Heidelberg is only one of many possible destinations, but in case of a tour with "a friend in Heidelberg" almost a must. Heidelberg is my hometown and I not only know the city like the back of my hand but also its vicinity. The Heidelberg Castle and the world-famous historic old town are a must see. However, off the beaten track there is much more to discover.
The Schwetzingen Palace is one of many possible destinations of our journey. Worth seeing is the 18th century castle garden.
The Speyer Cathedral, one of many possible destinations of our journey, is the largest surviving Romanesque church in the world. Four emperors, three empresses and kings from the houses of Habsburg, Staufen and Nassau are buried here. The cathedral is thus the most important burial site of the Middle Ages on German soil.
Hirschhorn, one of many possible destinations of our journey, is also called the pearl of the Neckar valley. In the summer of 1878 Mark Twain visited Hirschhorn and dedicated a chapter in his book "A Tramp Abroad" to the city. Among the sights of Hirschhorn are the medieval castle as well as the historic old town with its numerous old half-timbered houses. On our way back we will stop to see the ruined castle of Dilsberg which is not only a marvel of medieval architecture but one also known for a stunning view of the Neckar river valley.
The old town of Heppenheim, one of many possible destinations of our journey, is characterized by old half-timbered houses and offers a picturesque old town center, a location which in recent years has established itself as a popular movie backdrop for the Bollywood film industry. The 11th century castle of Starkenburg on the mountain opposite the old town is not only worth seeing but also worth a visit.
The Abbey of Lorsch, one of many possible destinations of our journey, is one of the most famous abbeys of the Carolingian Empire. Even in its ruined state, its remains are among the most important pre-Romanesque-Carolingian style buildings in Germany and is a fundamental example for early medieval German history. In 1991 the ruined abbey was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The city of Worms, one of many possible destinations of our journey, the home of Kriemhild, Siegfried, Hagen, and the other famous characters of the 13th century poem The Nibelungenlied! You will visit the Cathedral St. Peter where Queen Kriemhild and Queen Brunhilde quarreled over Siegfried the dragon slayer and where there is a statue of Hagen von Tronje throwing the treasure of the Nibelungen into the Rhine River.
Strasbourg, one of many possible destinations of our journey, has a well-preserved historical old town, classified a World Heritage Site since 1988. The famous sandstone gothic Cathdrale Notre-Dame with its famous astronomical clock is the city's landmark. In the streets and squares surrounding the cathedral you will find a medieval cityscape of Rhineland black and white timber-framed buildings. Another landmark worth visiting is the district of La Petite France with its canals and narrow alleys.
Jagsthausen, one of many possible destinations of our journey, was already settled by the Romans in 160 AD. The Gtzenburg and the White Castle offer the perfect backdrop for a rest on the way to Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
Rothenburg, one of many possible destinations of our journey, is a world-famous tourist attraction with a largely preserved medieval old town. The historic town center is surrounded by a impressive town fortification and embedded in the largely unobstructed landscape of the Tauber river valley.
The Mercedes-Benz Museum, just one of many possible destinations of our journey. The website describes absolutely aptly what the visitor can expect: The museum relates its history and tells its stories, bringing both alive by placing them in the context of technology, day-to-day life, social history and popular culture. More than 160 vehicles of all types are the main protagonists. They range from some of the oldest automobiles ever built to legendary racing cars and futuristic research vehicles. Together with other exhibits, they form the centerpiece of the permanent exhibition covering a total of 16,500 square meters in twelve rooms. This unparalleled world can be discovered on two tours that follow a Legend and Collection narrative.
On Tour With A Friend And His Luxury Van - Heidelberg
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Tour Information
Key Details
- Mobile Voucher Accepted
- Hotel pickup Available
- Instant Confirmation
- Lowest Price Guaranteed
- Duration: 12 Hrs
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Language:
English
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Departure Time :
, Confirm time with the local provider in advance of your experience., Six-hour tour, 1/13/2020 - 8/21/2024Monday - Sunday : 12:00 AM - 11:30 PMThree-hour tour, 1/13/2020 - 8/21/2024Monday - Sunday : .. read more
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Return Details :
Returns to original departure point
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Cancellation Policy : This activity is non-refundable Tours booked using discount coupon codes will be non refundable.
Overview
a friend in heidelberg is the name of my service. Many guests of mine told me that this describes extremely well what I have to offer.
The stops mentioned under "Itinerary" are possible destinations of our tour. I am more than happy to compose an individual tour, which is based entirely on your preferences and wishes.
I was not only born in the famous historical city of Heidelberg and know the area extremely well, but also lived and worked in the US and hence speak fluent English. If you wish, I can help you with the organization of your trip ahead of time.
Know More about this tour
Itinerary:
Heidelberg is only one of many possible destinations, but in case of a tour with "a friend in Heidelberg" almost a must. Heidelberg is my hometown and I not only know the city like the back of my hand but also its vicinity. The Heidelberg Castle and the world-famous historic old town are a must see. However, off the beaten track there is much more to discover.
