On tour with a friend and his luxury van
Description
“A Friend in Heidelberg”—that’s the name of my service. Many of my guests have told me that this describes my offering very well. The stops listed under “Itinerary” are possible destinations for our tour. I’d be happy to put together a customized tour for you, tailored entirely to your preferences and wishes. Not only was I born in the famous historic city of Heidelberg and know the area very well, but I’ve also lived and worked in the U.S., so I speak English fluently. If you’d like, I’d be happy to help you organize your trip in advance.
Tour Options
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 castle fortress of Dilsberg, one of many possible destinations on our journey, rises proudly above Neckargemünd on the mountain of the same name. The castle once belonged to the Counts Palatine of the Rhine and fulfilled a military function. Today, the stair tower in the ruins offers a fantastic view over the Neckar Valley and Odenwald.
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 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.
Deidesheim, one of many possible destinations on our trip, is located on the German Wine Route, one of the oldest tourist routes in Germany. Picturesque villages and renowned wineries with excellent restaurants can be found along this road.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Since this is a highly personalized tour, my guest chooses the pickup location—whether at a hotel, the airport, or any other location. The flat rate includes 25 free kilometers per hour. Please note in this context that the trip to the guest’s pickup location, as well as the return trip to Heidelberg, are also counted as regular mileage. The vehicle is wheelchair-accessible as long as the wheelchair can be folded. Child seats are available upon request. The trunk is large enough for medium-sized luggage for up to 5 people.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- 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
Reviews(361)
Manfred was quite possibly the best driver, tour guide, and probable friend for life! We booked him for a full day trip & quite possibly it was the best day of our entire trip! We went from Heidelberg to Rudesheim am Rhein where Manfred dropped us as we explored the Niederwald Monument and rode the cable car back into the city while enjoying some sparking wine. We then boarded KD Cruise to Bacharach, where we viewed many Castles and old ruins! Manfred met us with his car in Bacharach where he showed us around the most quaint lovely town, recommended the best lunch spot and spoiled us with Reisling Frozen Yogurt! We had booked a wine tasting at Weingut Toni Jost, where he accompanied us (invited of course, as we were loving his company), helped us communicate and educated us on fun interesting facts about our surroundings! I had booked a wine tasting at Schloss Johannesburg, where we headed next! Manfred was the best companion for me, while my husband took some business calls, and then we received a private tour of the Wine Cellar, and did our second wine tasting. **Manfred was the driver obviously so was not participating in the tastings, just learning along with us** Manfred then very safely returned us to Heidelberg. Honestly he is the best, most kind, knowledgeable host and driver we have ever had. His English is impeccable & his heart is even more impressive! I had researched a ton of larger business private drivers, but the experience could not have compared to what Manfred did for us, our vacation, and our memories! Thank you so much Friend in Heidelberg!! Til Next Time! Let me not forget to mention that he communicates before very efficiently before and after our trip! He was very helpful with suggestions & recommendations on restaurants, places to stay or see, etc. We had the most amazing meals from his referrals in Heidelberg!
What a wonderful June 2026 trip we had with Manfred, our friend in Heidelberg. We were three colleagues travelling together from South Africa for work and had asked Manfred to do something a bit different for us on the Sunday as we were already touring Heidelberg castle and surrounds on the Saturday. Manfred immediately made contact on receiving the booking to make sure he understood our groups needs and interests so that he could best recommend what we could do on the tour. On the day he fetched us from the hotel which was really convenient and took us to see sights around Hirschhorn, this included a castle grounds tour, a coffee and ice cream stop at the old town, and we also got to enjoy a ferry crossing with Markus. It really is an incredibly scenic area and at the castle it felt like we were in Disneyland. Germany was also having a heatwave that week so it was great to be driving around in the air conditioned car. Manfred is incredibly hospitable and accommodating and made sure we were entertained with facts and local knowledge as well as also taking an interest in where we were from. Thanks Manfred for looking after us so beautifully! Till next time.
Manfred was incredibly accommodating and informative. The day flew by with surprise locations and a fabulous ferry ride across the Neckar. We have done many local tours but Manfred’s ability to seize an opportunity to showcase his hometown is unmatched. Walking down the street he was telling us about local village history when an acquaintance walked out of her front door and greeted us as old friends inviting us into her home. Seeing Heidelberg through his eyes is a treat not to be missed.
"Great experience! I took my teenage son to Heidelberg, Germany for vacation. There we met Manfred Pitz who is an excellent trip advisor/guide. We traveled to the Lichtenstein Castle & Black Forest. Manfred was a welcoming host, took the time to get to know me & my son on a personal level and showed he cared about us having a great experience. Manfred is very personable, knowledgeable, and integrated himself with us while going through the Castle Tour & made the Black Forest Hike for us a fun experience. I would highly recommend hiring him if you need a trip advisor. If we find ourselves back in Heidelberg, I would hire him again. Lebe Wohl!”
My son and I visited Heidelberg for the first time in July 2026. I didn't have time to plan our trip and I was only in town for 3 days. Thankfully I found Manfred online. He made our trip so beautiful! Not only did he pick us up at the airport and give us amazing tours of small villages, the Black Forest, and castles and palaces, but he also gave us a lot of historical information about the area. He even dropped off a book at our hotel about Heidelberg and gave my son recommendations for places to visit later in the week (he was staying longer than me). It would have taken me weeks to research sites for this trip and figure out transportation. He was on time every day, as well as helpful and lots of fun! I feel like I have a new best friend! I highly recommend him as a tour guide! He will make your experience unforgettable!!!
