Rhine Vacation Package – Rhine river cruise discover

• German Holiday Packages, Package Vacations in Germany
• Castle Tours Guide, Rental, Family, Golf

Along the 65 km stretch of the Middle Rhine River between Koblenz, Boppard, Lorelei Rock and Rüdesheim, you will find around 30 castles and ruins.

• This unique opportunity allows you to explore the charming and picturesque towns and villages along the Rhine at your own pace.
• With day passenger ships, you can easily disembark at one location, enjoy the sights, and then hop back on board to continue your journey.

Rhineland-Palatinate, located in the western region of Germany near the French border, boasts beautiful wine country along the Rhine River.

• If you're arriving from the northwest – Cologne Airport, Düsseldorf Airport, Amsterdam Airport, Luxembourg Airport, or Paris Airport – here’s how to start your journey:

Part 1: Start Your Rhine River Cruise in the delightful town of Boppard, embarking on a journey south along the scenic riverbanks. Enjoy the stunning views, rich history, and captivating atmosphere that this region has to offer.

Part 2: Take some time to explore the picturesque town of Boppard before embarking on a relaxing river cruise. To reach the "Boppard Chairlift," take bus number 670 from Boppard "Hauptbahnhof" (main station) to the “Sesselbahn” (chairlift) stop. Once there, ride the chairlift to the breathtaking "Four Seas View" (Vierseenblick) viewing point on the Rhine hills, standing at 273 meters, where you can enjoy stunning views of the Rhine loop.

Part 3: Enjoy a half-day Rhine River cruise from Boppard, heading south to Kamp-Bornhofen, home to the legendary 'enemy brothers': the Sterrenberg and Liebenstein castles.

Part 4: Spend some time to explore Kamp-Bornhofen, home to the legendary 'enemy brothers': the Sterrenberg and Liebenstein castles. After immersing yourself in the rich history, consider an unforgettable stay at Castle Hotel Liebenstein, the highest castle on the Middle Rhine! Enjoy breathtaking views of the Rhine and the picturesque surroundings. Spend the night in this historic castle and let yourself be enchanted by the beauty of the Rhine Valley before continuing your journey on a relaxing river cruise.

Part 5: Enjoy a half-day Rhine River cruise from Kamp-Bornhofen, heading south. Pass Welmich with the Maus (Mouse) Castle, St. Goarshausen with the Katz (Cat) Castle, and finally arrive in St. Goar, home to Rheinfels Castle.

Part 6: From St. Goar to Rheinfels Castle: Begin your journey from the car ferry pier or the town hall (both located on the B9 federal road) in St. Goar. Take bus number 681, which runs every hour in winter and every 30 minutes in summer, directly to Rheinfels Castle. Rheinfels Castle, the largest castle ruin in West Germany, is home to the second most visited local history museum in Rhineland-Palatinate. Explore its fascinating casemates, wander through Europe’s largest vaulted cellar, and discover the medieval castle museum, complete with English labels for an informative experience.

Part 7: Enjoy a half-day Rhine cruise from St. Goar, heading south past the legendary Loreley Rock – marking the narrowest and deepest part of the Rhine (22 meters) – to the enchanting medieval town of Oberwesel and its renowned Schönburg Castle.

Part 8: Take your time in Oberwesel and stroll 500 meters on the historic medieval town wall, letting its timeless charm transport you to another era. Climb the high tower (Steingassenturm) to marvel at the sweeping views of the enchanting Rhine Valley. As the day draws to a close, retreat to the picturesque Schönburg Castle hotel, perched high above the river, and let its enchanting atmosphere complete your unforgettable experience before continuing your journey by boat.

Oberwesel boasts a long-standing tradition of wine-making and invites visitors to explore its scenic vineyards through guided wine hiking tours. These tours include four wine tastings in three different vineyards and lead visitors on 16 Saturdays each year to the stunning 'Sieben-Jungfrauen-Blick' (Seven Virgins View) viewpoint. They are also available for solo travelers.

Part 9: Half-day Rhine River cruise from Oberwesel heading south to Kaub, where the boat stops for a land excursion. From the boat and Kaub, visitors can admire Gutenfels Castle and the Pfalz moated castle (Pfalzgrafenstein), located on an island in the middle of the Rhine.