The Schwetzingen Palace is one of many possible destinations of our journey. Worth seeing is the 18th century castle garden.
The Speyer Cathedral, one of many possible destinations of our journey, is the largest surviving Romanesque church in the world. Four emperors, three empresses and kings from the houses of Habsburg, Staufen and Nassau are buried here. The cathedral is thus the most important burial site of the Middle Ages on German soil.
Hirschhorn, one of many possible destinations of our journey, is also called the pearl of the Neckar valley. In the summer of 1878 Mark Twain visited Hirschhorn and dedicated a chapter in his book "A Tramp Abroad" to the city. Among the sights of Hirschhorn are the medieval castle as well as the historic old town with its numerous old half-timbered houses. On our way back we will stop to see the ruined castle of Dilsberg which is not only a marvel of medieval architecture but one also known for a stunning view of the Neckar river valley.
The old town of Heppenheim, one of many possible destinations of our journey, is characterized by old half-timbered houses and offers a picturesque old town center, a location which in recent years has established itself as a popular movie backdrop for the Bollywood film industry. The 11th century castle of Starkenburg on the mountain opposite the old town is not only worth seeing but also worth a visit.
The Abbey of Lorsch, one of many possible destinations of our journey, is one of the most famous abbeys of the Carolingian Empire. Even in its ruined state, its remains are among the most important pre-Romanesque-Carolingian style buildings in Germany and is a fundamental example for early medieval German history. In 1991 the ruined abbey was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The city of Worms, one of many possible destinations of our journey, the home of Kriemhild, Siegfried, Hagen, and the other famous characters of the 13th century poem The Nibelungenlied! You will visit the Cathedral St. Peter where Queen Kriemhild and Queen Brunhilde quarreled over Siegfried the dragon slayer and where there is a statue of Hagen von Tronje throwing the treasure of the Nibelungen into the Rhine River.
Strasbourg, one of many possible destinations of our journey, has a well-preserved historical old town, classified a World Heritage Site since 1988. The famous sandstone gothic Cathédrale Notre-Dame with its famous astronomical clock is the city's landmark. In the streets and squares surrounding the cathedral you will find a medieval cityscape of Rhineland black and white timber-framed buildings. Another landmark worth visiting is the district of La Petite France with its canals and narrow alleys.
Jagsthausen, one of many possible destinations of our journey, was already settled by the Romans in 160 AD. The Götzenburg and the White Castle offer the perfect backdrop for a rest on the way to Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
Rothenburg, one of many possible destinations of our journey, is a world-famous tourist attraction with a largely preserved medieval old town. The historic town center is surrounded by a impressive town fortification and embedded in the largely unobstructed landscape of the Tauber river valley.
The Mercedes-Benz Museum, just one of many possible destinations of our journey. The website describes absolutely aptly what the visitor can expect: The museum relates its history and tells its stories, bringing both alive by placing them in the context of technology, day-to-day life, social history and popular culture. More than 160 vehicles of all types are the main protagonists. They range from some of the oldest automobiles ever built to legendary racing cars and futuristic research vehicles. Together with other exhibits, they form the centerpiece of the permanent exhibition covering a total of 16,500 square meters in twelve rooms. This unparalleled world can be discovered on two tours that follow a “Legend” and “Collection” narrative.
Inclusions
- Private transportation
- Bottled water
- WiFi on board
- Air-conditioned vehicle
Exclusions
- Travel exceeding the mileage allotment of 25 kilometers per hour will be charged with 1.00 per kilometer.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Traveler Reviews
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Manfred was amazing! He customized everything for us and made suggestions all along the way. Our kids are 10 and 13 and they enjoyed all the things we got to see. Tweens and teens are hard but he did great with them. His knowledge of Heidelberg was great and we enjoyed all the stories.
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From the moment we booked our tour Manfred was attentive, professional and humorous. He contacted us through Whats App to discuss our expectations,set a time and place for meeting, and also sent us useful links to help us plan our stay in Heidelberg. He met us on time, the van was comfortable and clean and he was a delightful tour guide. We went to some small towns in the Nekar valley and he filled us in the history of the region. To top it off, we stopped for cake and coffee, his treat! Had a wonderful day.
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Manfried to the rescue! We had an unexpected issue with our rental and Manfried came on a Sunday to our assistant. He even drove us to another agency and made sure we were comfortable with our rental car. Knight in shining armor!
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Manfred is the best! He made our adventures in Heidelberg so fun and took all the stress out of our travel! He made wonderful recommendations for restaurants and even told us to call him if we needed any assistance! Highly recommend!
