Quite frankly, it was a last-minute decision to go to Germany. A Rhein River cruise? Was that the same as a Rhine River cruise? It sounded very tempting.
Maybe it wasn’t such a bad thing that I had messed up my Indonesian visa. I’d been in Bali for six weeks and away from home for five months. Canada was calling.
My head was swirling with possibilities for spontaneous delight! What new sights could I see on the route home? Castles and the Rhein River won this time.
Pro Travel Tip: Take a one-day organized tour from Frankfurt to the Rhein Valley
Is there anywhere else you can cruise a river and see so many castles in one outing?
Thoughts of castles and vineyards are how I landed in Rüdesheim.
Day 1: Explore Rüdesheim
Rüdesheim, a bustling town on the Rhein River, is the perfect base for a visit to this part of Germany. Arrive and get settled. Be prepared to walk uphill to your hotel or take a cab. Spend the afternoon exploring Rüdesheim. Don’t miss the tiny, cobblestone street, Drosselgasse, in the heart of Rüdesheim. Here’s what I discovered:
Bells rang,
bratwurst and schnitzel abounded,
marzipan tempted,
accordion tunes filled the air,
beer steins overflowed with pilsner.
Willkommen!
You are in Germany.
A Rhein River cruise in the Middle Rhein, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a must when you are in this part of Germany. I had to study the map, the names of the towns, docking times, and which castles are open to the public in order to figure out the next day’s plan. I decided to sail to Koblenz as I really wanted to see the over 700-year-old Marksburg Castle.
Day 2: The Rhein River Cruise: Rüdesheim Am Rhein to Koblenz
I decided on a four-hour, one-way cruise with KD Cruise lines from Rüdesheim Am Rhein to Koblenz. I left Rüdesheim at 9:15 a.m. and arrived in Koblenz at 1:10 p.m. The cruise ship made 14 stops between these two towns. You can get off at any of the stops, visit a castle and then resume your cruise on the next ship making its way down the river. The options are endless along the Rhein River. Study the schedule and create your own itinerary.
Rhein River Cruises: Book a 1.5 hour boat trip from Rüdesheim. Or, from Rüdesheim a 1.5 hour cruise with wine tasting.
Castle after castle appeared around the river’s curves, vineyards clung to steep gorges, barges sailed by diligently delivering goods and medieval riverside towns radiated charm.
It is a cruise that sparks imagination and curiosity. I poured over the information sheet figuring out the castle names, which are in ruins, which are restored.
The legends are like a direct excerpt from a storybook. Did robber-barons really raise chains across the river to exact a toll from passing ships?
Was there truly a maiden named Lorelei who sang sweet songs and distracted sailors to their death? Blown about by a cool wind, I sipped hot chocolate and pondered the rich history that I was floating past.
Arriving in Koblenz, I hopped a train back to St. Goar to explore and visit the Rheinfels Castle.
Leave yourself ample time to visit as the last shuttle to the castle never appeared! St. Goar is worth a visit with its half-timbered houses and looming castle. Rheinfels Castle, I will see you next time!
It is an easy train ride back to Bingen but beware there are 2 train stations in Bingen – Bingen Hbf and Bingen Stadtbhf. Bingen Stadtbhf is closest to the docks to catch the ferry back to Rüdesheim.
Day 3: Cycling Along the Rhein River Pathway
There is a certain sense of freedom gliding along on a bicycle in a foreign land. I had done so also in Costa Rica and Sri Lanka and relished the experience. Riding along the Rhein River was no different. Fresh air, the flowing river, church spires, snack stops, villages, castles and the classic asking a stranger for directions!
Rent a bike in Rüdesheim and cycle to the ferry dock. Take the ferry from Rüdesheim to Bingen and follow the signs for the bike path.
I cycled to the town of Bacharach. How can the bike path be anything but highly picturesque when you are cycling by the Rhein River? I passed vineyards bursting with Reisling grapes
and looming stone castles
and chatted to lovely strangers. A German man cycled with me for a while and doled out wisdom about photography. His lasting words, “Pictures come to you.”
Bacharach, though full of tour buses, was charming
with its
cobblestone streets,
half-timbered houses,
tucked away restaurants,
views of the Rhein River,
enticing ruins
and
delectable, chilled Reisling.
On the return ride, I stopped in Bingen for a crisp Reisling and watched the evening light cast its glow over Rüdesheim. This short visit had been a wonderful introduction to storybook Germany, and clearly not long enough.
Rhein River Travel Tips
Getting to Rüdesheim
At Frankfurt airport, there is a train station. I purchased a ticket to Wiesbaden where I transferred to my final destination of Rüdesheim. Check schedules here for train schedules to Rüdesheim.
Train Ticket Travel Tip: Line up at the office and purchase the train ticket from an individual. I had difficulty with the machine, as did the lovely gentleman that was helping me.
When the ticket finally printed, it didn’t say the destination. I hopped on anyway and at my transfer point in Wiesbaden clarified with a train official that I had the correct ticket! Was jet lag a factor here or the German language?
The Ferry Between Rüdesheim And Bingen
The ferry dock is near the train station and was about a 20-minute walk to my hotel. Cabs are available and also found at the train station. If you are spending the evening in Bingen, be sure to check the time of the last crossing.
Base: There are many towns along the Rhein River in which to base yourself.
Restaurant: There is lots of delicious German food in the area. I discovered my favourite restaurant walking from the Bingen train station to the ferry. Zollamt in Bingen am Rhein is stationed in an old customs house and is the perfect place to sit by the river sipping a local Riesling.
Where To Stay In Rüdesheim
Heading to Rüdesheim? Book your room now.
But where do I recommend? This lovely hotel.
Cruises Along the Rhein River
Love River Cruises? Check out Viking River Cruises for overnight river cruises.
I hope you enjoy the Rhein River as much as I did.
Until next time,
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Loved your post! Doing the river cruise is on my list to experience, I have always thought it would make a great post-retirement trip. I loved your photos and your description of the places you visited. I especially liked the castle in St. Goar.
It really is rather magical to cruise down the river and see all the castles and hear the stories about them. So glad you enjoyed the post!
A river cruise sounds like so much fun. I had never really thought of it before. It’s now non my bucket list.
So glad you added it to your bucket list. Do your research because there are much longer cruises and the Moselle River also looks like it would be amazing!