Heidelberg walks

The idea behind this circular walk, which starts above Stift Neuburg, was to follow as many narrow, unpaved paths as possible and avoid the main hiking trails. This wasn’t always possible, and we do pass some popular hiking spots, but during the week and outside the holiday season, it’s also possible to be virtually alone on this route. All the paths are in place and clearly visible in the landscape, even if they are not marked on every map.

"Nature experience combined with sporty hiking" ... this is how the Burgensteig trail is described in the official flyer of Tourismus Service Bergstraße e.V. The Burgensteig trail leads from Darmstadt-Eberstadt along the heights of the Odenwald to Heidelberg. Along the approximately 120 km, you will pass over 30 historical sights and cross two other well-known trails, the Nibelungensteig near Zwingenberg and the Neckarsteig in Heidelberg. We took the liberty of deviating from the "standard" route here and there. We have put together the stages so that you can get to your starting point and back from your destination by public transport. Our version is therefore about 20 km longer than the original.

"Nature experience combined with sporty hiking" ... this is how the Burgensteig trail is described in the official flyer of Tourismus Service Bergstraße e.V. The Burgensteig trail leads from Darmstadt-Eberstadt along the heights of the Odenwald to Heidelberg. Along the approximately 120 km, you will pass over 30 historical sights and cross two other well-known trails, the Nibelungensteig near Zwingenberg and the Neckarsteig in Heidelberg. We took the liberty of deviating from the "standard" route here and there. We have put together the stages so that you can get to your starting point and back from your destination by public transport. Our version is therefore about 20 km longer than the original.

"Nature experience combined with sporty hiking" ... this is how the Burgensteig trail is described in the official flyer of Tourismus Service Bergstraße e.V. The Burgensteig trail leads from Darmstadt-Eberstadt along the heights of the Odenwald to Heidelberg. Along the approximately 120 km, you will pass over 30 historical sights and cross two other well-known trails, the Nibelungensteig near Zwingenberg and the Neckarsteig in Heidelberg. We took the liberty of deviating from the "standard" route here and there. We have put together the stages so that you can get to your starting point and back from your destination by public transport.

Through the Neckar Valley along the Neckarsteig, a quality hiking trail (Qualitätsweg Wanderbares Deutschland) covering around 128 km from Heidelberg to Bad Wimpfen. The long-distance hiking trail can be hiked as a multi-day or day tour. This stage takes you from Hirschhorn to Eberbach.

"Nature experience combined with sporty hiking" ... this is how the Burgensteig trail is described in the official flyer of the Bergstraße Tourist Association. The Burgensteig trail leads from Darmstadt-Eberstadt along the heights of the Odenwald to Heidelberg. Along the approximately 120 km route, you will pass over 30 historical sights and cross two other well-known trails, the Nibelungensteig near Zwingenberg and the Neckarsteig in Heidelberg. We took the liberty of deviating from the "standard" route here and there. We have put together the stages so that you can get to your starting point and back from your destination by public transport.

This walk will bring you to some great panorama over the Neckar River where you can enjoy watching the boats (peniches) and the old Hirschhorn village and its nice castle. Along the way, you will find benches to enjoy the views and bring some picnic with you.

A city walking tour that begins and ends in Mannheim’s Neckarstadt district. The route takes us along the Neckar, Rhine and Old Rhine, at times through beautiful, secluded woodland. The final section of the tour follows the signposted Industrial Heritage Trail – whilst the scenery here is by no means picturesque, it’s worth allowing extra time to read the descriptions of the industrial monuments at your leisure.

"Nature experience combined with sporty hiking" ... this is how the Burgensteig trail is described in the official flyer of Tourismus Service Bergstraße e.V. The Burgensteig trail leads from Darmstadt-Eberstadt along the heights of the Odenwald to Heidelberg. Along the approximately 120 km, you will pass over 30 historical sights and cross two other well-known trails, the Nibelungensteig near Zwingenberg and the Neckarsteig in Heidelberg. We took the liberty of deviating from the "standard" route here and there. We have put together the stages so that you can get to your starting point and back from your destination by public transport.

This walk takes us from Wald-Michelbach to Neckarsteinach without any cultural or historical highlights. We walk along or parallel to the Main-Stromberg Trail. Our aim was to avoid the ‘forest motorways’ and focus on walking on forest paths or at least on unpaved forest tracks.The route is ideal for switching off and simply walking – no sights, no places to stop for refreshments and absolutely nothing to distract you along the way. In return, there are hardly any changes in altitude, and at the end of the route, the castles around Neckarsteinach do offer a little highlight after all.

The Katzensteig connects the towns of Eberbach and Neckargerach. This route, which is around 26 kilometres long, is an interesting alternative to stages 5 and 6 of the Neckarsteig and offers a mix of nature, impressive views and cultural attractions.

