street art tour heidelberg

Heidelberg Free Alternative Street Art Tour

Heidelberg, with its attractive riverbank position, stunning old buildings and bridges, and the castle remains that overlook the town center, is one of Germany’s most charming cities. The city, which receives about four million visitors each year, is rich in ancient buildings and activities, as well as outstanding food and entertainment options.

Heidelberg, the historic Palatinate capital and an ancient university town immortalized in song and poetry, is located where the Neckar river emerges from the Odenwald hills onto the Rhine plain. It’s also one of Germany’s warmest spots, as demonstrated by the presence of wild African parakeets and the occasional almond, fig, and olive tree.

Duration: 3.5 Hours

Available in english, why travellers choose this tour.

• Various Locations:  Our numerous destinations provide you with an originality that no other tour operator can match, thanks to our experience in local heritage and traditions.
• Terrific Tour Guide:  Each tour guide brings something unique to the table – one of which is being terrific!
• Scenic Sights:  When travelling, scenic sights are a must that even we cannot compromise.
• Instant Support:  Travelling gives rise to queries, concerns, and doubts; so we make sure that we’re always here to put your mind at ease

Alternative Tour Highlights:

• Discover Heidelberg’s most colorful neighborhood and see photos of graffiti walls.
• Interact with the locals
• Enjoy Heidelberg, learn about its history, and meet artists and local residents in the community as you explore the city.

Description:

Meet your guide to start the tour and get a feel for Heidelberg like a local. Gain knowledge about the city’s stations and key points, as well as how the street art culture influenced the new Heidelberg.

An enthusiastic guide will explain all of the positive changes that have been made to reshape the city, and you will have time to enjoy all of the amazing street art along the streets.  Listen to Heidelberg knowledge and insight, interesting stories from the guides, meet locals, and learn about the city’s rich history.

What’s included & not included:

✓ Local Guide × Gratuities × Food and drinks, unless specified

Meeting Point

Bergheimer Str. 63, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany

Additional Info

• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Near public transportation
• Please arrive at least 10 minutes prior to the trip’s departure time, as the tour departs on time, and it is impossible to catch up with the group once they have left.

Cancellation Policy

This experience requires good weather. If the tour is canceled because of poor weather, you’ll be offered, or you can also book a different date. This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If the tour is canceled because the minimum numbers of participants aren’t met, you’ll be offered, or you can also choose a different date.

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Best Things to Do in Heidelberg Germany: 2 Days in Heidelberg Itinerary

Posted on Published: February 24, 2020  - Last updated: May 25, 2022

Categories Blog , City Guides , Europe , Germany , Travel Guides

Heidelberg was the last stop on our European jaunt where we visited cities in France, Switzerland, and Germany. While it’s too hard to pick favourites, a part of me thinks that we left the best city to last. It’s easy to fall in love with enchanting, romantic, beautiful Heidelberg. Before I get into specific things to do in Heidelberg, let me tell you a little bit about this German city. It’s a university town on the river Neckar in southwest Germany. About 1/4 of its population are students, reminding me a little bit of Tübingen , a smaller town we visited prior to Heidelberg.

Tourists flock to Heidelberg because it has a charming old town, a rich history, and a stunning landscape. However, I’m going to show you what to do in Heidelberg that’s both on and off the typical tourist radar. Justin and I stayed in Heidelberg for two nights, but you could easily stay longer. Even if you only have a day in Heidelberg, you’ll be able to check several things off this list. We were left wanting more and we’ll hopefully return soon.

Posts may be sponsored. Post contains affiliate links. I may be compensated if you make a purchase using my link.

Table of Contents

Facts About Heidelberg Germany

Here are a few things that you may not have realized about Heidelberg:

• It was named as the UNESCO City of Literature in 2014. There are libraries and bookshops at every turn, a literary festival each summer, and literary award winners continually coming from Heidelberg. Heidelberg is a city for literature and book lovers!
• There are events for every interest throughout the entire year. When you visit, there’s an excellent chance that there will be a festival . Some popular events include a Vampire Ball in February, the Heidelberg Spring Festival (an international music festival), Heidelberger Schlossfestspiele (Castle Festival), the Old Town Festival in September (live music, an artisan market, and biggest festival in the Old Town), Enjoy Jazz Festival, the Heidelberg Christmas Market , and so many more.
• Heidelberg is one of the warmest places in Germany, so plants that are not typically able to thrive in central Europe can grow there. Almond trees, fig trees, and even olive trees can grow in Heidelberg. It’s part of the southernmost wine region of Germany called Baden with an ideal climate for growing a variety of grapes.

Things to Do in Heidelberg: The Heidelberg Card

Do yourself a favour and pick up a Heidelberg Card . You can purchase them for 1 day, 2 days, 4 days, or a 2 days family pass (2 adults and up to 3 children / 1 adult and up to 4 children). Included in the Heidelberg Card:

• Heidelberg Castle admission ticket, including the funicular railway to get there
• German Pharmacy Museum ticket
• Free rides on public transportation

Furthermore, you receive a discounted price on several sightseeing tours, walking tours and a segway tour . You’ll also get discounted tickets to several museums and performances, discounts and freebies at selected restaurants and shops, and discounts on several boat trips. Now, let’s get to the actual list of things to see in Heidelberg that we personally experienced and loved.

The Philosopher’s Walk

The Philosopher’s Walk (Philosophenweg) is a walking trail that must be included on any Heidelberg itinerary. It’s one of the best things to do in Heidelberg Germany. Even if you’re only spending 1 day in Heidelberg, I highly recommend that you take this scenic stroll. It’s one of the most stunning panoramic walks in all of Germany and Europe. Hike on this paved path that meanders up the hill. Then, the path runs parallel to the northern banks of the Neckar River.

We started the walk at the Alte Brücke (Old Bridge). Then, we climbed up the hill on a winding path called the Schlangenweg. Justin and I were treated to numerous views of Heidelberg Castle and Old Town as we ventured to the top. Next, the path flattened out and we leisurely walked with spectacular views on the way.

Eventually, we stumbled upon the Philosophers’ Garden where we took a little rest on some park benches, surrounded by beautiful flowers. This famous path was once the source of inspiration for scholars and great minds, and we hope that it provides you with a little bit of inspiration, too! If you’re searching for what to do in Heidelberg, don’t miss the Philosophers’ Walk.

Heidelberg Castle

The romantic Heidelberg Castle is the most famous attraction in Heidelberg. You simply must visit when you travel to Heidelberg. These medieval castle ruins sit on top of the hill overlooking the Old Town. While the construction of the castle started in the early 1200s, it expanded over the centuries to have several structures, fortresses, towers, moats, and gardens surrounding the complex. Ravaged by wars, fires, and two lightning strikes, it’s still an impressive sight to behold and explore.

Take the funicular from Kornmarkt to the first station stop at Heidelberg Castle. From there, wander around the castle ruins and grounds. The Ottheinrich Building is one of the earliest palace structures with sculptures adorning its facade. It’s the first castle in Germany to have elaborate decorations on the exterior of the building.

Now for one of the most unique attractions in Heidelberg, the gigantic wine barrel. Walk inside the Barrel Building (Fassbau) to marvel at the Great Heidelberg Tun . Back in 1751 when it was constructed, this wine barrel could hold 221,726 litres of wine. It took 130 oak trees to build it. As you can see from the photos, this wine vat is so massive that a balcony/dance floor was built on top of it. Rarely actually used as a wine barrel, it’s used mostly as a tourist attraction.

Justin and I walked around the rest of the property, discovering old castle ruins overgrown with ivy. Then, we made our way to the other side of the castle where we could admire beautiful views of the city from this fortress. For castle ruins, many portions were still extremely in tact, while others were gradually being reclaimed by the earth. It’s a very fascinating place that easily tops the list of things to do in Heidelberg.

Königstuhl Summit

From Heidelberg Castle, purchase a separate ticket to the Königstuhl summit . It’s very interesting to travel on two different funicular tracks to reach the top. The first tram in the lower portion transports you from the base of the mountain to Heidelberg Castle and then to the Molkenkur transfer station .

You have the option here of disembarking and hiking your way up to the Königstuhl summit, via the Stairway to Heaven trail. We decided to take the more leisurely mode of transport and switch to the upper section of the funicular. These funicular cars are wooden, modeled and rebuilt after the original ones dating to 1907.

The Konigstuhl is 568 metres high and it is the highest peak in the Lower Odenwald forest. From here, enjoy wonderful scenery over Heidelberg, the Neckar River, and the Rhine valley.  You can even see as far as Alsace on a clear day. Not many tourists ventured up to the top of the mountain with us, making it a very tranquil and quiet place. A trip up to the Konigstuhl summit is a must visit spot when you have 2 days in Heidelberg.

Wander the Historic Old Town

Justin and I were fortunate to stay right in the middle of the Historic Market Square (Heidelberger Marktplatz), so we spent quite a bit of time in the Old Town (Altstadt). After all, one of our favourite things to do in Heidelberg was to explore by foot. I’d never grow tired of the rows of colourful houses, intricate and detailed architecture, and a seemingly infinite amount of alleyways to poke my head down.

Heidelberg’s Altstadt is on the southern banks of the Neckar River, dominated by the Hauptstrasse (Main Street), a mile long pedestrian street. The Hauptstrasse runs the entire length of the Old Town. Be sure to check out the Alte Brücke (Old Bridge), built in 1788 and the ninth bridge on this site. While the first mention of a bridge near Heidelberg was constructed by the Romans in the 1st century CE, the first bridge known to be in the place of the current one was built in 1284.

In the 15th century, there was a statue of a monkey holding a mirror on the Old Bridge, but it disappeared after the Nine Years’ War. The current statue was erected in 1979 and tourists can position their head inside the monkey’s head. As legend has it, rubbing the monkey’s fingers guarantees a return trip to Heidelberg, rubbing his mirror bring good luck and fortunes, and touching the nearby mice brings fertility.

Make Candy at Heidelbonbon

Heidelbonbon is a independently owned candy shop right in Old Town Heidelberg. The candy is completely made by hand using traditional methods. Justin and I were thrilled to have the opportunity to make our own candy, with the assistance of the owner. This is one of the best things to do in Heidelberg and a hidden gem of an activity.

We chose the colour and flavour of the candy – blue and green with a watermelon taste. The owner showed us how to make the candy. It started as a boiling liquid and cooled into a softer, flexible texture that we could shape by hand. He cut off small pieces of candy for us to twist into lollipops on small wooden sticks. The candy hardened and we were left with a mountain of lollipops to take home with us.

Whether you’re making candy or leaving it to the professionals, the candy at Heidelbonbon is absolutely delicious. The candies in the shop come in a variety of flavours, shapes, and sizes for many occasions. All of the treats in the shop are vegan, with the exception of red candy as it contains carmine. Our watermelon flavoured blue-green lollipops stained our tongues blue. After this fun experience, we felt like kids again! We giddily ventured back out on the town riding a sugar high.

Visit the Student Prison

Here’s one of the most unique things to do in Heidelberg: pay a trip to the University of Heidelberg’s Student Prison (Studentenkarzer). Back in the 19th century, misbehaving students were incarcerated in the university’s student jail. From 1823 to 1914, students were imprisoned for any sort of bad behaviour, from alcohol fueled antics to insulting the authorities. University students back then were disorderly and rowdy at times, just as they are now. Some things never change!

Those thrown into the student prison could remain there for two days up to four weeks, depending on the severity of their offense. In theory, they were still expected to attend their classes. There was a special entrance from the attic prison to the university buildings.

It seems as though most of the students spent their time drawing on the walls or ceilings of the jail. The graffiti ranges from cartoons, names, poems, family crests, and fraternity badges. There are many black silhouettes of faces on these walls of the frat boys themselves.

Entrance to the Studentenkarzer, University Museum, and Old Assembly Hall is €3, with a reduced price if you have a Heidelberg Card .

Discover Street Art

And from student graffiti to outdoor public art, let’s explore the beautiful murals on Heidelberg’s city streets. While so much of Heidelberg devotes itself to tradition and history, its street art shows a contemporary side to the city and its residents. Heidelberg is alive, changing, creative, and inspiring.

Street artists transform plain and barren walls on the sides of buildings into elaborate works of public art for everyone to enjoy. We met with Pascal Baumgartner to discover local street art in Heidelberg. He explained the complicated and at times, frustrating circumstances that it takes for an artist to gain permission to paint their murals. Thankfully, he has the drive and passion to attract artists to from around the world to create thoughtful works of art for everyone to enjoy. We were grateful that Pascal showed us a few of the brilliant and beautiful murals around town.

We learned that we were visiting Heidelberg just a little too early to attend the Metropolink Festival in July. This festival celebrates urban art by inviting internationally acclaimed artists to create massive and spectacular paintings in Heidelberg. The city becomes a space for urban art as many walls are transformed, and everyone can watch the artists at work. You can see many new creations on the Metropolink Instagram page .

Sample the Local Beer

Looking for a local brewery to taste a refreshing Bavarian pint? Vetters Gasthausbrauerei in Old Town Heidelberg is the most popular and renowned original brewery in town. According to the German purity laws, their beer only contains hops, malt, water, and yeast.

When we arrived at Vetter Brewery, it was packed. We weren’t sure that we could get a seat as both the patio and indoor restaurant looked completely full. However, here’s an important tip: take a peek inside and around the corner when you visit, even if it looks busy. We were thankful that there were additional long rows of seating at the back and we snagged a spot without any issues.

Vetters is the kind of place where you can easily socialize with those sitting around you. We met a table of Americans who were visiting Heidelberg on a business trip. It was their last night in town, just as it was ours. It was great to chat with a friendly group over delicious pints. Justin and I both tried the classic Brauhaus Lager and we weren’t disappointed.

Where to Eat

We had no issues finding plant-based meals here. There are numerous vegetarian restaurants or establishments with vegan items on the menu. I enjoyed starting off the day with an acai smoothie bowl from Your Green Love , which also happened to be a short jaunt across the square from our hotel.

For lunch, pop over to Red where you’ll find an entirely vegetarian buffet with clearly marked vegan options. You pay by weight at this restaurant, and there’s a fridge full of sweet treats for after your meal. Justin and I scooped up various salads, veggies, and side dishes for an entirely delicious plate of food.

For dinner, you have a few options, including burgers and Asian inspired meals. Check out Hans Im Gluck , a German chain of restaurants, if you’re feeling like a veggie burger. They have four different vegan burgers and intriguing cocktails, in addition to classics like fries and beer.

L’atelier Heidelberg is a Vietnamese restaurant that takes pride in offering vegan food, as it’s clearly displayed on their signage and menu. From noodle bowls to spring rolls and soup, you’ll leave here feeling full and satisfied, no doubt!

Want to see more photos of Heidelberg?

View all of our travel photography in one place! You can browse and buy any of our pictures, including prints, gifts and more.

Where to Stay

You can’t get a better location than this! We stayed at Hotel Goldener Falke , right in the heart of Old Town. This accommodation in Heidelberg is located on the upper floors above a restaurant overlooking the Market Square. From our room, we could see the Holy Spirit Church, the town hall, and the lively town plaza. We walked absolutely everywhere in town, whether it was to the Phliosopher’s Walk, all around Old Town, or to the funicular to Heidelberg Castle.

Our room at the Hotel Goldener Falke was spacious, comfortable, and a calm place to spend after a lengthy day of exploring. Even though we were facing the square, our room was quiet every night. We adored the charm of this historic building with clean and modern decor throughout our room.

The property comes with complimentary Wi-Fi and a flatscreen TV. There was a buffet breakfast with coffee in the restaurant each morning. I adored sipping my coffee at the kitchen table in our room, watching the rest of the town wake up. Be sure to read the reviews of fellow travellers who stayed at the Hotel Goldener Falke.

We hope that you enjoyed reading our travel guide to Heidelberg and that it’s sparked your imagination for a trip there. Justin and I love visiting Germany so much, and Heidelberg is a German town that’s very easy to fall in love with. From things to see in Heidelberg to our favourite activities, we hope that this blog post will help you plan your Heidelberg itinerary. With so many things to do in Heidelberg, you’ll have a spectacular time. Heidelberg is such a captivating city and I am sure we will be back.

More Things to Do in Germany

Justin and I LOVE visiting  Germany  and we always have a fantastic time exploring this beautiful country. Here are some other articles about our trips to various cities and towns in Germany that will help you plan your holidays.

• Best things to do in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
• Best things to do in Bamberg, Germany
• Vegan guide to Bamberg
• 1 day itinerary for Frankfurt, Germany
• Best things to do in Tubingen, Germany
• Neighborhoods in Berlin to Explore
• How to visit Berlin’s Computer Museum
• Berlin on Bike: An alternative Berlin bike tour
• Almodovar Hotel: A vegetarian hotel in Berlin
• Vegan guide to Berlin, Germany

Lauren is the full-time travel blogger and content creator behind Justin Plus Lauren. She started Justin Plus Lauren in 2013 and has travelled to 50+ countries around the world. Lauren is an expert on vegan travel as one of the very first vegan travel bloggers. She also focuses on outdoor adventure travel, eco and sustainable travel, and creating amazing travel itineraries for cities and small towns.

