Philosophenweg & Thingstätte
Here's another must-do while you're here in Heidelberg! On Thursday I rode my bike to the trailhead of der Philosophenweg right at the end of the Altebrucke(take a quick left and it's right across the street from the bus stop). It begins as a steepish cobblestone up hill battle, but then you get to the top and the view of the Altstadt is amazing. There are plenty of outlooks on your way up as well. I went left at the top, and began my little hike up the mountain in the woods. I followed signs toward der Heiligenberg--There was first an unmarked fork in the road, stick to the left--until I finally made my way to the peak. That's where I found Thingstätte(pictured below); an old outside amphitheater where Hitler used to run Nazi rallies. It is a bit eerie, but now it's starting to be overgrown with grass and it's actually quite beautiful.
After I walked a bit
further until I found a little castle-looking look-out over the Altstadt. You could climb up the spiral stairs to the top and it was quite the view of everything, including the castle. Don't forget your binoculars!(Luckily I didn't this time).
The hike/hanging out at the top took me about two-two and a half hours at most(I spend probably 45 minutes at least at the top). I would rate it an easy hike, just with a little steepness at the beginning, but this is a hike for everyone of all ages!(Really I saw tiny kids and old people). I just brought a small bag with water, a granola bar, and my binoculars.
I would really suggest getting your hands on the "Heidelberg am Neckar" book, they sell it everywhere... I've got mine and it's let me in on all sorts of stuff to do in Heidelberg! It's quite handy.
