Heidelberg Castle Still Guarding Its Walls
When I was 16 I visited Heidelberg on a school-organized trip to Europe, but I can hardly remember anything about that particular stop on the 10 day whirlwind through Germany, Austria, Italy, and Switzerland. Now that I’m living in Germany, I had been telling Andy for quite some time that I wanted to go back there. It’s located within the same state as Freiburg, which means we can purchase a train ticket to go anywhere within the state using the slow trains and local buses and trams, and it only costs 25 euros for up to five people for 24 hours. My birthday was last Sunday, June 24, so we bought the cheap train ticket and went up for the weekend.
The main attraction in Heidelberg is the castle. It sits high on a hill watching over the city and the river, portions of it are still in tact, and it offers amazing views. So after wandering around the city for a few hours, we made our way over to the funicular to get to the castle.
Heidelberg Castle ticket mix-up
We read in several places that a ticket for the castle includes the funicular ride, both ways. When we arrived at the funicular station, our choices were to wait in line to get our tickets from the window, or to buy them from the machine. The machine seemed simple enough and less people were waiting there, so we chose that option and paid 6 euros each.
Hassles and annoyances had been following us all day long, so we really shouldn’t have been surprised when the guard at the entrance to the castle told us our ticket would not get us inside. It turns out the machines only sell funicular tickets, and funicular tickets do not include entry to the castle. The window sells castle tickets for 5 euros, and those tickets include the funicular.
I don’t understand the logic in selling a ticket for 6 euros that gives you less than a ticket that costs 5 euros, and we were rightfully upset. Luckily the lady at the ticket window told us she would refund us our funicular cost after we bought castle tickets, so we did get our 6 euros each back. But it seemed so insane to even encounter this problem that it almost felt like they were purposely trying to trick tourists out of their money.
A pretty location for a wedding
Once we were finally allowed into the castle, we sat in the shade for awhile to get some relief from the heat. Two weddings were going on at the castle that day, at least one of which included a group of guys who looked like medieval jesters.
Among the distraction of the weddings, we ended up missing out on the apothecary museum Andy wanted to see because it stopped letting people in a little before 6pm. But at least we got to see a giant barrel of wine and the gorgeous views of Heidelberg.
Heidelberg Castle ticket advice
My advice to you when you go see the Heidelberg Castle – buy your ticket at the window even if the line is longer. Then the guards won’t turn you away outside the castle’s walls like what almost happened to us.
Want more German castles? Check out this 1 week itinerary in the Rhine Valley or this 1 week itinerary of the Black Forest and beyond.
Heidelberg’s other castle: Teifberg
While looking at a map of Heidelberg, we saw another castle called Tiefburg, so we decided to go see that one as well. It’s not as big as the Heidelberg Castle, but we actually liked it better. I think because it’s smaller, it looked more medieval and felt more real.
There also weren’t any other tourists around, which gave it an entirely different vibe. We couldn’t go in because parts of it are still in use, and it was closed, but we were able to walk around the whole castle and took lots of photos. I really liked this view because you can see a tree growing inside through the window.
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July 2, 2012 @ 2:58 PM
There’s a funicular? I missed that back in 2007 and had a steep walk O:-)
Glad you were able to revisit! The weather was awful the day I went and I’d love to go back!
July 2, 2012 @ 8:40 PM
Ha! Oops! I imagine that was quite a steep walk. I hope you do make it back there someday!
July 2, 2012 @ 6:29 PM
I never used the funicular when I lived there. I always took the stairs or the ramp. I truly love the HD Schloss, and the views. Something really worth seeing is one of the Castle Illuminations they do two or three times a summer: Big fireworks on the Alte Brücke and castle a little after sunset. Prime viewing is on the north bank of the Neckar downstream from the bridge, or from one of the boats on the river. Very festive atmosphere, and beautiful display.
Also worth seeing is the view from the top of the mountain opposite the Schloss. You can see a parapet and flag there from the castle, and it takes a bit of work to get to the top, but the view is spectacular. It is what is left of a small chapel overlooking the valley. Just a bit to the north (easy walking) from there are Celtic fortifications and the ruins of a 12th century monastery. (There is also a large Nazi era amphitheater up there).
If you have time in the area (though it is not as easy to get to) there are some fantastic Roman era ruins and active archeological sites in Ladenburg (west of Handshusheim and north of Eppelheim) dating back to 120BC – also the home of the Carl Benz Haus (where the Automobile was invented).
July 2, 2012 @ 8:47 PM
Hey, thanks Charles! Wow, sounds like tons more we could do up there! We only had a weekend up there this time, so we didn’t get to too many things, but it’s not far from us (3 hours on the slow trains) so I’m sure we’ll make it up there again sometime. The Roman ruins sound pretty cool too. Thanks for all the great info, we will definitely refer back to it next time we go up there. I hope you’re doing well!
July 2, 2012 @ 6:32 PM
Ooooh – what a gorgeous setting for a wedding!
July 2, 2012 @ 8:48 PM
I know, right?
July 2, 2012 @ 10:26 PM
Even though very touristic, it’s still soooo pretty! Have to go back there as well some time very soon 🙂 It’s even a shorter train ride from where we live.
July 2, 2012 @ 11:42 PM
It is beautiful! That’s cool you live so close, there’s so much to do in Heidelberg!
July 3, 2012 @ 9:01 AM
It was a fun weekend despite the annoyances. You got better pictures than I did of a lot of things. 🙂
July 3, 2012 @ 1:59 PM
Aw, thanks 🙂
July 3, 2012 @ 10:59 AM
Beautiful photos!! My advice if you visit the Heidelberg Castle is to walk up to it, if you are able, and just avoid the funicular. The walk is really not as far as it seems, and it’s a very lovely and worthwhile walk no matter which direction you go!
I agree with Charles who mentioned climbing the Heiligenberg across the river from the castle. It was in the list of suggestions I liked to Andrew when he asked for some. (So was Ladenburg.) After the castle it’s the #1 most worthwhile way to spend your time in HD!
Also, those “jester” guys are from the Heidelberg Perkeo-Gesellschaft. 🙂
July 3, 2012 @ 2:01 PM
Thanks! There’s definitely a lot more I’d like to do whenever we get back there, and I’m sure we will since we live fairly close. Thanks for the suggestions! And great Fasching photo, nice to know who those guys were!
July 4, 2012 @ 5:47 PM
Happy belated birthday! What a great place to spend your day. Those views are gorgeous!
July 4, 2012 @ 9:23 PM
Thanks Christy! I think the views might have been better than the castle itself!
July 4, 2012 @ 11:18 PM
Thanks for the tips about the ticket variances. That does sound ridiculous and you were rightfully upset! Glad to hear you got it worked out in the end. These are the very reasons blogs are so great – you can share these sorts of lessons with us readers to make us better prepared.
July 5, 2012 @ 2:41 PM
Ugh, we were so mad! It was one thing after another that day, and that was the last straw. But yes, at least we were able to get it worked out. It seemed like maybe this happens often, although if that’s the case, I don’t know why they don’t change it. Thanks Jennifer, I’m glad you found it helpful!
July 9, 2012 @ 1:32 AM
It’s cool excursion like this that must make life as an expat even more rewarding!
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January 3, 2013 @ 1:07 PM
[…] looking for castles, Germany has you covered. Outside of Munich is Neuschwanstein Castle, and the Heidelberg Castle is a little north of the Black […]