This provincial capital is home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites and the oldest still-operational Catholic University. Leuven has so much to do that you'll have trouble tearing yourself away. But don't tire yourself out too much, as there is Aachen to visit next, with its famous Cathedral, and then the Augustusburg and Falkenlust Palaces, with their architectural delights.

You might also love asking your English-speaking professional Daytrip driver to stop in Cologne, Lorsch, or Speyer, which all have unique attractions worth seeing. Yet, regardless of where you sightsee, you'll find nothing quite like Heidelberg during your journey. So prepare to be amazed and ensure you're ready to walk or cycle, as this city is famous for two-legged transportation.

Heidelberg was first mentioned in 1196, and the first settlements date back to Celtic and Roman times. Thanks to the jawbone of a past Heidelberg man, which was found in 1907 and can still be seen in one of the city's biggest museums, it has been confirmed that people have lived in the city and nearby for hundreds of thousands of years.

This jawbone might not seem significant, but the findings are the earliest substantiated evidence of humans living in Europe. Years later, in 369 AD, Valentine I, a Roman emperor, built permanent camps in Heidelberg, which is when the first civilian settlements are believed to have begun. Years later, the Romans were driven out by Germanic tribes and modern-day Heidelberg didn’t reemerge for centuries after that.

The Schonau Abbey was founded in 1142, and a document in the abbey references Heidelberg beginning in 1196. The city also became the capital of the Electoral Palatinate until 1690 and was nearly entirely destroyed by the French in the Nine Years' War. Many of the citizens fled Heidelberg at the time until the city was rebuilt in the Baroque style and became a part of the Grand Duchy of Baden in 1803.

The years that followed ushered in an age of growth and expansion, and it wasn't long before Heidelberg became a popular travel destination. Nowadays, Heidelberg remains prosperous, with industry, history, culture, and tourism driving the city's economy. When you visit, you can expect to see and do much with the city known for its incredible attractions and landmarks.

Booking ahead of your trip date will also ensure you get a seat. Otherwise, you might find yourself sitting on the floor, standing the entire way, or potentially taking up residence for the entirety of the trip in the bike storage carriage. Yikes!

Don't expect to do any shopping on a Sunday

Shopping on a Sunday in Germany is a no-no, so if you're traveling from Brussels, you might want to keep this in mind. Most supermarkets and retail outlets are closed on Sundays in Germany, barring the pharmacy and a local bus or train station shop. It's not ideal, but it's the law, and Germans are sticklers about adhering to it.

However, most small convenience stores and a few museums and tourist attractions, bakeries, cafes, and restaurants are open for limited pre-determined hours. So be sure to check the times before planning your Brussels to Heidelberg transfer.

Be prepared for people drinking in public

Many countries in the world have strict laws about drinking in public, but this is not the case in Germany. Of course, there are laws, and you cannot get drunk in public, but you can drink in places like the local parks, on the side of the street, or in shopping parking lots.

It isn't frowned upon, and no one will be trying to conceal their alcohol, so it's a behavior you'll need to get used to quickly if you're planning a trip from Brussels to Heidelberg.

However, when you travel with train companies like Deutsche Bahn, SNCB, or Thalys, you can look forward to comfortable seating, scenic views, and fewer delays than if you took a flight and a train combination or the bus.

Yet, ticket-wise, expect to put a dent in your budget, with costs ranging between $54-108 (€50-100) for a standard seat. The trip will also take four to five hours, depending on whether you take a high-speed or regional train.

From Brussels to Heidelberg by bus

Buses are cheap, but they can be cheap for a reason. First and foremost, they are often far less comfortable than other means of transportation, like the train or driving with a private car service. They also tend to have fewer amenities, with only the most reputable bus lines offering things like WiFi and restrooms.

Another con to bus travel is that there are often frequent traffic delays, and not every bus travels directly. This means you could find yourself stopping for hours or taking annoying transfers. But at the end of the day, we'll leave it up to you.

You can decide whether paying between $22-$54 (€20-50) for a ticket on a bus that will take about seven and a half hours to complete the trip is worth it. If you want to take a chance, consider Flixbus, BlaBlaBus, or Eurolines.

From Brussels to Heidelberg by flight

Unfortunately, if you want to take a flight, you'll need to note that a transfer will be involved. Unless you're flying with a private jet, you must book with Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa, or KLM.

Although these airlines offer multiple departures daily, you must usually fly to Frankfurt or Stuttgart before transferring to Heidelberg Airport.

The flight time is between an hour or two, but you must also account for the travel time to and from the respective airports. There are often also security checks, and the transfers can be lengthy, so you could spend more than four hours traveling between the cities if you choose to fly, which is less than ideal.

You should also note that flying is pricey. An average ticket for this trip costs between $108-216 (€100-200), and that is just for the flight price, not the other travel costs you will incur.

From Brussels to Heidelberg by private car transfer service

People sometimes disregard private car transfers thinking they're too expensive. This might be the case with certain transfer services, but not with Daytrip. Daytrip's prices are fair, with a one-way booking costing as little as $108 (€101) per person. That's right! You can ride door-to-door for the same price as a train ticket!

Except you won't need to adhere to fixed public transportation schedules and timetables. You get to choose when, where, and what time you travel. You won't need to get to a station because your driver will pick you up at your accommodation and drop you off at your hotel in Heidelberg.

Driving only takes about 5 hours, and during this time, you can stop and do some sightseeing in places like Cologne, which has risen from the ashes of World War II, and Lorscsh, a small town with lots of charm.

You can also ask your driver for travel insights or sit back and relax while they navigate traffic and foreign roads. Bliss, right?

This castle used to be the home of the Prince-Electors, but after a lightning strike in 1764, it was left partly in ruins and uninhabitable. Although it might not be the most opulent castle—if it can still be called such, being in ruins and all—it is still worth a visit.

There is a wine cellar that survived the lightning strike that you can walk about in and bask in the presence of a more than 48,000-gallon wine cask. There is also a Pharmacy museum to explore, and you can take a guided tour of what remains of the castle.

Church Of The Holy Spirit

In Europe, churches can seem like a dime a dozen, but the Church of the Holy Spirit, located on Marketplatz, is still worth exploring. This church was built in the 13th century, but its current rendition is in the Gothic style, which was completed in the 15th century.

Interestingly, the church, which is currently Protestant, has changed religions over the years, and at one point, it was even shared by the protestants and Catholics. When you visit, you can see the influences of both religions alongside the surviving tomb effigies that weren't destroyed during the Nine Years' War.

Student Jail

If you visit Heidelberg from Brussels and are looking for a quirky attraction, you might want to make a stop at the Student Jail. The student jail is located near Jesuitenkirche, another famous attraction in the city.

This unique jail was where students were sent when accused of wrongdoing. For acts like freeing pigs, dueling, or public inebriation, students could be locked in this jail anywhere from 24 hours to a month! But it wasn't so evil as to require being in jail 24/7. They were let out to attend classes and exams, and it was considered a rite of passage at the university for many.

The student jail served as a pseudo-prison from the 1780s until 1914. When you visit, expect to see chaos. From graffitied walls and pictures stuck everywhere to drawings on the chairs, desks, and walls, it's bound to be an exciting visit. Just be sure to also visit the University museum since the entry fee covers both attractions.