Rhine
3
Day Itinerary •
Germany
Three days in the Rhine Valley reveal the most extraordinary river landscape in Europe, its 65km UNESCO gorge between Bingen and Koblenz lined with medieval castles, steep slate vineyards and half-timbered wine villages that have changed remarkably little in a thousand years. The Gothic splendour of Cologne Cathedral, the perfectly preserved Marksburg Castle, the legendary Loreley rock, the Rheingau Riesling estates and the magnificent Burg Eltz hidden in its side valley are all within reach. This route follows the Rhine from Cologne through the UNESCO gorge to the Rheingau vineyards and the Moselle confluence at Koblenz, combining the finest castle hopping in Germany with the most extraordinary river cruise in Europe and the best Riesling wine country in the world. Three extraordinary days on Germany's most celebrated river.
Best Time To Visit
May to October
Getting There
Train to Koblenz or Rudesheim from Frankfurt, 1 to 1.5 hours
Getting Around
KD Rhine ferry, Rhine Valley railway, car
Budget Per Day
Approx 65 to 230 EUR per person per day
Difficulity
Easy, river and vineyard walking
DAY 1
THE RHINE GORGE
MORNING
COLOGNE CATHEDRAL AND THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY GOTHIC INTERIOR IN GERMANY
Cologne Cathedral is the most extraordinary Gothic building in Germany, its twin 157-metre spires the tallest in the world when completed in 1880 after 632 years of construction, its extraordinary interior containing the Shrine of the Three Kings, the finest medieval reliquary in northern Europe, and the Richard Richter stained glass window of 11,263 coloured squares creating extraordinary abstract light. The tower climb gives the finest view of the Rhine. Entry to cathedral free, tower approx 6 euros. Train/Travel: 30 min train
MIDDAY
THE MARKSBURG CASTLE, THE ONLY UNDESTROYED RHINE CASTLE
Marksburg above Braubach is the only Rhine gorge castle never destroyed or significantly altered, its extraordinary medieval fortifications intact from the 12th century including the great tower, the great battery and the extraordinary kitchen and armaments collections. The view from the ramparts over the Rhine gorge and the Loreley bend below is the finest from any castle on the river. Entry approx 9 euros. Accessible by ferry from Boppard. Train/Travel: 20 min ferry
AFTERNOON
THE LORELEY ROCK AND THE RHINE GORGE VIEWPOINT
The Loreley slate rock at St Goarshausen is the most famous viewpoint on the Rhine, a 132-metre cliff above the narrowest and most treacherous section of the river where the siren of German legend lured sailors to their deaths. The extraordinary viewpoint platform gives the finest panorama of the Rhine gorge, the vineyard terraces and the castle-studded cliffs. The visitor centre tells the Loreley legend. Entry to viewpoint free, centre approx 4 euros.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Bacharach Postenturm, a medieval watchtower in the vineyards above Bacharach accessible by a 30-minute walk from the town, gives the finest view of the Rhine gorge from above the vineyards, with the Stahleck castle ruin, the Gothic Werner Chapel and the entire medieval town visible below in the river bend. Almost entirely unknown to the cruise ship tourists in the town below. The walk through the vineyard terraces is extraordinary in September during the harvest. Entirely free.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe Reichard, Cologne Outstanding breakfast at the finest traditional cafe in Cologne. Extraordinary river terrace facing the cathedral. | Lunch: Weinhaus Weiler, Boppard Outstanding Rhineland lunch. Local Riesling and the finest Rhine salmon in the gorge. | Dinner: Zum Goldenen Pfropfenzieher, Bacharach The finest wine tavern in the Middle Rhine. Outstanding local Riesling and Rhineland food.
