If you are staying in Frankfurt and want a short getaway from Germany’s only high-rise skyline, Heidelberg is the place to go. Its beauty and idyllic setting on the river Neckar is well-known by locals, as well as the lifestyle provided by this setting. This multicultural vibrant University City with 15 neighbourhoods is a hotspot for both families and students, as well as for the creative industries, businesses, academics and researchers.
Heidelberg wonderfully combines old and new buildings, narrow streets, market squares, arts, history, science, shopping, eating and relaxing. The main road through the Old Town is one of the longest pedestrian zones in Europe and is where most of the shopping is centred. See the University, Germany’s oldest and one of the world’s oldest, and learn how it was founded in 1386 on instruction of Pope Urban VI. Learn about the Student Jail, where students were arrested for minor offences and still allowed to attend class, under the condition of returning here afterwards. Surrounded by forest, Germany’s oldest and most famous university town is renowned for its baroque Old Town, spirited student atmosphere, beautiful riverside setting and an evocative view of the half-ruined hilltop castle. This excursion will take you from Frankfurt to Heidelberg by train, the best way to enjoy the scenic landscapes of more rural Germany, to then arrive with your private guide to this beautiful university city and explore it's every nook and cranny.