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Manfred was very organised and precise. We even had conversations beforehand as to what activities we wanted to do on the day and agreed upon the Heidelberg Castle activity. We took the train from Frankfurt to Heidelberg to avoid paying extra miles for the trip. We were met with a warm smile greeting on arrival at the train station. He knew the place so well and we were toured around the Heidelberg Castle well. He even took pictures along the stroll allowing good memories from the trip. He always make sure that we do not rush with the activity and reminded us about the time keeping. He has accepted suggestions while on the trip and tried to answer each query we had. We had a very casual chat as if we have known Manfred for a long time making us feel at ease during the stroll around Heidelberg. Overall the activity was very informative and productive . We are very satisfied with the way Manfred has handled the tour. We were on time at the train station back to Frankfurt. He even texted me links to watch about the Heidelberg Castle and texted us to see if we have arrived safely to our hotel accommodation in Frankfurt. This is one of the best unforgettable tour guide experience we had. For sure we will hire Manfred again in the future!
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Manfred was such a great host to me and my family. He truly is a friend from Heidelberg. One of the big reasons we decided to go to Germany was the fact that we could have a private customized tour of what turned out to be such an incredible town of Heidelberg. Castles, great restaurants, and other surprises made this such a great trip and we would recommend to all. My 3 kids (age 8-14) had such a great time as well. Manfred made the trip great for all of us. Definitely a must-do trip!
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Bruce and I had 4 goals when we took the train into Mannheim, Germany. Although we were already tired (just completing an 11 day tour of the Austria and Switzerland after flying from Seattle, WA). Manfred met us at the train station with a huge smile. He had a luxurious van to accommodate are luggage and a brief outline of how he would help with our goals. To our surprise, Manfred had created an emotional journey of Germany that took us back 50 years. Manfred was tenacious and used “great people skills” in helping us get into closed military installations, private households, and collecting historical information. Goal 1, visiting our son’s birthplace 50 years later. It was a tearful yet wonderful experience to see Heidelberg Hospital and remember the drive over cobble stone roads and barely making it to the hospital. Goal 2, driving by Coleman Barracks, to view where Bruce was assigned to an infantry unit 53 years ago. Manfred accomplished a miracle and got us into the facility. Although my husband is rarely emotional, he became a 20 year old soldier again and retold stories of commanding an armored track vehicle in 1973. Goal 3, see Benjamin Franklin Village in Mannheim where we lived from 1974-1977. Manfred got us into an area that was in the process of being demolished. We met Marvin, a YouTube star, who created several videos on the past and present of the area. Seeing the buildings and military artifacts helped us rekindle fond memories, and created a connection (Marvin) to future information about the area. Goal 4, visiting Lampertheim, where we lived in a German home in 1973-1974. Since Bruce and I had forgotten most of our German, Manfred mastered the language in conveying our desire to visit the home where we lived and speak with present landlords or neighbors. Although Oma and Opa, the Schappners had died, their granddaughter, Claudia, was living in the home. Manfred used to charisma to assure Claudia that we only wanted to relive a wonderful memory of her grandparents. This opened the door to more stories and memories and visit to the “French farm” across the street where are daughter, Carmen played with Ludwig as a child. Again, Manfred helped us bring the past into the future. He talked with Ludwig’s mother and sister and we left with addresses to continue future correspondence. Throughout our journey, Manfred kept in contact through numerous text and emails. He gave us helpful hints of sights to see and restaurants within walking distance of our hotel. Bruce and I agree that our goals would not have been completed without Manfred’s amazing hard work in organizing our trip. He is a kind and dedicated person that is not only an experienced guide but our “friend from Germany.”
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I am actually writing this review about Manfred, but we never went on our tour. We had to cancel our trip due to my father's back injury, but I wanted to leave a review anyway because Manfred was awesome leading up to our now cancelled trip. My husband was born in Heidelberg, and we thought it would be a real experience to visit all the places my husband visited when he was a kid. Manfred was amazing and helped me research all the places we would potentially have been able to see. He was going to pick us up at our port and then spend the day with us going to Worms and Heidelberg. He had a wealth of information to share and was compassionate in our having to cancel, and kind to not accept a cancellation fee I would have welcomely paid for his time spent on research. He even had to rent another van to accommodate all 7 of us. We are sad to not be able to meet Manfred in person, but know that we will be rebooking our tour with him in 2024.
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When you want insider access go with a local! Manfred’s professionalism, friendliness, knowledge and great ride were a welcome break from touristy options. I wish there were more of him in every European city! You create your own itinerary. We chose to take it easy, and see some of the local treasures we could not have found on our own. After a short chauffeured a/c ride we relaxed on a beautiful palace garden tour. As there was almost no one at the location, we had it mostly to ourselves. Ahhhhhhh, our teens loved it. Then a quick trip in the hills to a Medieval Castle Ruin for the most amazing view of the surrounding valley and river. Because Manfred knows people, he also obtained access to a tunnel under the ruins for a refreshingly cool experience. His vehicle/transportation was top flight. New, good a/c, spacious, clean and comfortable. We will definitely work with Manfred for our next trip to Heidelberg or the surrounding area and can’t wait to explore more local faves. Thank you!
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Manfred took our family of five on a tour of Heidelberg and nearby countryside - we had three kids - 15, 18, 20, and he catered it to what we were interested in seeing. He gave us great recommendations for restaurants and getting to our next day of our trip. His van was very clean and spacious. He truly is like having a friend in town.
