A 4-day Harz, Moselle and Champagne road trip from Berlin to Paris
Estimated cost
€1,450estimated total
Stays
€510
Fuel
€190
Food
€430
Other
€320
Estimates generated at planning time — your actual costs may vary.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1
230 km3h 4mDepart 08:30
Start
Berlin, Germany
Drive 220 km in ~2h 40min via A2 and A36 from Berlin
213 km2h 41m
1
Attraction
Quedlinburg historic old town
Quedlinburg, Germany
11:10–13:402h 30m here€24
UNESCO old town views and Romanesque history
Great for history photos and manageable kids' walking; use Schlossberg garage to avoid narrow lanes.
Walk 800 m in ~10min through Quedlinburg old town
1 km3m
2
Food
Brauhaus Lüdde
Quedlinburg, Germany
13:50–14:501h here€70
Historic brewery with hearty Harz dishes
Fits local cuisine and family meals; try Harzer beer sauce dishes and reserve a courtyard table.
Drive 14 km in ~17 min via B79 to Timmenrode
14 km17m
3
Activity
Teufelsmauer Abschnitt BLANKENBURG - TIMMENRODE
Blankenburg (Harz), Germany
15:15–17:152h here
Short sandstone ridge hike with big views
Adventure hike with dramatic photo rocks; wear grippy shoes and park at Hamburger Wappen lot.
Drive 1.7 km in ~3 min via L92 to Blankenburg
2 km3m
4
Overnight
Schlosshotel Blankenburg
Blankenburg (Harz), Germany
17:30–18:301h here€150
Comfortable castle-style hotel near Harz trails
Romantic but practical for family rooms; surface parking suits the SUV better than old-town alleys.
Day 2
467 km5h 43mDepart 08:30
Check out of Schlosshotel Blankenburg and drive 340 km in ~4h via A7, A5 and B42
393 km4h 20m
5
Attraction
Niederwald Monument
Rüdesheim am Rhein, Germany
12:30–14:302h here€16
Rhine viewpoint above vineyards and castles
Big Rhine panoramas for photography; arrive before cable-car queues and use paid hilltop parking.
Drive 4 km in ~15min down through Ruedesheim vineyards
3 km6m
6
Food
Weingut GEORG BREUER - BREUER OHG
Rüdesheim am Rhein, Germany
14:45–16:001h 15m here€85
Riesling tavern with regional plates
Local Riesling and simple kid-friendly food; driver should use alcohol-free options or taste lightly.
Drive 67 km in ~1h 20min along scenic B42 Rhine road
68 km1h 8m
7
Attraction
Deutsches Eck
Koblenz, Germany
17:20–18:351h 15m here
Moselle-Rhine confluence landmark
Easy sunset photos where two rivers meet; park at Peter-Altmeier-Ufer for wider SUV spaces.
Drive 2 km in ~10min through Koblenz city center
2 km10m
8
Overnight
Hotel Sander
Koblenz, Germany
18:45–19:451h here€130
Modern central hotel near riverside sights
Good base for evening riverside strolls; use nearby public garage and check height before entering.
Day 3
177 km2h 20mDepart 08:45
Check out of sander Hotel and drive 128 km in ~1h 40min via A48 and A1 to Trier
127 km1h 25m
9
Attraction
Porta Nigra
Trier, Germany
10:25–12:252h here€28
Massive Roman city gate and UNESCO icon
Covers Roman history and architecture; buy combo tickets if adding other Trier monuments.
Walk 700 m in ~10min through Trier old town
1 km4m
10
Food
Weinstube Kesselstatt
Trier, Germany
12:35–13:501h 15m here€80
Moselle wine tavern by the cathedral
Regional Moselle food in a leafy courtyard; order Flammkuchen and book ahead for lunch.
Drive 50 km in ~50min via B53 along the Moselle
48 km46m
11
Activity
Seitensprung Bärensteig Bernkastel-Kues
Bernkastel-Kues, Germany
14:40–17:102h 30m here
Vineyard hiking loop above the Moselle
Best hiking and river photos of the day; carry water in June and choose the shorter loop with kids.
Drive 2 km in ~10min across Bernkastel-Kues
1 km5m
12
Overnight
Hotel Moselauen
Bernkastel-Kues, Germany
17:20–18:201h here€120
Modern riverside hotel near old town
Relaxed Moselle overnight for couples and family; reserve parking early due summer wine tourism.
Day 4
512 km6h 33mDepart 08:00
Check out of Hotel Moselauen and drive 287 km in ~3h 40min via A1, A31 and A4 into France
312 km3h 31m
13
Attraction
Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims
Reims, France
11:40–13:402h here
Gothic coronation cathedral with stained glass
Superb architecture and indoor break; park at Erlon or Buirette garage before the pedestrian zone.
Drive 2 km in ~10min through central Reims
2 km9m
14
Food
Brasserie Excelsior Reims
Reims, France
13:50–15:051h 15m here€95
Classic Art Deco brasserie near the station
Local Champagne-region cooking with kids' options; reserve terrace seats and try jambon de Reims.
Drive 30 km in ~40min via D951 through Champagne vineyards
35 km35m
15
Attraction
Avenue de Champagne
Épernay, France
15:45–17:151h 30m here€80
Elegant champagne houses and cellar avenue
Adds food culture and grand architecture; book one short cellar visit and keep the driver sober.
Drive 145 km in ~2h 10min via A4 to Paris, expect ring-road traffic
158 km2h 6m
16
Attraction
Eiffel Tower
Paris, France
19:25–20:551h 30m here€72
Iconic Paris arrival landmark
Memorable family finale and couple photos; prebook timed tickets or view from Champ de Mars free.
Finish
Paris, France
Before you go
Local tips
- 1Fuel the SUV before leaving Germany or Luxembourg-adjacent Moselle areas; French motorway fuel on the A4 is pricier.
- 2Book Reims or Epernay cellar visits at least 2 weeks ahead for late-June weekends and school-holiday demand.
- 3Use edge-of-old-town parking in Quedlinburg and Trier; narrow historic lanes are awkward for an SUV.
- 4Photograph Niederwald Monument late afternoon for softer Rhine light, but expect weekend cable-car queues.
- 5Keep cashless toll payment ready for the French A4 from Metz/Reims toward Paris.
Good to know
- 1France A4 motorway has tolls between the border/Metz-Reims-Paris corridor; budget for péage fees.
- 2German and French city centers use strict speed cameras and low-emission rules; Paris requires Crit'Air if entering restricted zones.
- 3June heat can make Moselle vineyard hikes exposed; start with water and avoid pushing kids in midday sun.
- 4Old-town garages in Quedlinburg, Trier and Paris may have low height limits; choose surface lots or confirmed SUV-height garages.
- 5Weekend traffic near Paris on the A4 and périphérique can add 30-60 minutes to the final approach.
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