Car Hire in Heidelberg

About Heidelberg

Heidelberg is a city in Germany, more precisely in the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg. The city was founded on the banks of the Neckar River in the southwest of the country. It is the fifth largest city in the so-called Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region. The first evidence of human life in the area dates back to the 5th century BC. The city of Heidelberg was founded by the Romans and experienced several ups and downs in the past, but has always been an important city in many ways.

Heidelberg is the oldest university in Germany and one of the most prestigious universities in Europe. It has always been an important city for science. There are many important research institutions here. Among the best known and most important are undoubtedly the European Molecular Biology Laboratory and four Max Planck Institutes. But Heidelberg is much more than just a university town and a city with many research institutions. There is much more to see and do here. Heidelberg is also an important centre for the arts. In the past, many important artists and authors have lived and worked here. The city has also been named a "City of Literature" by the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.

There are also many interesting historical, cultural and political sites in the city that are worth visiting and make it a very attractive destination. There is something to do in Heidelberg for every type of tourist and traveller. It is up to you what kind of activities you prefer on your holiday, but one thing is for sure, you will definitely find something interesting for yourself here in Heidelberg. Thanks to the many students living here in the city, you can also expect a very lively nightlife, because Heidelberg is by far not only a place for artists and scientists, but also for people who like to travel, explore, party and eat well. You definitely will not regret visiting this city, so buckle up and drive safely.

Basic info and car hire in Heidelberg

• Location: State of Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany
• Population: 158,741
• Official language: German
• Currency: Euro
• Weather: In Heidelberg, the summers are warm and partly cloudy and the winters are very cold, windy, and mostly cloudy   
• Internet coverage: Hotels, bars, restaurants, and cafés offer Wi-Fi.
• Road conditions:  Most roads in Heidelberg are in good condition.
• Car hire in Heidelberg:  The most common pick-up point for vehicles in Heidelberg is at the Heidelberg Downtown. Please note that prices vary frequently. It is best to book a car 3 to 8 weeks in advance of your desired pick-up date - this will ensure you get the cheapest rental rate. Alternatively, it is also possible to find cheap last-minute car hire. Find the best deal on car hire in Heidelberg!

 Driving in Heidelberg

If you are taking a road trip through Germany, be sure to make a stop in Heidelberg and spend a few days here. This is also an ideal place to start your road trip through this amazing country. The roads here are in good condition and the city is well connected to other parts of the country, so you will not have much trouble finding your way around.

When you come to Heidelberg, it is best to park your car in one of the many parking lots outside the city, as there is a well-developed public transportation system here. If you like, you can rent a bike or use other public transportation to explore the city.

Since Heidelberg, and actually the whole region, has a strong industry, the so-called environmental zones were introduced to maintain a healthy environment for the people who live here. An environmental zone in Germany is a zone where motorised vehicles are only allowed to enter with an environmental badge. In German, these zones are called Umweltzone, which translates as an environmental zone. As of 2021, there are 58 environmental zones in Germany, covering more than 70 cities. The obligation to possess the environmental badge applies to both German and foreign cars (M1), motor homes (M1), heavy caravans (M1), minibuses (M2), buses (M3), vans (N1), transporters (N2), trucks (N2) and heavy commercial vehicles (N3).

Vehicle registration and city government sell stickers. Local garages and vehicle inspection centres such as TUeV and DEKRA are also authorised to sell stickers. If you buy them directly from municipal offices, they cost €5. Online, they can cost more. And if they need to be shipped abroad, that can sometimes be a bit more expensive. The city of Berlin sells stickers online (in English or German) for 6 €. TUeV-SUeD offers stickers for 15 € in German, Česky, Français, English, Italiano, Polski, and Tuerkçe. TUeV-NORD sells stickers for 9,90 € if the vehicle is registered in Germany, for 17,50 € if the vehicle is not registered in Germany.

Buy the stickers only on the official websites of the city or the TueV. Other websites are often much more expensive if you get a valid sticker there at all.

