Upper Middle Rhine Valley
The dramatic cliffs, vineyards, and meandering river create a picturesque environment that has inspired artists, poets, and travelers for centuries. The area is steeped in history, with over 40 castles and fortresses dotting the landscape, many of which date back to the medieval period. Each castle has its own story, often tied to the region’s strategic importance in European history.
Along the river one finds quaint towns like Bacharach, Boppard, and St. Goar, where we find half-timbered houses, cobblestone streets, and local German culture. The Loreley Rock is one of the most famous landmarks in the Rhine Gorge. According to legend, a siren named Loreley lured sailors to their doom with her song. The site offers spectacular views and is a focal point for the region’s mythology.
The Rhine Gorge is also part of one of Germany’s most famous wine regions. Visitors can tour vineyards, participate in wine tastings, and enjoy the renowned Riesling wines that thrive on the valley’s steep slopes.
Furthermore, the region hosts a variety of cultural events throughout the year, including the Rhine in Flames, where fireworks light up the night sky over the river, and various wine festivals celebrating local produce.
The Rhine Gorge is also part of one of Germany’s most famous wine regions. Visitors can tour vineyards, participate in wine tastings, and enjoy the renowned Riesling wines that thrive on the valley’s steep slopes.
Furthermore, the region hosts a variety of cultural events throughout the year, including the Rhine in Flames, where fireworks light up the night sky over the river, and various wine festivals celebrating local produce.
Where is the Upper Middle Rhine Valley?
Upper Middle Rhine Valley
Reviews related to the Upper Middle Rhine Valley
Awesome tour of the Rhine river valley!
What an amazing day my family of eight (ages 17–72) spent touring with Manfred along the Rhine river valley northwest of Heidelberg! Charming little towns and villages, beautiful castles and churches, all in a comfortable coach with a talented personable driver guide who we now call ‘Friend’. Manfred custom-tailored our day beyond our expectations, even sending historical, fun and funny information and videos about the sites we would visit ahead of time which, due to that knowledge, enriched our overall experience. We all treasure the memories made that day in Heidelberg with a Friend!
Exactly what we asked for
This was exactly what we were looking for. Private ride, comfortable car, good conversation and see the area. Manfred was a great host. Very personable and friendly. Knew the area well and was able to quickly show us Heidelberg which is what we asked for. Hope you all have the experience of the big man in a kilt on the ferry and the big beer barrel from the Heidelberg castle. Manfred was also very helpful in recommendations for other things to do and places to stay while we were in Germany. The upper middle valley Rhine was beautiful and we may not have seen it without his insights. I’d recommend the ride and connection to Manfred to anybody who asked.
Manfred continues to be the consummate professional with all of our touring and vacation needs. His in-depth knowledge of our chosen locations is second to none. My wife and I recently took a much-needed day trip to Rüdesheim, viewing several castles on the Rhine. Manfred arranged it all to include pick-up, driving services, and an amazing lunch prepared by world renowned Chefs. We will continue to book with our Dear Friend In Heidelberg!
10 Day Tour of Germany with A Friend in Heidelberg
We had a unique situation. Our daughter was studying in Heidelberg, and we wanted to visit her but also visit a lot of Germany while on our ten-day vacation. I found Manfred or better “a friend in heidelberg” online and saw all his 5‑star reviews. I reached out and from our first contact he was prompt and thorough. He listened to every detail and even helped plan our entire vacation in Germany with meticulous detail. I had a wish list and he organized and researched to plan the perfect holiday for us. He truly was a friend in Heidelberg and so much more. We were to visit Klopp Castle in Bingen. Something I am sure only important to us because of our last name. This castle is not open to the public since it hosts the city administration including the major’s office. However, Manfred made several phone calls until he arranged with the Janitor to let us in and show us around. We got an amazing tour that we never normally would have. This kind of care and service you just don’t see anymore. Our friend in Heidelberg helped us arrange hotels that were very specific to our wants and needs. Even though most of Germany speaks English there are websites that when booking hotels or tours still have German words and phrases. He booked amazing local authentic restaurants and a dream tour of Germany that that was carefully planned and executed just for us. During our stay in Bingen, Manfred toured us through the countryside along the Rhine River where he picked two perfect castles for us to tour. We were able to enjoy and take it at our own pace. When we transferred to Heidelberg, we paid the renowned wine growing region Palatinate a visit. At the winery Fitz-Ritter we had a lovely afternoon of tasting wines and visiting its property. Something we wouldn’t have found on our own. Manfred’s knowledge of the area and local favorites was crucial. After spending two days with our daughter in Heidelberg we had Manfred drive us to Munich with a stop and tour of Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site on the way. Once in Munich he drove us around and showed us highlights of Munich including a visit of the renowned German Museum of Masterpieces of Science and Technology. Manfred found the perfect quiet home base outside of Munich for our three days there. On one of our tours in Bavaria we caught a cog train to the top of Wendelstein mountain where we enjoyed some unbelievable views. One trip took us into Austria where we took a private “Sound of Music” tour in and around Salzburg. Our final trip before heading back to Heidelberg was a tour of world-famous Neuschwanstein Castle. We couldn’t have enjoyed our vacation or time spent with Manfred more. He checked off so many bucket list items for us and was instrumental in our perfect German holiday.
Wonderful guide and concierge
This was the first time we had used a bespoke service instead of pre-packaged tours and didn’t know quite what to expect. However, Manfred was extremely efficient to arrange a pre-departure Zoom meet for us to get to know him and for him to better understand our very specific needs. My wife and I basically needed to spend quality time with our daughter in Germany while efficiently touring the Middle Rhine valley, Heidelberg and the Neckar valley and getting the required outbound Covid tests. I would highly recommend you give him as much background as possible and do your own research so that he can use his great planning skills and local knowledge to propose options/modifications for you to consider. Manfred was extremely approachable, pro-active, accommodating, humorous and sensitive to our unspoken needs at the moment. He would often contact the various establishments e.g. cruise operators, rail company, hotels, Covid test canters, restaurants directly in order to get the most up-to-date information. He has an electronic log system in his wonderful S‑class limousine that transparently documented mileage and time. He spent social time with us over meals and dog walking for which he did not charge. All in all, he made us feel like his valued friends and not simply like his clients. His services are not cheap, but they are certainly value-for-money for those who want to spend more time enjoying rather than worrying about the logistics of their holiday. I unreservedly recommend Manfred as your guide and planner for your next trip to Germany.