DAY 2
RHEINGAU WINE COUNTRY
MORNING
RUDESHEIM AND THE RHINE WINE ROUTE
Rudesheim is the most famous wine town on the Rhine, its extraordinary Drosselgasse lane of wine taverns the finest concentrated wine drinking experience in Germany, its cable car to the Niederwald monument above the vineyards giving the finest view of the Rhine bend at Bingen and the extraordinary Rheingau wine country beyond. The Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet is the finest museum of mechanical musical instruments in the world. Entry to museum approx 12 euros. Train/Travel: 30 min train
MIDDAY
BINGEN AND THE HILDEGARD VON BINGEN HERITAGE
Bingen is the most extraordinary small town on the Middle Rhine, its extraordinary Museum am Strom containing the finest collection of Hildegard von Bingen manuscripts and medical instruments in Germany, the extraordinary Mauseturm toll tower on its Rhine island and the remarkable Rochusberg pilgrimage chapel with its extraordinary Rhine panorama making it the finest hidden town at the junction of the Rhine and Nahe. Entry to museum approx 5 euros. Train/Travel: 30 min train
AFTERNOON
KOBLENZ AND THE DEUTSCHES ECK, WHERE THE MOSELLE MEETS THE RHINE
Koblenz at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle is the finest city in the Rhineland-Palatinate, its extraordinary Deutsches Eck promontory where the two rivers meet, the Ehrenbreitstein fortress above the city on its extraordinary 118-metre basalt rock, the cable car crossing the Rhine to the fortress and the extraordinary Florinsmarkt medieval square making it the finest city base for the Rhine gorge. Entry to fortress approx 8 euros.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Ehrenfels Castle ruin on the Rhine cliff opposite Rudesheim, accessible only by boat from Bingen or by a steep footpath from Assmannshausen, is the most dramatic and least visited Rhine gorge castle ruin, its extraordinary position directly above the Mouse Tower island and the Binger Loch rapids creating the finest view of the upper Rhine gorge. The complete absence of facilities and visitors makes it the finest hidden place in the Rheingau. Boat from Bingen approx 8 euros return.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Ruedesheimer Schloss Outstanding breakfast in the finest hotel in Rudesheim. Rheingau Riesling breakfast Sekt is extraordinary. | Lunch: Historisches Wirtshaus im Stift, Bingen Outstanding Rhineland food in a former monastery. The finest lunch in Bingen. | Dinner: Da Vinci, Koblenz The finest restaurant in Koblenz. Outstanding Italian-German fusion with extraordinary Rhine terrace views.
DAY 3
NAHE VALLEY AND BURG ELTZ
MORNING
THE RHEINGAU WINE REGION AND SCHLOSS JOHANNISBERG
Schloss Johannisberg above Rudesheim is the most extraordinary wine estate in Germany, a Benedictine monastery converted to a wine estate by Napoleon and given to Metternich in 1816, its extraordinary hilltop position above the finest Riesling vineyards in the world giving a view over the entire Rheingau wine region. The wine tasting in the extraordinary historic cellars is the finest in the Rhineland. Entry to tasting approx 12 euros. Train/Travel: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
THE NAHE VALLEY WINE ROUTE AND BAD KREUZNACH
The Nahe Valley between Bingen and Bad Kreuznach is the finest and least visited wine valley in the Rhineland, its extraordinary terraced vineyards of red porphyry rock producing the finest mineral Riesling in Germany. The extraordinary salt springs of Bad Kreuznach, the Roman brine baths and the extraordinary bridge houses built directly over the river Nahe are remarkable. Entry to baths approx 15 euros. Train/Travel: 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
BURG ELTZ, THE MOST EXTRAORDINARILY PRESERVED CASTLE IN GERMANY
Burg Eltz in the Eltz valley near Mosellkern is the most extraordinary and best preserved medieval castle in Germany, its extraordinary cluster of towers belonging to three noble families who have owned it continuously since the 12th century without ever fighting each other. The interior with its extraordinary treasury of medieval armour, silver and paintings is the finest in any castle in the Rhineland. Entry approx 12 euros. Accessible only on foot or by shuttle.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Bacharach Stahleck Youth Hostel occupies the most extraordinary building of any hostel in Europe, a 12th-century castle ruin perched above the Rhine gorge above Bacharach with extraordinary views over the river and the vineyard terraces. The castle's great hall, the tower rooms and the extraordinary terrace are all available to overnight guests. Entry as a hostel guest, beds from approx 30 euros per night. The sunset from the castle terrace over the Rhine gorge is the finest view in the Middle Rhine.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Schloss Johannisberg restaurant Outstanding breakfast at the extraordinary wine estate before the vineyards open. Rheingau honey is remarkable. | Lunch: Wirtshaus an der Nahe, Bad Kreuznach Outstanding Nahe wine valley food. Local Riesling Spaetzle and the finest Nahe Pinot Noir. | Dinner: Burgrestaurant Eltz area Outstanding Rhineland dinner near the extraordinary castle. Local venison and Moselle Riesling.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
Bacharach or Boppard, All Nights Hotel Altkollnischer Hof, Bacharach or Bellevue Rheinhotel, Boppard. Approx 80 to 180 euros. Koblenz option Skunst Hotel or Mercure. Approx 70 to 140 euros. Finest city base for the gorge. Budget Stahleck Castle Hostel, Bacharach from 30 euros. The finest hostel view in Europe.
Top Tips
1. KD Rhine day ferry: board at Rudesheim 9.30am, arrive Koblenz 5.30pm. The finest 8-hour river journey in Europe.
2. Marksburg: the only unaltered Rhine castle. Book guided tours in English ahead at marksburg.de.
3. Loreley viewpoint: take the shuttle bus from St Goarshausen. The cliff path is steep and uneven in places.
4. Bacharach wine: buy direct from the Toni Jost or Ratzenberger estates. Finest Riesling in the Middle Rhine.
5. Burg Eltz: park at Munstermaifeld and take the shuttle. The walk from Mosellkern through the forest is extraordinary.
6. Rhine harvest season September: wine festivals in every village. Book accommodation months ahead.
Total Budget
65 to 225 EUR/day