I have 3 extra days in Paris, and am planning to drive from Paris to Heidelberg and back. Are there are towns on the way or around Heidelberg that you would recommend to a first time visitor to Germany?

Thanks,

Gags

In Germany, around Heidelberg--Walldorf, Speyer, Dilsberg (up the Neckar River), Laudenberg.

Migh also consider going a little south in France to Strasbourg

A fair way to go in only 3 days, but I'd suggest via the Alsace region (Obernai, Strasbourg).

Thanks for the good info. How would you rate the drive from Paris to Heidelberg? Is it scenic/pretty?

Also, would anyone recommend Luxembourg? It seems like it is almost on the way in the map, but wanted to hear from an experienced hand.

Gagan

I second the Speyer visit. It is close to H-berg 30 mins, is on the river. There is an great restaurant - Dom Hof in the old part of the town. The brew there own beer and the food is excellent! Luxembourg in not really on the way, but a stop in either Metz, France or Bingen, Germany are some options. H-berg is aprox 4 hours from Paris, very green with a few villages you can see along the way. I would choose a visit to the Rhine region for a day trip!

Clea

Mappy.com says 5.5 hours driving, about 548km.
I was surprised even by that time, my imagination thought it would be a longer drive.

The trip from H-berg to Paris is Autobahn/Freeway all the way. I could not see it taking over 5 hours unless you are driving less than 60 MPH. I am no speed demon, and I have made this trip at least 5 times and each was well under 5 hours. Leaving or entering Paris city is a different story. Driving to H-berg should be a piece of cake unless there is an accident or road construction.
Clea

I do the drive from Brussels to Heidelberg fairly often - most recently the weekend before last. It can take much longer depending on problems on the autobahn - or indeed it can be quick, as it was for me last weekend. Choose your timing and your route carefully.

Luxembourg is gorgeous but not on way - but if you take this longer route you can then go via Trier, one of Europe's oldest towns with the most remarkable Roman relics north of the Alps and then down the Mosel Valley, one of Europe's most scenic drives.

Too bad you don't have more time - as it is you'll have to autoroute it and see little besides trucks and wind barriers in that time frame.

Strasbourg and Alsace - Colmar and a short stretch of Alsace Wine Strasse would be easy.