We took a short jaunt to Heidelberg today. From our home in Bad Homburg it was a quick and easy 1-hour drive. My first suggestion is to get there fairly early if you have little ones and want to park closer to the castle. Many parking garage were full so our walk was a little further, but still not bad. Of course we did go on the first day Heidelberg opened after lockdown, so it was a bit crazy to begin with. Also, if you have the option, leave your large vehicles at home. Our garage and the spaces were TINY! We watched a mini-van struggle to make it around each corner to get to the next level. We arrived a little after noon so our first priority was feeding the kids.
Currently, indoor and outdoor dining are allowed with a COVID test or vaccination records. Test sites are everywhere. We were able to get our son, over 6, tested in 20 minutes. I also brought a home test that our restaurant accepted, but it was questionable. My husband and I had our vaccination cards, and the hostess questioned our single Janssen vaccine. I explained the Janssen was a single shot and she accepted it. It was amazing to sit and eat at a restaurant for the first time since last year!
We ate at the Mercato Ristorante, https://www.mercato-heidelberg.de. It was right next to the Heiliggeistkirche, and up the street from the famous Alte Brücke Heidelberg. We chose that restaurant, because the area was a little more open and we weren't bombarded with crowds like the narrower streets. My kids ordered pizza, I ordered Spaghetti alla Carbonara, and my husband ordered the Combinazione with penne, tortellini, and lasagne. Our pasta dishes were delicious! So much so, I had only three bites of mine and my kids ate the rest.
After eating we ventured to the Alte Brücke Heidelberg, and what a beautiful sight. The bridge, the water, the boats, and you could see the incredible Schloss Heidelberg. The views were breathtaking. I saw numerous people on the bridge taking in the sights with glasses of wine or beer and enjoying the sunny sights. We didn't stay long as our kids were ready for after-lunch eis. We headed back to an eis shop right next to the Mercato. There was outside seating for coffee, drinks, and eis, and each table came with a blanket, but we chose ours to-go, because of the wind. There was a decent selection. I got Tiramisu, my husband Rafaello, my son vanilla and cookies, and my daughter bubble gum and raspberry.
Our next goal was to see Schloss Heidelberg. I had hoped we could take the Bergbahn up the side of the hill, but no such luck. It does open today though, May 23rd. To get to the Schloss is a hike. There are tons of stairs on one side, and a long hill on the other. If you have littles or a stroller, I would recommend the Bergbahn. First it's a fun experience, second, it's easier for them if they're not great hikers. My four-year old did miraculously well, but she had just eaten, had energy, and was cold and wanting to stay warm. If you do walk, it's a beautiful trip. Once we got to the top, the sight of the castle was simply spectacular!
The view of the city were also incredible!
Our kids were already tired so we decided to come back another day to tour the castle. Tickets currently require a COVID test over age 6 or a vaccination. Walking around the castle was enough for our first trip, but we plan to come back soon to tour the inside. Our descent back down the hill was leisurely and sightly as we explored the base of the castle. Our next stop was Karlsplatz where we also decided to get a COVID test for my son in case our home test wasn't sufficient at another location. It was quick and easy. I registered online, and although it didn't work, the woman at the test center spoke English and was incredibly helpful. We had some time to sit at the Karlsplatz and enjoy the day. There was a fountain, outdoor seating under trees, and a lovely restaurant with tons of outdoor seating.
After my son and husband were done testing, we strolled back down to the river where we found a swan nest. Mom was sitting on two newly hatched babies and several more eggs, while dad stood guard right next to her. It was an amazing sight and we watched for some time. I never knew swans could be so big, my 4-year old could have easily fit in the nest.
We eventually walked away from the swans and continued down the river. There were places to sit right next to the water to eat, drink, and socialize. On the other side there was a beautiful grassy spot on the bank that would make for an amazing picnic location. We walked past a dinner boat and knew that would be next for our next trip to Heidelberg. By this time the streets and restaurants were packed with people, so we knew it was time to head home. It was, however, an incredible day. Old town Heidelberg is small and easy to walk around. There are tons of restaurants, shops, bakeries, candy stores...you name it. Our next trip will be earlier in the morning to avoid the crowds, and we will plan for a full day. There is so much to see, do, and experience!
Here are some more photos from our day.