I need advice from Heidelberg locals or people familiar with that area!?

Question

At the end of May/beginning of June, I'll be flying to Europe on a school trip. I'm a junior in college. During most of the day, our professors will be taking us to the usual tourist-y spots and lecturing about them. However, we have late afternoon and the rest of the night to do whatever we want. We'll be spending two nights in Heidelberg and I want to know what the locals do, where they go -- bars, nightclubs, restuarants -- everything! Thanks in advance! :)

Answer 1

I just want to add two locations you might be interested to check out. The first is "Nachtschicht" (= night shift) a nice music club and the second one is "Karlstorbahnhof" located in a former train station at the end of "Hauptstr." (= main street) the pedestrian zone in Heidelberg. Just follow the directions to the castle and follow the street to its end. "Karlstorbahnhof" is a cultural center offering music (live) of all kinds, movies and food. I added the links to both websites - unfortunately they are only in German.

Besides the nightlife a walk on the "Philosophenweg" in the hills on the opposite side of the Neckar river with a gorgeous view onto the castle is always worth it.

Enjoy your stay!

Answer 2

Chances are, your professors will be taking you to Heidelberg's Altstadt--Old Town Center--to visit the castle and other sights there.  There is some nightlife, there, but Heidelberg has another, more modern city center (Zentrum) where most of its nightlife can be found--like any other German, or for that matter European, city.  Heidelberg isn't really that big, though, so you might consider hopping a train to a bigger nearby city (like Frankfurt to the north or Stuttgart to the south) if Heidelberg's nightlife doesn't do it for you.  Be warned--Heidelberg, and its nearby sister city of Mannheim, are home to quite a few U.S. military bases; and as such the local pubs, clubs, and taverns have a lot of young American soldiers looking for a good time... some for a "better time" than others.  The same can be said for Stuttgart and Frankfurt, but they're bigger and don't have as many soldiers stationed in proximity to the city so you'll find fewer of them there.  Kaiserslautern, Wiesbaden, and Mainz--also all relatively close--are all big military towns, too.  Just bear that in mind, and if you encounter any of them, don't let them take you back to their barracks or anywhere else outside of the place you met them.  (I'm assuming you're female based on your username, hence the warning).  Otherwise... enjoy yourself; Heidelberg's a fun place.  I was never one for nightlife since drinking is something you can do anywhere anyway, so I preferred the sights to the pubs myself.

Answer 3

I was stationed in Heidelberg for 6 years from 92 to 98. Both my daughters went their full highschool years there and graduated from heidelberg High so I know a bit about it.  You will probably go the the old town and see the castle and the cathedral. Right across from the cathedral is a Mcdonald's that is in one of the oldest buildings in Heidelberg, 2 doors down is a bar that the locals call Ikes because they sell Eichbaum beer, one of my favorites. Mainly younger people than me go there. For music, take a cab to the Schwimmbad(swimmingpool) Its four floors with different music on each floor and a bar on each floor. The higher you go the more mellow the music. I couldn't stand the bottom(Techno). While your in the Walkplatz the main tourist street, pedestrian only. look for a gyros place with a long  long line. They call it Geno's. Gyros on a hard corn taco shell. Great food. There's also the beer museum with 100 kinds of beer. One block toward the river from the walkplatz is a restaurant called Gelden Stern (The Golden Star) get a student platter. 4 kinds of sausages plus side dishes for only 5 marks( except marks are out Euros are in) still a bargain. Everything one block either way from the main pedestrian street is about 50% cheaper. Head toward the bridge with the monkey statues and look for a shnitzle place on your left. Big portions, low price.

Have a great time. Email me for more if you want.