Weinheim

Weinheim (also known as Weinheim an der Bergstraße in German or Weinheim (Bergstraße)) is a town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, approximately 15 km north of Heidelberg and 10 km northeast of Mannheim. It has about 43,000 inhabitants. Weinheim was first mentioned in 755 AD in the Lorsch Codex and mentioned as a city in 1264 AD. Weinheim is situated on the eastern slopes of the Odenwald, called the Bergstraße, one of the warmest regions in Germany.

Get in

 * DB trains (IC, RE, RB) travel from Frankfurt (35 min by IC, 40 min by RE, 60 min by RB), Darmstadt (20 min), Heidelberg (12 min by IC, 20 min by RB), and Mannheim (20 min).
 * Tram 5 of the Rhein-Neckar-Verkehr (RNV) does the loop between Heidelberg (40 min), Mannheim (35 min), and Weinheim in both directions.

Weinheim is served by the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Neckar (VRN) public transportation tariff union providing integrated fares including day passes that are available for regional trains, trams and buses from Zwingenberg (north of Weinheim) to Heidelberg and Mannheim. Prices vary by the number of zones travelled.

Google Maps shows the locations of the railway station and the tram stops.

The tram stop Weinheim Hauptbahnhof is closest to the DB railway station. Whether you arrive by train or tram, walk along Bahnhofstraße to Hauptstraße (300 metres) where there is the store Weinheim Galerie. Follow the pedestrian mall and it will lead you to the Altstadt.

Get around

 * The old town (Altstadt) is within walking distance of the railway station. This online map may help you get around Weinheim on foot.
 * If you are going farther afield, check out the VRN website for information on regional trains, trams and local buses.

Do

 * Hiking to the two Castles and Buchkligen. Odenwald forest is a nice place to go hiking. Follow the white square - signs that are painted on lampposts and trees from the Windeck castle and you will get to the Wachenburg castle. If you are still not tired after this 300m ascent on mount "Wachenberg" you can follow the white square to Buchklingen, a small village in Odenwald forests. Here you will find a pub "Grüner Baum" to chill your thirst with a Beer or Apple Wine (local specialty!). Of course you can also have a big Schnitzel. (This pub is closed from Monday to Wednesday, unless there is a holiday.)
 * The Kerwe festival taking place from Friday to Monday on the 2nd weekend in August is the annual celebration of the anniversary of the consecration of the church, but really just a party during which the Marktplatz and the surrounding Altstadt (old part of the city) is crowded, and thousands of lanterns are lit in the Schlosspark on Saturday.
 * Lake Waidsee The place to stay cool on hot summer days, also offers you a nice lawn to relax in the sun. Entrance fee: €4.00 for the whole day.
 * Wine tasting - there is no vineyard in Weinheim, only (expensive) wine shops, but there are many farmers making wine along Bergstaße (Highway B3), for instance in towns like Lützelsachsen, Großsachsen, Leuterhausen. Get off the RNV 5/5R tram at some stop on the way between Weinheim and Heidelberg. The best time for Wine is Fall during the grapes harvest, because then you can taste their "New Wine" - wine that is still in the process of fermentation and tastes really good. Don't forget to buy Strawberries, Cherries, Apples... (seasonal) and the Apple Wine.
 * Wine tasting - there is no vineyard in Weinheim, only (expensive) wine shops, but there are many farmers making wine along Bergstaße (Highway B3), for instance in towns like Lützelsachsen, Großsachsen, Leuterhausen. Get off the RNV 5/5R tram at some stop on the way between Weinheim and Heidelberg. The best time for Wine is Fall during the grapes harvest, because then you can taste their "New Wine" - wine that is still in the process of fermentation and tastes really good. Don't forget to buy Strawberries, Cherries, Apples... (seasonal) and the Apple Wine.

Buy

 * A few shops are on Bahnhofstraße, but you will find more if you follow this into the center of town and walk along the Hauptstraße (main street). In Weinheim you will mostly find rather luxury shops (jewellery, expensive shoe shops, tourist kitsch...).
 * To buy clothes and electronic devices, most Weinheim residents go to "Rhein-Neckar-Zentrum" shopping mall in Viernheim, accessible with the RNV 5 tram from Weinheim on the way to Mannheim.
 * Woinemer 'Plob' Beer. It's only available in Weinheim's pubs and supermarkets and filled in special swing-top bottles making a characteristic 'plob' sound when you open it.

