Living in Heidelberg
The science city of Heidelberg attracts visitors with its beautiful old town, its cultural diversity and its location in the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region on the edge of the idyllic Odenwald.
Get to know Heidelberg
Living and Working in Heidelberg
Heidelberg is a small but very special town in southwest Germany, with around 130,000 inhabitants. It is dominated by Heidelberg University, which is the oldest in Germany and one of Europe’s oldest, with 30,000 students, and by its scientific research organizations: 4 Max-Planck institutes (for law, nuclear physics, astronomy and medical research), the international European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), the German cancer research centre (DKFZ), and the Heidelberg University Clinic, which has a world-wide reputation for research and treatment in many specialist areas. Together, these institutions form a remarkable concentration of scientific expertise, above all in the area of biomedical science. This concentration of talent from all over the world in Heidelberg allows extraordinary possibilities for communication: above all in the life sciences and medicine. Heidelberg is a paradise for scientific research and, not surprisingly, is also a key location for start-ups!
The centre of the town of Heidelberg lies just where the Neckar river runs into the wide plane of the Rhine − so the town has a hilly side and a flat side. The romantic Heidelberg castle is “the world’s most famous ruin”, in an unforgettable location above the historic Old Town (Altstadt) looking out over the Neckar river and the Rhine Valley. (A wedding here in the year 1613 explains why the Kings and Queens of England have for the last 400 years traced their origins to Germany).
The forest surrounding Heidelberg runs down to the centre of the town, where the university was originally situated. Many of the central buildings of the university and many humanities faculties are still located in the centre of the Old Town. The University Library, which is one of Germany’s largest academic libraries and is open to academics and the general public, is also there. Independent of Heidelberg University itself are smaller colleges (such as the University of Jewish Studies and the Highschool for Church Music). The main Heidelberg music conservatory is now located in nearby Mannheim. Mannheim, with stores and museums, is only 20 km away to the west, and is a major commercial and industrial centre − and the site of the chemical giant BASF. The software firm SAP is in Walldorf, south of Heidelberg, only 10 km away.
The main buildings for natural sciences and medicine, together with the clinical departments, are located in the Neuenheimer Feld, a large modern campus extending westwards from the town towards open fields, with space for the expansion which will undoubtedly follow in coming years.
Heidelberg has a very mild climate. The woods extend almost uninterrupted for hundreds of kilometers to the east and north, and in the south run into the Black Forest, which extends almost to Switzerland. These of course provide unlimited opportunities for hiking, cycling, and enjoying nature. The Neckar River can be followed to its source in the Black Forest. In Heidelberg it has already widened to a become a broad and slower river, ideal for rowing and sailing − even in the heart of the Old Town.
Heidelberg is an extremely attractive location for international conferences, and a brand-new Conference Centre has just been completed, with close contact to the railway station and with improved and modernized facilities for concerts and other events independent of the major conferences.
Heidelberg is also a major cultural centre. A famous music festival is held here every Spring. Theatre and opera have their own modern buildings, and Mannheim has its own opera and museums. The baroque palace in nearby Schwetzingen is a further important venue for music and opera.
A unique institution in Heidelberg, particularly for non-Germans, is the DAI (German-American Institute), which is a meeting-place in the centre of town with a broad, active and ambitious programme of guest lectures by speakers from all over the whole world: the focus here is on politics, current affairs, cultural questions and science, with informal discussion groups and a library of American literature.
Heidelberg has a long been a very international town. One particular reason for this lies in its more recent history. The main US military facilities had their headquarters in Heidelberg after the second world war. The departure of the US forces from the Heidelberg area in recent years has dramatically increased the availability of space in town for other uses, and especially for housing. Heidelberg is still in the middle of major and rapid changes as a result. Heidelberg is a good location for foreign families, since there are several English-language schools. English is of course widely spoken in the town.
Heidelberg has fast trains westwards (and even a TGV connection to Paris), and to Frankfurt and northern Germany / Berlin, to the local capitals of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg (Stuttgart and Munich), and southwards to Freiburg and Basel in Switzerland.
Student societies are abundant. The student cafeterias are ambitious and provide a wide selection of excellent food at very economical prices almost all day (except Sunday). They have a great location in the heart of the Old Town: an ideal informal meeting place. They are a centre of social life for students and university-based activities, and are open and interesting for tourists and visitors also.