Through the Neckar Valley along the Neckarsteig, a quality hiking trail (Qualitätsweg Wanderbares Deutschland) covering around 128 km from Heidelberg to Bad Wimpfen. The long-distance hiking trail can be hiked as a multi-day or day tour. To ensure that this section remains walkable in terms of length, we have made a few adjustments to the route.

The Neckarsteig stretches over 128 kilometres from Heidelberg to Bad Wimpfen, winding its way along the majestic Neckar River through the picturesque region of Baden-Württemberg. This route promises an unforgettable journey through a variety of landscapes, from gentle vineyards to imposing rock formations. Along the route, you can expect challenging climbs as well as relaxed sections along the river. You can look forward to varied landscapes ranging from wooded slopes in the Neckar Valley to charming half-timbered towns and historic castles. We have designed the sections so that you can reach every start and end point of a stage by public transport.

"Nature experience combined with athletic hiking" ... this is how the Burgensteig trail is described in the official flyer of the Tourismus Service Bergstraße e.V. The Burgensteig trail leads from Darmstadt-Eberstadt along the heights of the Odenwald to Heidelberg. Along the approximately 120 km, you will pass over 30 historical sights and cross two other well-known trails, the Nibelungensteig near Zwingenberg and the Neckarsteig in Heidelberg. We took the liberty of deviating from the "standard" route here and there. We have put together the stages so that you can get to your starting point and back from your destination by public transport.

The Nibelungensteig is a certified Qualitätsweg "Wanderbares Deutschland" (Quality Trail "Hiking in Germany") that runs for 130 km in several stages, some of which are very strenuous, with a total of more than 4,000 metres of elevation gain from west to east across the Odenwald and thus through three federal states (Hesse, Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg). Our division differs from the official stages. We have chosen some shorter tours, added a few extra metres and stayed overnight in different places in some cases. When planning your tour, please note that accommodation, refreshment and catering facilities are not always available.

The Nibelungensteig is a certified Qualitätsweg "Wanderbares Deutschland" (Quality Trail "Hikeable Germany") that runs for 130 km in several stages, some of which are very strenuous, with a total of more than 4,000 metres of elevation gain from west to east across the Odenwald and thus through three federal states (Hesse, Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg). Our division differs from the official stages. We have chosen some shorter tours, added a few extra metres and stayed overnight in different places in some cases. When planning your tour, please note that accommodation, refreshment and catering facilities are not always available.

The walk starts in Hetzbach and leads to the nearby Marbach Reservoir. Swimming enthusiasts should pack their swimwear in summer. The route takes you almost directly to the bathing spot by the lake. From the Marbach Reservoir, the path leads through the woods, up to one of the Odenwald’s characteristic open hilltops. At the turning point, a lovely rest area with a view and a ‘bird box’ awaits the walkers. The return route takes you through the fields back to the starting point in Hetzbach.

A varied walking tour from the Marbach Reservoir – artificially created for flood protection – up to the panoramic heights of the Odenwald. Once you reach Beerfelden at the top, the Odenwald slopes from north to south, dividing the flowing waters towards the Main and Neckar rivers.

The Nibelungensteig is a certified Qualitätsweg "Wanderbares Deutschland" (Quality Trail "Hiking in Germany") that runs for 130 km in several stages, some of which are very strenuous, with a total of more than 4,000 metres of elevation gain from west to east across the Odenwald and thus through three federal states (Hesse, Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg). Our division differs from the official stages. We have chosen some shorter tours, added a few extra metres and stayed overnight in different places in some cases. When planning your tour, please note that accommodation, refreshment and catering facilities are not always available.

"Nature experience combined with sporty hiking"... this is how the Burgensteig trail is described in the official flyer of the Bergstraße Tourist Association. The Burgensteig trail leads from Darmstadt-Eberstadt along the heights of the Odenwald to Heidelberg. Along the approximately 120 km, you will pass over 30 historical sights and cross two other well-known trails, the Nibelungensteig near Zwingenberg and the Neckarsteig in Heidelberg. We took the liberty of deviating from the "standard" route here and there. We have put together the stages so that you can get to your starting point and back from your destination by public transport.

There are four circular routes in the Mossau Valley, each with its own charm and marketed under the name ‘Drachenwege’ (Dragon Trails). These hiking routes have all been awarded the ‘Wanderbarer Odenwald’ seal of approval by the Odenwald Club, guaranteeing a high-quality hiking experience. The circular walks are: "Dorn" (the circular route described here), "Fafnir", "Triumphalis" and "Saphira" The length of each route varies between 15 and 21 kilometres, making them ideal for day hikes.