• Age limits: The minimum age to drive a car in Germany is 18 years old. The minimum age to rent a car in Germany is 21 years old, however, some suppliers allow young drivers from 18 years of age to rent a car from them. A young driver fee can apply for drivers that are under 25 years of age. This information is visible in the search engine Orbit Car Hire.
• International Driving Permit: You are required by law to carry your Drivers Licence when driving. An International Driving Permit is required in addition to a National Driving License if the National Driving License you or any of the Additional Drivers hold is not clearly identifiable as a Driving License, eg, it is in a non-Latin alphabet (eg Arabic, Chinese, Cyrillic, Japanese). It can also depend on the country or car rental company you are renting with. If you have found a car on our website, you can press the rental terms link from the supplier for more information about driving license requirements. You will need to provide a copy of your driver's license when applying for the license. If you are mailing your application in, a copy of both the front and the back of the license should be included. You also must present two passport photos to get an international driver's license in Germany.  This is all that you need to obtain an international license for driving in Germany. 
• Additional papers:  A credit card in the name of the main driver needs to be presented. A security deposit may be required while renting a car so the credit card must have sufficient funds. You can find details about the security deposit listed while booking the vehicle as well as on your voucher. It is important to have a valid driving license with the name of the main driver as well as additional drivers when it applies.Identification(passport or ID), and valid proof of insurance. When you pick up your rental car you need to have your voucher with you. At Orbit Car Hire you can buy additional coverage so you can travel throughout Germany without worry. 
• Additional requirements:  It is a legal requirement that vehicles have certain safety gear, such as orange vests, caution triangles, and a first aid kit. Verify with your car rental where these are located in your car. You also need to check that you have additional light bulbs (are usually already in the car and are provided by the car rental company).Glasses (in case you need glasses, you must always have a spare pair in the car),
• Children in the car:  Everyone in the vehicle is required to wear a seatbelt. If a passenger is found without one, then the driver is held responsible with a high fine. In Germany, it is illegal to travel in a car with a child under 3 years old not strapped into an approved child safety seat. Children under twelve (and under 150cm) must have a booster or restraint system and be seated in the back. Ask when booking for a suitable system to be included when you collect your hire car.
• Driving side of the road: Right Hand
• Lights: You must turn your lights on any time you can't see at least 1000 feet ahead. Use your low beam headlights whenever it is raining. 
• General speed limits: When driving in towns, the speed limit is automatically 50 km/h unless stated otherwise. When driving out of towns, the speed limit is automatically 100 km/h unless otherwise stated. NOTE: There will not always be a speed limit sign! Therefore, you need to know that as soon as you enter a village or “built-up” area that automatically means the speed limit is 50km/h! 65% of the highways in Germany (Autobahn) have no speed limit.

Popular day trips from Heidelberg

Baden Baden, Strasbourg, Neckarsteinach, Speyer, Worms, Schwetzingen Palace...

What to see in Heidelberg

Heidelberg is a city that has a lot to offer for every kind of tourist and traveller. You can either get well-informed before coming here and then explore the city on your own, or you can join one of the many guided tours of the city, where you will also learn a lot about the history of Heidelberg and the entire region.

One of the places you should definitely visit is the market square. Here, where many locals gather, you can catch the flair of the city. This square is the heart of the old town and is surrounded by many restaurants and bars where you can sit down and enjoy a meal or just have a coffee, wine or beer. From the square, you can also admire the beautiful Holy Spirit Church on one side and the City Hall on the other.

The Holy Spirit Church was built in the 14th century and is one of the highlights of the city. It was built in Gothic style and one of the attractions is undoubtedly the view from the top. If you go to the top of the church, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the city.

Walking through the old town, you can see many attractions and visit some great museums. For example, the Palatinate Museum and the Student Carzer.

If you want to go shopping in Heidelberg, then you should definitely visit the Hauptstrasse. This is the main street of the city with many stores, bars, libraries, etc.

Other places to visit and things to do: Karl Theodor Bridge, Heidelberg Castle, the Philosophers’ Walk, Old Bridge, Local wineries...

