The Heidelberg Blog

Christmas Markets

The Christmas markets in Heidelberg (of which there are 3 I think) are spread across the different market squares in the old town. The markets aren't particularly big, but they are very nice and a good reason to visit.  Go to the markets in the evening when it's dark, drink a gluehwein and eat a sausage - nothing better. You can also do some of your Christmas shopping - there are lots of stands selling Christmassy type gifts. You'll also find stands selling lots of different cooking herbs - my favourite is the pizza seasoning (pizza gewuerz) - chuck it on top of any pizza you're cooking at home and it will take great. 

How's the weather?

It can get very cold in the winter and very hot in the summer, wet at the tail end of the year and a bit snowy at the beginning of the year. It can get very cold at Christmas, so make sure you buy a lovely hot Gluehwein to warm you up at the Christmas Market!

The best things about living in Heidelberg part 1

When I lived in Heidelberg there were many things that I really liked about the place. One of the things I liked the most was getting around by bicycle. I'd go by bike to work, to the shops and out in the evening. There are bike lanes everywhere and German drivers are very considerate towards cyclists, so it is relatively safe. 

You'll see bikes everywhere in Heidelberg, particularly by the train station. If you have time, you can rent a bike from Eldorado and see Heidelber and the surrounding area by bike.

There are lots of really nice bike excursions you can do - the ones to Schwetzingen, Speyer and Weinheim were my favourites as you spend most of the time on country roads restricted to farm vehicles.

How long should your visit to Heidelberg be?

Most people visit Heidelberg for a long weekend. Arrive Thursday evening, have a nice dinner then 2 full days looking around - the castle, the shopping, Philosophenweg, etc - then head off home on Sunday. You could stay longer, but any shorter would leave you feeling that you hadn't seen everything or had seen everything in a bit of a hurry.

Where should you stay in Heidelberg?

There are a lot of options for your stay in Heidelberg - as with any hotel, anywhere in the world, the price will be determined by the location and standard of accomodation.

In my opinion the most desirable area to stay as a visitor is in the old town - you're near the castle, the restaurants, bars, shops, etc. However at peak periods it can be noisy and you will pay a premium. Heidelberg is pretty small, so even if you're not staying in the old town, you won't be more than 10 to 15 minutes from the action.

In terms of the types of hotel on offer, the main categories are the luxury, international hotels - Crowne Plaza and Hotel Europa are good examples. These are very comfortable, well located hotels just on the edge of the old town and near all the shopping.

The other main category are the traditional, German hotels dotted in and around the old town. There is a clulster of hotels near the old bridge - Vierjahreszeiten, Holländer Hof, Hotel Ritter, Hirschgasse, Hackteufel and Hotel Acor are all examples. These hotels range from good mid-range to luxury.

And then finally (oder endlich) we have the hotels that are one-offs, located outside of the old town. If you're driving, parking will be easier at these hotels and they will tend to be better value. They will also probably be a little quieter. Good examples include Hotel & Restaurant Auerstein, Hotel Central and Holiday Inn.

So, in summary, you have a lot of choice - it all depends upon what's important to you.

I'd love to hear about your experiences staying in Heidelberg, how you found your hotel and whether you would recommend it.

Welcome to the e-heidelberg.com blog!

It has taken me a while to understand the power of blogs and why visitors to e-heidelberg.com might benefit from my thoughts and insights into visiting Heidelberg and the surrounding area.

Be patient with me as I'm embarking on a personal journey into blogdom and I'm not sure where this is going to take us, however I hope it will be fun - let's see!