Romantic and picturesque, cosmopolitan, dynamic and up-to-date: Heidelberg is all of these.

Steeped in tradition, this town is home to seemingly contrasting worlds. This makes it exciting and keeps it young at heart. Take some time to get to know the city and discover its many facets. You'll be inspired.

Culture on every corner ...... in more than 10 museums, many private galleries, five playhouses (City Theater, Zwinger 3, Zimmertheater, Taeter Theater, Theater at the Karlstorbahnhof), concerts by the local Philharmonic and the Heidelberg Symphony Orchestra, jazz in Cave 54, and dance revues in the Unterwegs Theater - to name just a few options.

Window shopping ...... doesn't get any better than this! Browse the shops on Main Street -Germany's longest pedestrian zone - and dive into the cosy side streets of the Old Town with their many fascinating shops. Peruse the stores and bars on Untere Strasse, around the Church of the Holy Spirit, and in the long street called "Plöck". Designer boutiques are also clustered on Friedrich-Ebert-Anlage and Sophienstrasse. Cross the river to visit the boroughs of Neuenheim and Handschuhsheim and scout out one-of-a-kind treasures.

Escape the hustle and bustle ...... by taking a walk on the Philosopher's Walk, one of Europe's finest scenic overlooks, with expansive views of the Old Town and Heidelberg Castle. Subtropical plants thrive along the southerly slopes it meanders through. Continue on up to the Saints' Mountain (sporting a lookout tower, an amphitheatre, and the ruins of St. Michael's Basilica). Königstuhl, the mountain on the opposite side of the Neckar River, is another excellent place to hike. Take the historical funicular train to the top for a ride you'll never forget.

Visit other parts of the city and nearby destinations ...... to discover their unique attractions: Handschuhsheim with its 13th-century "Tiefburg" (sunken castle), Ziegelhausen and the Neuburg Benedictine Monastery, and the mountainside cemetery above the Weststadt and Südstadt neighborhoods.

Or take an excursion to attractive nearby towns and areas such as Speyer and Schwetzingen, the Bergstrasse, the "Castle Road" up the Neckar Valley, the German Wine Road in the Palatinate across the Rhine Valley, or the hilly Odenwald region.

Youthful vigor ...... flourishes in Heidelberg, home of Germany's oldest university. One in five residents is a student. This makes Heidelberg one of Germany's youngest cities. Many graduates stay on to work at the many prominent international research centers in the area. Looking to mingle with the youthful side of Heidelberg? Then check out the college bars scattered around town. Or attend the international get-togethers at the Institut Français or the German-American Institute. Visit the "Karlstorbahnhof" culture center (films, music, theater, dancing, etc.). There's the "Zwinger 3", a playhouse targeting the younger generation. Concerts and dancing at the Schwimmbad Music Club and the Billy Blues. Hip discos including the "Nachtschicht" stay open until 3 a.m. Young people are just about everywhere - sometimes even on campus ...

Experience local history ...... in the countless bistros, cafes, bars, wine shops, and restaurants of the Old Town. Not to mention the culinary establishments located around the Bismarck Square near Bergheimer Strasse, in Neuenheim, Handschuhsheim, Rohrbach, and Weststadt. There's something for every taste. Enjoy the hearty regional fare of the Palatinate in an historical student inn or treat yourself to something exotic, such as Malay or Middle Eastern cuisine.