We are visiting Germany in July and will be using Mainz as our base for a 1-day cruise/train combo to tour the castles. We are thinking of a cruise between Bingen and St. Goar with a stop in Bachrach. Is it better to take the cruise or the train while going (morning)? When does it get dark around July? Any experiences/recommendations appreciated.
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You can do any train/boat combination you like.
http://www.k-d.com/englisch/index.html
Boats are downstream much faster than upstream.
Sunset is in July around 21:30. Civil twilight is even later.
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Start the boat tour from Bingen as you indicated rather than from Mainz.
Take the train to Bingen. Get off at the Bingen Stadt stop, not the Bingen haputbahnhof stop. Exit towards the right (riverside) and follow the riverwalk to your boat landing or ticket office.
If you get off at the Bingen hauptbahnhof stop, you%26#39;ll have to walk across the Nahe River on the pedestrian side of the bridge, cross under the pedestrian tunnel which is at the corner just pass the bridge(by the parking lot there), walk underneath and pop out on the other side. Follow the Nahe until it merges with the Rhine(few mins, a large white hotel/conference center is on that corner) and walk to the boat office/landing.
Bingen Stadt(unmanned station, only ticket machines) stop is closer to the boats than the Bingen hauptbahnhof (manned ticket office and ticket machines) stop.
You should try to get a %26quot;group day ticket%26quot; for your train trip to Bingen which is good for up to a group of 5 people for train travel for the day. Maybe %26quot;abalada%26quot; can suggest one for you.
As for the cruise, there are a couple operators from Bingen, in addition to the KD operator. If you decide to use KD operators, you can get a 20%discount by showing your train ticket, check the website
Bingen-Ruedesheimer line. Goes as far as St. Goar, with several stops along the way, including Bacharach.
bingen-ruedesheimer.com/rhine-cruise/index.h…
Roessler Line - shorter cruise, doesn%26#39;t go to Bacharach/St. Goar
roesslerlinie.de/rhine_assmannshausen_castle…
Check the websites for timetables.
While in Mainz, I suggest you pick up a copy of a accordion style fold out map of the Rhine, it%26#39;s called %26quot;THE RHINE - Middle Rhine from Mainz to Cologne%26quot; English version. You should be able to but it at the train station or any souvenir shop.
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Thanks, Suburbanite, for the info about cruising options.
We were thinking of a short stop at Bacharach and a longer stop at St. Goar for a tour of the Rheinfels castle. Is it worth going all the way to Braubach for the Marksburg castle? Any other recommendations for must-see castles?
If we decide to return to Mainz by train, would it be better to come along the west bank of Rhine (St Goar to Bingen) or along the east bank (St Goarshausen to Rudesheim)?
sxm
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Good suggestions. The map is good for castle-spotting. You might also look around for a guidebook in English that provides a short history on each of the castles you%26#39;ll be passing on the way. I believe the Rick Steves Germany book has something like that.
I%26#39;d suggest a morning boat ride if the weather is good - the sun and heat can be oppressive in the afternoons on these boats, all the worse if they are crowded.
You might want to ride back to Mainz along the east bank of the Rhine via Ruedesheim (also good for a stop!) and Wiesbaden. In St. Goar, use the ferry to cross over to St. Goarshausen, then walk north a few blocks to the station. Going back on this side gives you a new perspective on the Rhine Gorge and its castles. The days are very long at this latitude in July, and if you have the energy, a stop in Ruedesheim is very worthwhile - a good place for a meal too.
It%26#39;s a good idea to cross to St. Goarshausen for a couple of other reasons too. There is a falconry show three times per day on the grounds of Burg Maus, the castle north of St. Goarshausen, in the suburb of Wellmich. It%26#39;s a hefty walk or a short taxi ride. I haven%26#39;t seen this particular show but have seen several others - they%26#39;re quite good. Also, at the south end of St. Goarshausen, in the old city tower, there%26#39;s a wine tasting bar you might enjoy in the afternoon.
Enjoy your trip!
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Thanks, Russ. Will look into your suggestions.
Also, we have 2-days in Mainz, and I figure the Rhine cruise will take a full day. Any other suggestions for day 2 using Mainz as a base?
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Mainz itself is worth some time. Nice shopping and outdoor cafes surround the Marktplatz (in front of the Dom.) The Dom is a very nice example of Romanesque architecture. The Chagall windows in the Stephanskirche are fun to see. Augustinerstrasse and the side streets, just south of the Dom, make for a nice stroll through what remains of pre-war Mainz. The Stadtpark (city park), even further south, is gorgeous; the manicured gardens overlook the river and include nice walking paths, an aviary, and a small a reptile house, and there%26#39;s a good Biergarten there right in front of the Hotel Favorite.
Or you could visit Ruedesheim if you weren%26#39;t able to do so on the previous day%26#39;s trip up the Rhine - it%26#39;s not far.
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For the train part you can use the Rhineland-Palatinate Ticket (EUR 23,00). This ticket covers all local trains in the state Rhineland-Palatinate for one day and is good for up to 5 persons travelling together. On weekdays it is however only valid past 9am.
Covers also nearly all other local public transport, e.g. trams and buses in Mainz.
Also valid on a few lines outside Rhineland-Palatinate. E.g. the right bank line at the Rhine via Rüdesheim and Wiesbaden is also covered - despite these places are in Hesse.
See the map in this leaflet
bahn.de/regional/…MDB19177-rpticketflyer.pdf
DB timetable
http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/e
and select as means of transport %26quot;only local transport%26quot; if you plan to use the Rhineland-Palatinate Ticket.
If you use the KD ships and can present a valid train ticket (e.g. the Rhineland-Palatinate Ticket) you%26#39;ll get a discount of 20% on the boat tickets.
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Russ, Abalada - thanks for the info on Mainz and regional train travel.
Looking at the cruise schedule, it seems that the ferry from Bingen to Braubach will take about 3 hours. I reckon we can stop on the way either in St. Goar or Bacharach for an hour, but not both. Any suggestions?
On the way back by train along the east bank of Rhine, a stop at Ruedesheim for sightseeing and dinner looks appealing.
Thanks for the ideas/tips.
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Can%26#39;t give you any suggestion as to which village to stop at. We will have to go to both of those places next time.
As for Rüdesheim, if you have the time, take the seilbahn/chair lift up to the top by the Niederwald Monument. Nice views from this area and from the seilbahn. Walk down the forest path behind the monument to the first viewing platform (you really only see Bingerbrück and part of the Rhine from this area). It%26#39;s about a 10 minute walk or so. There is a 2nd viewing platform further in the forest, if you desire to walk that far.
Plenty of restaurants along the Drosselgasse(long narrow street/alley and very touristy) and at the top of it down either street.
Here%26#39;s the website and picture of what the seilbahn looks like-
http://www.seilbahn-ruedesheim.de/
Rüdesheim%26#39;s website in English. Check the sightseeing tab for Niederwald monument and its forest-
http://www.ruedesheim.de/en/index.html
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