The 42 best things to do with kids in Heidelberg (2024)

Heidelberg Palace is a ruined red sandstone castle that sits on a hillside in the heart of Heidelberg, Germany. It is one of the most beautiful ruins in the world and is popular with tourists for its incredible views across the Neckar River. The only way to see the interior of Heidelberg Palace is by tour - after 6pm it is open to the public for free.

Beautiful, highly recommend for a lazy stroll. The views of the palace and the city from the terrace is breathtaking. We went on a rainy day and still managed to have a great time. There’s a short hike, moderately steep but absolutely doable. Wear comfy shoes. I saw some cars up there too, so I guess it’s possible.

Michele S — Google review

Really cool castle! The views of the city are incredible. The walk up is pretty steep so be prepared if you are going that way. Don’t miss the pharmacy museum and the giant wine barrel. The inner part of the castle costs 9 euros but it’s worth it. Also check out the garden in the back for even more great views.

Deependablereviews — Google review

If you like explore castles, this will be educational and fun.Starting with a hike up the castle is highly recommended! It made me appreciate so much modern amenities - there is a cable car you can purchase to go up and down as well (€9 will get a person up and down the hill for the castle). The grounds outside the castle is fun to walk around simply for the view it offers of the town. Once up at the castle level, get ticket to the courtyard. It can be included in the cable car. It will take maybe an hour or hour and half but seeing the massive wine barrel - it will be the biggest ever! and learning about the start of medicine/ pharmacy in Germany will be a fun experience in the museum inside. Wander around to the front of the castle the view is great not just the old town below but also the castle structure itself.Happy travels

Ling W — Google review

The views and history of the castle is so amazing! Definitely a must visit! So many things to see and take in! There’s a great lawn to just sit out and relax in and enjoy the day.Tickets are needed for entry.

Corey — Google review

I can't find words to explain this place. Perhaps the most impressive castle in Europe! I wish all the interior parts were open to the public. The world's largest wine barrel is also located here.

Emre K — Google review

Beautiful castle with a rich history. The views from the top of this castle were magnificent. We also took a stroll around the surrounding open areas. We took an Uber there since it was a big climb.

Tek O — Google review

A wonderful place to visit. This place was definitely a highlight on our trip. The Castle is situated just uphill over the old town of Heidelberg. The Castle itself gives amazing glimpses in times past and also great views of the town and valley.Inside the castle they also have a good restaurant (see menu below) and a pharmacy museum, which was surprisingly interesting. Also they have a gigantic barrel which is super impressive.

Andreas V — Google review

Some really great views of the city and the area below. A lot of good walking. There's plenty to see. However, I was disappointed that I was displaced from the ticket shop for not having the right mask on. Apparently the n95 mask that I had on did not suffice. I'm sure this will change in time.

Captain S — Google review

Great attraction. There is a train to the top, I learned this after walking up the dang hill. Wonderful views of the city. The architecture and decor are awesome.. The statues have amazing details carved into them. The garden is huge. The pharmacy museum was very interesting and offers signage in multiple languages to include English. Definitely worth taking family when they visit. Bonus, it's open on Sundays.

Scott G — Google review

Beautiful palace situated up above the town with gorgeous scenery from its balconies and garden terrace.Impressive facades throughout the palace.Must do the guided tour to see its real beauty and learn about its historical misfortunes, the chapel at the end tour is exquisite.

Hector F — Google review

Such a nice place!Both the castle and the gardens are worth a visit. You can access the gardens for free but will have to pay to enter the courtyard.Adult ticket is 9€ (August 23), which also includes access to the funicular going up and down.You'll need to pay an extra 6€ if you want to actually enter the castle which is only available through guided tours.

Mia — Google review

Great place to check out, it was wet and windy but we still enjoyed the site and your. Highly recommended the guided tour, they take you through the castle you can’t go through with a normal ticket. The garden was really cool with great city views and we could see the hustle bustle of Christmas markets from there too. The tour showed us some cool stuff in the castle and told us pretty detailed history about it. The tour group wasn’t huge either so could see/hear pretty much everything. Only 8-10 min walk up a hill or stairs to it also on old cobble stone walkways. Hope to see again some day.

