Schwetzingen

Schwetzingen is in Baden-Württemberg.

Schwetzingen Castle

Get in

The town is sandwiched between the A5 and the A6 just north of the A61 Hockenheim.

About 10 minutes by regional train from Mannheim or Heidelberg or 60 minutes from Frankfurt.

Get around

As a tourist, walking is your best bet. The town is small and the 10-minute walk from the train station to the gardens is along one of the main roads, and on some days includes a market.

By bus

Thompkins Barracks is sort of within walking distance of downtown Schwetzingen. The walk is easy, but can take quite a bit of time. For those who would rather not walk, you can take bus 710 from one of the bridges adjacent to Thompkins Barracks. The ride will cost roughly 50 cents.

See

Aerial photograph of the Castle Gardens

• 1 Schwetzinger Schloss (palace), Schloß Mittelbau, ☏ +49 6221 658880. gardens are phenomenal, with everything from fake Roman ruins to a French garden to hedge rows.  
• Schlossplatz. the main place in front of the Schloss with a lot of pubs and restaurants. 
• hunting lodge. offers tours, but is not worth the time if the weather's nice. 

Do

Visit the pubs around Schlossplatz (the place in front of the castle). If you like dancing, see the Cubar where you can dance salsa.

Eat

In May and June, you will get Spargel (Asparagus). Schwetzingen is famous for its awesome Spargel.

• Cantina Mexicana, Schlossplatz 8a, ☏ +49 6202 13616. A centrally located Mexican restaurant only several meters from the castle. The food is decent and the service is effective. A cheap happy hour is a major selling point for this bar with cocktails going for as little as €4 a pop. But don't expect much of a Margarita. The decor elicits of the stereotypical Mexican restaurant with bricked walls and bright neons that advertise beer. 
• Da Dona, Marstallstraße 18, ☏ +49 6202 1 26 81 52, fax: +49 6202 2 35 73. Daily from 5:30PM - Midnight. A small, but good Italian restaurant, family owned, quaint/elegant atmosphere, food is great, service is very kind and professional. €20. 
• Kaffeehaus Schwetzingen, am Schlossplatz. 
• Schwetzinger Brauhaus zum Ritter, Schlossplatz 1, ☏ +49 6202 924950. 
• Zähringer Hof, Carl-Theodor-Straße 13, ☏ +49 6202 9284555. 
• Blaues Loch, Zeyherstraße 3, ☏ +49 6202 21360. 

Drink

If you like beer, try a Welde Pils with its award winning bottle design.

Sleep

• Adler Post, Schlossstraße 3, ☏ +49 6202 27770. 
• Hotel zum Erbprinzen, Karlsruher Str. 1, ☏ +49 6202 93270. 
• Hotel Altavilla garni, Dreikönigstraße 8, ☏ +49 6202 204 89 00. 
• Villa Benz, Zähringer Straße 51, ☏ +49 6202 936090. 
• Achat Hotel Schwetzingen, Schälzigweg 1-3, ☏ +49 6202 206 0, schwetzingen@achat-hotels.com. (updated Nov 2024)

Go next

• Heidelberg
• Speyer
• Bertha Benz Memorial Route - Follow the tracks of the world's first automobile journey (Mannheim - Pforzheim/Black Forest - Schwetzingen - Mannheim) back in 1888