Arrival: Welcome to Heidelberg!
Transportation to Heidelberg
Your first refuge in Heidelberg: The Triplex-Mensa
Housing Arrangements
Transportation to Heidelberg
Heidelberg is located in the Rhein-Neckar region, about 100 km south of Frankfurt/Main. The nearest international airports are Frankfurt and Stuttgart and from each there are frequent trains to Heidelberg. The train ride from Frankfurt airport to Heidelberg takes about one hour and may involve changing trains either at the main station in Frankfurt or in Mannheim. A one-way ticket costs approximately € 25.
For timetables and train fares see: http://www.bahn.de/
It is also possible to take the Lufthansa Airport Shuttle from Frankfurt airport to Heidelberg.
The bus route terminates at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Kurfürstenanlage. A single ticket costs €25 and is payable to the driver in cash.
Buses run every hour between 7:00 am and 10:30 pm and can be found right across from the Frankfurt Airport Meeting Point in Terminal 1, THE SQUAIRE WEST( next to Fernbahnhof, Exit REWE). Seats can only be guaranteed if you reserve three days prior to your arrival. The exact bus schedule and information on reservation procedures are available here.
Perhaps the most convenient way to get to Heidelberg is to order a shuttle mini bus run by the company TLS. A staff member of TLS picks you up at the airport and takes you to Heidelberg. The taxi has to be booked at least two days beforehand, a one-way ticket costs about € 40. Further information is available on the Internet: www.tls-heidelberg.de.
Your first refuge in Heidelberg: The Triplex-Mensa
If you have a room reservation for one of the student residences, your first stop in Heidelberg should be the Triplex-Mensa building. You will receive your lease and the keys for your room in either the "Welcome Area" at the back of the building or in the Info-Center, which is located at the front. Both venues are on the ground floor of the Triplex-Mensa building.
Directions to the Info-Center in the Triplex-Mensa:
From the main train station in Heidelberg you can proceed to the Triplex-Mensa either by taxi or bus. The taxi stand is in front of the main exit (Hauptausgang). Ask to go to Universitätsplatz - it will cost about € 18.
It is also convenient to take the bus from the main train station. The bus stop is located in front of the North exit (Nordausgang) on the same side of the streetcar tracks as the train station. A ticket costs € 1.30 (so-called City Ticket) and can be purchased from the driver. The driver will give change but not for much more than a € 5 bill. Take bus #32 and get off at Universitätsplatz.
From the rear entrance of the Crowne Plaza Hotel, which is where the Lufthansa Airport Shuttle terminates, you can either take taxi to Universitätsplatz or walk to nearby Bismarckplatz and take bus #31 or #32 (direction: Universitätsplatz) from the bus stop on Bismarckplatz to Universitätsplatz.
We strongly advise you to schedule your arrival to coincide with the Info-Center's hours of operation to ensure that you can move into your room the same day.
Opening hours of the Info-Center:
Monday - Thursday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Before the start of the Preparatory Language Course the Info-Center will have longer hours of operation. You will receive a schedule of the extended hours prior to your departure via e-mail.
Housing Arrangements
Approximately two months prior to your arrival Studierendenwerk will send you an email with your housing contract. To guarantee your housing assignment you will have to transfer the first month's rent, the one-time administration fee and the (refundable) deposit for your room by a specific date.
On the day of arrival in Heidelberg, you will be handed over the keys for your room and a print version of your contract at the Triplex-Mensa. Studierendenwerk will also provide you with directions to your residence. It remains for you to go to your residence and arrange to meet your house keeper (Hausmeister/in). You can purchase a pillow, sheets and bedding from the Hausmeister of your residence or buy these items at a store if you prefer to do so.
If you arrive outside of the Info-Center's business hours, we recommend that you stay overnight for a reasonable price at the youth hostel located at Tiergartenstr. 5, 69120 Heidelberg (tel. 06221 651 190 - www.jugendherberge-heidelberg.de), which is reachable from the main train station or the Crowne Plaza Hotel by bus #32 (direction: Kopfklinik, bus stop: Jugendherberge).
You can also inquire about temporary accommodation at the Tourist Information Office in front of the train station. The Tourist Office is also a good source for maps and information about public transportation and cultural events in Heidelberg. www.heidelberg-marketing.de
Please note: The housing market in Heidelberg is extremely tense. Request for student housing, which is the most affordable and convenient accomodation, is very high. Merely 15% of Heidelberg students are able to secure a residence room, and Studierendenwerk will do its best to meet your specific accomodation requests. Please understand that it will not be possible to change your housing assignment, even if not all your requests could be met.
