Weisse Flotte Heidelberg · Neckarstaden 25, by the Old Bridge
Weisse Flotte's fifty-minute round trip leaves Neckarstaden 25 by the Old Town, slips under the Old Bridge with the castle above the roofs, runs past the Neuenheim villas and the Philosophenweg, turns at the Wieblingen weir and comes back past the town hall, with one drink included. Pick it for the view the painters had: the ruin seen from below, not from inside.
Every other page on this site looks down from the castle. This one looks up at it. Weisse Flotte, the Neckar passenger line, runs a fifty-minute loop from its main pier at Neckarstaden 25 on the Old Town bank. The boat passes under the Old Bridge with the castle filling the hillside behind it, carries on past the villas of Neuenheim and the Philosophenweg on the north bank, turns at the Wieblingen weir downstream and returns past the historic town hall. The captain gives the commentary; the listing names German, and one guest mentions English and French as well, so do not count on it.
One drink is included: a soft drink, water or beer, or mulled wine in winter. The listing names the main pier or the Old Bridge as boarding points depending on the departure, and asks you to check in at the main pier ticket office, so go there first. It is not suitable for wheelchair users, since non-folding and electric wheelchairs are not allowed on board, or for anyone prone to seasickness, though the Neckar is flat water.
Treat it as a second look, not a castle visit. The castle ticket is not part of it and the boat does not stop. Book it for a different hour from your castle tour: late afternoon, when the sun is on the ruin, is the time the castle looks the way Turner painted it. The two-hour castle walk in the morning and the boat at five o'clock make a good day.
Neckarstaden 25, on the Old Town bank a few minutes west of the Old Bridge. The listing says boarding is at the main pier or the Old Bridge depending on your departure; the ticket office at the main pier tells you which.
The boat heads upstream under the arches with the castle above the roofs. Stand on the open deck for this part.
Turning downstream, you pass the villas of the north bank and the wooded slope of the Philosophenweg, with the Old Town and the castle opposite.
The boat turns at the weir on the western edge of the city and heads back.
The return along the Old Town bank, past the historic town hall, to the pier, drink finished.
We were able to see the bridge and the castle from a different vantage point.
A pleasant boat tour of a reasonable length, and we had very nice weather.
This was a fun activity and nice way to get another view of the city.
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No. It is a fifty-minute round trip on the river with no stops; the castle is seen from the water above the Old Town and the Old Bridge. The castle ticket is not included.
The listing names German for the captain's commentary. One guest mentions German, English and French being spoken, but do not rely on it; the views need no translation.
One drink per person: a soft drink, water or beer, or mulled wine in winter, according to the listing.
Neckarstaden 25, on the Old Town bank of the Neckar. The listing says boarding is at the main pier or at the Old Bridge depending on the departure, and asks you to check in at the main pier ticket office.
Ready to book
Fifty minutes on the Neckar under the Old Bridge with the castle above you and a drink in your hand.
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