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We've compiled the best of the best in Heidelberg and the Neckar Valley - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
In a historic building in the heart of the Altstadt (Old Town), this stylish hotel has spacious rooms and suites, including three- and four-bed junior suites that are perfect for families. Each is individually decorated with themes such as Namibia or Sumatra, and modern amenities combine well with antique furnishings. The Stalinger family also runs the Reinbach, a restaurant about a mile from town, and will take you there by shuttle service.
The "Sorcerer's Apprentice" is aptly named, as Karen and Axel Heldmann have conjured up an unusual luxury hotel with each room's decor based on a different theme. The 1,000 Nights room has a mosaic-tile bathroom, Seventh Heaven has Philippe Starck–influenced decor, and most have fireplaces. The popular restaurant, Z-Bistro, serves three-course prix-fixe menus also based on a theme, including vegetarian, fish, and regional Swabian favorites, enhanced by a very good wine list. Enjoy it all on the terrace in summer. The restaurant also now offers cooking classes.
This traditional family-owned Gasthaus on a residential street in the heart of Heidelberg has very nice modern rooms at affordable prices. You can even enjoy fresh air, as windows open onto a small, quiet courtyard. The restaurant offers a surprising range of items for its buffet breakfast, from delicately marinated vegetables to imaginative soups.
If you're looking for a clean, simple, and inexpensive room, this small inn is an ideal candidate, located conveniently opposite the railway station for trips to or from Heidelberg. The main drawback: in some of the cheaper rooms, the showers are in the rooms and the toilets are down the hall. In the restaurant or in the beer garden you can order a simple meal for a good price, and there's a terrace overlooking the mountains.
There are lovely views of the Old Town from the rooms in this charming small hotel, and it's close to the castle that towers over the town. In its excellent restaurant you can try a dozen versions of Maultaschen (Swabian-style ravioli) and other regional dishes. In season, local trout with a white wine from Swabia is a popular choice. In summer, reserve ahead or aim to dine on the terrace. A second restaraunt, featuring steaks and burgers, is just outside the castle gate.