Wednesday 16th of March 2022

Hi, may I ask for how much the price of candy making workshop? I read on their website but it is quite confusing :(

Hi Lyn! The prices may have changed since we were last there (we visited in 2018), so I recommend sending them an email to [email protected] to ask about the price. Have a great time in Heidelberg!

Wednesday 21st of August 2019

Thank for your for such a beautiful guide on Heidelberg. I also love that you have suggestions for Vegan food. I will definitely read up about other destinations on your Blog.

Tuesday 30th of July 2019

Hey I wanted to know, do people know a good amount of English there! I’m traveling with familly and we only know English

Wednesday 31st of July 2019

Hi James! Yes, almost everyone we encountered spoke English. You won't have any trouble there at all. Have fun!

Elisabeth Powers

Saturday 16th of March 2019

Having studied and lived in Heidelberg for 20 years, it truly warmed my heart to read your excellent description of my old stomping grounds. There is a famous, age-old song "Ich hab mein Herz in Heidelberg verloren" (In Heidelberg, I Lost My Heart) - which the band at our wedding played for us. My daughter was born in Heidelberg, in 1989, as we watched the Berlin wall came down on TV that fall. You mentioned exotic plants growing in Heidelberg, so here's an interesting tidbit: on the castle grounds, there was once a huge, 200 year-old oriental gingko tree, which turns golden yellow in autumn. It is special, because its heart shaped leaves inspired Goethe to the famous poem "Gingko Biloba" he dedicated to the noble, yet married woman he deeply loved, Marianne von Willemer. He sent her the poem along with a leaf of the tree. He then fled her company before it came to an affair. He went on to plant ginko trees in various castle locations all over Germany. The one in Heidelberg no longer stands (since 1936), however, there is a statue of Goethe, with a plaque, commemorating his poem. Thank you for your guide. I hope you go back to Heidelberg one day!

Friday 28th of September 2018

beautiful photos and a comprehensive guide :)

Urban Art: Graffiti & Streetart in Heidelberg

Inhaltsverzeichnis

[Werbung] Heidelberg ist bekannt für seine malerische Altstadt und das imposante Schloss. Aber es gibt auch spannende Wand-Gemälde und Graffiti-Kunst zu entdecken. Hier findest du einen Rundgang in Bildern zur Streetart in Heidelberg.

Urbane zeitgenössische Kunst – Streetart in Heidelberg

Kooperation | Heidelberg Marketing

Die Kunstwerke befinden sich auf Häuserfassaden, Speditionshallen, Wohnblocks und Lärmschutzwänden. Die Gestaltung ist so vielseitig wie die Streetart-Kunst selbst und reicht von klassischen Tags über geometrische Kompositionen bis hin zu farbgewaltigen Gemälden. Entstanden sind die Werke im Rahmen des Metropolink-Festivals für urbane Kunst in Heidelberg.

Strategische Planung & Umsetzung

Damit diese zeitgenössische Galerie im öffentlichen Raum entstehen konnte mussten viele Arbeitsschritte in Angriff genommen werden. „Es galt geeignete Wände zu finden, Sponsoren zu gewinnen, Graffiti-Künstler vor Ort zu verpflichten, Termine zu vereinbaren“, berichtet Pascal Baumgarten, der Kurator und Leiter des Metropolink-Festivals.

Um eine Wand gestalten zu können müssen Verträge mit den Besitzer abgeschlossen und geeignete Streetart-Künstler gefunden werden. „Nicht jede Wand kommt in Frage“, sagt Pascal, „denn vor der Fassade muss man z.B. eine Hebebühne platzieren können.“ Viele weitere Details sind abzuklären, damit ein Künstler dann mit seiner Arbeit endlich loslegen kann.

Urban Romantic – Graffiti-Kunst in HD

Nach der dritten Auflage des Festivals kann von einem vollen Erfolg der urbanen Heidelberger Kunstgalerie sprechen. Zahlreiche Wände wurden mittlerweile gestaltet, international bekannte Streetart-Künstler haben sich verewigt und das Festival wurde in den Pool der institutionell geförderten Kultur der Stadt aufgenommen. Das bedeutet eine Etablierung des Festivals auf lange Sicht.

Inzwischen ist auch das Buch „Metropolink – Urban Romantic“ erschienen mit allen Werken und deren Entstehungsgeschichte, welches man über die Veranstalter beziehen kann. In diesem Sinne: the urban romantic goes on. Einen weiteren Artikel über Heidelberg findest du übrigens hier: Cafés in Heidelberg & Tipps zu Coffee Bars

Wenn du Streetart-Fan bist, dann lohnt sich übrigens auch ein Besuch in Mannheim. Die Stadt ist rund 20 km entfernt von Heidelberg. Einen Artikel dazu gibt’s hier: Urban Art: Streetart & Graffiti in Mannheim

Hier ist nun eine Auswahl der schönsten Werke der Streetart-Künstler, die man in Heidelberg entdecken kann:

Der gebürtige Heidelberger Daniel Thouw hat diese Fassade in der Uferstraße gestaltet. Das Gemälde ist für viele Passanten schon von weitem sichtbar. Besonders gut kann man das Werk von der Theodor-Heuss-Brücke aus sehen. Eine tolle Gestaltung!

Das ehemaliges Hotel Metropol in der Emil-Meyer-Straße wurde von SMASH 137  bemalt. „De-Camouflage“ heißt das Kunstwerk, das sich in bunten Farben am Haus entlang nach oben schlängelt und das Hotel-Gebäude so zu einem echten Blickfang macht.

Die in Berlin lebende Chilenin PAU Quintanajornet hat diese Fassade bei der Spedition Fels in Kirchheim gestaltet. Ein organisches und fast schon filigranes Muster mit ineinander laufenden Linien und floralen Motiven. Sieht nach ganz schön viel Arbeit aus.

Der Streetartist Sweetuno aus Basel hat sich ebenfalls mit einem Gemälde an einer Wand der Spedition Fels verewigt. Die komplette Wand ist in schwarz-weiss gehalten, mit einigen roten und grünen Farbakzenten. Das Bild zeigt einen Ausschnitt aus dem Gesamtwerk.

Urbane Kunst im öffentlichen Raum

Diese Wand im Stadtteil Rohrbach wurde von  Sweetuno  und  Formula76  gestaltet. Gut gefallen hat mir nicht nur das Motiv an dem Altbau in der beschaulichen Umgebung, sondern auch die staunende Passantin im Vordergrund. Sieht fast so aus, als wenn sie mit zu dem Kunstwerk gehören würde.

Der Graffiti-Künstler Hendrik Beikirch aus Koblenz gestaltete dieses große Wandgemälde in der Emmertsgrundpassage im Heidelberger Stadtteil Emmertsgrund. Es ist schon von weitem sichtbar, wenn man in Richtung des Stadtteils kommt. Damit die Wand gestaltet werden konnte, mussten rund 350 (!!!) Mieter mit dieser Kunstaktion einverstanden sein.

Die Grundierung für die riesige Fläche brachte der Künstler innerhalb von zwei Tagen an die Wand. Das Gemälde hat er dann anhand eines Handy-Fotos frei Hand gemalt. Wirklich beeindruckend und kaum vorstellbar, wenn man vor der riesigen Hochhauswand steht und nach oben sieht.

Vom Künstler Robert Proch  stammt diese Wandgestaltung in der Kaiserstraße in der Nähe des Heidelberger Hauptbahnhofs. Das Gemälde wirkt farblich fast schon schlicht im Gegensatz zu den anderen gestalteten Wänden, die gestalterische Perspektive erzeugt aber eine interessante Dynamik.

Graffiti-Kunst und Streetart in Heidelberg

Daniel Figueroa aka WESR  gestaltete diese Wandfläche an einer zentralen Heidelberger Stelle, dem Römerkreisel. Das Kunstwerk erinnert in seiner Farb- und Formgestaltung irgendwie an Lateinamerika, Bossa Nova und Motown-Soul. Die Wand ist eine echte Aufwertung des ansonsten eher farblosen Römerkreisels.

Diese Wand in der Ringstraße wurde von Markus Genesius aka WOW123  gestaltet, der zur 2. Generation der deutschen „Gründerväter“ der Graffiti-Szene gehört. Die in Fotorealismus dargestellten Hände, kombiniert mit den expressiv eingesetzten Farben, die an ein TV-Testbild erinnern, waren mein persönliches Highlight der Streetart in Heidelberg.

Diese Wandgestaltung in der Philipp-Otto-Runge-Straße ist von dem aus Barcelona stammenden Künstler LIMOW (Living in my own world). Er hat sich europaweit in der Streetart-Szene vor allem mit seinen Fabelwesen einen Namen gemacht. Hier gestaltete er an ein Reh erinnerndes Felltier in schwarz-weiss.

Das Streetart-Duo HERAKUT verewigte sich mit diesem Kunstwerk ebenfalls in der Philipp-Otto-Runge-Straße. Die zentrale Aussage des Werks in deutsch/englisch: „Wenn wir uns von Äußerlichkeiten abschrecken lassen, verpassen wir womöglich das Wertvolle darunter.“ Dem kann man sich nur anschließen – unabhängig von diesem großartigen Wandgemälde.

Auch diese Wand in der Emil-Meyer-Straße wurde von Markus Genesius aka WOW123  in der für ihn klassischen Schwarz-Weiss- plus TV-Testbild-Optik gestaltet. Im Hintergrund schließt sich das Werk von KERA an.

Urban Art: Das Metropolink-Festival

Alle Graffiti-Kunstwerke entstanden im Rahmen des Metropolink-Festivals für urbane Kunst. Viele weitere tolle Fotos dieses Festivals findet ihr auch bei Facebook und Instagram. Das Festival findet jeweils im Sommer statt.

Die Graffiti-Tour „Urban Romantic“ lohnt sich auf jeden Fall. Sie findet an ausgewählten Tagen statt – weitere Infos hierzu gibt es unter Urban Romantic. Man kann die Streetart in Heidelberg natürlich auch selbst erkunden.

Werbehinweis: Dieser Artikel entstand in Zusammenarbeit mit Heidelberg Marketing und dem Metropolink Festival . Ich gehe gerne Kooperationen ein, meine persönliche Meinung wird davon aber nicht beeinflusst.

Dieser Artikel ist Teil der Blogparade Die besten Spots für Streetart von Gin des Lebens – Reiseblog. Viele weitere Tipps zu Streetart-Spots findest du im Artikel von Ines und Thomas.

Du hast weitere Tipps und Links zu Streetart in Heidelberg, zum Metropolink-Festival oder zur urbanen Kunst in der Region? Dann hinterlasse uns deinen Kommentar oder schreibe an [email protected].

Weitere Artikel über die Rhein-Neckar-Region findest du hier: Cafés in Heidelberg & Tipps zu Coffee Bars Coworking Spaces in Mannheim & Heidelberg Mannheim: Sehenswürdigkeiten & Highlights Urban Art: Streetart & Graffiti in Mannheim Planetarium Mannheim – Tipps für den Besuch Cafés in Mannheim & Tipps zu Coffee Bars Der Nachtwandel im Jungbusch in Mannheim Karlsruhe: Sehenswürdigkeiten mit dem Rad Neckarsteinach: Highlights der Vierburgenstadt Wolfsschlucht Zwingenberg – Wanderung Katzenbuckel mit Aussichtsturm – Wanderung Neckarschleife: Wanderung mit Aussicht Hirschhorn am Neckar mit historischer Altstadt Fotografen in Mannheim – Infos & Tipps Ausflugsziele in der Rhein-Neckar-Region Worms: Sehenswürdigkeiten & Highlights

• Letzte Artikel

• Füssen im Allgäu: 15 Hightlights für die Städtereise - 3. Februar 2024
• Ein Reisejahr in Bildern – Rückblick & Fotoparade - 30. Dezember 2023
• 3 traumhafte Fachwerkstädte im Elsass erkunden - 4. November 2023

8 Kommentare zu “ Urban Art: Graffiti & Streetart in Heidelberg ”

Kay Kohlmeyer 3. Dezember 2022 Antworten

Hi, ich suche jemanden, der mir eine Mülltonne hübsch macht in HD, eventuell gibt es hier jemanden. 🙂

Grüße, Kohly

Heiko Müller 4. Dezember 2022 Antworten

Hallo Kohly,

schau am besten mal am Skatepark an der Neckarbrücke oder erkundige dich in der Halle02, da findest du Sprayer in HD. 🙂

Viele Grüße Heiko

• Trackback: Heidelberg – Spätzle, Wein & Wolkenkratzer (7) – Wallygusto […] Urban Art: Graffiti & Streetart in Heidelberg  […]... https://wallygusto.de/2022/05/09/heidelberg-spaetzle-wein-wolkenkratzer-7

Heike 23. August 2021 Antworten

Hallo Heiko,

ich bin großer Streetart Fan! Gibt es eine Auflistung, wo in der Stadt die Graffities zu finden sind? Bin am kommenden Wochenende dort und würde gerne alles ablaufen.

Merci, Heike

Heiko Müller 23. August 2021 Antworten

Hallo Heike,

einen Plan gibt es nicht, aber ab und zu werden Touren angeboten: https://www.metropolink-festival.de/city-tour/ . Du kannst dir auch ein Rad ausleihen (VRNnextbike) und die Murals abfahren. Wenn du bei Google Maps „Graffiti Heidelberg“ eingibst, findest du die Straßen mit den Wänden. Viel Spaß in HD!

• Trackback: Die beliebtesten Blogartikel des Jahres | People Abroad […] Heidelberg ist bei Reisenden bekannt wegen seiner historischen Altstadt, dem Schloss und seiner male... https://www.people-abroad.de/blog/die-beliebtesten-blogartikel-des-jahres
• Trackback: Blogger & Influencer in der Region Rhein-Neckar | People Abroad […] einige Artikeln: – Der Nachtwandel im Jungbusch – In der Heimat zu Monnem Bike – S... https://www.people-abroad.de/blog/blogger-influencer-rhein-neckar
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The Heidelberg Project Transforms a Detroit Street into an Outdoor Art Gallery

Driving through this pocket of Detroit , deteriorating single-family homes dot swaths of vacant lots. It’s a story that we’ve all heard about Detroit and other Rust Belt cities. Turn down Heidelberg Street though, and stuffed animals cling to a boat like barnacles, old telephones perched on painted bricks line the sidewalk, and colorful polka dots adorn an old house. Artist Tyree Guyton is rewriting that story with the objects that were left behind.

An Urban Canvas

Today, the street is home an outdoor art environment called the Heidelberg Project . Two city blocks serve as an urban canvas that incorporates houses, the street, sidewalks, and discarded items. What began in the 1980s as a way to spotlight urban blight is evolving into an art community and “culture village.” 

Guyton grew up on Heidelberg Street in the working-class McDougall-Hunt neighborhood. In 1967, the site of his childhood memories filled with Army troops and tanks in response to five days of riots in the city. “I thought the world was coming to an end,” Guyton told the  New York Times Magazine . He left the neighborhood to enlist in the army in the 1970s. The neighborhood he returned to years later was devastated by drugs, violence, and poverty. Where others armed themselves with weapons, Guyton’s grandfather encouraged him to pick up a paintbrush. 

Together with the neighborhood children, Guyton and his grandfather began cleaning up the street. They used everyday, abandoned items to transform the vacant lots into an outdoor art project. What was once his family home became an enormous sculptural installation. Playful polka dots, symbolizing diversity, began popping up along the street. The project was officially incorporated as the Heidelberg Project in 1988. 

“My art is a medicine for the community. You can’t heal the land until you heal the minds of the people.” – Tyree Guyton, Heidelberg Project Founder

Guyton wanted to draw attention to the plight of Detroit’s forgotten neighborhoods, but not everyone appreciated his art. Several Heidelberg project homes have been the target of neighborhood complaints, demolition by two Detroit mayors, and arson. Today, only two of his original HP houses remain.

State of the Art

Numbers House Covered in colorful numbers, the Numbers House is one of the only original HP structures remaining. It’s an homage to the Woods family who lived here and donated their house to the Heidelberg Project. The numbers were inspired by resident Thelma Woods’ dream of winning the lottery.  The Woods children were some of the original “Kids of Heidelberg” and often return to visit. 

Dotty Wotty House Guyton’s great-grandparents purchased this house in 1947. He grew up in the home with his mother, grandfather, and nine siblings. The polka dot house represents the celebration of all races living together. 

Pink HUMMER Installed one month after the last HUMMER was manufactured, Pink HUMMER is a collaboration with the women’s peace group “Code Pink.” The pink HUMMER symbolizes peace, and the bicycle reminds us to consider sustainable transportation options. 

Noah’s Ark This boat piled with stuffed animals represents the opposing forces of childhood innocence and corruption. The original “Noah’s Ark” installation was destroyed by the City of Detroit in 1999. 

Motor City Lot This is a tribute to the good and bad of Detroit’s auto industry. Covered in pennies, the “Penny Saab” represents the result of saving and waiting.