Benjamin B — Google review

American hereVisited the palace during the weekendBusy time but not crowded.Took the train car up to the castle.The views from the castle grounds are extracurricular! Definitely a must see when you're visiting Germany.While in the palace, you have the opportunity to see some historic artifacts and museums that are unlike no other. The palace gardens are also a true wonder.

Andrew C — Google review

Heidelberg castle was the first German castle I visited 4 years ago. It did not disappoint. We took the funicular up and down, but I think you can easily walk it if you don't have any mobility issues. We were able to get the English speaking tour. Was a very thorough and informative tour. Well worth the entrance fee.

Deanna W — Google review

What a beautiful place. Rich with history. The palace is well worth taking a tour. I went with some friends and we really enjoyed taking photos and admiring at the grand and plentiful works of art. The view is incredible. The tour (i took in English) allows you to walk inside the hallways. The tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable about the palace.

Jason F — Google review

One of the best “ruins castles” in Germany. We really enjoyed the tour through the castle. The views of Heidelberg from the castle are fantastic as well. It is a bit of a hike to get up to the castle. I would recommend taking the tram if you have issues with climbing stairs and hills or have strollers or older folks with you. The climb is pretty significant. I have now been to this castle several times and I’d go back again and again. Such a great place with such an interesting history.

Kris A — Google review

It’s an amazing castle, I will tell any one about my visit there, the view from castle above the city is beautiful. If you would visit it, try to go before 5:30 pm, because the bus from down to castle through the mountain will close and last trip to enter it will on 5:30. It costs 14€ or 9€ for adults to buy a ticket. Garden around the castle is also nice. Enjoy 😊 (The stairs are long if you want to walk up, you can go up walking but maybe will be difficult for some people)

Samer F — Google review

Amazing place, I could expend days just wandering inside and outside the castle, is simply amazing. The views that has to offer are also out of this world! I bought the ticket for €14 that allowed me the funicular and museums and then at the castle bought the audio guide which is totally worth it tbh. They had it in different languages. There’s also a Michelin 2020 restaurant inside the castle.

Cesar H — Google review

Very nice old palace, you should definitely walk around and visit the garden. All the surrounding are accessible for free. But the entrance to the courtyard costs 9 euros. It’s unreasonably expensive, on my opinion. The size of the yard and what you can see inside is not worth the money. The yard is really small and partially closed for restoration, some cars are parked in places, there are too many people... In addition, to get inside the castle you need to pay even more and book a tour. So I was very disappointed.But again, the castle itself is spectacular and worth to visit, just consider thoroughly whether you need to go in.As an advantage, free toilet next to the cash register😉

Oleksandra S — Google review

This castle is located atop a hill with beautiful views of Heidelberg. There are several displays inside showing what early pharmaceutical equipment was like. You can walk to the top of the biggest wine barrel you will ever see. There is a large open area where you can sit in the shade and enjoy the views. Food is available at a couple of different places on the castle grounds. The castle is accessible by foot (a little bit of a climb) or by train (tickets are available for purchase). You could easily spend a couple hours here.

Chris H — Google review

A beautiful, amazing site that has tremendous views! Over looking the entire old town, this castle is a must stop if In Heidelberg! I highly recommend going there during sunset because it’s magical to watch the city and castle grounds light up at night!

MrKingluke663 — Google review

I find this castle ruins romantic, specially when going there before sunset. Start by exploring the old bridge which offers lovely views to the city and the castle. Then walk around the old part of Heidelberg city. There are many restaurants offering different cuisines and amazing architecture. Then walk or drive to near the castle and spend the late afternoon there. There are benches to sit on.

