The famous view
The castle, the old town and the old bridge in one frame — Heidelberg's classic scene.
Schlurcher — CC BY 4.0 · Stephan van Helden — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Stephan van Helden — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Stephan van Helden — CC BY-SA 4.0
The Philosophers' Way is a walking path on the hillside across the river from the old town, giving Heidelberg's most famous view: the castle on its hill, the old town below it and the old bridge on the river — all in one frame. It takes its name from the university's professors and philosophers, who walked here to think and argue. The path is free and always open, but reaching it means a steep initial climb up a narrow stepped lane called the Schlangenweg, the snake path. Once up, the way levels out into a long, easy walk between gardens and southern plants.
The castle, the old town and the old bridge in one frame — Heidelberg's classic scene.
A narrow twisting stair climbing between walls — tiring, but part of the experience.
Mediterranean plants growing on the slope thanks to its warm, sheltered microclimate.
Philosophenweg, 69120 Heidelberg
Kurpfälzisches MuseumThe Kurpfälzisches Museum is Heidelberg's city museum, housed in an eighteenth-c6 minutes walk4.4
HeidenlochThe Heidenloch is a deep stone shaft on the Heiligenberg hill in the forest abov7 minutes walk4.8
St Stephen's Monastery RuinsThe ruins of St Stephen's Monastery lie on the slope of the Heiligenberg north o7 minutes walk4.6
Heidelberg University MuseumA museum in the Old University building in Heidelberg, documenting the history o8 minutes walk4.1
Friedrich Ebert MemorialThis house is where Friedrich Ebert was born in 1871 — Germany's first elected p8 minutes walk4.7The first part is: a narrow, steep stair of about fifteen minutes that tires anyone unused to it. After that the path is level and easy. Anyone who cannot manage it can reach the upper path directly by bus or taxi.
Afternoon and before sunset: the sun is behind you, lighting the face of the castle and the old town. In the morning the sun faces you and pictures come out dark. Sunset is the finest time of all.
An hour and a half there and back with stops for photographs. The full path runs further into the woods, but most visitors walk the first stretch with the view and turn back.