Heidelberg 3.0

Thirty years on, the Heidelberg Project continues to enrich the community through art. The HP provides jobs and programs in addition to a venue for expression and interacting with people from Detroit and beyond. The Heidelberg Arts Leadership Academy is a free arts education program.  The Young Adults of Heidelberg program partners with other organizations to support community building and professional development within the arts.

In 2017, Guyton announced that he would be dismantling some of the Heidelberg Project installations to make room for a new vision called “Heidelberg 3.0.” Rather than featuring his own work, Guyton aims to create an art community and culture village. 

He plans to transform the remaining buildings in the area into cultural and educational centers and spaces for artists. The Numbers House is under renovation to feature an artist-in-residence program, gallery, and event space. Last year, the HP moved into its first community headquarters, a 7,000-square foot building, a residence, and six lots. Rather than reflect the neighborhood’s past, the Heidelberg Project will help shape the community’s future. 

Visit the Heidelberg Project

The Heidelberg Project is free and open to the public daily, from 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. The HP recommends that visitors travel by car or by taxi.

If you’re visiting, be sure to download Isobar’s Heidelberg Project app . The app offers a self-guided tour using GPS technology. View the full installation from above and then learn more about the history and inspiration of specific works. 

When I visited the Heidelberg Project, years after seeing some of Guyton’s work exhibited at the Detroit Institute of Arts, I was surprised to see the world-renowned artist standing in the street being interviewed by art students. But of course Guyton was there on Heidelberg Street, because he never left it behind.

The Heidelberg Project 3600 Heidelberg St. Detroit MI, 48207

• “Encyclopedia Of Detroit – HEIDELBERG PROJECT.” Detroit Historical Society .
• “History.” The Heidelberg Project .
• “Iconic Detroit Outdoor Art Environment, The Heidelberg Project, Launches App: Isobar News.” Isobar, 15 Jan. 2018.
• Miller, M.H. “Tyree Guyton Turned a Detroit Street Into a Museum. Why Is He Taking It Down?” The New York Times , The New York Times Magazine, 9 May 2019.
• Tyree, Guyton. “About.” Tyree Guyton .

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Heidelberg-Mannheim: The Best of Two Worlds

Homepage > States > Baden-Württemberg > Heidelberg-Mannheim: The Best of Two Worlds

They are just 20 kilometers apart - so it's an obvious idea to combine a visit to Mannheim and Heidelberg. Five good reasons to experience both cities in one fell swoop:

Table of contents 1. The NahTour with lots of nature 2. The FamilyTour 3. The KulTour 4. The ArchitekTour 5. The GastroTour

The NahTour with lots of nature

In Heidelberg and Mannheim there are nature reserves in the middle of the city. In addition, both cultural metropolises offer extraordinary opportunities to relax in the fresh air and at the same time do something for your own fitness: A bike tour along the Neckar in Heidelberg for example, puts you in a good mood and offers one "wow" view after another in good weather. If you want to get to know both cities at once, then cycle from the Kurpfalzbrücke in Mannheim a loop exactly 47 kilometers long to Heidelberg and back. Heidelberg Castle then offers itself as an idyllic place for a rest. Other fine ways to enjoy the two cities in the fresh air: How about a boat tour in the Mannheim Luisenpark ? Or a visit to the Botanical garden in Heidelberg , which has been one of the oldest botanical gardens in Germany since it was founded in 1593?

Extra tip: What connects the two cities? That's right, the Neckar. Which has the pleasant effect that you can not only take leisurely boat trips there with the White Fleet, but also have Neckar meadows in both cities that are popular with locals and guests alike: Whether for a picnic or a barbecue, whether for volleyball or Frisbee: one will be in good weather in Heidelberg and Mannheim always meet like-minded people who enjoy their free time on the respective Neckar meadows.

The FamilyTour

In the morning still in Heidelberg , in the late afternoon already in Mannheim - or vice versa. Those who are on vacation with the family have many trump cards in hand in the two residence cities to make everyone happy. The Heidelberg Zoo about is traditionally a good place for families with smaller children to visit: Large bear enclosures and the outdoor enclosure for the lions, which will not be completed until 2019, are the biggest attractions of the zoo, which opened in 1930 and whose grounds are also architecturally impressive. (Which, admittedly, is more likely to be noticed by the "older" zoo visitors ...). If you prefer to discover animals in the wild, you will at the forest adventure trail Heidelberg even if they are rarely as exotic as those at Heidelberg Zoo. Here, it's more about playfully immersing oneself in the atmosphere of the forest. Whether feeling, touching, smelling, seeing or hearing, the Forest adventure trail is intended to stimulate all the senses of the visitors.

What has Mannheim to counter this? The Luisenpark for example, which Mannheim citizens regularly vote number one among leisure facilities in the entire region. Why? Because there are curved park paths, huge lawns and water fountains, a green school for nature-loving kids, a farm, and the Chinese Tower with an authentic teahouse - here everything is in (and on) flow: rest and movement, heaviness and lightness. No less famous in Mannheim and surroundings and probably even more popular with kids is "Ice Fontanella" . This traditional store has been in Mannheim since 1933. In addition to ten different varieties of chocolate ice cream, there is also the famous spaghetti ice cream, which was invented by Mr. Fontanella himself.

A great bad-weather alternative is the TECHNOSEUM Mannheim . There, with much fanfare and exciting hands-on stations, the history of technology and social history from the 18th century to the present day is presented and shown how technology has changed our lives.

The KulTour

Museums, galleries, exciting design: If you want to learn something and be amazed even on vacation, the cultural offerings of Heidelberg and Mannheim have no problem spending exciting days indoors, too (bonus: finding open-air art is no problem in either city, either).

But first, experience museum art as you would imagine it: The Baroque castle Mannheim with its spacious courtyard of honor and a 440-meter-long façade, is the second largest palace in Europe after Versailles Palace. Even the outer impression is overwhelming, numerous exhibitions in the castle - best experienced as part of a guided tour - complete the impression. Absolutely worth seeing.

Heidelberg counters this primarily with classical art in the Electoral Palatinate Museum , which was opened as early as 1908 as the "Municipal Art and Antique Collection". Bonus: The museum is easily accessible in the middle of the pedestrian zone. Completely different theme, completely different time: In the Heidelberg Packaging Museum you can learn what the "cultural performance of packaging" is all about. Or to put it more simply: how the packaging of all the branded products we know from early on has changed over the years. The museum is the first in the country to focus on the art of packaging in this way - modern times. With the " House Cajeth ", the German Pharmacy Museum, the Prinzhorn Collection and the " Body Worlds " offers Heidelberg g other unusual exhibitions. This is certainly also true for "CITY.WALL.ART" to, an art project of the city Mannheim . Every year since 2013, the city has invited street artists to spray or paint large-scale art paintings on the walls of buildings. On the in Mannheim online Mural Map you can see where the expressive murals are located.

The ArchitekTour

Anyone who wants to experience the theory and practice of applied urban planning can currently do so very well in Heidelberg do: In a central location, the so-called Bahnstadt  on the site of the former freight station, a completely new district that, at 116 hectares, will be larger than Heidelberg's old town. The first residents moved into the quarter in June 2012, and at some point there will be 6,500 new residents living in the buildings, some of which are exotically avant-garde. Bahnstadt is one of the world's largest housing developments built using passive construction methods, underlining Heidelberg's ambitions to live in a sustainable and environmentally conscious way.

The counterpart to so much urban modernity is in Heidelberg the House to the knight , the oldest building in the city. It was built in 1592 by a cloth merchant and stands opposite the Heiliggeistkirche (Church of the Holy Spirit) in Heidelberg's old town - and is, of course, a listed building.

Also an eye-catcher from an architectural point of view: The new building of the Mannheim Art Gallery , opened in 2018 and realized by the renowned architectural firm Gerkan, Marg und Partner with the idea of implementing a "city within the city". Also absolutely worth seeing is the Multihalle in Herzogenriedpark, designed by architects Carlfried Mutschler and Frei Otto. The largest wooden lattice shell construction in the world was built in 1975 for the Federal Garden Show and still looks futuristic today. But art can be conveyed not only in and through museums: In Mannheim many places have been upgraded by large-scale street art, also in Heidelberg art in public space is taking on an increasingly present role. Particularly spectacular: The "S-Printing Horse" . It is 13 meters high and weighs 90 tons, one of the largest horse sculptures in the world. It stands in front of the Print Media Academy right next to the main train station and has become one of the most popular photo motifs in the city.

The GastroTour

The way to a man's heart is through his stomach - this also applies to the love of a city or two: If you have loaded up with experiences and events during the day with a variety of impressions and new memories, you would then like to enjoy in the evening: In Heidelberg and Mannheim is home to all varieties of modern culinary art, from illustrious star cuisine to casual street food. It is difficult to make a selection, because there are so many more great places where creative chefs and competent bartenders indulge in their art than we can list here. In any case, the cozy café " Flo " in Mannheim which has been exuding the French way of life for decades and offers an excellent view of the Kunsthalle and the water tower. Modern design with many interesting furnishing ideas provides the restaurant " The kitchen " in Mannheim - while maintaining the same good quality of the same. Who prefers stars and has a fine palate: " Opus V " has earned its two stars with world-class gourmet cuisine, the " La Corange " under the same roof its star with fine fish variations. Also the " Emma Wolf 1920 " is only a hundred meters away.

What has Heidelberg to counter this? Three special restaurants, three stars, which, for the sake of fairness, we now have to name, of course: The chefs Robert Rädel from the " Top ", Mario Sauer from the " Le Gourmet " and Martin Scharff from the " Castle wine bar " have honestly earned this Gault Millau honor. But of course it also goes in Heidelberg in many places a little more bourgeois, casual and still high quality: We recommend the " Schilling Roofbar " for their sushi and seafood selection, but also for the fantastic view. If you like it more touristy-folkloric or want to bring several generations to one table: The " Seppl " is - well - an experience!

More information about Heidelberg:

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“INSIGHT” by AKUT in Heidelberg, Germany

The INSIGHT project by AKUT – A collaboration painting, installation & exhibition accompanied by a unique portrait photo series of more than 70 individual minds of the urban contemporary and street art scene premiered on the 11th of December.

AKUT’s photographs of renowned street and urban artists from all over the globe will be exhibited for the first time from December 11th 2021 until February 25th 2022. The show is curated by Metropolink, well-known for their urban art festival and will take place in the old commissary at Patrick-Henry-Village in Heidelberg. Besides the ongoing photo series, that is taken for over almost one decade and consists of 80 portraits so far, AKUT will present peerless collaboration artworks.  

To follow the initial idea of merging the actual work of an artist and their respective portrait, AKUT invited four of his colleagues and friends to join. The German calligraffiti god STOEHEAD, who’s distinct and de-constructed styles constantly evolves for more than three decades already and the Swiss master of handmade lettering KKADE, who mixes graphic traditions like crests, art deco ornamentation with West Coast tattoo and tagging culture dared to participate in this experimental new level of INSIGHT. Furthermore, one of worlds top street artists MAD C, known for her dynamic murals in colourful transparent layered calligraphy compositions as well as German painter Julia Benz, who owns a distinctive style of self-confident colour combinations with abstract forms joined their outstanding forces with AKUTs finest photorealism.  

To complement the show and underline their graffiti and street art background AKUT just finished the first mural collaboration with KKADE in the giant hall of the commissary in Heidelberg, looking very much forward to create more of this larger than life portraits in 2022.

The very first photo portraits were taken analogue on a medium format film in 2011. A year later AKUT switched to digital photography, which was much more practicable. The photographs started as a funny side activity, but in addition with the conversations AKUT had about the question “HOW DID YOU BECAME UNIQUE AS AN ARTIST?” a kind of recipe collection for young artists has arisen. On December 11th the audience had the very first chance to immerse into this unique world of INSIGHT in the presence of the artist(s).

Background story about the photo series:

– While traveling the world, as one half of acclaimed street art duo HERAKUT, AKUT formerly known as Falk Lehmann met numerous artists, big names as well as locals. He knows their styles, heard their stories, has seen them working and was always curious to learn about their creative processes. Back in 2011 he started a photo series portraying his colleagues, role models and friends in a way that he projects their artworks onto their faces. He considers the human face as corresponding to a unique canvas on which the traces of the individuals life are drawn. These characteristics make it distinctive and reflect the lifestyle of a person in a certain way. AKUT adds a level of passion, which has an important place in the artist’s existence, to the natural facial texture. The projection of an artwork onto the face creates a mask-like, archaic expression. The closed eyes symbolize a turning towards the inner self of the artist. Additionally, AKUT understands the merge of the artwork and the respective artist’s face as an act of visualizing the artist personality AND the private person comparable to the leaking of a superhero identity. It’s mainly the private person’s alter ego, the alias, who is (well) known to the audience. Some artists do not even show their faces, ever. Intentionally their artistic name and output is everything they reveal to the world, which might give them this status of uniqueness in the first place. Anyhow, these artists are private individuals as well and have their very own opinions on their supposedly unique status, which can be explored in the upcoming exhibition. –

Falk Lehmann better known as AKUT was born in 1977 in Schmalkalden, Thuringia. In the early 90s he was one of the first to embellish his city – at that time still untypical in the graffiti scene – with figural works in a photorealistic style.

As an artist trained by the Bauhaus University in Weimar in the fields of visual communication and graphic design, his work also includes impressive photo series that address numerous social issues. Whether homeless in Hawaii, child labor in Nepal, studies of abandoned prefabricated buildings or refugee shelters as the new home of thousands of people from the Middle East, AKUT documents life on his numerous trips around the world.

Most recently AKUT worked mainly in the studio and developed numerous works for group exhibitions in London, Paris and Los Angeles. In the course of this the portrait, as one of the most famous and oldest subjects in art, has also remained as the most interesting one for AKUT. With the solo exhibition individual liminality he emphasized the portrait as the magnum opus and moves it to the center of his creative work. Expressive yet delicate photorealism met subtile graffiti roots, creating today’s individuals dealing with their existence in liminality.

Check out below for more photos on the INSIGHT project.

Photo credits: Sandra Lehman, @schreiberpoetter, @dna.collective

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Metropolink part 27

“Italian artist Francesco Camillo Giorgino, known as Millo, paints large-scale murals that feature friendly inhabitants exploring their urban setting. He uses simple black and white lines with dashes of color when necessary, and often incorporates elements of architecture into his multi-story paintings.” C. Jobson, Colossal.

He took part to several street art festival and NGO art event all around world. He has been painting in USA, Russia, China, Australia, Thailand, Argentina, Chile, Morocco, Spain, Portugal, Uk, Netherland, Poland, Lithuania, Belarus, Ucraine and of course Italy. His works have been exhibited in Los Angeles, Chicago, Berlin, London, Amsterdam, Milan, Rome, Florence and more.

In 2014 he won the B.Art competition that enabled him to paint 13 multi-story murals in the city of Turin (IT).

“Sometimes coyly surreal, other times borderline terrifying” K. Brooks, Huffington Post.

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Stadtführungen in Heidelberg

Our Group tours

Our experienced tourist guides will take you on a journey through the history of the city. All of our guides are certified and have been working in or around Heidelberg for many years. The extensive knowledge of our guides, peppered with many humorous anecdotes, makes our tours into an entertaining experience for you and your guests. Whether you take part in a walking tour of the old town or up at the castle – Heidelberg will enchant you and make you want to come back.

You’re looking for a customized tour of the town? We would be delighted to advise you and make suggestions!

Book your guided tour now ! (Minimum number of participants for group guided tours: 5 persons, max. 25) All prices inclusive of value-added tax. Please also see our General Terms and Conditions .)

Walking Tour of the Old Town

Duration: 2 hours Group price: 149 € (German), 159 € (English/other foreign language) | Historical tour in costume: 99 € surcharge

This 120 minute tour takes you through the romantic alleys of Heidelberg’s old town. From Karlsplatz, we look up to the majestic castle ruins and tell you about the history of the Electoral Palatinate.

You will learn about the prince electors of the Palatinate and their ambitious building programs, and then you will discover why we are looking at a ruin today.

We then proceed to the market square, pause briefly, and then continue to the Old Bridge that has been glorified in countless poems and songs. Then we wander through narrow alleys and rejoin the main street, the shopping mile in the heart of the city. The tour ends at University Square.

- Complimentary soft drink in one of the historical taverns of the old town (3.50 € p. P.)

- Visit to student prison (normal price: 3 € per person, reduced: 2.50 € per person). Ticket includes: visit to student prison, university museum and Alte Aula (old lecture hall). If there is an event in the Alte Aula, it is not open for visits.

CASTLE TOUR (INCLUDING THE GUN PARK AND GREAT BARREL)

Duration: 1.5 hours | Group price: 119 € (German), 129 € (English/other foreign language) | Historical tour in costume: 80 € surcharge

You will hear about romantic love stories and the opulent life at court. But you will also hear about wars that destroyed both the town and the castle. The grand finale is an encounter with Perkeo, the legendary court jester and guardian of the great wine barrel, which you will also visit and marvel at its size.

Not included in the group price is the combo ticket for castle and funicular railway (normal price: 9 € per person, reduced: 4.50 € per person). Includes: return ticket on lower funicular, entry to castle courtyard, German Apothecary Museum, wine cellar and castle balcony.

