- The UNESCO-listed gorge runs for roughly 65km between Bingen and Koblenz
- Railway lines on both banks and regular boats make a car unnecessary
- Stay in Bacharach, St Goar or Boppard for village atmosphere
- There are no bridges in the gorge itself, so use the car ferries to cross
- Airports
- Frankfurt (FRA), Cologne Bonn (CGN), Frankfurt-Hahn (HHN)
- Best time to go
- May-October
- Type
- Region
The Middle Rhine is the stretch of the river where it cuts a deep, winding gorge through the hills between Bingen and Koblenz. Steep vineyards climb from the water, and almost every bend has a castle, many of them built by medieval lords to collect tolls from passing ships. The Upper Middle Rhine Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it is one of the most scenic river journeys in Europe.
The gorge lies mostly in Rhineland-Palatinate, with Rüdesheim and the Rheingau on the Hesse side. For the wider country, see our Germany guide.
Things to do
- A Rhine cruise – boats run between Bingen, Rüdesheim and Koblenz, stopping at the main villages. The section between Bacharach and St Goar, past the Loreley, is the most dramatic.
- The Loreley – a rock rising about 130m above a narrow bend, linked to the legend of a siren who lured boatmen to their doom. The clifftop has a visitor centre and views.
- Marksburg – a hilltop castle above Braubach that was never destroyed, giving a rare picture of a medieval fortress.
- Rheinfels and Pfalzgrafenstein – the sprawling ruins of Rheinfels above St Goar, and the toll castle on an island in the river near Kaub.
- Bacharach – a half-timbered wine village with town walls and Stahleck Castle above.
- Rüdesheim – the busy Drosselgasse lane of wine taverns and a cable car over the vineyards to the Niederwald Monument.
- Koblenz – the Deutsches Eck, where the Moselle meets the Rhine, and a cable car across the river to the Ehrenbreitstein fortress.
- Hiking – the Rheinsteig on the east bank and the Rheinburgenweg on the west bank are long-distance trails with superb viewpoints, easy to walk in sections using trains.
Where to stay
| Area | Why stay there |
|---|---|
| Bacharach | Postcard-pretty village with wine taverns |
| St Goar | Central, beneath Rheinfels Castle and close to the Loreley |
| Boppard | Larger town with a riverside promenade and chairlift |
| Rüdesheim | Lively wine town at the southern end |
| Koblenz | City base where the Rhine and Moselle meet |
Getting there
Frankfurt Airport is the most convenient for most UK visitors: trains via Mainz reach Bingen in about an hour and the gorge villages shortly after. Cologne Bonn Airport is handy for Koblenz, roughly an hour or so away by train. Frankfurt-Hahn has had low-cost routes; check what is operating.
By rail from London, take Eurostar to Brussels and a train to Cologne, then a regional train along the Rhine to Koblenz and the villages. Drivers can reach Koblenz from Calais in roughly five hours.
Best time to visit
May to October is the main season, when boats run their full timetables. Late summer brings the Rhine in Flames fireworks events at several points along the river, and September and October are harvest time, with wine festivals in the villages. In winter many boats stop running and some hotels close.
Car and passenger ferries link the two banks at places such as Boppard, St Goar and Kaub, which lets you mix boat trips, walks and trains on both sides.
The Moselle joins the Rhine at Koblenz, so it is easy to add our Moselle Valley guide to the trip. Mainz and Bonn sit just beyond either end of the gorge.
Top attractions in Rhine Valley
LandmarkBrandenburg Gate
Berlin's neoclassical city gate, crowned by the Quadriga, once trapped behind the Wall and now the symbol of a reunited…
LandmarkEast Side Gallery
The longest surviving stretch of the Berlin Wall, painted in 1990 by artists from around the world and now an open-air…
LandmarkNeuschwanstein Castle
King Ludwig II's fairy-tale castle on a crag in the Bavarian Alps, the inspiration for Disney's Sleeping Beauty Castle.
Rhine Valley on the map
Frequently asked questions
How long do I need for the Middle Rhine?
Two or three nights is enough for a cruise, a couple of castles and a walk. Add a night or two if you want to hike or include the Moselle.
Do I need a car?
No. Trains run along both banks, boats link the main villages, and ferries cross the river. A car can be more hassle than help in the narrow villages.
Which castle should I visit?
Marksburg for an intact medieval castle with guided tours, Rheinfels for ruins to explore, and Pfalzgrafenstein for its unusual island setting.
Written by
Emma City breaks & deals editor
Emma plans city breaks the way other people plan the weekly shop: on a budget, with a spreadsheet and a backup plan. She covers city guides and deal-hunting.
More from EmmaWe research every guide carefully, but prices, opening times and timetables change. Check them shortly before you travel. Links to our booking partners are affiliate links.