Emy E — Google review

Definitely worth the trip. I took the funicular railway from station Kornmarkt, they offer different tickets, 1 to the castle, single or return, another 1 to the top. I bought the whole trip to the top, cost 14 euro. Price include entry to Heidelberg Palace. U can go all the way to the top then to the palace or stop at palace then continue to the top. I went to the top first, it was very foggy due to rain, fully covered with fog, mist. I just walk around a bit to enjoy the nature n cold.Then I went to the castle, was raining... but it has a much better view at the castle. It is so beautiful, although ruined but still majestic. There are 2 museums, pharmacy and the brewery..is free, just go in to get some shelter...but the wine barrel is so huge and the wood used to construct the barrel is so solid. I would highly recommend a trip to Heidelberg Palace/ castle

Eunice A — Google review

The majestic castle ruins in Heidelberg look down on the city is one of the most impressive sites to see. It is an absolute recommendation for a day trip, with great views on the city and beautiful architecture that you can enjoy even though most of it is ruins. There is a unique pharmacy history-museum, a nice cafe in the cellar, and there was a huge Playmobil exhibition last time.we visitied.

A. S — Google review

A wonderful landmark, overlooking the beautiful town and running river.Castle itself is mostly in ruins, though they converted the main ground into some simple and small museums.

X Z — Google review

Very nice castle, you need to see the medical museum. The gardens are not interesting, but there is great view of the castle from the gardens. Enjoy!

Cristian P — Google review

Definitely one of the better values for your money when it comes to things to do around here. You get beautiful views of the city, the castle grounds, and the panoramic view is nice too. It may be worth driving up to the hotel though if you want the panoramic view, the train there takes a lot of time to get on

Zachary - — Google review

Definitely must see in the city. The city overview is magnificent. There is a park outside of the castle where you can take similar pictures with a similar view. But inside, there is a pharmacy museum and great walls. You can still visit inside by paying the entrance fee tho. It is quite doable! 🙏🏼🏰

Yiğit T — Google review

lovely views, interesting history. the ticket to enter the castle was only 9€ and was absolutely worth it. we spent around 3 hours just walking around and taking in the surroundings. i recommend bringing good and comfortable shoes 👍

Smoking C — Google review

A very relaxing walk around the outside castle grounds. Perfect place for a picnic on the grass, for couples or families. Entry was €10 but decided not to go in. Surrounding area is quiet, very pretty, but as expected full of stores with overinflated prices.

Ollie G — Google review

Highly recommended to visit and learn about the history of Heidelberg Castle. Get a tour and it will be way more fun and educational! The castle grounds is huge and there’s lots to explore.

Mabel W — Google review

A beautiful place to tour, and the free app tour was fun! I would definitely recommend the guided tour inside the palace ruins, you get to see a lot more and more the guides are very funny!

Ermcdowell88 — Google review

If you are anywhere, I mean anywhere near Heidelberg... You need to go. And you need to visit the palace.I highly recommend a guided tour because you'll get more history and you'll get access to parts of the palace that you otherwise can't walk through.Our guide, Pamela, was absolutely wonderful!! She provided excellent insights with a certain warmth and kindness that made the whole tour fantastic.Also, don't forget to dance on top of the wine barrel.

Jonathan E — Google review

Very well worth the few euros to self tour this castle. Lots of rooms, books, and places to see. Loved it. Highly recommend.

Steve — Google review

A great historic site with a large grounds to explore and have a great view of the castle, the city, and the river. The tram goes up and down every 10 minutes. It was 9€ per person for the ticket to the castle.

John S — Google review

This old castle located in the hill in Heidelberg is one of the landmarks in this town, which makes the town scenery quite unique.Even if there is a long queue to get in, the time for entry is not that long because the funicular’s capacity is bigger and it is faster than expected.The castle itself is far from ‘beautiful’ or ‘extravagant’ as others in Europe, but its ruins and the atmosphere of being old make this castle special along with museum, garden and big wine casks(tun).It would be better to walk down and enjoy the garden and philosopher’s way to the main squares, which does not take that long.