GRAND TOUR – OLD TOWN & CASTLE

Duration: 3 hours Group price: 149 € (German), 170 € (English/other foreign language) | Historical tour in costume: 120 € surcharge

Join us on a discovery of the winding alleys in the town, marvel at the picturesque architecture and hear all about the Heidelberg bridge monkey.

No need to worry about the steep climb up to the castle. The funicular railway takes you from the old town to the most famous ruin in the world in just a few seconds. Enjoy the journey! Let yourself be inspired and get to know Heidelberg and the legendary castle from all perspectives. We promise you - it is worth it!

The Heidelberg Project

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The Heidelberg Project - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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• (1.94 mi) Astoria Pastry Shop

Exploring the Heidelberg Project in Detroit

As a fairly new resident to the Detroit area, I needed to get out and experience what Detroit has to offer during the winter. My roommate, who had grown up in Metro Detroit, was shocked to hear that I was unfamiliar with The Heidelberg Project . After a brief explanation of what it consisted of, I was convinced that I needed to spend my Saturday afternoon there.

About the Heidelberg Project in Detroit

Today, a lot of Detroit neighborhoods are packed with gloomy decaying, and sometimes abandoned houses, almost as if a bomb went off or the city was struck by a horrific natural disaster. Then you come across a breath of fresh air at the corner of Mount Elliot and Heidelberg Street on Detroit’s east side.

Some describe it as entering into a fantasy land. The homes, trees, and sidewalks are all utilized to create a funky outdoor environment. The city’s misfortune becomes an artist’s canvas.

3600 Heidelberg Street, in downtown Detroit, is a scene unlike any that I have ever witnessed. Abandoned homes covered in various forms of eccentric art line the blocks surrounding the area. Each home is covered in so much detail that I could have spent hours examining each one and cannot wait to go back.

Palpable messages are shouted from these homes, yet with just a step closer, hidden memorandums sneak out and surprise you. Each exhibit offers something completely unique and is entirely encompassing.

Most of the art displayed comes from recycled pieces of local Detroit goods, such as stuffed animals, couches, and street signs. The works of art are designed to tell a story regarding specific issues in Detroit’s society.

The Heidelberg Project was purposefully positioned in an impoverished area and is meant to shed light on the lack of resources in that neighborhood. Though it is meant for enjoyment, visitors are cautioned to be aware of their surroundings and to not bring valuables while visiting.

The Heidelberg Project has been using art to promote conversation, improve the community, provide hope and inspiration. Detroit native and artist Tyree Guyton, created the Heidelberg Project with his grandfather, Sam Mackey in 1986. Guyton grew up in Detroit and was devastated when he came to visit in 1986 and saw that it had taken a turn for the worse due to racism, drugs, violence, and poverty.

The exhibit started off as a small entity but soon blossomed into so much more. No one knew quite how big the effect of the project would have on the city. Currently, 275,000 people visit the street annually and the number of visitors each year keeps increasing.

It is internationally known, and people from more than 140 different countries have toured the streets.

Why the Heidelberg Project was Started

His hope was to inspire children in the community through his art and desire to create change. In addition to providing a place for locals and tourists to enjoy, Guyton, staff members, and volunteers hold workshops and other art education programs.

Many children in the surrounding neighborhoods are forced to walk to school and see nothing but abandoned homes and crime. Being able to walk through the community that the Heidelberg Project has constructed gives children an opportunity to see what their neighborhoods have the potential to become.

The ACE2 (Art, Community, and Environmental Education) Project was started to supplement the art education programs that the Detroit Public School system was unable to support. The ACE2 project also offers school presentations with workshops, a field trip to the Heidelberg Project, and a tour of Tyree Guyton’s studio. An educator’s kit also comes complimentary with the ACE2 project, which includes creative lesson plans and suggestions for end-of-semester projects.

What’s at the Heidelberg Project?

On a section of Heidelberg Street in Detroit, there are some houses and some lots full of everything from dolls to old toys and sneakers to household appliances, which are the result of artist Tyree Guyton’s handiwork.

The Heidelberg Project puts on events year-round for everyone to enjoy. These include the Detroit Design Festival, the Detroit Arts Immersion, and the Medley of Unorganized Beauty. A full list of events is available on their website so spectators can plan their visits accordingly.

There are many ways to get involved with the Heidelberg Project. There are opportunities for volunteers, employees, and ways to donate. However, the best way to become involved is to spread the word about the Heidelberg Project and support art programs in every community.

The Heidelberg Project in Detroit Beautifies Trash

Guyton’s concept is to not only take nothing and create it into something very beautiful and whimsical but also to ultimately get people to the point where they are interested in art. Behind the display of paintings, sculptures, installation, and design, all showcases are an array of colors, forms, and remarkable symbolism.

The city of Detroit has bulldozed parts of this project on two different occasions due to controversy. Once in 1991 and again in 1999. However, the decision was reversed and the site still lives on.

One of the houses that remains on Heidelberg Street is “Dotty Wotty,” where the polka dots on the house represent all different races, colors, and sizes—symbolizing diversity and harmony.

Guyton beautifies a multitude of objects; things that some people may think are trash. What society believes is obsolete and throws away, he recycles and produces into raw art. A lot of the objects were salvaged from the buildings and streets of Detroit.

Street Art in Detroit

The Heidelberg Project takes the term “street art” to another level with over two blocks of the street overflowing with odds and ends. Creating something unique can change the world, and that is what the whole project is about. Guyton often includes the kids and people of the neighborhood to help expose and educate them to the art world.

With the whole community involved in the project, it inspires them to do better and gives them an outlet to use their creativity. Guyton, who lost family members to the streets, started on the road of hope by picking up a paintbrush instead of a weapon.

The Heidelberg Project is helping Detroit reinvent itself in hopes of becoming a safe, productive, and colorful city once again. Visiting Heidelberg Street is free for all.

What is happening on Heidelberg Street isn’t just “stuff” scattered, though. The Project’s mission is to “inspire people to appreciate and use artistic expression to enrich their lives and to improve the social and economic health of the greater community.”

Beyond a street to explore, the Project stays true to its mission by offering group tours, lectures, art workshops, and various other events to engage the community.

Also, one of the houses, the Number House, is an art experience not only on the street but inside as well. The former home now houses a gift shop that includes handmade items as well as galleries that showcase local artists and photographers.

More Heidelberg Project Photos

Go & Explore the Heidelberg Project Detroit MI

Don’t just take my word for it, though… check it out for yourself! You may just see a toilet or two, a jet ski, or a few cribs that are now repurposed into a larger community initiative set on bringing people together. Make a day of it and grab your camera, then head to 3600 Heidelberg Street in Detroit.

Seriously, don’t go off of what I’ve seen on my visit because chances are when you get there the constantly evolving installment will be different again.

Have you ever visited the Heidelberg Project? What’s the quirkiest thing you saw? Let us know in the comments!

article contributed by Jennifer Hamilton, Amber Ainsworth, and Danielle Turcotte

Amber is a journalism student at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. She fills her time interviewing musicians and writing about music. Besides writing, she is passionate about photography and enjoys shooting everything from concerts to football. She loves exploring and would love to eventually travel the world with her camera.

Germany ‎ > Heidelberg > Free Heidelberg Walking Tour   

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Free Heidelberg Walking Tour:

Walking Tour Location : Old Town Heidelberg Style :  Do-It-Yourself Walking Tour ( Self Guided )  Start : The Old Bridge ( Alte Brücke ) End : Scheffel Terrace (Scheffelterrasse) Walking Distance : 2.2 Miles ( +.5 miles each way for Philosopher’s Path Lookout ) Time : 90 Minutes For Walk ( with attractions 5-6 hours ) Fun Scale : 9.5 out of 10

Overview of Old Town Heidelberg:

While the North side of the Neckar River was home to Celtic and Roman settlements, the Southside blossomed in the Middle Ages into the well-preserved Old Town Heidelberg you can tour today.  Heidelberg served as the capital of the Electoral Palatinate of the Rhine for 600 years ( 1085–1690 ) and was one of the main residences of the powerful Wittelsbach family for just as long ( 1214–1803 ).

With powerful standing in the Holy Roman Empire, Heidelberg grew under the shadow of its mighty castle which is still one of the best to visit in Germany.  One this free Heidelberg walking tour, we will take you through the sights that shaped Old Town from the impressive castle and Germany’s oldest university ( founded in 1386 ), through Medieval Squares and over one of the most romantic bridges in Central Europe.

Heidelberg Walking Tour:

1a. the old bridge ( alte brücke ):.

About The Old Bridge : Strolling along the cobblestoned Old Bridge is one of the best things to do on our free Heidelberg walking tour and a great place to get introduced to the town’s history.  Further upstream, near the Neckar Park, there was once a single wooden bridge over the river established by the Romans in the 1st Century.  The bridge was rebuilt in stone in 100AD, but after it collapsed there wasn’t a new one spanning the Neckar River until 1284.  That might sound crazy to have no bridge for 1,000 years but there are surprising a lot of challenges with both flooding and ice along the Neckar River.  These problems have also plagued the bridge’s current location of the which is on its 9th version since Medieval times.

The Neckar River once served as the border between the Electorate Palatinate of the Rhine ( South ) and the Electorate of Mainz ( North ) which required the bridge to be heavily fortified during the Middle Ages.  On Sebastian Münster’s engraved drawings of Heidelberg ( Cosmographia ) from 1550, we get a glimpse of what the Old Bridge looked like through Medieval times.  It shows us that the bridge had a wooden roof over it and in addition to the preserved double-tower gate on the Southern end, it also had the Monkey Tower Gate ( Affenturm ) on its Northern end.

Most of the rebuilds over the centuries were because of ice damage and although the Old Bridge survived invasions during the 30 Years War in 1622, it was leveled in the Nine Year’s War in 1689.   For almost 20 years after, there was once again only a ferry to cross the Neckar River.  Rebuilt twice more ( 1706 & 1788 ) the middle of the bridge was damaged in 1945 by retreating Nazi forces as the Americans closed in and had to be repaired.

1b. Old Bridge Statues :

About The Statues : In peak Medieval times the Old Bridge in Heidelberg was covered with a roof and filled with market stalls, so it is difficult to gauge how many statues it once had.  Today there are three wonderful carved stone sculptures from the last rebuild of the Old Bridge in the 1700s which help to give it the old-world feel like Charles Bridge in Prague, albeit on a much smaller scale.  A additional 4th bridge statue of the Heidelberg Monkey we will also see later on this free Heidelberg walking tour.

Starting on the Northern end of the 9-pillar Old Bridge, there has been a large statue of the Roman Goddess of Wisdom, Minerva  ( 7th pillar ).  Originally carved in 1730 and placed on the former location of a bridge guardhouse, the current copy was created in 1793 after being damaged a massive flood 9 years earlier.  Below Minerva is a wide base with 4 reliefs and 4 allegorical statues starting in the front with Justice leaning on books with her scales, a veiled Pietas holding a cross ( our favorite of them ), a winged-hat Hermes baring coins, and Ceres with a cornucopia.

Next to Minerva was once a statue of the martyred John Nepomuk ( 9th pillar ) which was added in 1738.  After Nepomuk’s statue fell into the Neckar River during the Flood of 1784, it was moved along the Northern river bank where it sits overlooked by tourists today.  His statue’s tumble into the river was slightly ironic as the Saint had been murdered by being tossed into the Vltava River in Prague in 1393.  At the riverbank below the Nepomuk Statue, you’ll find the romantic Love Stone ( Liebesstein ) where visiting couples are encouraged to leave love locks.  The large sandstone slab is where the famous lyricist Joseph von Eichendorff and his beloved Katharina Foerster ( nicknamed Kaethchen ) often met in 1808.

As you take in the views and head South toward Old Town Heidelberg, the final stone statue on the Old Bridge is of Elector Karl Theodor ( 2nd pillar ) who stands above his own coat of arms.  Karl is the ruler who commissioned the current reconstruction of the Old Bridge ( 9th overall ) in 1786-1788.  In the Middle Ages, this was the location of a guardhouse and the figures below Karl symbolize the territories around the Danube, Isar, Mosel, and Rhine rivers which he ruled at the time of the build.

2. Old Bridge Tower ( Brückentor ):

About The Bridge Gate Towers : The 92-foot-tall twin towers of the Old Bridge Gate leading into Heidelberg is the town’s second most iconic feature after the mighty castle.  There have been round twin towers above this entrance into town since at least 1400s when they were part of Heidelberg’s Medieval fortifications.   The earliest depiction of this wonderful gate was from a woodcut image of town by Sebastian Münster in 1527 as well as some engravings from 1550.

After surviving floods and wars over the centuries, the gate towers were fitted with their current canopy roofs in 1714.   The Western Tower ( called the Guild tower ) has three Medieval dungeon rooms and the Eastern Tower has a spiral staircase that leads up to the small apartment of the bridge guard over the middle archway above the gate.  Paid tolls were enforced at the gate for any foreigners crossing the bridge until 1878.

3. Bridge Monkey Statue ( Brückenaffe ):

About The Bridge Monkey Statue : The playful Bridge Monkey Statue is one of the most photographed things on our free Heidelberg walking tour, but few tourists know the meaning behind it.  Now on the Southern end of the Old Bridge, originally the statue sat at the Northern end in as early as the 1400s.  That side of the river was the domain of the Bishop of Mainz and the monkey grabbed his butt pointing in that direction to let the Bishop know he had no jurisdiction in Heidelberg.  The early version of the Bridge Monkey Statue also held a mirror which was important to remind local citizens to have self-reflection as they traveled.  City goers and country folk were reminded that neither was better than the other as they crossed into each other’s realms.

During the Palatinate War of Succession ( 1689-1693 ) the original Bridge Monkey Statute disappeared and the neighboring Monkey Gate Tower was damaged.  Luckily Professor Gernot Rumpf installed a modern bronze version of the Heidelberg Bridge Monkey on the Southern end of the Old Bridge in 1979 to bring the legend back to life.  Every day you can see lines of tourists waiting to insert their heads into the statue to form a helmet-like monkey mask , but there is still a lot of hidden symbolism.

Instead of grabbing his butt, the current Bridge Monkey’s free fingers point to form the Horned Hand ( mano cornuta ) to ward off the Evil Eye ( malocchio ) which provides good luck or a return to Heidelberg if rubbed.  It’s said that also rubbing the mirror in the monkey’s other hand will bring you money which seems a little weird since the self-reflection should instead bring your humility.

Next to the statue are a pair of bronze mice ( a signature of the artist ) which said to bring luck with fertility and a plaque showing of the words of Baroque-era writer Martin Zeiler’s 1632 poem about the Bridge Monkey Statue.  The poem basically mocks people who only stand around staring at the statue and invites you to participate by placing your head inside it.

4. Neckar Riverboat Cruises :

About The River Boat Cruises : Heidelberg may only be 60-90 minutes by train to the heart of Rhine River cruising, but a relaxing boat ride along the Neckar River is also very enjoyable.  Between two companies there are two main options for your Neckar River cruises including a local 50-minute cruise and a longer 3-hour tour which visits other villages upstream.  We have done both options and will give you an overview below.

For the 50-minute local cruise, we chose to ride on the solar-powered Neckarsonne Boat ( website , Neckarstaden #25 ) which leaves near the Old Bridge.  A large portion of the Neckarsonne boat has retractable glass walls which help you to get panoramic views as you quietly glide along the river.  There is interesting commentary in both English and Germany throughout the cruise, but it is so relaxing that we actually tuned most of it out as we gazed onto the castle and village.  The Neckarsonne does have food, drinks, and beer available but you will want to board a little early if you are hungry as the fresh snacks are in limited supply.

The other option in Heidelburg is called Weisse Flotte ( website , Neckarstaden #25 ) and leaves from near the State Hall Theater.  This company also has a 50-minute local tour which is a little more focused on food, but is not as quiet at the unique solar-powered Neckarsonne.  Weisse Flotte’s best cruise is the 3-hour round trip with the option to layover in the village of Neckarsteinach known as the City of Four Castles .  It really does have four castles packed right into one tiny village which is pretty cool.  This cruise is one of the best ways to recharge and relax for a few hours if you are feeling burnt out from traveling.

Neckarsonne 50-Minute Cruise : April & October  Tuesday to Sunday at 11:30am, 1 pm, 3 pm, & 4 pm; May-September Tuesday to Sunday 10am, 11:30am, 1pm, 3pm, 4pm, & 6pm.  No Cruises Mondays.  Cost : 9€ for adults or 3.50€ for kids.  Weisse Flotte 50-Minute Cruise : April & October Wednesday to Monday at every 30 minutes from 10am-5:30pm.  No Cruises Tuesdays.  Cost : 9€ for adults or 3.50€ for kids. Weisse Flotte 3-Hour Cruise : April-October departures at 10am, 11am, Noon, 2pm, & 3pm.  No meaningful layover option in Neckarsteinach on the last round-trip cruise for the day.  Weekday times limited in April & October.  Cost : 17€ for Adults or 8€ for kids.

