By public transport

Take the ICE, IC, EC or S-Bahn to Heidelberg Main Station; from there you can reach MPIA by public transport or by taxi.

The website of Deutsche Bahn offers a searchable timetable; if you put "Heidelberg, MPI für Astronomie" as your destination, the resulting itinerary will include public transportation from Heidelberg main station to MPIA. 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 MPIA

• Bus 39
  Bismarckplatz (Platform G) – Sternwarte (travel time ca. 40 min)
  Leave bus at Sternwarte and walk (10 min.) to MPIA
  Departures: Bus runs on the hour from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. (daily),
  on weekdays also at 8:45 a.m., at weekends occasionally every half hour
• Bus 30 (Science Bus)
  Peterskirche – MPI für Astronomie (ca. 15 min, Mo - Fr)
  Peterskirche – Sternwarte (Sa)
  The Science Bus 30 is a direct connection between Altstadt (Old Town) and MPIA. Suitable for groups only at 4:32 and 5.32 p.m.
  Please, obtain departures from the time table.
• Ruftaxi 1007 (Taxi on call; replaces Bus 30 after 8:00 p.m.)
  Bismarckplatz – MPI für Astronomie
  Important: Ruftaxi has to be reserved at least 30 minutes in advance via phone 0621 1077077!
  Departures (Bismarckplatz): 20:10, 21:10, 22:10, 23:10, 0:10
• Bergbahn (Funicular)
  Kornmarkt (near town hall) – Königstuhl
  from there: 15 min. walk to MPIA
  Departures:
  every 10 minutes from 9:00 a.m. until 8:20 p.m. (Summer)
  every 10 minutes from 9:00 a.m. until 5:10 p.m. (Winter)

MPIA to downtown Heidelberg

• Bus 39
  Sternwarte – Bismarckplatz (travel time ca. 40 minutes)
  walk from MPIA bus stop Sternwarte (10 min.)
  Departures: hourly from 6:32 a.m. until 7:32 p.m.; partly at shorter intervals on weekends
• Bus 30 (Science Bus)
  MPI für Astronomie – Peterskirche (Mo - Fr)
  Sternwarte – Peterskirche (Sa)
  Departures Mo - Fr: 8:48 a.m. until 7:48 p.m. (except 1:48 p.m.) and 9:18, 10:18, 11:18 (all a.m.) (from MPI für Astronomie)
  Departures Sa: 9:48 bis 19:48 (from Sternwarte)
  The Science Bus 30 runs directly from the MPIA to Altstadt (Old Town). Suitable for groups only at 4:48 and 5.48 p.m.
• Ruftaxi 1007 (Taxi on call; replaces Bus 30 after 8 p.m.)
  MPI für Astronomie – Bismarckplatz
  Important: Ruftaxi has to be reserved at least 30 minutes in advance via phone 0621 1077077!
  Departures (in front of MPIA's main gate): 8:26, 9:26, 10:26, 11:26 (all p.m.), and 12:26 (a.m.)
• Bergbahn (Funicular)
  Königstuhl (15 min. walk from MPIA) – Kornmarkt
  Departures:
  every 20 minutes from 9:08 a.m. until 8:08 p.m. (Summer)
  every 20 minutes from 9:08 a.m. until 5:28 p.m. (Winter)

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. Heidelberg main station is about 8 km from MPIA.