Logistics
The city is also home to Germany’s oldest and most renowned university. Founded in 1386, today it offers a wide range of programmes from theology and law to medicine and natural sciences.
Research in natural science fields is supported by renowned institutes such as the DKFZ (cancer research), EMBL (molecular biology), the IUP (environmental physics), the HITS (theoretical and computational sciences), MPIK (nuclear physics) or MPIA and ZAH (astrophysics).
Heidelberg is considered the birthplace of laboratory physics. During the 19th century, Robert Bunsen and Gustav Kirchhoff pioneered spectral analysis by inventing the spectroscope. They also discovered two new elements caesium and rubidium, and Bunsen designed the Bunsen burner, widely used in laboratories to this day.
The Bergfriedhof in Heidelberg holds the graves of Robert Bunsen, as well as other famous scientists like Max Wolf, Carl Bosch or Vincenz Czerny, scattered across 20 km of winding paths. Can you find them all?
Note: The visa regulations have changed for those travelling from many countries (including the US and UK) to the EU. For more information, see the ETIAS website.
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Train (from Frankfurt(M) Flughafen Fernbf to Heidelberg Hbf / main train station)
Booking via https://int.bahn.de/en or at the ticket machines directly at the train station "Frankfurt (M) Flughafen Fernbf".
Note: this transfer is recommended, as the "Fernbf" train station is right next to the terminals, there are many daily connections and the journey usually only takes 60 minutes. You can then take a taxi from the main train station in Heidelberg to the hotel or use local public transport https://www.vrn.de/
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Lufthansa shuttle (to Heidelberg city center)
https://frankfurt-airport-shuttles.de (reservation required)
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Shuttle or private taxi
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TLS shuttle
Booking via TLS website: https://www.tls-heidelberg.de/en/
Fixed departure times in Frankfurt; if you miss the shuttle, you can take the next; inform TLS about any delays!
TLS also offers individual limousine transfer: prices to be asked via their website -
Taxi Kunze
Booking via email: taxikunze@aol.com
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TLS shuttle
Take the ICE, IC, EC or S-Bahn to Heidelberg Main Station; from there you can reach MPIK by public transport or by taxi.
The website of Deutsche Bahn offers a searchable timetable; if you put "Heidelberg, MPIK" as your destination, the resulting itinerary will include public transportation from Heidelberg main station to MPIK. You might need to pay an extra charge if you buy your ticket on the train or if you take an especially fast train (ICE or IC) with a supplementary charge not included in your original ticket.
Downtown Heidelberg to MPIK-
Bus 39
Bismarckplatz (Platform G) – MPIK (travel time ca. 20 min)
Departures: Bus runs on the hour from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. (daily),
on weekdays also at 8:43 a.m. - Please, obtain departures from the time table.
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Bus 39
MPIK – Bismarckplatz (travel time ca. 20 minutes)
General information on public transport
Tickets can be bought at ticket machines, which are located at most stops (although not up on Königstuhl); Bus tickets can be purchased from the driver. Tram tickets need to buyed beforehand. Bergbahn tickets can be purchased directly at the Bergbahn stations.
Rhein-Neckar-Verkehr GmbH (RNV) is a member of the Rhein-Neckar transport association (VRN).
You can speak personally to a service agent at the RNV Service Centre (RNV-Kundenzentrum) across the main station at Kurfürstenanlage 62.
We suggest you use booking.com or similar resources to search for hotels. A single room including breakfast will cost ~ 100-130 EUR per night.
Recommendations (see Heidelberg map):
Budget hotels:
- Ibis Hotel Heidelberg Hauptbahnhof (Willy-Brandt-Platz 3, 69115 Heidelberg)
- Aparthotel Adagio Heidelberg (Kurfürsten-Anlage 83, 69115 Heidelberg)
- Intercity Hotel Heidelberg (Kurfürsten-Anlage 81, 69115 Heidelberg)
Mid range hotel:
- Premier Inn Heidelberg (Czernyring 26-28, 69115 Heidelberg)
Luxury hotel:
- Hilton Heidelberg (Kurfürsten-Anlage 1, 69115 Heidelberg)