5. Horse Stables & Arsenal ( Marstallhof ):

About The Horse Stables Arsenal : Six years after Heidelberg was attacked during the Landshut War of Succession in 1504, a mighty arsenal was completed here to defend the city from war.  The massive red sandstone complex in one of the few buildings in the heart of Old Town Heidelberg to have largely remained intact over the centuries of conflict.  Across an open inner courtyard, the Southside of the complex became the military horse stables ( Marstall ) in 1590 but much of that area was damaged during the Palatinate War of Succession in 1693 also known as the Nine Year’s War.

Today, the former arsenal and horse stables are part of the Heidelberg University and serve as the popular University Cafe.  We love the cafe as it is open to the public and is the best place to get a great meal on a budget in Heidelberg.  Even if you only stop in to take a break in the inner courtyard and check out the preserved Medieval architecture, it is still a very enjoyable stop on this free Heidelberg walking tour.

6. State Hall Theater ( Stadthalle ):

About The State Hall Theater : From the former Horse Stables & Arsenal, it is a very short walk to the Art Nouveau-style State Hall Theater built in 1803.   The Western facing main entrance into the theater is one of the most beautiful buildings in Heidelberg.  We also like to visit as the small Anniversary Square Park ( Jubiläumsplatz ) across from the main entrance is a wonderful place to rest your feet for a few minutes while surrounded by only locals.  You can also get a great view of the famous Neckar River Park ( Neckarwiese ) just across the river as a preview if you plan on visiting it which we recommend.  The narrowest home in Heidelberg can also be seen just in front of the State Hall Theater at Untere Neckarstraße #38.

Note : The interior of the theater is under renovations into 2022.  Time Required : 5 minutes ( 15 if you stop to rest ).

7. Main Street ( Hauptstraße ):

About Main Street : At one-mile-long, the Hauptstraße is the longest pedestrian zone in Germany and is filled with shops you’ll actually want to visit.  There are countless restaurants and cafes adding to the energy of the pedestrian zone, but the Conditorei-Café Schafheutle ( website , #94 ) is one that you shouldn’t miss.  Since 1833, this delicious cafe has been known as the “Sweet Heart of Heidelberg” thanks to its unmatched coffee, cakes, and chocolate.  The best thing about the cafe is the peaceful greenhouse-like seating area hidden in the back which is one of the more relaxing spots in town and a great retreat from the busy street outside.

Further down the Main Street, you will find one of the best Christmas stores in Germany at Käthe Wohlfahrt ( website , #124 ).  Based out of Rothenburg Germany, this is the most iconic Christmas shop in Europe and it gives you a taste of the Advent markets any time of year.  Next to Käthe Wohlfahrt, you can get a feel for the where the Medieval wall once ringed Old Town Heidelberg based off the fortified buildings and the open square with the Lion’s Well Fountain which once was a dry moat ditch ( graben ).  Next to the large Art-Nouveau building on the corner ( #126 ) where the Middle Tower ( Mitteltor ) stood from Medieval Times until 1827.

8. Palatinate Museum ( Kurpfälzisches ):

About The Palatinate Museum : Sitting on Heidelberg’s main pedestrian, the Palatinate Museum is the best museum in town and far more interest than most visitors expect.  The museum was founded inside the former Morass Mansion in 1870 and covers a very wide range of art and archaeology focusing on the Palatinate region of Germany.

There are wonderful paintings at the Palatinate Museum going back to the 1500s, exhibits on the findings from Heidelberg Roman settlement, and a copy of the jaw bone from the 600,000-year-old Heidelberg Man.  We especially love the wide range of artifacts and priceless items telling the history of the Electoral Palatinate which ruled the region from 1214 to 1803.  Our three favorite works are the bronze Roman statue from 100AD, the famous painting of Heidelberg’s Castle Gardens by Jacques Fouquières from 1620, and the Flemish version of the Tower of Babel painting from 1587.  It is also impossible to not be impressed by the interior of the mansion itself which is furnished to look like it would have in the 1700s to 1800s.

The inner courtyard as you approach the entrance to the Palatinate Museum is also gorgeous.  Make sure to look up at the wrought-iron Golden Swan Pub sign from 1790 ( replica on display ) from Michelfeld with the coat of arms from Gemmingen Manor.  Further into the courtyard is the Restaurant Garibaldi which although it beautiful have fairly poor service ratings.  The outdoor area of the restaurant is free to visit however and filled with statues from 1712 from the convent that was demolished for the nearby University Library in 1901-05.  We will see the facade of the stunning library next on this free Heidelberg walking tour.

Museum Hours : Tuesday-Sunday 10am-6pm; Closed Mondays. Cos t: Weekdays 3€ and Weekends 1.80€ for Adults; kids free; includes English or German audio guide.  Website : Here .  Time Required : 60-90 minutes ( museum lovers 2 hours, best visited on a multi-day visit to town ).

9. Heidelberg University Library :

About The University Library : While it is two very short blocks off of the main pedestrian street, the stunning University Library is one of the most beautiful buildings in Heidelberg.  The huge Renaissance-style structure was completed in 1905 with the intent of matching the style of the Heidelberg’s powerful city center castle.  Complete with a red sandstone facade , the final result of the construction was worthy of the timeless library which was first established in 1388 when the University of Heidelberg purchased a large chest of books.

If you stop to see the wonderful facade of the library, make sure to also see the historic Saint Peter’s Church right across the road which is the oldest in Old Town.  The Romanesque chapel has it’s own defensive wall and was first built in 1196 ( expanded in 1496 ) and has been part of the University of Heidelberg since 1896.  The interior is very basic, but the outside has five centuries worth of tombstones as a famous oak tree planted in memory of Martin Luther’s 400th birthday in 1883.

Visiting Hours : One most weekdays, it is free to visit the main common areas of the library but the pretty part is the outside.

10. Student Prison ( Studentenkarzer ):

About The Student Prison : Heidelberg University was founded in 1386 and is the oldest in higher education institution in Germany and it has many stories to tell.  One of the most interesting aspects of Heidelberg Univerisity is the famous Student Prison which was used to detain unruly students for minor offenses from 1778-1914.  This was actually a quite common thing in German universities starting in the 1600s and students would be detained for anywhere from 3 days to 4 weeks, but still allowed to attend lectures during the day.

Eventually, being tossed into the Student Prison became a rite of passage among and students would purposely get in trouble to stay they did their time.  Over the centuries the countless students detained on house arrest here turned their boredom into carving and painting artwork onto every surface of the Student Prison.  Today the preserved artwork of slogans, jokes, and profile portraits completely covers the former prison cells, hallways, stairwells, and ceilings.  Unfortunately, there isn’t a lot of detail describing the artwork as you visit but touring the multi-leveled historic property is very beautiful and unique.

Hours : April to August daily 10am-6pm; September & October Monday-Friday 10am-4pm, Saturday 10am-6pm, Sundays & public holidays 10am-4pm; November to March Monday-Saturday 10am-4pm, Closed on Sundays in Winter.   Cos t: 3€.  Website : Here.  Time Required : 15-30 minutes.

11. Hotel Of The Knight Saint George ( Hotel Zum Ritter St. Georg ):

About Hotel Zum Ritter : In 1592, a wealthy Belgian cloth merchant moved to Heidelberg from France and built Old Town’s most beautiful home on the main square for his wife.  The German Renaissance-style facade is a marvel and the mansion is the oldest stately home surviving in Heidelberg .  Due to an attack during the Thirty Year’s War in 1622 and also the War of the Palatinate Succession ( 1688-1697 ) known as the Nine Year’s War most of the other buildings in Heidelberg’s Old Town were completely destroyed.  Luckily the Hotel Zum Ritter survived and today it is our favorite hotel in Heidelberg thanks to its history, location, and great value.

The nickname Saint George comes from the figure of the fabled knight carved into the facade under the gable.  The Knight Saint George was a Medieval folk hero who slew the dragon that was carrying the plague into villages in Europe.  As you inspect the other statues on the red sandstone facade, make sure to look at the right oriel window on the 2nd floor ( 3rd story for Americans ) where you can still carvings of the original owner and his wife.  The interior of the 37 room hotel also carries over many elements from the mansion’s early history making it a delight to stay in.  There are other great values nearby for accommodations including Hotel Goldener Falke (also on the main square), but we like the atmosphere of Zum Ritter the best.

12. Church of the Holy Spirit ( Heiliggeistkirche ):

About The Church of the Holy Spirit : Dominating Market Square on a massive scale, the Medieval Church of the Holy Spirit is the largest and most important church in Heidelberg.  The beautiful church was first mentioned in a manuscript from 1239 and grew to its current size when it was rebuilt by Elector Ruprecht III starting in 1398.  He became the Ruprecht I, King of Germany, two years later intended the new formidable church to become the burial place of the Electors of the Palatinate and as it became the new official Parish of Heidelberg ( formerly was Saint Peter’s ).

Construction of the new church took much longer than expected and the soaring bell tower wasn’t completed until 1544.  On May 22, 1693 invading French troops during the Palatine War of Succession ( Nine Year’s War ) rounded up locals into the church and burned it.  What was left of the severely damaged Church of the Holy Spirit was then plundered requiring it be rebuilt in its current form with Gothic interior pillars and a Baroque bell tower.

While most of the royal tombs were ruined during the French invasion, the sandstone sarcophagus of King Rupert I and his wife was preserved and is still on display.  One of the more interesting things of the re-build is that in 1706 a divider was added inside the church to dedicate space for both Protestant ( Nave ) and Catholic ( Choir ) congregations to both worship  inside the church.  This barrier stood for 230 until it was removed in 1936 and the church is now Protestant.

As you explore the interior of the Church of the Holy Spirit, consider taking the steps up the bell tower to the 38-meter-high observation platform for views over Market Square.  Hornblowers used this tower in Medieval times to look for fires who in 1798 were replaced by official Nightwatchmen.  You also won’t be able to miss the dozens of tacky souvenir stands filling the gaps between the buttresses ringing the outside of the church.  The awnings of the stands are packed with tourists and they are surprisingly a great place to get cheap gifts to bring home for your friends or family.

Visiting Hours : Monday-Saturday 11am-5pm; Sundays 12.30pm-5pm.  Organ Recitals : 30-minute performances on Fridays & Sundays at 5:15pm; on Saturdays they are 60-minutes with a choir at 6:15pm.

13. Market Square ( Marktplatz ):

About Market Square : Since as early as the 1300s, the bustling Market Square has been the center of life in Heidelberg’s Old Town ( Altstadt ).   It was here next to the Holy Ghost Church that Medieval commerce flourished and also where both witches and heretics were burned alive at the stake.  Around the central fountain is also where the stocks were to hold people convicted of petty crimes on public display often in a hanging cage.

The fountain in Market Square was re-built with its heroic Hercules statue from 1706-1709.  The stoic statue is a reminder of the colossal effort needed to rebuild Old Town after the damage from attacks in both the 30 Years War in 1622 and again in 1689 during the Nine Year’s War.  The Town Hall ( Rathaus ) along the Eastside of the square was one of the larger buildings to be rebuilt in 1701 ( fire damage in 1908 ) after French Troops destroyed it in 1689.

We love the outdoor dining in Market Square, especially later in the evening as the tour bus groups have all started to leave Heidelberg.  It is during those hours when the day trippers leave that relaxing in Market Square while admiring Hercules becomes even more meaningful.  The most magical time in the square is during Advent when it becomes Heidelberg’s main Christmas market although it is also used for many other festivals throughout the year.

14. Grain Market Square ( Kornmarkt ):

About Grain Market : F With its amazing views of the mighty castle and stunning central statue of the Virgin Mary, Grain Market Square is one of the most delightful spaces on this free Heidelberg walking tour.  From the end of the 1200s, the picturesque square was home to the large Holy Spirit Hospital which was torn down in 1557 to make way for an additional market place space.  The market ( first called New Market ) was important to boost the economy of the growing village as out of the 6,380 residents in 1588, 1400 of them were widowed or unmarried women.  The thriving market specialized in agricultural products which led to the name Grain Market ( Kornmarkt ).

The focal point of the Grain Market today is the timeless Virgin Mary Statue added in 1718 by the Jesuits who were looking to help motivate the townspeople into Heidelberg’s conversion back to Catholicism during the Counter-Reformation.  The religious change had been going on since 1685 by decree by the Elector Philip and never fully latched on Heidelberg.  Remember that in Heidelberg’s main church both Protestants and Catholics shared the worship space until the 1930s.  Regardless, the Virgin Mary Statue with her gold gilded crown of 12 stars and divine rays is an excellent piece of art.  The base has cherub angels holding up the earth topped with Mary as the Queen of Heaven holding the baby Jesus.  The depiction of the baby Jesus is interesting as he is doing a blessing motion with one hand while the other drives a long cross into the head of a serpent meant to represent Protestantism.

Hidden along the Northern end of the Grain Market is the outline in the pavement where the tiny chapel for the hospital once stood until 1557.  Next to the chapel outline, you can also see the original location of the former Milk Fountain ( Milchbrunnen ), one of three well that once flowed in the Grain Market Square.

15. Karl’s Square ( Karlsplatz ):

About Karl’s Square : The surprisingly tourist-free Karl’s Square is a huge public space with excellent panoramic views along the entire facade of the Heidelberg Castle towering directly above you.  Similar to how the Grain Market Square was once filled with a large hospital in Medieval times, today’s Karl’s Square was home to a Franciscan monastery complex ( Barfüsserklosters ) until it was cleared in 1803.

The square is named after Grand Duke Karl Friedrich of Baden who was the local Elector at the time but it still pays homage to the monastery with this central fountain.  The artistic fountain created in 1978 is in honor of Sebastian Münster who was a cosmographer and humanist that worked at the monastery from 1521-1529.  Münster is most famous for his very detailed engraved drawings of various towns including one of Heidelberg from 1550 before it was ravished by numerous wars.  Who life’s work gives us valuable insight into many cities during the Middle Ages.

The gorgeous Plane Trees lining each end of Karl’s Square are very beautiful any time of year.  The well-groomed Plane Trees ( Plantanen in German or Platanus in Latin ) are a type of Sycamore that get their unique stubby branch appearance from constant pruning.  We love to visit the outdoor tables at Gasthaus zum Eisernen Kreuz among the trees late in the afternoon in the Summer for a beer and very affordable light meal.  While all of the squares in Heidelberg are festive during the Christmas season, Karl’s Square is unique as it is turned into a large outdoor ice skating rink.

16. Hill Funicular Lift ( Bergbahn ):

About The Hill Funicular Lift : If you aren’t using the Bergbahn Funicular Lift to get up the Heidelberg Castle you are doing it all wrong.  Not only is the cost for riding the lift included for free with your castle ticket, but it turns a very steep 10-15 minute hike into an easy glide up to the entrance.  The hike up is enjoyable it just makes sense to save the energy to better enjoy the castle.  While the electric lift cabins are very modern a spacious today, the Bergbahn Funicular has been operating since 1890 .  If you choose to ride all the way up to King’s Chair at the top of the mountain you actually get to the ride the vintage pully system cars the final 20 minutes up to the top which adds to the amazing views as you ascend.

Hours : Summer Daily every 10 minutes from 9am-8pm; Winter until 5:10pm.  Cost : 12€ Heidelberg Castle ticket includes roundtrip lower lift ticket ( 9€ one-way ride without the castle interior ).  To ride all the way to the King’s Chair 20 minutes further up the mountain is an additional 7€ roundtrip upper lift ticket ( 5€ one-way ).  Finding the Entrance : The entrance to the lift is under the large parking lot building you come to at the start of the hiking trail up to the castle.  You just have to enter the underpass and walk to the back right corner of the building.  You can buy your ticket for the castle at the lift entrance.

17. Heidelberg Castle ( Schloss Hiedelberg ):

About Heidelberg Castle : The biggest highlight of our entire free Heidelberg walking tour is the romantic castle towering above Old Town.  Not only is Heidelberg Castle one of the most impressive urban castles in all of Europe, it was also one of the most important castles in Medieval Germany.  The stunning property is a testament to the power of the regional Prince-Electors ( people who chose the Holy Roman Emperor ) had in the Middle Ages.

While no one is quite sure how old Heidelberg Castle is, the fortress was 1st mentioned in 1214 when Duke of Bavaria Louis I ( House of Wittelsbach ) received it as a gift from Holy Roman Emperor Friedrich II ( House Hohenstaufen ).  This early castle was further up the hillside as the funicular lift stop called Molkenkur and was nicknamed the Upper Castle once as a second one known as the Lower Castle was built at the present spot prior to 1303.  The dual Upper and Lower Castles can be seen in the famous engraving of the Heidelberg cityscape by Sebastian Münster in 1527

In 1401 Ruprecht became the King of Germany and greatly expanded the two-level castle, but the upper area was eventually struck by lightning in 1537 and laid to ruin.  The Lower Castle was spared from the fire, but 150 years later it was besieged by the French in the Nine Year’s War.  Although the Lower Castle was rebuilt, it too was struck by lightning in 1764 and badly damaged by fire.  In the age of Romanticism ( Historicism ) of the 1800s, poets and artists like Victor Hugo latched onto the timeless castle ruins and saved them from being leveled.  The efforts also saved the mighty castle from being totally rebuilt and the beautiful decay of the ruined areas was preserved.

