If you follow me on Instagram you will know that I spent a few days in the beautiful German city of Heidelberg over New Year. We had a wonderful time and had the most glorious weather (20 degrees on 31st December!!) The gorgeous weather meant that we could get out and properly explore the city and that we certainly did. I have been to Heidelberg a couple of times now, each time finding new favourite spots to eat and drink, but in this guide I’ve put together my favourite photo locations so that you too can find the most instagrammable spots in Heidelberg!
The Most Instagrammable Spots in Heidelberg
Old Bridge
Starting with one of Heidelberg’s best known landmarks.. You haven’t been to the city unless you have a picture of the Old Bridge. The bridge, officially named the Karl Theodor Bridge, connects the Old City with the eastern part of the Neuenheim district on the other side of the Neckar river. The current bridge (which is the 9th built on the site) was built in 1788 by Elector Charles Theodore. It offers great views of the river and up to the castle.
As you cross the bridge from the Old City, don’t miss the bronze monkey. Local legend has it that rubbing the monkey’s mirror brings good luck, rubbing the fingers ensure a return to Heidelberg, and the little bronze-cast mice nearby bring fertility.
If you cross the river to the Neuenheim side you’ll also get a wonderful view up to the castle. A perfect photo spot at golden hour!
Heidelberg Castle
An absolute must for any visitor to Heidelberg is a trip up to the castle. We took the funicular from Kornmarkt, although you can also walk up. The cost of this was included in the entrance ticket to the castle (€9). Within the castle you can visit the German Pharmacy Museum and the Heidelberg Tun, essentially a huuuge wine barrel!
There are actually a number of instagrammable shots within the castle complex – the one above is taken in the main courtyard but if you head straight through you will find one of my favourite picture spots…
There are two of these small towers at either end of a terrace looking out across the city. Great for a photo but also for spotting some of the city’s landmarks like the Old Bridge and the Church of the Holy Spirit located in Marktplatz below.
Philosopher’s Way
Whatever time of the year your visit to Heidelberg takes place, Philosopher’s Way is a great spot to visit. You can enjoy a leisurely walk along the path and lovely views back across to the city. In the summer, the gardens are in bloom and are the perfect spot for a picnic!
Königstuhl
Another of the best instagrammable spots in Heidelberg, especially in the summer months, is Königstuhl. This is the summit of a 567.8 metre high hill overlooking the city and surrounding areas. On a clear day you can even see as far as the Palatinate Forest which is around 50km away!
To get here you’ll either need to hop aboard the Bergbahn and take the two separate funiculars to the top or you can drive up by car. At the top there is a cafe or you can just sit and enjoy the views.
Heidelberg Old City (Altstadt)
Another place for lots of photos is the Old City. From the Kornmarkt (above) and Marktplatz, to all of the quaint side streets with their cute cafes and eateries, you will find plenty of photo opportunities as you explore.
Heidelberg Student Kiss (Studentenkuss)
Lots of people miss this on their trip to Heidelberg but the Heidelberger Studentenkuss (Student Kiss) is a famous and important part of the city’s culture. Located at Haspelgasse 16, within the Old City, this little chocolate shop is not only cute (and sells great confectionary) but also has a nice legend attached to it.
The creator of the Studentenkuss (Fridolin Knoesel) was the owner of a popular cafe in the city which is said to have been loved by the young ladies who were attending Heidelberg’s finishing school. The male students of the city’s university are said to have flocked to the cafe in the hope of catching the attention of the young women. Despite their best efforts, the ladies’ governesses made it difficult for the young people to meet. Knoesel decided to take matters into his own hands and so created the Student Kiss as a token of affection that the young men could gift to the women without objection from the governesses!
Street art
Heidelberg has a surprising amount of street art including this beautiful freehand mural of a butterfly by artist Mantra. For more on where to find the different murals, check out this website.
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Other posts that may help you:
- The Most Instagrammable Spots in Vienna
- The Most Instagram Worthy Spots in Los Angeles
- The Most Instagrammable Spots in Berlin
Thank you for reading and I hope that you enjoyed the post! If you have any questions about Heidelberg please do get in touch in the comments below.
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Happy exploring,
Love Victoria X
