berliner Straße.

Good lunch options near the Marsilius Kolleg are the Mensa (Central Canteen), the Café Botanik right next to the Mensa, and Café Frisch.

If you have time for a stroll in the campus Neuenheim area, you may want to visit the Botanical Garden, which is one of the oldest in the world. Those interested in the more scenic parts of Neuenheim should orient themselves further east, towards Brückenstraße. And, if you have the energy for a short hike, we recommend taking the iconic Philosopher’s Walk up to Heiligenberg to enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of the city. For a coffee or an evening drink in Neuenheim, we suggest the River Café or the Bairro Café-Bar.

The Old Town, southeast of Marsilius-Kolleg, is the heart of Heidelberg and is sure to charm you with its romantic alleyways, historical buildings, and lively atmosphere. We recommend going to Bismarckplatz (8-10 minutes from Central Station by bus/tram, 15-20 minutes from Marsilius-Kolleg by bus, line 31) to begin your journey through the Old Town in the direction of Heidelberg Castle. On the way, you will pass the old campus of the University of Heidelberg, with the Old University at Universitätsplatz and the University of Heidelberg Museum Studentenkarzer in the former university prison for misbehaving students. You will also have several opportunities to grab a bite and a drink, to window-shop, to people-watch, and to enjoy pretty views of the surrounding landscape. If you feel like going for a coffee in the Old Town, we recommend Café Panno or Café Südseite. For drinks, Hemingway’s (near Bismarckplatz), Café Regie, and Drugstore are great choices. Or if you want to go for a more student-culture-y feel, check out Untere Straße (nicknamed ‘Untere’ by locals) where many of Heidelberg’s student pubs are. We recommend Café Hörnchen. Please note that smoking is allowed inside many of Heidelberg’s bars; avoid Hörnchen and Drugstore if that is a problem for you.