Mobility
There are many ways to get to and around Heidelberg, depending on your budget and your preferences. You can find here a comprehensive overview on commuting in Heidelberg.
- Deutschland Ticket Job: 55,10 Euro without subsidy, 31,82 Euro after subsidy
- monthly rnv Ticket: prices depend on the area it covers (only Heidelberg city up to the whole rnv area: Map of the rnv area), prices start at ca. 99 Euros per month (Prices).
Eligibility: All permanently employed staff at MPIMR can benefit from the Deutschland-Ticket Job. To get further information on and to apply for the Deutschland-Ticket Job please contact Julia Gauglitz in the personnel department via e-mail at julia.gauglitz@mr.mpg.de
Single tickets can be purchased online, on your phone using the rnv app or from a machine at the different stations. The Deutschland-Ticket Job can be ordered through Julia Gauglitz. Other tickets for regional transportation can be bought at the rnv shop. There is a rnv shop across the street from Heidelberg main station. It is called “rnv Mobilitätszentrale Heidelberg” and the address is Kurfürsten-Anlage 62.
Tipp: Use the rnv App and the so called “Luftlinientarif”. It is often the cheapest option as it tracks the distance and you pay for the traveled distance.
Second hand bikes can be found at a flea markets (‘Flohmärkte’) or at many bike shops selling. You should invest in a good bike lock and avoid leaving your bike out on the street overnight. If you don’t want to invest in your own bike, you can also rent one. There are several bike rental options. The most prominent bike sharing offer is VRNnextbike (part of the rnv system).
VRNnextbike
After a one-time free registration, simply enter the bike license plate number at the terminal, via the nextbike app or by telephone on +49 30 69205046 and have the bike unlocked. The bikes can be returned at all official VRNnextbike stations in Heidelberg, Mannheim and Ludwigshafen.
Current stations in Heidelberg:
Central station (Nord and Bahnstadt), Bismarckplatz, Universitätsplatz, Congress Center Stadthalle, Neckarwiese, Rohrbach-Markt, Kußmaulstraße (Neuenheim), Hans-Toma-Platz (Handschuhsheim), Schlierbach-Ziegelhausen S-Bahn station, Neckarschule in Ziegelhausen.
More information at www.vrnnextbike.de
Joyrides e-bike rental
Hebelstrasse 7
69115 Heidelberg
info@joyrides-rent.de
www.joyrides-rent.de
The "Call a Bike" DB bike rental system
In front of the main station, Deutsche Bahn provides bicycles from the DB bicycle rental system. After a one-time registration, users can pick up their bike directly at the station, use it immediately and return it to the Call-a-Bike station after the tour.
Further information at www.callabike.de.
Heidel-Bike
Rohrbacher Str. 13 - 15
69115 Heidelberg
Phone: +49 6221 23170
info(at)heidel-bike.de
www.heidel-bike.de
radhof BERGHEIM
Bergheimer Straße 101 (in the backyard)
69115 Heidelberg
https://ifa-heidelberg.de/
Radolino
E-bike, mountain bikes & bike rental
Lahrer Str. 24
69126 Heidelberg
Phone: +49 6221 72 72 703
www.radolino.de
Pedelec-Vermietung (Elektrofahrrad)
Center for environmentally conscious mobility (ZuM)
Kurfürsten-Anlage 62
69115 Heidelberg
Phone: +49 6221 18 99 28
www.rueckenwind-hd.org
Tip: With the HeidelbergCARD you get a 10% discount.
There is one main car-sharing provider in Heidelberg: https://rhein-neckar.stadtmobil.de/privatkunden/
You need to register in advance with your driver’s license and ID card. You can book the car through the website, an app or via phone. You can choose between a variety of cars and different sharing locations. You will have to bring the car back to its original parking slot/station after rental. Tipp: if you have the Job ticket through the Institute you also get a reduction on the service costs.
Europcar
Bergheimer Straße 159
69115 Heidelberg
Website
Sixt
Hebelstraße 1
69115 Heidelberg
Website
Enterprise
Carl-Benz Straße 2
69115 Heidelberg
Website
Carl&Carla
different locations
Website