Part 10: Spend some time in Kaub and visit the Pfalz moated castle (Pfalzgrafenstein), a unique fortress perched on an island in the middle of the Rhine, before boarding a boat. Gutenfels Castle, located above the town, is privately owned and not open to visitors. While in Kaub, you can also visit the Blüchermuseum, which commemorates Prussian Field Marshal Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher and his pivotal role in the Battle of Waterloo on June 18, 1815, alongside British commander Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington.

Part 11: Half-day Rhine River cruise from Kaub heading south past the Pfalz moated castle (Pfalzgrafenstein) toward Bacharach and Stahleck Castle. The journey passes the 'Wild Danger' (Wildes Gefähr), a striking 400-meter-long rock formation with a steep gradient in the Middle Rhine mountain range, located at Rhine kilometer 544.7.

Part 12: Take some time to explore Bacharach before boarding your boat. Stroll through this medieval town along the Rhine, following the walkable city wall.

The circular route (Stadtmauerrundweg) begins next to “Mainzer Straße No. 2” and spans 418 meters, passing four city towers and leading to Stahleck Castle's courtyard, where you can enjoy stunning views of the Rhine River valley. The return route takes you past the ruins of the Gothic Werner Chapel, leading back to the city center near St. Peter's Church.

Join a guided wine hike through the picturesque vineyards to the Postenturm, where you can savor a breathtaking postcard view of Bacharach and Stahleck Castle, accompanied by four delightful wine tastings.

Many guests highly recommend the "Rheinhotel" for a comfortable stay, as well as the more budget-friendly hotel-pension "Im Malerwinkel" for those looking for economical overnight accommodations.

Part 13: Enjoy a half-day Rhine River cruise from Bacharach heading south to Assmannshausen or Rüdesheim. Along the way, you'll pass picturesque landmarks, including the Fürstenberg ruins above Rheindiebach, the Nollig ruins above Lorch, Heimburg Castle above Niederheimbach, Sooneck Castle, and the stunning Reichenstein Castle above Trechtingshausen, as well as Rheinstein Castle further along.

Part 14: In Assmannshausen (opposite Rheinstein Castle), take a stroll from the landing stage to the Seilbahn Assmannshausen cable car, which will take you up to the Rhine hills and the Jagdschloss Niederwald castle.

After that, enjoy a scenic 4 km walk through the Niederwald Landscape Park (Landschaftspark). The hike begins at Jagdschloss Niederwald and follows the Rhine Trail (Rheinsteig) for about 750 meters through the forest, leading you to the enchanting Zauberhöhle cave and onward to the viewpoint at Ruine Rossel. Continuing along the Rhine Trail (Rheinsteig), you'll walk approximately 1800 meters along the ridge of the Rhine hills. At the Naheblick viewpoint, revel in breathtaking views of Ruine Ehrenfels, the Mouse Tower, the mouth of the Nahe River, Bingen with Burg Klopp, and the stunning Rhine Valley.

On your journey, you'll encounter information panels, the Eremitage, and finally reach the highlight of your hike: the famous Niederwald Monument (Niederwald-Denkmal).

Part 15: The Niederwald Monument (Niederwald-Denkmal) offers another spectacular vantage point to admire the Rhine, the picturesque Rhine River valley, and the sprawling vineyards of the Rheingau region. Just northeast of the monument, you’ll find the Seilbahn Rüdesheim cable car, which provides a comfortable ride down to the charming town of Rüdesheim along the Rhine. Once in Rüdesheim, don’t miss the famous Drosselgasse, a delightful 144-meter-long alleyway filled with vibrant shops and eateries. At the upper end of Drosselgasse, take a short 30-meter walk to Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet, home to over 400 self-playing antique musical instruments.

Plan your Rhine River adventure and explore the most captivating castles in just 2, 3 or 4 days! Along the 65 km stretch of the Middle Rhine River between Koblenz, Boppard, Lorelei Rock and Rüdesheim, you will find around 30 castles and ruins.

• Select Your Rhine River Day Cruise Departure Point
• Group availability request for day cruises on the Rhine River.
• Group Pricing Request for Rhine River Day Cruises.
• Rhine River Day Cruises for Pupils, Students, and Teachers.

19 Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for Rhine River Day Cruises

Arriving from Cologne (Köln) Airport, your adventure begins as you travel along the picturesque route to Boppard in the stunning Rhine River valley.

