Königstuhl & Heidelberg Funicular
Königstuhl / Heidelberger Bergbahn
Ride the century-old mountain railway up to the summit at about 568 m for views over the Neckar valley and the Rhine plain.
Königstuhl is a peak southeast of Heidelberg, about 568 m high. The Heidelberg mountain railway has two sections. The lower section runs from Storehouse Square past the Castle station to Molkenkur and has modern cars. The upper section from Molkenkur to the summit retains its 1907 wooden cars. It is one of Germany's longest electric cable railways, with steep gradients and fine views. The summit observation platform looks out over the Neckar valley and Heidelberg's old town, and on clear days over the Rhine plain and the Palatinate Forest. The summit also has a birds-of-prey center, the Märchenparadies children's fairy-tale park, and hiking trails. You can walk back down through the forest via Molkenkur to the castle. A round-trip ticket combined with castle admission is good value (check the official website). Services are reduced in winter, and the upper section may be suspended during maintenance.
Opening hours
Cable car approx. 09:00–20:00 (shorter in winter; check official website)
Nearby sights
- Heidelberg Castle
- Karlstor
- Kornmarkt
- Haus zum Ritter
- Church of the Holy Spirit & Marktplatz
- Jesuit Church
- Friedrich Ebert Memorial
- Old Bridge (Karl Theodor Bridge)