The Rafaela Hotel Heidelberg is at Lutherstraße 17 in Neuenheim, the residential district across the Neckar from the Old Town. It offers double rooms and family rooms that sleep three, with a king bed and a twin sofa bed in the family category. On site you will find a bar, a coffee shop and cafe, a playground and a hair salon, and rooms come with air conditioning, a safe, a refrigerator and a desk. Buffet breakfast is available for an extra charge, and guest reviews are consistently warm, which is a good sign for a hotel of this size.
Location and getting around
Neuenheim is one of the most pleasant quarters of Heidelberg, with tree-lined streets, cafes and the Neckarwiese riverside meadow about eight minutes away on foot. The Old Campus of the university is roughly twenty minutes on foot, the castle is a short drive, and the Seegarten tram stop is about fourteen minutes away, so most visitors combine a walk with a bus or tram.
The central station is a five-minute drive. This is not a hotel for stepping out onto the Hauptstraße, but it rewards guests who like a morning walk beside the river, a coffee at a neighbourhood cafe and a quieter evening, with plenty of local restaurants nearby for dinner.
The rooms and facilities
The hotel is compact, so ask about room sizes and floors when you book. The double rooms suit couples, and the family room, with a king bed and a sofa bed, gives parents and a child room to settle. Rooms have air conditioning, hypo-allergenic bedding, free toiletries and a shower, and there is an elevator, secured bicycle storage and express check-in and check-out.
Free newspapers are a small touch that regular travellers appreciate. Cribs can be arranged for an extra charge, and the playground is a real help if you travel with young children. Check-in begins in the afternoon and check-out is on the early side, so plan your last morning accordingly.
Who it suits and what to know: families, couples and independent travellers who prefer a neighbourhood base to a tourist street will feel at home here. Pets are not allowed, and parking is not listed as a hotel amenity, so drivers should ask about street spaces or nearby garages before arriving.
Free cancellation is offered on selected rates. Prices sit in the mid-range and move up around the Christmas market and university events. If you want everything on your doorstep, choose an Old Town hotel; if you want a calm night, a riverside walk and a friendly welcome, the Rafaela is an appealing choice.
Why stay here
- ✓Double and family rooms
- ✓Bar
- ✓Coffee shop and cafe
- ✓Playground
- ✓Air conditioning
- ✓Elevator
- ✓Secured bicycle storage
- ✓Free newspapers
Good questions
Where is the Rafaela Hotel Heidelberg?+
It is at Lutherstraße 17 in Neuenheim, on the north side of the Neckar, about eight minutes on foot from the Neckarwiese meadow.
Is it a good choice for families?+
Yes, there are family rooms that sleep three, a playground on site and cribs on request for a fee. Check when you book which room type suits your group.
Can I park at the hotel?+
Parking is not listed as a hotel amenity, so ask about nearby options before you arrive, especially if you travel by car.