Even though I am a writer by trade, words fail me in describing how professional and jovial our friend in Heidelberg, Manfred, is. He went above and beyond in planning a very special day trip for me. He tracked down the mayor aka burger meister of the tiny town in which I lived as an infant with my parents. Then he worked with the mayor to help me gain entrance to the apartment in which we lived 59 years ago! Furthermore, he and the mayor found a friend to escort us at Landstuhl Medical Center, so that I could see where I was born. A great guide, very knowledgeable, and all around wonderful human being. I highly recommend Manfred. Worth every euro. ~ Sandy
Like all of the reviews you will read, I echo the comments about how great Manfred is. But there is something more that goes far beyond the quality of the tours. Manfred is simply a wonderful human being that does what he does because he simply loves doing it, and it shows throughout your tour. Meeting him was a highlight of our vacation and I can truly say that he is someone I look forward to keeping in touch with well beyond this trip. He is most definitely my friend in Heidelberg. So, if you want a great tour guide that goes so far beyond that, he is your person. Before you even hire him, he helps with an itinerary, makes sure he can deliver what you’re hoping for, and so much more. At the end of the day, your vacation will be far better if you have the opportunity to meet Manfred. He really does go the extra miles.
Tyler, my dear new friend from Colorado, what an awesome review you’ve written. The three days I spent with you and your 18-year-old son were simply brilliant. The fact that you showed me how to play ‘Hacky Sack’ on the grounds of Heidelberg Castle really made the experience even better. I was delighted to see how much you enjoyed the German countryside as we explored the Neckar Valley or as we drove along country roads to Rothenburg ob der Tauber – whilst listening to the timeless songs of the legendary singer John Denver. Please say hi to Bret and do make sure you pop round again the next time you visit your absolute favorite castle in the whole world. Manfred, your friend from Heidelberg
I’ve become a firm believer that private guides, local to your travel destination, provide a superior travel experience to any other approach to vacation travel.. Private guides respond to your specific vacation objectives and organize your trip goals in an orderly fashion that saves time and therefore money. Not only did Manfred do all that, he was enjoyable company. In addition to getting us to all the venues we requested his knowledge base on the area provided a ton of historical perspective and, along the way, pointed out a number of interesting sites and experiences we had no previous awareness of. I assign Manfred a five star rating based on our experience. Last word = book him direct.
When I realized that I wasn’t interested in the big bus tour that our riverboat was offering to Heidelberg, I decided to look elsewhere. I googled private tours in Heidelberg and it brought me to Manfred Pitz and his business A Friend in Heidelberg. I read many many reviews on his website and they were all very positive. I contacted him shortly after and we chatted through the What’s App and also through email and finally tailored a tour to my liking. Despite being June, the day arrived chilly and pouring rain. My first thought was that it wasn’t going to be a very fun day in the inclement weather. Boy was I wrong! Manfred picked us up right at our Viking ship with a big smile on his face. We immediately felt at ease with him and his warm personality and soon the three of us were chatting away as to what our expectations for the day would be. We decided to hold off a little on the castle visit to see if the rain would let up. He drove us into the countryside and also across the river via a very cool one car ferry. He also took us to the remains of a fortress where there was a well that had a story to it that involved an antique key. I won’t give away what the story is but if you tour with Manfred ask him to take you there! Finally we decided to head to the castle with hopes that the rain would let up. Instead it came down in sheets raining sideways under our umbrellas and causing me to don a poncho on top of my jacket! But you know what? It made it all the more memorable of a day we will never forget! Manfred kept to his tour of the castle giving us much information about the castle outside until we finally went inside. Finally in the courtyard the rain did let up for us to take some great photos! We then headed into town on foot and explored the town a little, walked over the bridge, and the three of us had a delicious lunch at an Italian restaurant! We so enjoyed each others company getting to really know each other as the day went on. We then headed to Speyer for a visit to the beautiful Cathedral and finally back to our ship. It was truly a day we will never forget. We truly made a friend in Heidelberg!
Dear Janice, thank you very much for this wonderful and detailed review. I too thought that the weather would make it hard to have an enjoyable tour. But when the right people get together nothing is impossible. Please give Bob my warmest regards and stay in touch. Who knows, maybe our paths will cross again. That would make your friend in Heidelberg very happy!
We had the pleasure of spending a day exploring the Heidelberg region with our guide, and the experience exceeded every expectation. From the moment we met, he was personable, professional, and genuinely committed to ensuring our family had an enjoyable and memorable experience. His English was impeccable, making communication effortless, and his knowledge of Heidelberg's history, culture, and local traditions was truly exceptional. Every stop along the tour came alive through his engaging stories and historical insights, giving us a much deeper appreciation for the region than we could have gained on our own. What impressed us most was his flexibility and attentiveness. He tailored the day to our interests, answered every question with enthusiasm, and never made us feel rushed. His recommendations for local attractions, customs, and cuisine were outstanding and added tremendously to our visit. If you're looking for a guide who is knowledgeable, kind, accommodating, and passionate about sharing Heidelberg's beauty and history, I recommend Manfred without hesitation. He transformed our visit from a simple sightseeing trip into an unforgettable family experience. Thank you for making our time in Germany so special, we hope to return and tour with you again. An exceptional guide in every respect. Professional, knowledgeable, personable, and truly dedicated to providing a first-class experience. Our family couldn't have asked for a better experience to reminisce and experience Heidelberg and the surrounding region. Highly recommended.
Dear David, thank you very much for your detailed review. It was a very special tour for me since you and your family once lived in Heidelberg – in your case even twice. It was a great pleasure for me to visit, together with you, the various places that mean so much to you. I very much hope to see you, Deron, Damon, and Leah again when you come to my hometown the next time. Manfred, your friend in Heidelberg
