Heidelberg or Romantic Road
 

We're spending roughly three days in the Alsace and then spending three days in Germany (eventual departure from Frankfurt). Considering either Heidelberg/Neckar Valley area or Rothenburg or Dinkelsbuhl/Romantic Road area for the three days in Germany. We'll have a car. Two couples -- one around 60, one around 30. Thoughts on which would be more interesting and varied for several days?

Thanks.

I would stay in the Mosel Valley on the Mosel River. We stayed in Beilstein for 3 days and enjoyed a day trip to Eltz castle and wine tasting in Bernkastel-Kues.

Consider dropping the car in Strasbourg if you rented it in France. You will pay a large drop-off fee if you rent in France and drop in Germany or vice-versa.

With only 3 days I'd visit some Black Forest towns (just across the border from Alsace!) AND the Neckar Valley/Heidelberg. Both areas are easy to do by train. The Baden-Württemberg ticket (day pass) covers 4 adults for nearly unlimited train travel at €38/day:
https://www.bahn.com/i/view/USA/en/p...g-ticket.shtml

BF places:
Gengenbach: http://www.stadthotel-gengenbach.de/...innenstadt.jpg
Schiltach: http://www.orte-bw.de/grafik/uploads..._2010_1040.JPG
Vogtsbauernhof, near Gutach: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attracti...Wurttembe.html

Thanks -- we're going into and out of Frankfurt, so the car makes sense the whole time.

Hi Dedlaw- I would spend one night in Rothenburg and the last 2 nights in Heidelberg with a day trip along the Neckar. It is easy and only about 1 hour to FRA from Heidelberg. Don't worry about the "Romantic Road" - It isn't.

Have a great trip!!!

((B))

The Romantic Road is yes not - a busy road filled with lorries and cars - tedious driving - the cities along it are gems but Rothenburg is also a huge tourist cities with huge tourist mobs -negating in the daytime to me at least much of its charms.

The Castle Road between Rothenburg and Heidelberg is a gem however - well not the road itself but the lovely river valley it meanders thru -much nicer than the boring Romantic Road.

And Heidelberg is a gem too.

I like - love the Mosel too and a trip up and and along the nearby Rhine Gorge would be the most delightful scenery wise and those wine towns like Beilstein or larger Cochem are fairy-tale for sure.

https://www.google.com/search?q=mose...HUiVBxcQsAQIGw

From Alsace drive the Alsace Wine Road north to Germany and then along the Rhine towards Frankfurt- hitting the Mosel and the Rhine Gorge.

Thanks, very useful!

The term 'Romantic Road' was I believe conjured up by the German Tourist Authority in the 1950s to spur tourism to the country, especially by car.

PalenQ:

When you refer to the "Castle Road," what route is that? I understand that the "Romantic "Road" can be a misnomer and that it is not all that attractive but dotted with nice stops along the way. We are hoping to rent a place for a few nights as a sort of base of operations, and then make day trips to relatively nearby places; but with my daughter and her boyfriend, we're hoping to be in or very near a place with at least one or two decent bars so they can head out and avoid us in the evening if they want to.

Castle Road:
http://www.burgenstrasse.de/uk/Castles-and-Palaces.html