Today you can visit all of the outside areas and lookouts for free including the Elizabeth Gate, fallen towers, and vantage points around the dry moat, but buying a ticket is well worth it.  As you pass over the former drawbridge into the vast inner courtyard you are blessed with a visual explosion of red sandstone buildings.  The most impressive building is the statue covered Fredrich Hall, whose basement is home to the largest wine barrel in the world .  Known as the Tun, the enormous wooden vat was constructed in 1751 and could hold 58,000 gallons ( 220,000 liters ) of wine when it was in use.  This barrel, along with the cellars at one point stored over 2 million liters of wine for the local Electors.

The shells of both the Ottheinrich Hall and English Hall are also gorgeous and were the most important buildings architecturally in the early German Renaissance .  Across the 11 lower level rooms and Gothic cellars of the Ottheinrich Hall is the renown German Apothecary Museum ( pharmacy ).  There are in total 20,000 items on display including Medieval laboratory equipment and a number of complete pharmacies shop interiors from the 1600-1800s which were moved to Heidelberg Castle.

Castle Interior Hours : Daily 8am-6pm ( last admission ) 5:30pm; exteriors open 24 hours.  Pharmacy Museum Hours : Daily 10am-6pm ( last admission ); closes 30 minutes early in Winter.  Cost : Exteriors areas are FREE or 12€ for the interior courtyard and buildings which includes the museum and Bergbahn Funicular Lift.  Time Required : You can whiz through in an hour but most visitors spend around 2-2.5 hours exploring.

Related Article : Best Castles In Germany .

18. Palatinate Gardens & Scheffel Terrace ( Hortus Palatinus ):

About The Castle Gardens : While the South-Eastern corner of Heidelberg Castle was long used for defensive purposes, in 1614 Elector Frederick V began to turn the entire area into a large pleasure garden for his wife Elizabeth Stuart ( daughter of the King of England ).  The uneven ground was leveled into a series of board terraces and a massive Italian-style garden.

Known as the Garden of the Palatinate ( Hortus Palatinus ), the outdoor space was the greatest garden in Germany and called the 8th Wonder of the World by writers.  The spaces were filled with statues, grottos, decorative flowers, 30 oranges trees, a menagerie of exotic animals, a monkey house, and a series of fountains.  Unfortunately,  in 1619 Elector Frederick V got a little overzealous and accepted the crown of Germany by the Protestants in Prague which was in direct conflict with the Holy Roman Emperor and started the 30 Years War .  Frederick was defeated in battle and exiled after the war, but later his Garden of the Palatinate gave the French easy access to attack and ruin the castle in the Nine Years War ( 1688-1697 ).

Today the terraces of the Garden of the Palatinate are mostly void of their former statues and flower, but some elements remain.  There is one excellent grotto which has been preserved as well as a stunning fountain.  Almost every area of the gardens have dreamy elevated views of the Heidelberg Castle, but the best area is the Scheffel Terrace ( Scheffelterrasse ).  With 66-foot-tall  ( 20 meters ) arches, this narrow area of the garden directly East of the castle was meant to hold a large greenhouse, but now has the best views in Heidelberg, Old Town, and the Neckar River Valley.  The terrace was named after a statue of poet Joseph Victor von Scheffel, which stood here from 1891 to 1942 before it was melted down.  This section of the gardens is accessible 24 hours a day for free and provides dreamy sunsets all year .

Garden & Terrace Hours : 24 hours a day, trail lit from dusk until around Midnight.  Cost : Free, but you will need a castle ticket to use the Bergbahn lift otherwise it is a 15-minute steep hike from town.  Time Required : Most visitors spend around 30-60 minutes exploring the entire garden and terrace area.  We love to come before sunset and relax until after dark.

Other Sights Near Old Town:

19. philosopher’s path ( philosophenweg ):.

About The Philosopher’s Path : If you want to get one of the most peaceful and iconic views of Heidelberg, you have to hike up to the Philosopher’s Path.  The terrace-like trail had been used by professors of the Heidelberg University for centuries and in the 1800s became a formal trail with benches and viewing areas.  The perspective of the Heidelberg Castle, the village, the Neckar River, and Old Bridge all in one elevated frame is an image you will remember forever and we highly recommend making the effort.  The trail is also perfect to visit on very sunny days as most of it is shaded and tree-lined.

How To Reach The Path : It takes around 0.5 miles each way from the Northern end of the Old Bridge to hike up to the main area of the Philosopher’s Path.  This route only takes most hikers 15-20 minutes as you wind up the switchbacks of the Snake Way ( Schlangenweg ) corridor up the hill.  Time Required : 1 hour round trip with relaxing at the top although we have done it in as quick as 30 minutes.

20. Neckar River Park ( Neckarwiese ):

About The Neckar River Park : The luscious green space along the Northside of the Neckar River is one of the most enjoyable public parks in Europe.  We love the park for the energy that springs from the college population in Heidelberg that is always playing lawn games a grilling out along the wide swathe of riverfront park.  One of the most fun things to do outside of sunbathing is to rent a small motorized rowboat to cruise the river while visiting the park.

It is an extra half mile out of your way from either Old Town or the Philosopher’s Path to reach the Neck River Park, but it is one of the top 10 things to do in Heidelberg during the Spring through the Fall.  This lively area is also where the Romans set up their military encampment in the 1st century.

21. The King’s Chair ( Königstuhl ):

About The King’s Chair : The highest point in Heidelberg is the top of the mountain that the castle is located on known at the King’s Chair ( Königstuhl ).  From the top, you will have unrivaled views of the entire Neckar River Valley and straight across to the Holy Mountain ( Heiligenberg ) and into the Rhine River lowlands.  In total, the journey takes you from the valley floor all to over 1,800 feet above town ( 550 meters ).

While there are excellent views, a small cafe, a children’s amusement park, hiking trails, and a live falconry show at the top of the hill, the real attraction is the funicular ride up to the top.  While the lower level has sleek modern cabins, the upper section is still used century-old vintage funicular cars on a historic pully lift system that has been in place on the mountain since 1890.  The steady and peaceful climb up the mountain leads to more scenic views the further you make it.  It is very common for hikers to ride up the mountain on a one-way ticket and then hike back down through the wilderness to return to town.

Time Required : The lower lift takes 10 minutes to the Molkenkur stop where switch lines for a 20 ride further up to the Königstuhl.  Lift Summer Hours : Daily every 20 minutes ( lower section every 10 ) from 9am-8pm ( last descent 7:48pm ) in the Summer or 9am-5:10pm in Winter.  Cost : 12€ for roundtrip lower lift ticket ( 9€ one-way ) and 7€ roundtrip upper lift ticket ( 5€ one-way ).  Time Required : Assume 60-90 minutes including your round trip ride on the upper lift.

22. Holy Mountain ( Heiligenberg ):

About The Holy Mountain : For those visitors looking to push their hiking further above the Philosopher’s Path (Philosophenweg), a trek up Holy Mountain ( Heiligenberg ) is very rewarding.  The hilltop had been settled by the Celts ( 5th century BC ), Romans ( 1st century ) with a temple to Mercury, and two monasteries ( 9th & 11th centuries ) which led to the name Holy Mountain in 1265.

The first church was built on the top of Holy Mountain around 870 in a Romanesque-sty;e over part the Roman Temple and was dedicated to the archangel Michael.  This then grew into the Monastery of Saint Michael in 1023 which was expanded in the 13th century.  There was also a second monastery dedicated to Saint Stephen halfway up the hillside.  Unfortunately, political unrest led to the collapse of the monasteries from 1460-1503 and they eventually turned to ruins.

In 1934 the Holy Mountain saw its biggest modern transformation when an open-air theater called the Thingstätte was constructed by Heidelberg resident Albert Speer for the Nazis.  The Thingstätte theater today looks like an ancient Roman ruin and can hold approximately 8,000 seats or 15,000 standees.  This project was the start of Speer’s rise in the Nazi party as he became the chief architect as well as the Reich Minister of Industry and War Production.  Although imprisoned for 20 years, Speer was one of the only high-ranking officials to not be sentenced to death in the Nuremberg trials as he claimed to have not known about the Holocaust which seems far-fetched.

On the one-hour hike up Holy Mountain you pass the Bismarck Tower ( 1903 ), the Heiligenberg Tower ( 1800s ) next to the ruins of Saint Stephen, the Monastery of Saint Michael ( 1023 ) with traces of the Roman temple to Murcery ( 1st century ), and the Nazi Thingstätte ( 1934 ).

23. Karl’s Gate Tower ( Karlstor ):

About The Karl’s Gate : This stand-alone triumphal arch was built from 1775-1781 to replace the Medieval Jacob’s Gate in honor of Elector Karl Theodor.  Karl is best known in Heidelberg for supporting the sciences and for re-building the Old Bridge in its current form after the flood of 1783.  In addition to his titles of the Palatinate, he also became the Elector and Duke of Bavaria and moved to Munich in 1777.  While he never became as popular in Bavaria, Karl still remained influential in Heidelberg.

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The Heidelberg Project is an outdoor art environment that was developed by artist Tyree Guyton on Heidelberg Street, on Detroit’s east side. Guyton started the project as a response to the deterioration of his own neighborhood, as well as many other Detroit neighborhoods after many years of decline. Through the project, Guyton hoped to raise awareness of the decay of inner-city neighborhoods and the effects of urban sprawl.

Guyton grew up on Heidelberg Street and returned in 1986, starting the project by cleaning up vacant lots with his grandfather. Using the discarded items they collected, and with the help of the neighborhood children, Guyton and his grandfather transformed abandoned houses and vacant lots into massive pieces of art. Guyton also integrated the street, sidewalks, and trees into an enormous work of art, officially calling it the “Heidelberg Project.” The Project initially received unfavorable critical reviews and the City of Detroit ordered him to remove his installations. Guyton persevered and has since received many awards for his efforts. Throughout the years, Guyton continued to update and expand the Project, which eventually grew to encompasses two city blocks.

Support for the Project among neighbors was mixed. Some disliked the attention drawn to their neighborhood, while others simply thought of the project’s installations as junk. In November 1991 Mayor Coleman Young , gave an order to demolish three of the project’s houses, the Baby Boy House , Fun House , and Truck Stop . Eight years later, in 1999, Mayor Dennis Archer also ordered three more houses to be demolished, Your World , Happy Feet , and Canfield House . Unfortunately, a series of unsolved arson fires between 2013 and 2015 destroyed 12 of his artistic houses on Heidelberg Street. Only two of the original project houses remain, the Dotty-Wotty house and the Numbers House .

The Heidelberg Project also promotes urban revitalization and the arts through tours, a shop, and the Young Adults of Heidelberg program. The Heidelberg Arts Leadership Academy offers in-school and after school arts education to empower students through artistic, cultural, and academic enrichment.

In 2017 the Heidelberg Project announced a new vision called “Heidelberg 3.0.” The goal is to create an art community and "culture village," beginning with the renovation of the Numbers House , which will feature an artist-in-residence program, a new studio and gallery for emerging artists, and an education and event space for neighborhood events and youth programs.

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  View all items related to the Heidelberg Project

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• Working stand-up comics – including 2 alums – add authenticity to class

Stand-up comedy is about more than belly laughs. It’s an art form that delves into cultural impact and work ethic as well as funny jokes.

Students in “The Art of Stand-Up Comedy” – an artist Honors seminar team-taught by communication professor Dr. Julie O’Reilly and marketing professor Dr. Salil Khetani – learned about the intricacies of the profession this semester as they analyzed stand-up comedy material, studied the process of creating and presenting stand-up comedy, and formulated opinions related to stand-up comedy.

They also had an awesome opportunity to learn from some of the best in the business that it takes a lot of really hard work to earn the really big laughs as a successful stand-up comedian.

Last week, the students zoomed with four working comics, two of whom – Brian Regan ’80 and Tracey Ashley ’91 – are ’Berg alumni who have indeed found success on the comedy circuit. 

“Having working comics with varying levels of experience, from 10 years to more than 30 years, talking to our students about their experiences was invaluable,” Julie said. “They shared their writing processes, their favorite jokes and how to recover from ‘bombing’ on stage to give students an understanding of what it is like to perform stand-up professionally, whether on a college campus, in a comedy club or at a corporate gig.”

Both Brian and Tracey have been generous contributors to Julie’s class over the years, either in person or virtually, as has Jay Black, a comic Julie first met when he performed on Heidelberg's campus back in 2009. Jay and Jordan Makin, a friend of Salil's from the Salt Lake City comedy circuit, rounded out the virtual guests last week.

Kirsten Kracht, a senior biochemistry major who enrolled in the seminar to fulfill an Honors program requirement, enjoyed the interactions with the professional comics. “I’ve only watched a few comedians throughout my life, and this class introduced me to so many more,” Kirsten said. “The best part was … talking to them and asking them questions about their life on the road.

“We don’t see all the work they put into comedy behind the scenes, so getting to hear about that was really cool,” Kirsten added. “I liked hearing about what motivates them and how they bounce back from failures. It was really nice to see how down to earth they were and how excited they were to talk to college students.”

For Salil, meeting Brian, even if virtually, was awesome. “I have been a huge fan of Brian Regan since I saw his pop-tart clip in 2013 and it was surreal having him zoom into class,” he said.

Those classes provided an authenticity to the course that Salil – whose hobby and passion is stand-up – really appreciated.

“All of the comedians provided great insights about the art, craft, career, trends and issues regarding stand-up comedy,” he said. “It was great learning, not only for the students but for me as well.”

As the culmination to the course, the students will perform an original, 3-minute stand-up routine they have been preparing. Throughout the semester, they have practiced with joke-writing exercises and prompts, according to Julie.

While Kirsten has enjoyed the course and the “very funny” professional comedians, she has no intention of choosing a career in stand-up. “I like watching comedians but I don’t want to do it myself,” she said. Instead, she has her sights set on a career in organ transplantation research.

In the end, Julie's hope for her students is simple: “I hope they develop an appreciation of stand-up as an art form.”

The Complete Guide to Detroit Street Art

Detroit is known for many things, most of them revolving around cars and the auto industry. It might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of public art but, surprisingly enough, Motor City has become a mecca for artists. 

For one thing, the cost of living in Detroit is absurdly low. Not to give in to the “starving artist” cliche, but it’s definitely a draw for artists who are just beginning their careers. To add to that, a recent decline in population has led to a large number of abandoned buildings all around the city. To the casual observer, these are nothing more than ruins. But to a street artist, these are blank canvases just waiting for spray paint or a brush. 

Let’s take a look at Detroit’s street art, its history, and some of the best examples of public art in town.

See Street Art in Motor City

Did you know that Let’s Roam, your source for the best scavenger hunts , ghost tours, and pub crawls , also offers art walks? In fact, our guides have put together a magnificent app-guided tour of murals in Detroit ! Like our other hunts, it promises trivia, challenges, and photo ops in between blasts of color and culture. Check out all of our available tours in Detroit and the surrounding area to see the very best street art and other sights in this fine city!

The History of Street Art in Detroit

Murals in Detroit go back further than most people would imagine—almost 100 years, to 1932. 

Detroit’s First Murals

Famed Mexican painter Diego Rivera (husband of Frida Kahlo) was commissioned by the Detroit Institute of Art (DIA) to paint murals on the four walls of the DIA’s Garden Court, now known as the Rivera Court.  

The commission was encouraged by the Ford Motor Company, in an effort to improve worker relations. Rivera’s 27 murals depict Ford’s laborers as well as advances in the fields of science and technology.

It was an auspicious start to Detroit’s mural scene, but these were indoors. Street art would come decades later. 

Graffiti Art

Public art in most cities is an evolution of its graffiti, and Detroit is no exception. Graffiti took hold here in the 1980s. That was when Fel3000ft was first exposed to graffiti. A friend visiting from NYC showed him pictures of subway trains filled with graffiti, and the 11-year-old was immediately enthralled. 

With no street art scene happening in Detroit, Fel had to teach himself by trial and error. He began with tagging, writing his handle on walls all over the city. He quickly moved on to bombing, using the bubble letters so common to graffiti artists. 

As Fel’s talent grew, he began mentoring the next generation of graffiti artists. At the time, it was still seen as vandalism, but that would soon change.

Next up was Sintex, a native Detroit artist who began his public art in the early 2000s. Sintex, like many other local artists, had one goal: the artistic beautification of a city that was quickly deteriorating. 

Then, in 2013, the City of Detroit declared bankruptcy. Pictures of its decaying, abandoned buildings circulated in newspapers all over the country. Seeing the possibilities for arts space was an irresistible lure to graffiti artists from around the country. They swarmed Detroit, sometimes clashing with local artists over turf and painting over art created by other crews. 

Clashes with the Mayor

In 2014, newly elected Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan all but declared war on graffiti and the local artists. He punished the artists as well as businesses who didn’t clean up, regardless of whether the business owner liked the artwork. 

Duggan ordered sweeps of graffiti all over the city, cracking down on a graffiti-friendly skate park and even murals on Detroit’s west side. Between 2015 and 2017, over 50,000 graffiti tags were removed. 