Budget

 * Mr Pommy on Bahnhofstraße does Döner and half-chicken and chips meals.
 * Kebap Haus near the train station does Döner kebaps, funnily enough.
 * EGE Döner right on the bridge at main station provides a superb Döner.
 * Mc Donald's is about 300 m south of main station on Bergstraße, just across from the tram stop OEG Bahnhof.
 * Subway about 500 m west of the train station inside the Shell Gas Station following Mannheimer Straße (old B 38).

Mid-range

 * Da Peppino Italian Restaurant, very tasty pasta and salads, close to Hauptstr./Bahnhofstraße junction, take the stairs opposite of the horse statue, Karlsberg 10,
 * Pavillon on Bahnhofstraße is a Chinese restaurant with a buffet, or you can order off the menu.
 * La Cave ... in an old arch basement - just as the name tells. German and Mediterranean cuisine.
 * Vannini Ice Cream Hauptstr. 78, (close to Hauptstr./Bahnhofstraße junction, opposite of horse statue). Only self-service, no seats, but great ice cream - the lines on hot summer days aren't there without a reason.
 * Bistro-Café Frey Hauptstrasse 112 (in the pedestrian area), . Two sisters serving daily fresh, home style cooking with international flair. The place offers small warm dishes from 11:00 as well as home-made cakes, good coffee, and excellent wines from Baden and the Pfalz. It´s a special place where you cannot only have a great meal but you will also love the furniture (vintage and new), and the little flea market stuffed up with beautiful little accessories from Dutch designers. Also serves takeaway meal.
 * La Cave ... in an old arch basement - just as the name tells. German and Mediterranean cuisine.
 * Vannini Ice Cream Hauptstr. 78, (close to Hauptstr./Bahnhofstraße junction, opposite of horse statue). Only self-service, no seats, but great ice cream - the lines on hot summer days aren't there without a reason.
 * Bistro-Café Frey Hauptstrasse 112 (in the pedestrian area), . Two sisters serving daily fresh, home style cooking with international flair. The place offers small warm dishes from 11:00 as well as home-made cakes, good coffee, and excellent wines from Baden and the Pfalz. It´s a special place where you cannot only have a great meal but you will also love the furniture (vintage and new), and the little flea market stuffed up with beautiful little accessories from Dutch designers. Also serves takeaway meal.

Drink

 * The Woinemer Hausbrauerei, Friedrichstr. 23, Micro brewery with a beer garden, also serve hearty German meals. Their beer is only available in Weinheim - you can also buy it at local super markets, maybe as a souvenir.
 * Regie cocktail bar, Hauptstraße 108 (slightly down a side street just past Müller). All cocktails, baguettes and Flammkuchen are named after movies and movie stars.
 * Windeck castle In the summer, enjoy a beer or an apple cider and a spectacular view across the town and the Rhine valley in the beer garden in the ruins of castle Windeck, up the hill in the east of the town.  You'll definitely be ready for a beer after the walk up. Open Tuesdays to Sundays in fine weather from 17:00, and on Sundays and public holidays from 10:00.
 * Unicum Those wanting to drink beer and other stuff till late should go here. Hauptstraße 107, in the basement of the Italian restaurant "Stadtschenke". Open 19:00 to 02:00 (03:00 on weekends). Also serving pizza and flammkuchen.

On the Marktplatz you can find:
 * La Cave, Marktplatz 1. German and Mediterranean cuisine. Open between March to October from 10:00, otherwise from 18:00.

Go next
Other places along the Bergstraße (from south to north) are:
 * Heidelberg – Heidelberg Castle is world renowned, also the university and the picturesque and historical old town (Altstadt in German), approx. 16 km.
 * Schriesheim - Altstadt
 * Ladenburg - Altstadt
 * Heppenheim - Altstadt with many timber framed buildings, approx. 12 km.
 * Bensheim - Altstadt
 * Lorsch – the former Lorsch Abbey is a unique example of Carolingian renaissance art with its famous “Königshalle” (king’s hall) built around 800 AD.

Away from the Bergstraße:
 * Explore the Odenwald
 * Take a bus (1 hour) to Worms