Heidelberg is a picturesque city on the Neckar river, known for its historic old town and world-famous university. The impressive ruins of Heidelberg Castle rise up in the centre of the old town, towering over the city and offering a breathtaking view of the valley and the river. The castle, which was built in the Middle Ages, is a symbol of the city and attracts numerous tourists every year.
The city is also an important centre for research and science. Heidelberg University, the oldest university in Germany, has a long tradition and is particularly renowned in the fields of medicine, natural sciences and humanities. Heidelberg is regarded as a leader in medical research and is home to numerous research institutions and clinics that are recognised worldwide.
The city also has a young and lively population, mainly thanks to the many students who come to Heidelberg from all over the world. This mixture of tradition and innovation makes Heidelberg a fascinating place that combines both historical significance and modern scientific life.
The MPIK is located outside the city of Heidelberg at the foot of the Königsstuhl. It takes about 15 minutes by car from the main railway station.
You can find detailed information on how to find us here.
The Rhein-Neckar-Verkehr GmbH (rnv) offers tram and bus services in the area of the cities of Heidelberg, Mannheim and Ludwigshafen. You will find the network map here.
The area of the rnv is divided into “honeycombs”. The number of honeycombs crossed on a journey determines the fare. You can find the fare area plan here. You must purchase a ticket before starting your journey - either online, at a ticket machine, on the bus itself, in one of the customer centres or at one of the various sales points. Travelling without a valid ticket can result in an increased fare of up to 60€.
The rnv also offers the Start.Info-App for smartphones. It provides information on timetables and route plans, routes, connections and traffic disruptions.
IMPORTANT: The job ticket as Deutschland-Ticket is an offer for all employees (with the exception of Hiwis, who already receive a discounted semester ticket). The ticket can be used for daily journeys to work and during leisure time and is valid on public local and regional transport throughout Germany. You will find a form for applying for the “Deutschland Job Ticket” on the intranet. Once the application has been accepted by the rnv and approved by MPIK, the monthly employer subsidy for the ticket will be transferred to you with your salary. The subsidy is tax-free.
Heidelberg is a bicycle-friendly city and for many people, cycling is the easiest and most convenient way to get aroung.
You don't have to invest in your own bike - there are several bike sharing providers in Heidelberg where you can hire a bike.
- vrnnextbike (some locations also offer cargo and e-cargo bikes)
- Joyrides e-bike rental
- DB-Fahrradmietsystem "Call a Bike"(In front of the main station, Deutsche Bahn provides bicycles from the DB “Call a Bike” bike hire system.)
- radhof BERGHEIM
- Heidelbike
- Radolino
The car sharing provider in the Rhine-Neckar area is stadtmobil.
Vehicles can be booked in advance and picked up and dropped off at fixed locations. In addition, so-called “joecars” are available in the city areas, which can be booked max. 15 minutes before the start of the journey without specifying an end time.
Heidelberg is home to various well-known car hire companies. Below you will find some addresses.
- Avis Haberstraße 4 69126 Heidelberg; Avis
- enterprise Carl-Benz-Straße 2 69115 Heidelberg; enterprise
- Europcar Bergheimerstraße 159 69115 Heidelberg; Europcar
- Hertz Pleikartsförsterstraße 116 69124 Heidelberg; Hertz
- sixt Hebelstraße 1 69115 Heidelberg; sixt
To make navigating the German healthcare system easier, the city of Heidelberg has published a “health guide” in German and English. After a general introduction to the healthcare system, it contains helpful addresses and information on counselling and healthcare services for the entire life cycle in the Heidelberg area.
Here you will find a list of Heidelberg clinics and emergency numbers:
The Licence Fee (formerly GEZ fee) is a mandatory fee that is charged for the reception of public broadcasting services (such as ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandradio).
In principle, every household in Germany must pay the licence fee, regardless of whether radio and television is actually received or not. The most important requirement for the obligation to pay the fee ist that there must be a flat or similar space for which the fee is levied. In a shared flat, only one person usually pays the fee, as it is charged per household and not per person. The other flatmates can then divide the fee among themselves.
People who receive certain social benefits (e.g. social assistance, ALG II or basic income support) may be exempt from the obligation to pay contributions or the amount of the fee may be reduced. In these cases, an application must be submitted. There are also special regulations for students, who can be exempt from paying or the amount of the fee can be reduced in certain cases, e.g. if they still live with their parents or receive BAföG.
The licence fee is currently 18.36 € per month for each household (as of April 2025).
IMPORTANT: How can I deregister from the licence fee if I have not yet received confirmation from the registration office?
You can deregister online here. Instead of a confirmation of deregistration, the rental contract (including the end of the rental period) and a flight, train or bus ticket can be uploaded to prove that the scientist is leaving the country. A new employment contract abroad can also be uploaded as proof. Deregistration is very important because otherwise the costs will continue to run and at some point a collection procedure may be initiated which can end with a Schufa entry. This may have negative consequences if you apply for a new visa years later.
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