Strangely enough, the clashes with the mayor marked the beginning of mural art in Detroit. While Duggan was trying to wipe out graffiti, fans of public art were trying to figure out how to spread authorized street art. 

One of the biggest allies in the battle to save Detroit’s street art was Jesse Cory, who ran an art gallery in Eastern Market. Cory was a cofounder in 1xRun, a company that sold affordable art prints. 1xRun had also sponsored a successful street art festival in Honolulu. 

Cory had seen firsthand how art had played a key role in the revitalization of a neighborhood. He decided to replicate the feat, but this time in Detroit. 

Murals in the Market

Cory’s annual event premiered in 2015 and was named Murals in the Market in a nod to its farmer’s market location. The annual street art festival is sponsored by 1xRun and the Eastern Market Corporation, the nonprofit that manages the farmer’s market. 

The artists invited to participate in Murals in the Market are split evenly between locals and muralists from around the world. They aren’t paid for their murals, but their travel, food, and housing expenses are all covered. And, 1xRun sells prints of many of the murals, generating revenue for the muralists.

Gentrification

Of course, the biggest fear for artists is gentrification, which could mean losing access to free outdoor canvasses and low-cost housing. Southwest Detroit, between Downtown and Corktown, seems particularly vulnerable. 

Murals in the Market centered the art world’s attention squarely on Detroit. Already, trendy businesses such as breweries and juice bars have moved into the once-ruined neighborhoods. And at least one NYC developer has plans to open a boutique hotel in Downtown Detroit. 

Where to See Detroit Street Art

Detroit’s street art can be found almost anywhere that has free wall space. But, certain neighborhoods are emerging as hubs for muralists. 

Eastern Market

Eastern Market is teeming with both Detroiters and tourists armed with maps and cameras, all looking for some of the best murals in the city. This is the site of the annual Murals in the Market festival, and if you can’t make it to the festival you have all year to see the completed murals. 

The murals are not in the main part of the market, a way of encouraging visitors to spend more time in the area. The majority of them are just east of the market, mostly along Orleans and Erksine Streets. There’s also a cluster of murals south of that, on Orleans St. just off Gratiot Avenue.

The market itself is worth a visit. Not only are there local foods (fruits, vegetables, and meats) and crafts, it’s also the largest open-air flower market in the country. 

Dequindre Cut

Dequindre Cut is a 2-mile long below-street level greenway that runs parallel to St. Aubin Street, between Mack Avenue and Atwater Street. It has a 20-foot wide pathway, with separate lanes for pedestrians and cyclists. It links the Detroit Riverfront and Eastern Market, as well as several residential neighborhoods. 

Park your car and walk along the Dequindre Cut and you’ll see over 35 pieces of Detroit’s public art.

The Belt (named after its former life as the garment district) is an alley that connects Grand River Avenue and Gratiot Avenue. It houses a collection of Detroit street art, curated by the Library Street Collective (LSC).

The Belt was chosen by the LSC to showcase how art can transform underused public spaces.  Formerly a desolate alley, the Belt features works by renowned artists such as Nina Chanel Abney, FAILE, Shepard Fairey, Carlos Rolon, and POSE. Not convinced? There’s even a mural by Portugal’s favorite son, Vhils, who worked alongside Banksy in 2008. Mostly based in London and Lisbon, his work has received international acclaim and landed him on our list of most famous street artists .

The Z Parking Garage

Would you ever have expected to find amazing murals in a parking garage? Don’t answer that, just head over to the Z Parking Garage in Downtown Detroit. The garage’s two 10-floor parking decks are located on either end of the Belt, making it easy to see it all within one stop. 

Over 130 murals line the ramps of the garage, and they’ve been created by some of Detroit’s top local artists as well as international greats including HENSE, Maya Hayuk, and Logan Hicks. 

What better place than Motor City to turn a parking garage into a museum?

Southwest Detroit

This area has some of the brightest, most vibrant murals in the city. These murals were largely painted by Mexican and Mexican-American artists, and it shows. The paintings have influences from the Latino/Chicano culture, with Aztec figures and Day of the Dead themes. 

Follow the viaduct on Springwell Street as well as the wall around the corner, and you’ll see the majority of the murals. 

Grand River Creative Corridor (GRCC)

Real Estate Executive and Art Gallery Director Derek Weaver masterminded the Grant River Creative Corridor after reading a story that referred to the area as depressing. He knew art could be the catalyst for changing the perception of the neighborhood. 

After receiving permission from local businesses, he commissioned graffiti artists to turn Grand River Avenue into a street art destination. 

You can tour over 100 murals and exhibits canvassing the walls of 15 buildings, plus over a dozen free-standing sculptures and structures. There’s also an outdoor art gallery at a nearby bus stop. 

Much of the artwork at GRCC draws inspiration from Diego Rivera’s Detroit murals, depicting the future of the city. 

Top Examples of Detroit Street Art

With so many murals scattered around the city, it’s almost impossible to pick our favorites! Here are some of Detroit’s top “must-see” murals.

Rise Up Tiger

Location: 6314 Russell Street

This large-scale mural covers an impressive 6,000 square feet. Meggs (real name: David Hooke) painted this as a reminder to Detroiters to keep fighting, no matter the odds. 

The background of the mural is composed of a swirling sea of blues, which the snarling, blue-eyed tiger is bursting through. The tiger itself is a nod to the city’s MLB team, the Detroit Tigers. He’s surrounded by giant red and white letters encouraging Detroiters to “Rise Up.” 

At the bottom of the mural is a long stretch of graffiti that had been painted there prior. Meggs refused to paint over it out of respect for his fellow artists. 

Whale Tower 

By: Robert Wyland

Location: Broderick Tower, 10 Witherell Street

Whale Tower is the perfect example of Detroit street artists using the city as their canvas. Once one of the country’s tallest abandoned buildings, Whale Tower is now one of the city’s tallest works of art. It stands over 14 stories tall. 

The peaceful ocean scene depicts a pod of four whales enjoying their day. The top of the mural has one of the whales gleefully leaping out of the ocean, spouting water as it goes. Towards the bottom, the scene is more gentle. One smaller whale hangs out in the lower right corner, while in the center, a baby whale is balanced gently on its parent’s nose. 

The painting is done almost entirely in shades of blue, with a purer blue on top for the sky giving way to the more turquoise waters. Wyland painted over 100 Whaling Walls around the globe. 

Circles, Dots, Lines, and Shapes

Location: Madison Theatre Building, 1555 Broadway St.

Famed Atlanta muralist HENSE (Alex Brewer) used over 100 gallons of paint and took over three weeks to create this large street art piece. His colorful masterpiece, curated by the  covers over 100,000 square feet. 

The mural was created in a wide variety of colors, everything from light lavender to bright yellow. The shapes range from well-designed spheres to more amorphous, flowing shapes. It’s a classic example of HENSE’s preferred abstract style. 

For the best view of the mural, head over to the island on Broadway. 

Stevie Wonder

By: Richard Wilson

Location: Music Hall Center for Performing Arts, 350 Madison Street

This tribute to Stevie Wonder was painted by London Artist Richard Wilson in 2019. The date was chosen to coincide with Wonder’s 69th birthday and the 60th anniversary of Motown records. 

The painting stands 100 feet tall and covers 8,000 square feet. In it, Wonder sits at the piano, wearing his signature sunglasses and friendly, welcoming smile. His hands graze over the piano keys, and his jacket falls open to reveal a tee-shirt emblazoned with just one word: Detroit. 

The Heidelberg Project

By: Tyree Guyton

Location: 2 blocks around 3600 Heidelberg Street

Not quite a mural but street art nonetheless, the Heidelberg Project is Tyree Guyton’s eclectic mixed-media exhibit. 

Guyton began his work in 1986, using “found treasure” to transform abandoned homes into works of art. Houses are painted with murals and exhibits are mounted in doors, windows, and yards. 

This Downtown Detroit neighborhood used to be an almost abandoned area, overrun with drugs and poverty. Guyton began cleaning up vacant lots and abandoned houses as a way of inspiring the community to appreciate art and everyday objects. 

Girl with the D Earring

By: Sydney G. James

Location: 2937 East Grand Boulevard

James has created a modern take on Vermeer’s “Girl with a Pearl Earring.” In her version, the girl is in the same instantly recognizable pose. Her knowing stare and familiar blue and gold turban are still present. But the pearl earring has been replaced by a dangling, stylized “D.” 

The girl has also been transformed into an African-American, paying tribute to Detroit’s rich cultural heritage and diversity. James’ version is also decorated with signs and logos representing historic local businesses.

The mural replaces the Illuminated Mural by Katherine Craig, which had been irreparably damaged during construction. Craig’s mural had polarized the city, with fans raving about the gorgeous use of colors while critics lamented that it looked like paint had been dripped off the roof. 

Detroit Chimera

By: Kobie Solomon

Location: 1600 Clay St. 

When Kobie Solomon painted Detroit’s most iconic mural, it was the largest one in the state of Michigan. A decade later, it is dwarfed by some of the large-scale murals that have followed, yet retains its status as the city’s most well-known. 

The seemingly idyllic background (blue pond, lush vegetation) serves as even more contrast to the scowling chimera that dominates the scene. 

Despite an almost Japanese-style influence, the Detroit Chimera is an homage to the city’s sports teams. A chimera, in Greek mythology, was a creature that was composed of more than one animal. In this case, the chimera has the head of a lion (Detroit Lions, NFL), the body of a tiger (Detroit Tigers, MLB), and red wings (Detroit Red Wings, NHL). 

Legends Wall

Location: Newark Street and St. Anne Street

This dynamic graffiti stretches along a 40-foot wall. More than a painting, it’s actually indecipherable writing. The lettering is known as wildstyle: text with stylized, interlocking letters in a hand-designed font that is impossible to read. 

In the background, blue icicles rise from the ground with an effect that’s almost 3-D. The orange letters make a vivid contrast, especially with the purple accents and highlights. If you look carefully enough, you’ll see some familiar elements, such as a sharp-toothed fish head peeking out from the right side of the letters. The entire thing is surrounded in neon green that makes it look like it would glow in the dark. 

At the top right corner, you’ll see the tag “X-Men.” This is Kosek’s nod to the other members of his crew. 

The Deity of Southwest Detroit

By: Marka27 (Victor Quinonez)

Location: El Asador Steakhouse, 1312 Springwells St. 

Marka27 was born in Mexico and raised in Dallas, and there’s no denying the influence of his southwest heritage in this painting. One of the reasons he accepted this commission was to celebrate the Mexican neighborhood. 

Despite being named a deity, Marka27 clarifies that there is no religious intention behind the mural. Instead, he wanted to give off the vibe that his mural is there to protect Southwest Detroit. 

The background is completely black, perfectly suited to showing off Marka27’s use of vivid colors. The deity’s head is surrounded by a golden halo ringed with bright blue and green feathers, a combination of Catholic and traditional Mexican influences. 

Behind the deity is a geometrically striped rainbow, reminiscent of a serape. And while the deity is completely faceless, it wears the long braids, black and white feathers, and flowered headpiece often seen in paintings from Marka27’s home country. Its billowy shawl looks like it’s falling into perfect folds, a testament to the Marka27’s painting skills. 

The Best Ways to See Street Art in Detroit

The street art scene in Detroit is thriving! As the once-decaying city goes through a beautification and revitalization stage, muralists and graffiti artists are doing their part to turn Detroit into a world-class art destination. With so many murals spread throughout the city, you can pick your favorite neighborhood and explore it on foot. Our suggestions above can be a starting point to get you going. 

You can also follow street art accounts on Instagram . It’s a great way to find out if your favorite artist has a mural in Detroit. The curators of these accounts strive to keep them up to date, so you’ll also be the first to know when a new artist or new mural hits the city.

But if you really want to have fun, a mural scavenger hunt is the way to go! While you’re in Detroit, download our scavenger hunt app to see some of the most spectacular public art the city has to offer. Along the way, we’ll also share fascinating facts that’ll have you geeking out over Detroit’s street art scene! 

Frequently Asked Questions

Eastern Market is filled with impressive murals by both local artists and international muralists. This guide to Detroit street art should get your art walk off to a good start!

The iconic Detroit chimera is one of Detroit’s most famous murals . It pays tributes to some of the city’s beloved sports teams, including the NFL Lions, MLB Tigers, and NHL Red Wings. 

The best time to see street art in Detroit is during the city’s annual Murals in the Market festival, usually held in September. You’ll get to witness the creation of new murals by famous artists. 

Take an app-guided tour of Murals in Motor City . You can go anytime, pause when you’d like, and see street art by Bunny Reiss, Benjamn Marasco, Kevin Lyons, Ghostbeard, and other talented muralists!

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A Weekend Long Art Tour of Detroit

Detroit is an art lover’s paradise. Whether you enjoy a morning spent wandering an art museum’s quiet halls, or an afternoon exploring a new neighborhood’s street art, there is something for you in Detroit.

his three-day itinerary will take you through Detroit’s vibrant art scene. You will experience the city’s full range of artistic styles – from experimental sculptures, to urban art installations, to impressionist paintings. By exploring the entire spectrum of Detroit’s art scene, you’ll get to know the city, and maybe yourself, a little bit better. Story and photos: Sarah Bence

3 DAYS | WEEKEND

1. where to stay.

This itinerary takes you all across Detroit, from downtown to midtown to southwest Detroit and beyond. So, if you’re making it a weekend getaway, the neighborhood you choose to stay in doesn’t really matter.

Instead, extend the artistic theme to your accommodations by choosing one of Detroit’s up and coming boutique hotels . Try the Siren Hotel in downtown Detroit for a central location in an historic building, midcentury opulence, and the popular pink Candy Bar. In Corktown, Trumbull & Porter is another great pick. Its minimalist design mixes with made-in-Detroit art and furniture, plus a regularly changing mural on its outer wall.

2. DAY 1: Friday

Chances are, you’re hungry and don’t have the energy for a full evening of art museums. Instead, spend the evening in southwest Detroit where you can grab an incredible local meal alongside your art fix.

5 p.m. – Explore the Mexicantown murals

Mexicantown, a community within the southwest Detroit neighborhood, is a celebration of Mexican culture, art, and food. The area is filled with street art and murals – some in plain sight, and some that take a bit of hunting. A few of the murals date back to the 70s, and many were painted as recently as this year.

Head to Bagley Street near Mexican Village if you want to park and explore on foot. You’ll find murals like Hubert Massey’s mosaic mural, and “The Cornfield” by Vito Valdez, plus many others, off Bagley Street.

6 p.m. – Grab dinner at Tamaleria Nuevo Leon

When you start to get hungry, walk a couple blocks off Bagley to Tamaleria Nuevo Leon . This place has a constant line of local Detroiters in the evenings, who come here for the city’s best tamales. While you’re waiting, you can admire the Elton Monroy Durán mural of the Monterrey skyline on the restaurant’s front.

7 p.m. – Make an appointment to get your aura photographed

Eat your tamales while walking or driving west down Vernor Highway. There are plenty more murals to appreciate, but for an interactive experience, make a private appointment at AURA AURA .

Here, Detroiter Eileen Lee uses special photographic equipment to take a photo of your body’s aura, or energy field. You can opt for a solo photo, a couple’s photo, or even a photo of your pet. Lee provides a full analysis of your aura colors after the shoot, plus your photo to take home. It’s like taking a piece of Detroit art as a souvenir.

3. DAY 2: Saturday

Saturday is all about exploring Detroit’s most iconic outdoor art. You’ll spend quite a bit of time outside, so make sure you wear comfortable walking shoes and weather-appropriate clothing.

9:30 a.m. – Visit the Heidelberg Project

Start your morning by driving to the Heidelberg Project in the McDougall-Hunt neighborhood. Don’t worry – you’ll definitely know when you arrive, as this street is unlike any other in Detroit.

The Heidelberg Project is an outdoor art installation created by Tyree Guyton in 1986, and is evolving to this day. Guyton grew up on this street (in what is now the Dotty Wotty house). He started the Heidelberg Project in response to the urban blight he noticed in his childhood neighborhood.

Using found objects and vacant lots, Guyton created a work of art that is now recognized in publications like the New York Times, and receives hundreds of thousands of visitors per year. Best of all, he’s providing art education and enrichment within the local community.

Be sure to download the Heidelberg Project app before your visit, which will guide you to the meaning behind the various installations.

10:30 a.m. – Discover the street art around Eastern Market

From the Heidelberg Project, drive over to the nearby Eastern Market . The Eastern Market is a beloved Detroit institution, known for its Saturday markets. In addition to the freshest produce in the city, this is also a major hotspot for some of Detroit’s best street art.

Each summer, apart from 2020, the Murals in the Market festival is held, and the street art around the market gets a facelift. You can explore the street art year-round, though, just know that it changes regularly.

It’s fun to wander the area, discovering murals as you go. Type-A art lovers might prefer a more organized approach, though. Use the official Murals in the Market map (which can be downloaded to your phone) to guide yourself to the area’s best murals.

12 p.m. – Eat brunch near Eastern Market

You’re probably getting hungry, so take a break and grab some brunch. There are plenty of restaurants around Eastern Market . For a quintessential “Detroit” experience, though, you’ll want to get a table at Vivio’s and experience their famous Loaded Bloody Mary, which is a work of art in and of itself.

