Some of Heidelberg’s best-known features are its riverside parks, and the Leinpfad is no exception. Located between the Theodor Heuss Bridge (also known as the Old Bridge) and the Ernst Walz Bridge, Leinpfad is a treasured gathering spot for locals and tourists alike. On warm Heidelberg evenings, the park abounds with groups of friends chatting and drinking local beer as the water of the Necker flows slowly by. Visit the playground between museum visits or rest and recuperate from a day of walking in the Altstadt.
During the day, watch as rowing teams speed up and down the river from the rowing club located just across the Necker from the park. Notice the mechanical precision of the oars dipping into the shining water.
Let your kids run wild on the excellent playground. Sip a soda from the on-site cafeteria or buy a snack and eat it while you relax in the sunshine. Visitors will be drifting by on tourist barges and cruise boats that motor up and down the water.
Return in the evening for a more relaxed atmosphere. Light-filled barges filled with chatting pleasure seekers float by as lights wink on and off in the buildings across the river. Bring a picnic blanket and a selection of local foods and make an evening of it, breathing in the fresh air of a town that truly appreciates its green spaces.
Located across the river from the town center, Leinpfad is easily accessible from any part of the city. Reach it in around 20 minutes by bus or on foot from Heidelberg’s central station, which has connections throughout the country. The Marktplatz in the Altstadt is a 25-minute walk or about 15 minutes by bus. Walk from the cruise port terminal in around 20 minutes or take a bus in around 15 minutes.
Hours vary for the concessionaire inside the park, but it generally operates during daylight hours. The park is freely accessible night and day.
