Old Heidelberg University (Alte Universitat), Heidelberg

Advantages: Tourists love it.
Disadvantages: Tourists love it.

...Bridge, the narrow streets, the houses nestling round the Holy Ghost Church, see the buildings of the Old and the New University. After this you may stroll through the gardens to the Great Terrace and look at the castle from a distance and beneath it the town. Now I'd like to take you to the centre, to the Old University, to be precise. We continentals find the way your universities are organised very difficult to understand and think that our way is quite simple. There is just one university in Heidelberg (as in all other German towns), this university has different faculties and that's it. No colleges over here. The university of Heidelberg is the oldest in Germany. For centuries what is now the 'Old' University was THE university, today the sciences are in the suburbs and only the philosophical and philological faculties... Read review

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Advantages: Fantastic view, not many tourists around, free!
Disadvantages: Quite steep at times

...When I visited Heidelberg for the first time, the Philosophenweg was at the top of the to-do list for me. It's on the opposite side of the river to the old town and the castle, which means that you get a great view of them! The philosopher's way is a beautiful trail said to have been walked by many famous thinkers. Note that it is entirely uphill, so might not be suitable for everyone! It's quite steep but worth it if you can manage the walk. As I said, the Philosophers' Way is on the opposite side of the river to the old town and the castle. To get to it from the old town, you can cross the old bridge (the Carl Theodor Bridge which, by the way, is a big attraction in itself and if I can think of enough to say, maybe I'll write a review of the bridge too). Anyone will be able to point you to this as it's very famous! Once you... Read review

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Advantages: A bit of everyhing - museums, parks, palaces, shops, often great weather, the ice cream at Eis Roma, always something going on
Disadvantages: Dreary Januaries

...After 5 years of German lessons and numerous visits to the country, Heidelberg has still managed to escape my attention, and when I moved here in august last year I really did not know what to expect. Factoring in various holidays, I’ve spent around 10 of the last 11 months here, and as you’d expect, I’ve come to know the town pretty well. Heidelberg has everything you could want from a tourist destination – an ancient castle, a charming old town area, a river running through it with luscious green banks on one side, a renowned Christmas market and a usually pleasant climate. It’s no wonder that the Americans and Japanese flock here in their thousands each year. I spent most of the last 20 years living in a tourist resort in the UK, so the masses don’t really phase me, but if you’re looking... Read review

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