Drive your rental car beyond Heidelberg

Germany, or the Federal Republic of Germany as the country's official name, is located in Central Europe and is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia. Germany borders Denmark to the north, Poland and the Czech Republic to the east, Austria and Switzerland to the south, and France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands to the west. The country's capital and largest city is Berlin, and Germany's financial centre is Frankfurt. In many ways, Germany is undoubtedly one of the strongest and most developed countries in the world. It is the country with the largest economy in Europe and the fourth largest economy in the world. It is a world leader in several industrial, scientific and technological fields and is both the third largest exporter and the third largest importer of goods.

But of course, Germany is not just the industrial and financial giant. It is a country with many opportunities in many different fields. From arts, education, tourism, sports, etc. Germany has a long and turbulent past with all kinds of events and among these events, there are some that Germans are not very proud of, such as the World War. There are many monuments, museums and places that commemorate these events and send a warning to the world that this kind of event should never happen again.

Germany consists of 16 states (Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Bremen, Brandenburg, Berlin, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony, Thuringia, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Baden-Wuerttemberg and Bavaria), and each of them has something different to offer and is really worth visiting. The country lies between the Baltic and North Seas in the north and the Alps in the south. So there really is a lot to see and do here, from the south to the north. One of the great advantages of this country is the fact that the road infrastructure here is really well developed and among the best in Europe. It is an ideal country for a road trip. You should probably do more than one road trip through Germany if you want to explore it properly, but you can be sure that you will have a great time no matter which part of the country you want to explore. You can either opt for the bigger cities in Germany, as there are a large number of cities in this country and there are really countless interesting things to see and do in most of the cities. Also, there are many festivals that take place throughout the year. So you just need to research well and make a good plan before coming here, because you really need to be well organized if you want to see and do as many things as possible.

In Germany, there are also many great options for those who prefer a more active type of vacation. For those who love the mountains, there are many great mountain trails and routes that you can explore either on your own or with a guided group. In the Alps you can also do many other activities, from climbing to mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, skating on the many great lakes, etc.

If you are not interested in the mountains, you can always visit the lakes and rivers or even try rafting or kayaking. The countryside in Germany is also beautiful and worth experiencing. You can also drive around and visit many romantic little villages where you can learn more about the German culture and traditions, meet the locals and try some local specialities. If you decide to explore the German countryside, you can also be prepared to see some amazing castles. Some of them are abandoned and only ruins remind us that the castle was here in the past, but some castles are still alive and are being renovated to house museums, galleries, etc. and are spectacular tourist attractions. An interesting fact about Germany is that it is the country with the third largest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Besides castles, there are fascinating churches and other majestic architecture all over the country that will simply take your breath away.

For technology freaks and lovers of the automotive industry, there are some of the most famous brands from this country whose factories and museums you can visit, e.g. BMW, Mercedez, Audi...

The country is also famous for its gastronomy and it is important to highlight two traditional German flagships in this field. The beer is undoubtedly one, with the Oktoberfest, one of the most famous festivals in the world, where record-breaking amounts of beer are sold every year, and then of course the sausage, as it is called. If you are in Germany, you should definitely try the sausage and the beer. This is German tradition and pride.

Where to eat, drink, and party in Heidelberg

Heidelberg is famous for its gastronomic culture. There are many great restaurants in the city where you can get acquainted with traditional German cuisine. You can order dishes that are traditional for the city and the region, or you can try some dishes that are traditionally German. Of course, there are also many restaurants where you can try more modern German dishes or even menus from around the world.

An important element of gastronomy here in Heidelberg is also wine. There are many famous wineries in this area. Weingut Seeger and Weingut Clauer are the 2 most important wineries in the area. They produce wines from premium grape varieties including Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay and Gewuerztraminer etc.

Best restaurant in Heidelberg

Schnitzelbank

Bay Jok

Qube Restaurant Bahnstadt

Vinothek Restaurant Oskar

Herrenmuhle Heidelberg

Weisser Bock