Heidelberg by bus, then the castle

About this experience

Read the language line first. The listing names German, and no other language, for the live guide. If you are comfortable in German this is a good deal of ground in two hours: the bus leaves from the tourist information at Neckarmünzplatz, by the Old Bridge at the eastern end of the Old Town, and spends about an hour on the city, with the castle in view from across the river. Then come about sixty minutes in the castle grounds, the inner courtyard and the Great Tun, with the castle entrance ticket included. You ride the funicular down to the Old Town at the end, about fifteen minutes from the castle back to the Kornmarkt.

What the listing does not include is the castle's interior tour, which is a supplement bought at the castle, and it does not mention the Apothecary Museum, although the castle ticket covers it. With an hour on the hill there is no time for the museum inside the tour, and the listing does not say whether you may stay behind and ride down later. Ask the guide on the day. The listing also rules out pets.

Heidelberg Marketing is the official city tourism company, the same operator that sells the HeidelbergCard, and its guides are certified. For an English-speaking guide at the castle, the Discover Heidelberg Castle walk covers the same courtyard and cellar in two hours, without the bus.

• About an hour of Heidelberg by bus with a certified guide
• About an hour in the castle grounds: the inner courtyard and the Great Tun
• Castle entrance ticket included
• Funicular ride down to the Old Town at the end
• Starts at the Tourist Information on Neckarmünzplatz, by the Old Bridge
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before

How it runs

1. 15 min beforeCheck in at Neckarmünzplatz

   The listing asks you to arrive fifteen minutes early at the Tourist Information at Neckarmünzplatz, Obere Neckarstrasse, by the coach stop at the eastern end of the Old Town.

2. About 1 hThe city by bus

   A certified guide covers the city's history from the bus, in German, with views across to the castle on its hill.

3. About 1 hCastle grounds

   Through the gate tower into the inner courtyard, the facades and the Great Terrace, then down to the Great Tun. The castle entrance ticket is in the tour.

4. About 15 minFunicular down

   The lower funicular from the Schloss station to the Kornmarkt, two minutes of ride plus the walk and the wait, back in the Old Town by the town hall.

From the Old BridgeThe Great Tun

What's included

Who it suits

What guests say

Tips before you book

• Check your German before you book. Guests write about the live guide, and the listing names no other language.
• The start is at Neckarmünzplatz, not at the Kornmarkt where the other castle walks meet. Bus 33 and 20 from the Hauptbahnhof run along the Old Town; the Tourist Information is by the Old Bridge.
• Departure times are shown on the booking calendar for your date; the ones we have seen were early afternoon, which puts you at the castle for the quieter hour before closing.
• The castle ticket covers the Apothecary Museum. If the guide allows it, stay on after the tour and ride the funicular down later; the lower line runs to about 20:00 in summer.
• The castle's interior tour in German runs on the hour in summer. If you want it, ask the guide whether the tour's timing lets you join one afterwards.

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Discover Heidelberg Castle: Guided WalkTwo hours with a guide in the courtyard, on the terrace and at the Great Tun; funicular and castle ticket included; grounds only.2 hours · Guided walk, English or GermanHeidelbergCard: 1, 2 or 4 DaysCastle ticket with funicular, every VRN bus and tram, and a set of museums on one card for one, two or four days; non-refundable.1 to 4 days · City card with castle ticketResidence of the Electors: Private Castle TourPrivate ninety minutes for your group of up to twenty: garden, Scheffel terrace, ruins and Tun; tickets and cable car included.1.5 hours · Private guide, up to 20, English or German