Driving is a great way to explore the region —up one side of the Rhine and down the other—with time out for a cruise However, the train route between Wiesbaden and Koblenz offers thrilling views, and train travel in Germany is straightforward, very enjoyable and can be excellent value if you book in advance.
If You Have 3 Days
Travel down the Rhine toward Rüdesheim, stopping near Eltville to visit the historical monastery Kloster Eberbach, the Rheingau’s cultural wine center. Take in the beauty of the Rhine Gorge with its steep vineyards, legendary castles, and the Loreley rock, on a Rhine steamer cruise from Rüdesheim to St. Goarshausen. Return by train and stay overnight in a Rheingau wine village between Eltville and Rüdesheim. The second day, ferry from Rüdesheim to Bingen and drive along the river for a closer look at the romantic Mittelrhein. The town walls, towers, and historic buildings in the wine villages of Bacharach, Oberwesel, St. Goar, and Boppard evoke the region’s medieval past. Boppard also has significant relics from Roman times. From there, drive 20 km (12 mi) to the Mosel Valley (toward Brodenbach) to spend the night in a wine village such as Alkenor Treis-Karden. Start the third day with a visit to the fairy-tale castle Burg Eltz. Follow the Mosel downstream to its confluence with the Rhine at Koblenz, spending the rest of the day exploring the sights of the city or the nearby castles Stolzenfels, Marksburg, and Ehrenbreitstein.
If You Have 5 Days
Spend an afternoon and night in Wiesbaden to enjoy the thermal springs, elegant shops, and nightlife. The next morning visit Kloster Eberbach and a wine estate, or proceed to Rüdesheim for a Rhine steamer cruise to St. Goarshausen. The third morning, continue downstream to Kaub to visit the medieval Castle Pfalzgrafenstein,. Ferry across the Rhine to Bacharach and then stay the night in the medieval town of Oberwesel, St. Goar, or Boppard. The fourth day, travel along the Mosel River to Burg Eltz, followed by a stop in Cochem or a few of the charming wine villages upstream. Stay overnight in or near Bernkastel-Kues, with its picturesque market square, wine museum, and wine-tasting shops. On Day 5, enjoy the natural beauty of the Mosel during an hour-long boat excursion from Bernkastel before following the river upstream to Trier, the former capital of the western Roman Empire.
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If You Have 7 Days
Omit for space in 2007Follow the five-day itinerary above. Travel from Trier to Köln via the autobahn. Spend the sixth day and night in Köln, visiting the Dom, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture, and one or more of the Romanesque churches and excellent museums. Devote the last day to Aachen, an elegant spa and the single-greatest storehouse of Carolingian architecture in Europe.