My friend and I will be in Heidelberg for one or two days, and my guidebook suggests that Neckarsteinach is a good day trip from Heidelberg. Has anybody been there and can say whether or not it's worth a visit? or suggest somewhere else pretty close to Heidelberg worth an afternoon or morning visit? Thanks!

Can't comment on Neckarsteinach, but there are many lovely little towns along the Neckar River.

In 2005, we stayed in Bad Wimpfen, which overlooks the Neckar River, and is a little over an hour from Heidelberg. This little town is a gem. It can easily be explored in a half day but there is much to keep your interest -- many of the old towers and ruins date from the 13th century!

http://www.badwimpfen.de/showpage.php?lang=2 (English version)

The website for Neckarsteinach also looks interesting (German only):

http://www.neckarsteinach.com/conten...touristik.html

Bad Wimpfen is very nice.

Schwetzingen is also very nice - beautiful palace/garden with a nice brauerie - not necessarily a full day trip as it's less than a 15 minute drive.

Some of these places will be better to visit in nice weather....

Depending on what you want to do, Mannheim is close, but it's a little city - lots of shopping! That's about 20 minutes away, too.

If you're going to have a car, you could easily spend a half day driving along the Weinstrasse - checking out the scenary, the vineyards and the small villages.

Thanks for the suggestions, guys. Anyone actually been to Neckarsteinach?

Have to admit - almost 10 years of spending a week or more in Heidelberg, 2 or 3 times a year - never heard of it. That said - it's not like I've been looking for it.....

There is a boat trip that goes from Heidelberg to Neckarsteinach. I've taken the trip a couple of times and have disembarked at Neckarsteinach, but unfortunately don't recall much of it.

In the other direction on the Neckar is Hirschhorn, whose castle is now a hotel and restaurant. Way back in the dawn of pre-history, I had dinner at the restaurant and enjoyed both the view and the meal.

I have never been to Neckarsteinach but have been to and highly recommend Bad Wimpfen. In my guidebook (michelin) Neckarsteinach gets a one line mention, "four castles dominate this site" and Bad Wimpfen gets a 2 star "worth the detour" entry.
Speyer and Worms are two fairly small cities near Heidelburg with spectacular
romanesque cathedrals and other interesting historical buildings

Another vote for Bad Wimpfen

I wouldn't recommend Mannheim. For a small city outside Heidelberg, try Heilbronn and surrounds.

Another vote for Bad Wimpfen - after nearly 2 years living in Stuttgart, I haven't heard of Neckarsteinach either!

Bad Wimpfen is a non-touristy village perched above the Neckar River with some of the most beautiful half-timbered houses and gardens I've seen in SW Germany. If you like traditional German architecture and are looking for a quiet place to stroll for an afternoon, Bad Wimpfen would fit the bill.

Well, then. I guess maybe we'll just have to go check it out for ourselves! LOL. Of course, this all depends on how much we decide we want to do in Heidelberg - we may just decide to stay in the city. Thanks to all of you who responded, though!