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Trip Summary
You can pick from 39 daily train trips between Jena and Heidelberg. The average train journey from Jena to Heidelberg takes 4 hours and 50 minutes, but some Deutsche Bahn train trips are as short as 4 hours and 3 minutes.
| Distance | 167 mi (268 km) |
| Fastest train | 4h 3m |
| Lowest price | €38.13 |
| Most frequent service | Deutsche Bahn |
| Train lines | 1 |
Which train should you take from Jena to Heidelberg?
Deutsche Bahn is the one and only train line which connects Jena to Heidelberg. However, there are 39 trains per day to choose from.
| Train | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deutsche Bahn | 39 | 4h 50m | €64.65 |
Frequently Asked Questions
The distance between Jena and Heidelberg is approximately 167 miles, or 268 kilometers. The average train journey between these two cities takes 4 hours and 50 minutes, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 4 hours and 3 minutes.
Looking for ways to pass the time? Most trains are equipped with Wi-Fi, which means you can stream music, browse social media or get some work done during your ride. That said, in case your train has a spotty signal, or is among the few without Wi-Fi, we also recommend downloading TV shows and movies to your mobile device in advance of your trip. That way the ride will fly by whatever the Wi-Fi situation.
Trains from Jena to Heidelberg are the most crowded on Tuesday. Tickets also tend to be more expensive then. If you are looking for a great deal on your train tickets or just want extra room to stretch out, consider traveling on Tuesday instead, as it tends to be the least crowded day of the week.
The earliest train departs Jena at 00:00 while the last train of the day leaves at 22:00. To see all scheduled departure times, use the search function on this page to get the full schedule for your specific travel dates.
There are 39 scheduled trains on most days. Unfortunately, none of them are direct connections, so you will need to disembark from your original train and board a connecting train during your journey. Don't forget to bring your carry-on luggage when you switch trains. In some instances, you may also be responsible for transferring your own checked baggage.
You can also take a train for your return trip from Heidelberg to Jena.
City Information
Jena
Image credit: Pixabay
Image credit: Pixabay
Image credit: Pixabay
Jena is a German city famous for its rolling hills and a variety of wild orchids. One of the most iconic landmarks in the city is Stadtkirche Sankt Michael, or the Church of St. Michael. The church's magnificent Gothic architecture includes a tower that may have once seemed tall, but is now dwarfed by the neighboring JenTower skyscraper. The cylindrical JenTower has an observation deck and restaurant on the top floor where you can get the best views of Jena.
Jena has a wealth of quirky museums that are not your average art or history museums. For example, the Optical Museum exhibits a wide range of glasses, microscopes, and cameras from various points in optics history. Planetarium Jena often runs laser astronomy shows, and the Phyletic Museum hosts a small but rich collection of natural history exhibits. Of course, you can always simply stroll in the Botanischer Garten, one of the oldest botanical gardens in Germany.
The central hub of intercity bus transportation in the city is the Jena Paradies Bus Station, right in the city's center. Travel to Jena includes bus service on FlixBus, plus numerous train routes on the Deutsche Bahn network.
Heidelberg
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Located on the river Neckar in the southwest of Germany, the university town of Heidelberg is one of the country's most popular destinations. From impressive Baroque and Renaissance architecture to exciting museums, festive Christmas markets, and fantastic shopping, this town has something for everyone.
The first thing you'll see in Heidelberg is the Schloss Heidelberg or Heidelberg Palace. Sitting on a hill overlooking the city, this impressive castle was once the seat of Heidelberg's Prince-Electors. Although rebuilt following the Thirty Years War in the 1600s, this beautiful ruin is open to visitors with audio tours available daily. And as one of the most-Instagrammed castles in Germany, the palace is the perfect backdrop for your next envy-inspiring post. While in the castle, visit the Apotheken-Museum, which displays the history of pharmacies and medical science in Germany.
Heidelberg is also home to the famous hike, Philosopher's Way. Taking its name from the many university academics that used to hike this route for the solitude and views to inspire them, this route rambles up the southern side of the Heiligenberg. With exotic vegetation and a temperate climate during the summer months, it's easy to think that you've accidentally walked all the way to the Mediterranean.
Although Heidelberg does not have an airport, the Mannheim Airport is under 15km away, and it's easy to take a train from Mannheim to Heidelberg. Intercity bus service provides transportation to Heidelberg from many domestic and international destinations. Many direct trains run to Heidelberg from across Germany and other European cities, too, so there is no shortage of travel options to get to this fabulous city.
Station Information
Where is the train station in Jena?
Main departure station: Jena West
There are two stations in Jena where you can board the train to Heidelberg.
All train stations in Jena:
Jena West
Jena Paradies Bus Station
Where is the train station in Heidelberg?
Main arrival station: Heidelberg-Pfaffengrund/Wieblingen
There are more train stations and stops in Heidelberg than most cities. Most trains from Jena will stop at one (or more) of the 5 following stations in Heidelberg:
Train stations in Heidelberg:
Heidelberg-Pfaffengrund/Wieblingen
Heidelberg-Kirchheim/Rohrbach
Heidelberg Orthopädie
Heidelberg-Altstadt
Heidelberg-Schlierbach/Ziegelhausen
Get around town with Moovit
Need a return trip from Heidelberg to Jena?
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