Getting to Heidelberg

Getting to Heidelberg is very easy, as the city is located only 80kms to the south of Frankfurt. There are airport transfer services available, taking you from the airport into the city centre without hassle. Heidelberg is easily accessed by plane, train and road.

By air

Heidelberg is located between Frankfurt and Stuttgart airports. Most people choose to fly to Frankfurt Airport, which is a large and well-equipped airport featuring signs in English and German. There are two terminals at the airport, with Terminal 1 occupied by Lufthansa and its partners and Terminal 2 for all other airlines.

If you are flying from the UK, travelling with Ryan Air, the low-cost airline, from London Stansted to Hahn (Frankfurt) is a good option for low budget travellers. However, if you choose to travel to Hahn, you must take a coach directly from Hahn to Heidelberg, as Hahn is nowhere near Frankfurt. The coach ride takes more than 2 hours and will drop you off ‘behind’ the Crowne Plaza, a walkable distance to the city centre.

There are many ways to get to Heidelberg from Frankfurt Airport. You can take the train directly from the airport to Heidelberg’s main train station (Hauptbahnhof), with the journey taking between 45 and 80 minutes. The price depends on what type of train you opt for. Taking a train is a good option if you don’t have lots of luggage, as changing train at Mannheim can be a hassle with lots of baggage.

Lufthansa buses are provided to take you directly from the airport to Heidelberg. You can find these buses at Terminal 1. The journey takes around 1 hour, 15 minutes, and you will be dropped off at the Crowne Plaza, which is very near the city centre.

The best value way to travel to Heidelberg is probably the HLS service which provides airport limousines and shuttle bus transfers from Frankfurt Airport to Heidelberg. The HLS airport shuttle is a minivan service that carries up to eight passengers.

Taxi services can take you from the airport to Heidelberg, but this is the most expensive way to get to the city. The journey takes about an hour.

You can also hire a car from the airport and drive to Heidelberg. There are many car hire agencies at the airport with reasonable rates. The journey should take around an hour. However, driving in Heidelberg is quite difficult because of the narrow streets and there are not that many parking spaces.

By train

Germany boasts an excellent, very punctual rail infrastructure. If you take a train to Heidelberg, you will have to change at Mannheim and take a regional train to Heidelberg’s main station (Hauptbahnhof), located about 10 minutes by tram from the city centre. The ride from Mannheim to Heidelberg takes about 15 minutes.

By bus

Eurolines (www.eurolines.com) offers popular bus services that run throughout much of Europe, with regular stops in numerous German cities, while Deutsche Touring (www.deutsche-touring.com) provides bus services throughout Germany, which coordinate with railroad services to reach various cities. Direct services to Heidelberg are available.

By car

You can get to Heidelberg very easily by car, as the city is well-served by the German autobahn. The A5 and A6 are the closet autobahns to Heidelberg. When you are on the autobahns, take the exit onto the A656, which will take you directly to the city centre of Heidelberg. 

Flights

Located 12kms southwest of Frankfurt, Frankfurt International Airport is one of the busiest airports in Germany. There are two terminals: Terminal 1 is the larger of the two, handling most airlines including Lufthansa, American and United; while Terminal 2 is for Continental, Delta, Northwest, US Airways and many European airlines including Air France, British Airways and KLM. Free Sky Line shuttle trains run between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, taking about 2 minutes. For information about the airport and flight information, call: +49 69 690 0.

Frankfurt Airport provides two passenger railway facilities: the Regional Train Station is located beneath Terminal 1, where S-Bahn commuter trains depart for central Frankfurt and the Hauptbahnhof (Central Station). There are also trains running to Offenbach and Hanau, and to Ruesselsheim, Mainz and Wiesbadn, while RegionalExpress (RE) and StadExpress (SE) trains service many additional destinations. The AIRail Terminal long-distance train station is linked via a connector building to Terminal 1. Several high-speed trains depart to major cities from here.

Taxis are available outside both terminals and are ready to take you to the city centre of Frankfurt within 20 minutes. Buses stop at the bus station in front of Terminal 1 Arrivals Hall and at the bus bay in front of Terminal 2’s Arrivals and Departures halls.

Airport Facilities

Facilities at Frankfurt International Airport in both terminals include major German bank services, postal services and booths for 24-hour credit card phones, faxes and internet access. There are many restaurants, bars and cafés providing a variety of food and drinks all day, in both terminals.

For last minute shopping, more than 130 shops, a duty-free outlet and newsagents are provided in Terminal 1. Left luggage and lockers are available in both terminals, while an escort and porter service for luggage is available in Arrivals Hall B of Terminal 1 and Arrivals Hall E of Terminal 2; reservations are strongly recommended. Passengers can also find pharmacies and a 24-hour medical clinic in Terminal 1, children’s play areas, baby-changing rooms and buggy hire services.

The airport also provides a full range of facilities for disabled travellers including elevator and ramp access throughout both terminals. Automatic doors, adapted telephones and special washrooms are also available. It is advisable for disabled passengers to inform their airlines of any special assistance they require before they arrive at the airport.

The Sky Line shuttle train is wheelchair-friendly. Electric buggies are also provided in both terminals. A wheelchair-accessible bus service, equipped with an ambulance lift, runs daily and a door-to-door transport service is also available. For more information, call: + 49 69 979 8770.