Francis K — Google review

Heidelberg Castle is a true gem nestled in the heart of this historic city, and my recent visit left me utterly spellbound! The absolutely breathtaking view of Heidelberg city.The architecture, the history, and the sheer grandeur of Heidelberg Castle make it a must-visit destination.But the real magic happened when I reached one of the viewpoints overlooking the city. The panoramic view of Heidelberg spread out beneath me was nothing short of spectacular. I definitely recommend also taking a tour of the topmost part of the castle.

Greeshma J — Google review

Fantastic place to visit. The pharmacy museum and the wine cellar are free with admission to the Castle. But you will need to sign up for a tour to enter into some of the interior areas (not many). Adults 9 and students 4.50 Euros. If you take the cable car from the base, entry is included, which may be a good thing because you need to pay to park (learned the hard way). Views of Heidelberg are also excellent from this location.

Jaime E — Google review

This is one of the must see sites in Heidelberg. The castle is one of the most emblematic landmarks of the town. It has a very interesting history and architecture. The climb up the hill to the castle is quite steep, but it is worth it. The views from the castle over the town and the Neckar valley are quite impressive.

E K — Google review

AMAZING Castle, some of it is in ruins and some of it has been preserved and if good condition. Huge at point, hard to imagine living here in is hay day. Highly recommend checking it out, the town as well and when you do be sure to spend some time walking around the grounds. It's vast so you'll need a couple hours.

J. B — Google review

Visually appealing historical monument that tells the story of opulence and power. Every ornament has creative details of history and artisans with skills beyond ordinary. The texture, color and breadth of the different parts of the castle are worth seeing in a lifetime.

Arnaud G — Google review

A truly amazing infrastructure with a breathtaking view of the city of Heidelberg. It was well worth it coming here. I took the stairs going up which I wouldn’t advise if you’re not doing much cardio like me. Better to use the other path or the cable car.

Francis P — Google review

A gorgeous site! The grounds are beautiful. Not much interior access. You can rent small lockers for a 1 euro deposit. Little cafe has nice & affordable snack options. Really enjoyed the apothecary museum. Take the funicular!

Venessa — Google review

It is a very beautiful historic castle with outstanding views and a wonderful pharmacy museum on its grounds. Wonderful walking paths and a vehicular for easy access to the castle.

Lr B — Google review

The castle is a must see here due to the amazing view and history! I would highly recommend buying a ticket as they are really cheap and it is 100% worth the museum, plaza, and cable car entrance.

Atakan S — Google review

A must see.We visited on a Sunday in late Feb 24. Weather was cold but dry. Wear comfortable shoes/trainers.This is a great place to go and visit. Park in the underground carpark in the centre of town. Allow at least 3 hours for a visit. Entrnace was €9 per adult (includes a return ride in the funicular and entrance to the castle). We also booked an English speaking tour (lasted about 90 minutes and you get to see places the public are not allowed in (€6 per person - you can purchase it when at the castle, but check times first. Highly recommended).Most information boards in English and German. A couple of souvenir shops.

Paul B — Google review

Big looming castle ruins... about 10 min of walking uphill, kind of steep. We didn't pay to go inside the castle and we found plenty to see and do around the walls and views of the valley below, had a picnic in the courtyard... all free.

Jean E — Google review

If Germany had a Wizarding school, this would be it.Been to 30+ castles in Germany over 3 years. This was the BEST! Feels like Edinburgh but more open and elevated. My parents of a moderate fitness level (early 60s) tackled the hill (as opposed to the funicular) with a bit of effort, and the walk was shorter than anticipated, maybe 10 min up a steepish hill.Don't miss this!

Katherine B — Google review

Visited many times and the exterior location and Vista are breathtaking.The gardens are worth walking round as views from the viewpoints are fantastic if the City and the Rhine valley. I did the tour which you must do to see the interior . I preferred the exterior views and gardens which are free. Still pretty awesome castle . Easy access from City below and Heidelberg as a place is superb .

William H — Google review

The 42 best things to do with kids in Heidelberg (2024)
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