🇩🇪 Heidelberg｜A Fairytale Castle Nestled in Autumn Leaves 🍂

Due to some unexpected changes in our itinerary, we only spent one day in Heidelberg. But since the old town is quite compact, one day was actually enough to see the highlights! Though two days would be perfect for a more relaxed pace and exploring nearby areas. Because it was All Saints‘ Day holiday, the streets were almost empty when we arrived around 9 AM. I recommend taking the funicular up to the castle in the morning — no backlight for photos, and no crowds! ☀️🚞 I bought the Panorama ticket for €14 (half price for students!), which includes: Round-trip funicular 🚂 Castle entry 🏰 Pharmacy Museum 🧪 Great Barrel Exhibit 🍷 The first two funiculars are modern, while the last two are wooden — they creak and sway just like old green trains… so nostalgic! 😄 The route map is in Figure 9. ⭐ Funicular tips: When going up: sit at the front to see trains pass each other, or at the back for views. When going down: the front lets you see both! Ride all the way to the top first to avoid crowds later. On the return, stop at the castle and consider walking down — it’s a short and scenic path! 🍁 After lunch in the old town, cross the river — Don’t forget to rub the mirror of the bronze monkey on the bridge for good luck! 🐵🍀 From the bridge, you’ll see the castle glowing in the afternoon sunlight — perfect for photos. Then continue to the Philosophers‘ Way 🚶♀️. For those driving 🚗, I recommend parking at Parkhaus Karlsplatz — It’s centrally located, clean, and close to everything. A bit pricey (we paid €11 until 4 PM), but reasonable for the location. A little side note: I feel like Heidelberg’s souvenir game is kinda outdated 😅… Most items felt old-fashioned, so I ended up buying the mirror-holding monkey for good luck! Heidelberg truly looks like a castle from a fairy tale — though maybe one with a dark magical twist 🧙♀️🍂. The forest here is breathtaking beyond words. #Germany #LifeInGermany #TravelGermany #Heidelberg #CastleLovers 🍁✨