Heidelberg Entertainment

Heidelberg is packed with all kinds of entertainment, as the city serves as a student town. The nightlife is bustling, but the clubs here are not open all night. There are many performances, shows and music festivals throughout the year which are worth going to if you are in the city at that time. During the Castle Festival, an array of plays and operas can be enjoyed. The Firework Festival also draws the attention of tourists and is a rewarding and memorable experience.

Nightlife

Despite being a student town, Heidelberg is not really famous for its nightlife. There are many venues where you can go clubbing until 03:00 or 04:00, but do not expect to dance all night. Most clubs in Heidelberg feature dance music, with some clubs offering live bands.

The best-known club in the area is the Nachtschict, situated near the main train station. Expect to find a lot of students here, who let themselves go after a hard day at university. This is the biggest disco in town, featuring all kinds of music including techno, 1960s, ‘70s, ‘80s, hip-hop, funk, acid-jazz and live music.

Apart from these clubs, there are usually some music events that feature bands and guest DJs. The Karlstorbahnhof is among one of these occasional events. However, if you want to witness the extreme clubbing scene, Mannheim, the closest large club to Heidelberg, has much more to offer when it comes to nightlife.

Theatre and Music

There are not many plays conducted in English but, nevertheless, most of the plays performed here are very interesting. The Castle Festival, held during the summer boasts many plays, performed in the castle grounds.

Cinemas in Heidelberg show films in German, so if you can enjoy watching Brad Pitt speaking German, give it a try. Only some films are in their original soundtrack with German subtitles; look for the word ‘OmU’ next to the title of the film in the schedule. Here in Heidelberg, due to the majority of the population being students, you can buy beer and take it with you into the cinema.

Live music venues here organise music events each month, so keep an eye out for updates on local websites or leaflets given out around the city.

Festivals

• There are many festivals and events going on in Heidelberg especially in summer. The most notable ones include:
• Classic Music Festival Heidelberger Frühling: this popular music festival takes place between March and April, and features many kinds of classical music.
• Heidelberger Castle Festival: this is one of the most famous festivals in Heidelberg, taking place between July and August, and featuring many plays, operas and classical music performances.
• Fireworks at the Castle (Schlossbeleuchtung): you can see a lot of beautiful fireworks and decorations at the castle. This festival, taking place in June and September, draws a lot of attention from visitors. The castle gets very crowded during the festival, so if you want the best view of the spectacular fireworks, get there early to reserve your space.
• The Heidelberg Fall Festival: the festival takes place in September and offers attendees the opportunity to drink lots of German beer and feast on sausages. The city’s hotels can get booked up during this time, so make sure you book your hotel in advance.
• The Heidelberg Christmas Market: Heidelberg is very famous for its Christmas Market, which takes place in the main squares of the Old Town. You can find many kinds of sausages on sale and a lot of gift ideas at the market. The market runs between November and December.