The main attraction over there is the Heidelberg Castle. There is small admission fee, that lets you walk the grounds and visit a few micro-museums (apothecary, beer cellar…) You can take the funicular train (Bergbahn) up the hills above the city or just hike up there. Alternatively, hiking up the hills on the opposite (north) bank of Neckar would give you nice views of the old town, the castle, and the locks on the river.

Can’t think of any shopping in Heidelberg. Of course as any city its size it has its “Main Street” (fittingly named Hauptstrasse []) lined with cafes and shop, but I’m sure most of these stores are the same chains you’ll see everywhere else in Germany. I can’t think of any specialty either. Coo-coo clocks (if you are after that kind of kitsch) where historically made in Black Forest which is at least 100km or more due south from Heidelberg.

If you by any chance know anyone over there with a car, talk them into giving you a ride up the Neckar valley. It’s very picturesque. Make them drive you up to Eberbach (about 30 km from Heidelberg) which has preserved much more of medieval flair then Heidelberg. (You can also get there by train, but I don’t know if the view from a train is nearly as nice.) Another 40km up Neckar is a very medieval city of Bad Wimpfen.

Thanks Seva for the great info. I’ll try to check out Eberbach or Bad Wimpfen if I have some extra time. Incedentely, do you have any insider knowledge of Frankfurt? I’ll be there for one week before Heifelberg on business and I’m hopinh I’ll have some time at the end of the day to explore the city. Any thoughts?

Don’t have any “insider knowledge” (bars etc.) but as a city, IMHO, Frankfurt is rather dull. Most of it was destroyed in WWII, what you’ll see is what you could expect from finance capital of Germany, prosperous but pretty much faceless. Why don’t you talk to your (business) hosts? They’d know about shopping, bar scene, and so on.

Thanks. I have heard that it’s not a great city, but since i’m stuck there for a few days I thought I’d make the most of it. I’ll be there for the Frankfurt Book Fair (the biggest in the world), so I won’t really have a “host.”