• Many outdated travel guides suggest a one-day boat trip from Cologne to Mainz or vice versa.
• However, this lengthy route has not been serviced by day passenger ships for several years.
• Similarly, the stretch between Koblenz and Linz on the Rhine River has lost its appeal, with no day passenger ships operating in that area anymore.
• Instead, we recommend a more efficient journey: traveling the 120 km from Cologne to Boppard by car or train, which runs every hour.

There are no daily boat cruises from Frankfurt city or Frankfurt Airport to Mainz or Wiesbaden on the Rhine River.

• Instead, travelers can take a train from Frankfurt to either Wiesbaden or Mainz to start their Rhine River cruise.
• The section of the Rhine River between Mainz and Wiesbaden to Rüdesheim and Bingen is much flatter than the hilly terrain of the Middle Rhine, which means there are no castles visible from the cruise boats along this route.
• Therefore, if you are coming from Frankfurt, it is advisable to begin your Rhine River cruise in Rüdesheim or Bingen.
• Additionally, starting your boat cruise along the Middle Rhine castles in Rüdesheim or Bingen is more economical than beginning in Mainz or Wiesbaden.

Winter schedule: Rhine River Half-Day Round Cruise

• During the winter months of November, December, January, February, and March, half-day round cruises on the Rhine River are available, although options may be limited.
• These cruises are particularly popular during the Christmas market season, with departures from key locations such as Rüdesheim, Boppard, and Cologne.
• For those looking to experience the beauty of the Rhine in winter, Rüdesheim is conveniently accessible by train from Frankfurt, making it an ideal starting point for winter and Christmas market cruises.
• The winter program typically operates from late October through early April, ensuring that visitors can enjoy the scenic views and festive atmosphere along the river.

Between Cologne Koln, Coblence Koblenz Lahnstein, Boppard, Lorelei Rock, St. Goar, Oberwesel, Bacharach, Bingen, Rudesheim and Frankfurt:

Rhine River cruises to visit German wine festivals in 2025 and 2026 Rhine River Lights firework displays with half day round boat cruises A spectacular firework display during a boat trip in the Middle Rhine River Valley between Koblenz / Coblence, Lahnstein, Boppard, St. Goar, Loreley Rock, Oberwesel, Bacharach, Assmannshausen, Bingen and Rudesheim. The boat cruise with DJ music and dance on board is starting from different wine towns with wine hikings and wine festivals.

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Rhine in flames, Rhine aflame, Firework displays on Rhine and Mosel Rivers

Individual castle tour round trip through south Germany More information

Cologne / Koln / Köln

If you are coming from Dusseldorf airport and if you want to start your River Cruise in Koln (Cologne)

Directions from Paris / France or Luxembourg to the Rhine River valley in Germany

Rhine Maps with Castles and german cities

Which hotels on the Rhine River in germany are good romantic places?

Germany, Rhine River Valley, Mainz, Rudesheim, Bacharach, Lorelei Rock, Koblenz Nonsmoking Canopy bed holiday apartment Hermann, ask for Last Minute Offers Central quiet location in Oberwesel on the Rhine river. Renovated in 2015, 55 sqm. Bedroom with historic four-poster bed and satellite TV, living room with sofa bed and satellite TV, kitchen, free Wi-Fi, balcony, terrace. Car parking. 4 boat landing stages. 630 meters from castle Schonburg. Favorable permanent rental price from Nov. to March.

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Map of Germany

8 day Rhine River cruise Amsterdam - Basel or Basel - Amsterdam,
8 days Amsterdam – Nimwegen – Koln Cologne – Winningen on the Mosel river – Koblenz Coblence – Rudesheim – Mannheim – Strassbourg – Basel
or 8 days Basel – Strassbourg – Mannheim – Rudesheim – Koln Cologne – Dusseldorf – Nimwegen – Rotterdam – Amsterdam

5 day Rhine River cruise Basel - Amsterdam or 6 day Rhine River cruise Amsterdam - Basel
5 days Basel – Strassbourg – Rudesheim – Koln Cologne – Dusseldorf – Amsterdam
or 6 days Amsterdam – Dusseldorf – Koln Cologne – Boppard – Speyer – Strassbourg – Basel

5 day Rhine River cruise Dusseldorf - Basel or 4 day Rhine River cruise Basel - Düsseldorf
5 days Dusseldorf – Koln Cologne – Koblenz Coblence – Speyer – Strassbourg – Basel
or 4 days Basel – Strassbourg – Boppard – Koln Cologne – Dusseldorf

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Status:  Samstag, 01. März 2025 - 5283