Cologne to Heidelberg---self drive

7 days is more than enough time to explore the Mittelrhein and Mosel, particularly with a car. With that much time, I would also recommend checking out Marburg, the Deutche Weinstraße (German Wine Road) , the Odenwald (the mountainous region around Heidelberg), Speyer and the Neckar river valley.

It is certainly feasible. The "best" way? Maybe. I usually go by train, but there a few times when a car would come in handy. Rail service is excellent along the Rhine and Mosel (at least the lower part). The Mosel from Traben-Trarbach to Trier is only accessible by car or bus, as the rail line cuts away from the river to avoid all the meanders. This is a very scenic stretch of the river with vineyard covered hillsides and seemingly a wine festival in every town (they actually trade off weekends so there is always one about every 10 miles or so). Thus driving can be a bit problematic at a Strassenweinfest. Get a place to stay and walk to the fest.

Good advice above.

By the way, just to get an idea to help you put distances in perspective. If you drove the direct Autobahn route between Köln and Heidelberg, the trip would only take a little more than two hours. So in 7 days, you really can see a lot.

Thanks again for the info. Tom, thanks for giving me the perspective re the time frame and distance ----not having had a look at the map as yet, I can quickly agree that 7 days will give us a good feel for the area.

Thanks again for the info. Tom, thanks for giving me the perspective re the time frame and distance ----not having had a look at the map as yet, I can quickly agree that 7 days will give us a good feel for the area.

Thanks again for the info. Tom, thanks for giving me the perspective re the time frame and distance ----not having had a look at the map as yet, I can quickly agree that 7 days will give us a good feel for the area.