1:30 p.m. – Walk the Dequindre Cut and admire the street art

The street art viewing continues in the afternoon, with a stroll down the Dequindre Cut Greenway . The Cut is a paved urban path that runs nearly two miles from Eastern Market to the East Riverfront. Enter via Gratiot Avenue, and take your time walking the path and admiring street art and graffiti on either side.

3 p.m. – Make your way downtown via the Z Lot, Detroit’s artsiest parking garage

In the afternoon, head to downtown Detroit for more art, food, and drink. You can either walk here via the Cut, or park downtown.

You can even extend the art theme to which downtown parking garage you choose – this is Detroit after all! Park at the Z Lot off Library Street, which is known for not only its panoramic views of the Detroit skyline (from its top level), but also its art. The parking garage is decorated in 130 murals from a collaboration of 27 artists. Check out all ten levels to get the full experience. Plus, there is a great skyline view at the top of the garage.

3:30 p.m. – Check out downtown’s art scene

The rest of your Saturday is dedicated to exploring the downtown Detroit art scene. While it’s still light out, make your way down to the Detroit riverfront and the Philip A. Hart Plaza. Besides stunning views toward Windsor, Canada, you can also explore the many sculptures along the riverfront.

Most famous of the riverfront sculptures is perhaps the Monument to Joe Louis, also called The Fist by Detroiters. The sculpture is a huge fist, suspended from a minimalist pyramid, with the high rises of downtown Detroit in the background. Joe Louis was a famous Detroit boxer, but also a civil rights activist, and artist Robert Graham designed the statue to represent Louis’ fight against racism.

The Gateway to Freedom sculpture isn’t far from The Fist. Facing Windsor, Canada, the sculpture memorializes Detroit’s history as the last stop on the Underground Railroad.

In terms of murals, downtown Detroit has quite a few well-known ones that are worth a stop. A mural dedicated to Stevie Wonder is on the backside of Detroit’s Music Hall. There are two large-scale murals in Capitol Park, one by famed Detroit artist Charles McGee and one on the back wall of the Isaac Agree Synagogue. Plus, on Woodward Avenue, don’t miss your photo op with the wings mural by Kelsey Montague.

5 p.m. – Happy hour and street art in The Belt

After taking some time to explore downtown Detroit, head to The Belt, an art-filled alley adjacent to the Z Lot parking garage. The Belt is so named in honor of its past life as part of the downtown garment district. Today, it’s a go-to spot to view street murals, which line either side of the alley.

The Belt is also an ideal stop for some pre or post-dinner drinks. Stop at The Skip or Standby , both located in the alley, for some creative cocktails.

6 p.m. onwards – Dinner in downtown Detroit

The rest of your Saturday evening is up to you, but you’ll have to eat dinner at some point – so why not choose one of the artsier restaurants in downtown? Detroit is increasingly becoming a foodie destination, and some of its best-known restaurants are downtown.

Try San Morello in the Shinola Hotel for delectable Italian food with fine dining vibes. Wright & Co. is another good pick. Their executive chef is a recipient of a James Beard Award (so you know the food is good), and the views down Woodward Avenue are equally stunning.

If you want to make your way up Woodward for dinner, you can get an authentic Detroit experience at The Whitney . This fine dining restaurant is built in an 1890s mansion, so architecture and interior design lovers will be right at home.

4. DAY 3: Sunday

It’s the final day of your Detroit art tour, but there’s still plenty to see. You’ll spend most of the day wandering museums, but cap things off with two of the city’s best outdoor art installations.

10 a.m. – Visit the DIA, MOCAD, and the Sugar Hill Arts District

After grabbing breakfast near your hotel, head to the Sugar Hill Arts District in Midtown. The neighborhood is a thriving center of art in Detroit and it will definitely take a few hours to explore

Of course, your first stop should be the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA). This art museum is ranked as one of the top 10 museums in the country, and it’s easy to see why, with its 100+ galleries spanning six continents and countless artistic movements.

The nearby Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCAD) is another good choice for museum lovers. The 22,000 square foot museum is home to contemporary visual art, as well as music and performing art events.

1 p.m. – Lunch at Seva in the N’Namdi Complex

There are plenty of other artistic destinations to explore within the ever-evolving Sugar Hill Arts District, and you can even eat lunch at one of these. Seva , located within the N’Namdi Art Complex close to the DIA, is a popular vegetarian restaurant with a large indoor space and heated outdoor patio. The yam fries and pad thai are particularly good.

After lunch, walk just a few doors down to the N’Namdi Center for Contemporary Art , a non-profit art center and gallery. Here, you can view the work of local artists and attend dance performances or even classes.

2:30 p.m. – View the City Sculpture Park

Next up is the City Sculpture Park , which is just a 20 minute walk from Seva, but also easily reachable by car.

Local Detroit artist Robert Sestok designed this outdoor art park as a way to display his welded, geometric, contemporary sculptures. Sestok was instrumental in the Cass Corridor artist movement of the 70s, and now hopes that his art park will serve not only as a way to display his large-scale works, but also as a way to artistically invigorate the neighborhood.

The City Sculpture Park is currently closed, and pending moving to a new location due to rezoning. However, it can still be viewed from outside the gates, and is worth a visit. Updates on the new location can be found on the City Sculpture website .

3:30 p.m. – Wander the Dabls MBAD African Bead Museum

Finish up your Detroit art tour with one of the city’s most arresting artistic sights: the Dabls MBAD African Bead Museum .

Olayami Dabls is the curator and artist behind the African Bead Museum. The museum itself spans an entire city block. Indoors, you’ll find the extensive African Bead Gallery, where walls are lined with authentic beads once used for trading in various African countries. Some of these beads, especially the ivory beads, are valued at over $5,000. If you’re lucky, you’ll visit on a day Dabls himself is there, and you’ll be treated to conversation about his travels, art, and the history of the beads and artifacts.

Outdoors, you’ll easily spend an hour exploring the sculpture garden and mirror-lined walls. Each sculptural creation sparks different emotions – Dabls consciously creates his art to spark conversations and emotional healing.

5pm – Head home

This isn’t an exhaustive list of all the art in Detroit. In addition to its many museums, Detroit’s street art and installations are constantly changing and evolving. However, this three-day itinerary should give you an in-depth overview of the city’s art scene and all that it has to offer.

Mentioned Attractions And Venues

Tamaleria Nuevo Leon 2669 W. Vernor Hwy. Detroit, Michigan 48216

2669 W. Vernor Hwy. Detroit, Michigan 48216 (313) 962-8066

Mexican Village 2600 Bagley Ave. Detroit, Michigan 90034

2600 Bagley Ave. Detroit, Michigan 90034 (313) 237-0333 Website

Eastern Market Russell Street between Mack Avenue and Gratiot Avenue, 2934 Russell St. Detroit, Michigan 48207

Russell Street between Mack Avenue and Gratiot Avenue, 2934 Russell St. Detroit, Michigan 48207 (313) 833-9300 Website

Vivio's Food & Spirits 2460 Market St. Detroit, Michigan 48207

2460 Market St. Detroit, Michigan 48207 (313) 393-1711 Website

Dequindre Cut Greenway Dequindre Cut Greenway Detroit, Michigan 48207

Dequindre Cut Greenway Detroit, Michigan 48207 (313) 566-8200 Website

The Skip 1234 Library St. Detroit, Michigan 48221

1234 Library St. Detroit, Michigan 48221 (313) 724-3145 Website Find A Room

Standby 225 Gratiot Ave. Detroit, Michigan 48226

225 Gratiot Ave. Detroit, Michigan 48226 (313) 736-5533 Website

Shinola Hotel 1400 Woodward Ave. Detroit, Michigan 48226

1400 Woodward Ave. Detroit, Michigan 48226 (313) 356-1400 Website Find A Room

Wright & Co. 1500 Woodward Ave., Second Floor Detroit, Michigan 48226

1500 Woodward Ave., Second Floor Detroit, Michigan 48226 (313) 962-7711 Website Find A Room

Detroit Institute of Arts 5200 Woodward Ave. Detroit, Michigan 48202

5200 Woodward Ave. Detroit, Michigan 48202 (313) 833-7900 Website Find A Room

The N'Namdi Center for Contemporary Art 52 E. Forest Ave. Detroit, Michigan 48201

52 E. Forest Ave. Detroit, Michigan 48201 (313) 831-8700 Website

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8 Street Art Hot Spots in Detroit

By Carrie Nieman Culpepper

Detroit has become a mecca for artists and entrepreneurs thanks to cheap real estate and plenty of space to bring creativity to life, so it’s no surprise that a flurry of new murals and public art projects are enlivening run-down corners downtown. Last fall a street art festival brought in talent from all over the world to add color to Detroit’s historic farmers’ market, and last spring Shepard Fairey peppered the city with murals when he was in town for an exhibition of his works. “The amount of public art that’s available just driving through the city has amassed to a critical level,” says Jesse Cory, founder of Innerstate Gallery. “We’ve reached a tipping point in 2016.” While all this new work is attracting attention and tourists, murals are nothing new for Detroit: It’s home to the 30-year-old Heidelberg Project, one of the oldest renegade art-for-urban-renewal initiatives in the country. Here’s where to experience Detroit’s street art boom.

The local Library Street Collective gallery hired artist Shepard Fairey, best known for his Obama campaign poster, to paint a mural on the side of Bedrock Detroit's One Campus Martius building, a downtown skyscraper. The 184-foot mural was Fairey’s largest to date when it was installed last May. “Shepard Fairey is an icon, so where he gets involved people pay attention,” says Anthony Curis, a partner and founder of Library Street Collective. “The mural he did here is part of the landscape now. You can look up and see it from Tiger Stadium, the Eastern Market—all different parts of the city.” 87 Monroe Avenue

In 2014 a large parking garage became an art attraction called the Z when Library Street Collective brought in 27 international street artists to add colorful murals along the glass stairwell and the walls of the ten-story structure. Park in the garage and head downstairs to the funhouse-style cocktail lounge, Punch Bowl Social, which occupies a 24,000-square-foot space on the ground floor and features games like pinball, skee ball, and bowling. 1234 Library Street

Head to the Belt, a pedestrian alley and open-air gallery of sculpture and murals between the Z and the adjacent brick warehouses, for an incredible display. Openings at the Library Street Collective, where Shepard Fairey had an exhibition last May, spill out into the alley as well. The gallery commissioned some two dozen murals to fill the alley and has erected steel frames to show rotating exhibitions, with the intention of donating some of the work to the Detroit Academy of Arts and Sciences. The Belt

After taking in the art along the Belt, open the hefty wood doors (repurposed from a freight elevator) in the alley for a serious craft cocktail at Standby, the art-infused bar opened by Library Street Collective partner Anthony Curis. Outside, Portuguese artist Vhils created a work on patchy concrete that looks like a face emerging from the brick wall, and inside you’ll find a 20-foot piece by Los Angeles artist Cleon Peterson alongside works by other prominent innovators represented by Library Street Collective. The cocktails are impressive, too. Try the Snake in the Grass, which is made with powdered mustard greens, or the Port Austin beer cocktail, which is “nitrogenated” to replicate the consistency of Guinness. 225 Gratiot Avenue

By Michelle Duncan

By Morgan Goldberg

By Michael Gioia

The 19th-century Eastern Market is the largest historic farmers’ market in the country, and today it serves as a sort of hub for Detroit’s mural scene. This fall, Innerstate Gallery held the first Murals in the Market festival, which added 45 new works to the existing 30 in and around the space. Visit on a Saturday when the market and surrounding shops are in full swing, and be sure to visit the Red Bull House of Art artist incubator inside the market. 1445 Adelaide

Bike or walk the Dequindre Cut, a path built along a former Grand Trunk Railroad route connecting the Eastern Market to the Detroit River waterfront. Take in the art along landscaped pathways and don’t miss the graffiti under the highway overpasses. It connects to some 20 miles of bike paths and greenways. Along the waterfront between Rosa Parks Boulevard and Townsend Street

Three underpasses in Detroit will soon be illuminated by light installations thanks to the Midtown Viaducts public art project. A competition this fall called for local artists to enliven three dingy viaducts in what’s known as TechTown. Design collective Biolinia is now installing the first of the three winning plans: It features 7,500 reflectors that will project light in all directions as you pass through. 3rd Avenue, 2nd Avenue, and Cass Avenue along the Grand Trunk Railroad

Detroit is the site of one of the oldest street-art-for-urban-renewal initiatives in the country. Walk the 30-year-old Heidelberg Project started by Tyree Guyton to counter the blight in his northeast Detroit neighborhood. Book a tour with Guyton or walk the streets on your own to see several blocks of abandoned homes and cars painted with polka dots and bright colors, plus whimsical sculptural works built of found objects like bicycles, shoes, and children’s toys. 3600 Heidelberg Street

RaulersonGirlsTravel

Exploring art through the heidelberg project.

• On 25May2016
• By Kayla Raulerson

When one says, let’s take a drive downtown to Detroit and see some art most would say where would you go? I mean, where can you not go to see art in Detroit! There is so much street art in Detroit ; it is hard to miss it now. But, if you want to see one of the lesser-known beauties of Detroit, the Heidelberg Project is the place to explore.

What is the Heidelberg Project

History of the Heidelberg Project

This neighborhood has plenty to see for the budding photographer, the urban explorer, or someone who wants to visit a unique and unusual side of Detroit. You might even run into Tyree on the weekend. This is a great excuse for you to get out and see a portion of Detroit you haven’t seen before. Heidelberg Project is part of our city and we as Detroiters should be proud of the growing art scene within our city. Come and take a look for yourself!

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Further Reading

If you are coming to Detroit for a visit, check out these posts for further travel inspiration:

• Detroit Athletic Club : Take a Look Inside
• Detroit Photo Tour – Experience the Beautiful Side of Detroit
• The Ultimate List of Detroit Street Art You Must See
• Most Intriguing Bookstores Around the World You Must Visit
• Top 4 Places to Visit on Belle Isle Park
• Exploring Polish Churches in Detroit
• The Antarctic has come to Detroit!
• Take me out to the ball game! Behind the Scenes Tour of Comerica Park
• Enjoy a Live Performance on Stage at Detroit Music Hall
• Things to Do at Great Lakes Crossing with Kids
• Holiday Nights in Greenfield Village

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DETROIT: Murals In The Market. Dispatch 3 with Heidelberg Project, Hueman, Pixel Pancho

This week BSA is in Detroit with our hosts 1XRun for the Murals in the Market festival they are hosting with 50+ artists from various countries and disciplines and creative trajectories. In a city trying to rise from the economic and post-industrial ashes it is often the dynamic grassroots energy and vision of artists that sets the tone for how the community evolves.

The artists are quite spread out over multiple blocks on the street and in lots near and around the market area for the Murals in the Market festival and depending on where you ride your bike or drive your car you are probably going to find one on a scissor lift or ladder hiding from the sun under an umbrella or happily leaning against a wall in the shade nearby.

Pixel Pancho. Murals In The Market – 1XRUN-Detroit-September 2016. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

With Janette Beckman flipping through street art and photography books on the couch at the “headquarters” and Meggs and Mia putting the finishing touches on their combined “Verso” exhibition next door while artists wandered in and out looking for water, soda, and tortas, we climbed into a van with co-founder of Murals in the Market Jesse Cory, his dog Oscar, and artists Faith47, 1010, Hueman and some other friends to see the city through Jesse’s eyes.

Hueman at work on her mural. Murals In The Market – 1XRUN-Detroit-September 2016. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

There were burned down houses, the Packard plant in a state of pronounced disrepair, lots of empty lots, tags, pieces, burners, and an amazing project called Heidleberg. An artist on the roster this year for this festival, Tyree Guyton has been doing his own reinvention and revitalization of urban space here for three decades, so Street Art has nothing on him.

The series of outdoor installations throughout the multi-building, multi-lot outdoor museum can only be described as personal and eclectic – using found and handmade materials including sneakers, stuffed animals, dolls, boards, mirrors, and plenty of paint.

Impossible to do this long term project justice in only a few lines, we encourage you to be inspired by the outward creativity of one individual in a community. The work is engaging and nearly as charming as the man himself.

Tyree Guyton. Heidelberg Project. Murals In The Market – 1XRUN-Detroit-September 2016. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

After Jesse’s tour we had the opportunity to troll though a 7,000 square foot warehouse of new works with the curator Andrew H. Shirley in a huge recycling center compound containing works by a number of Detroit based graff artists and a visiting crew of graff/street art off-the-grid artists like Rambo, Wolftits, UFO 907, EKG, Adam Void, and many more.

The two-story raw cavernous environment hosted the debut of a new film called “Wastedland2”, a story and film by Mr. Shirley, first shown there on Friday night. The graffiti mockumentary follows fictional graff writers and characters through adventures on the street and off the radar. There is a planned tour of other cities in the offing and we’ll bring you more about this in a later posting.

In the meantime check out some of the scenes from our day in Detroit.

Featured Video | Martin Wong’s “Houston Street”

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