Rhine: short tour, Mainz – Koblenz

A river of wine, castles and romance

The Rhine bike trail from Mainz to Koblenz: Hot springs and spas attracted the ancient Romans to the Rhine. Today vineyards and picturesque towns add to the region‘s charm and attract bikers like us. People from all over the world visit the Rhine Valley between Mainz and Cologne and admire this manmade landscape as much as Tuscany and the Loire Valley.

1. day Mainz arrival

In Mainz you should be well on time! Not just the Roman-Germanic central museum, the Gutenberg museum, the emperors cathedral and the electors castle are worth an ample visit (Arrival possible by German railway/ rental bike at hotel).

2. day Mainz -Rüdesheim 35 km / 49 km

The beautiful first stage leads through rolling vineyards and well-known wine villages. The Rhine is flowing quite unhurriedly, forming little islands and broadening its bed up to 800 m width! Until you reach Rüdesheim you may visit the half-timbered town of Eltville and monastery Eberbach (+ 14 km), which are worth seeing.

3. day Rüdesheim - St. Goar 38 km

Pompous castles attract on your way. And you definitely should climb up to the Loreley! A hiking path leads up to this lovely spot and offers a beautiful sight to the narrowest part in the romantic Rhine Valley.

4. day St.Goar - Koblenz 36 km

Further on in the narrow Rhine Valley, the route firstly leads to Boppart. In this place it is quite turbulent, but if you wish you can go to ‚Vierseenblick‘ by cable car in densely wooded heights. Or you may visit on your further way to the ‚Deutschen Eck‘ in Koblenz the well preserved castle Marksburg and castle Stolzenfels.

5. day Koblenz departure

Nobody wants to leave, but after a 5 days in the beautiful Rhine Valley the tour ends in Koblenz (Departure possible with German railway).

Worth knowing

Below you will find specific information about the Rhine bike trail Mainz - Koblenz. If you have further questions about this trip, you simply call us: Phone: 06421 – 886890.

Arrival by train

Mainz is easily accessible from all major cities in Germany by train. All our partner hotels are located within easy access to the station. Current schedule information and price information can be found at: www.bahn.de.

Train schedule information

Parking facilities at the hotel in Mainz

The hotels in Mainz have no parking facilities. You can park in one of the municipal parking garages near the hotel. Your will receive detailed information on the parking facilities together with your travel information package 2 weeks prior to your arrival.

Condition of cycle paths

The route along the Rhine runs almost exclusively on asphalted and paved hiking and cycling trails or along quiet country roads. Driving in traffic is rare. From Mainz to Koblenz, the route is marked with white and green signs, which always identify the next village. Due to the good signs the right way is easy to find.

Available rental bikes

If you choose to rent a velociped rental bike for the tour, we take it to your first hotel and bring pick it up at your destination. You can choose between woman’s and men's bicycles either with 7-speed gear shift and coaster brake or 21-speed gear shift and freewheel or electric bikes. All ladies' bikes have a low opening that makes mounting and dismounting much easier. The bikes are suitable for all ladies from 150 cm in height and for all gentlemen from 165 cm in height. On our Velociped tours we use high-quality e-bikes of the Velo de Ville brand. They are technically mature and very robust.
You simply specify your wishes at time of booking.

Velociped rental bikes

Transfer back to starting point of the journey

Wednesdays and Saturdays at 11:30 am there is the possibility to transfer back to Mainz with a small bus (with bike trailer). Arrival at 1:30 pm. The driver comes to pick you up at your hotel and has much room for you, your luggage and where required your own bicycle. The bus takes you back to your first hotel, thus ensuring a perfect return service without transfer and the hassle of hauling luggage.

Bike and train

Along the route there are good rail connections, so you can always take the train for some sections.

Bike and boat

Particularly the Middle Rhine Valley a boat tour is a delightful addition to cycling. The major part of the passenger traffic on the Rhine route is done by the Cologne-Düsseldorf shipping company. Bicycles can be taken on all ships. Timetable Cologne-Düsseldorf shipping company

Schedule Köln-Düsseldorfer shipping company

Extra costs which are not included in the price

A possibly applicable city tax is not part of the travel price and therefore has to be paid at the hotel locally.
The ferry boat from Rudesheim to Bingen is not included in the price.

7 days hotline service

Just in case the bike chain breaks, flooding makes it impossible to continue your tour or any other nasty surprise: You can reach us seven days a week and we will do anything to help you as fast as possible. 

Passport and visa requirements, health regulations

For EU citizens, there are no special passport or visa requirements and no health formalities to be considered for this trip.

Corona travel information:
Before booking your trip, please inform yourself about the measures in place to contain the Corona pandemic.

Information on current decisions of the German Federal Government can be found here:
https://www.bundesregierung.de/corona-these-rules-and-restrictions-apply

Current information on entry requirements to Germany can be found here:
https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/coronavirus

You can also find more information on our website at:
Corona virus and holiday planning

Travel insurance

The tour price already includes the statutory insolvency insurance. In addition, we recommend that you take out travel cancellation insurance upon receipt of your travel confirmation in order to protect yourself against financial disadvantages in the event of travel cancellation, interruption of travel, illness or accident.

Gutenberg-Museum Mainz

With Johannes Gutenberg – the greatest son of the city, inventor of the printing press with moveable type, who has been named “Man of the Millennium”, a new age began – and not just in Mainz. More than one hundred years ago, a whole museum was dedicated to him. At the Gutenberg Museum, you can admire two of Gutenberg's famous bibles, the first printed books in the world.

Gutenberg Museum

Mainz Cathedral

The High Cathedral of Mainz is the episcopal church of the Roman Catholic diocese of Mainz and is under the patronage of St. Martin of Tours. The eastern choir is dedicated to St. Stephan. The building, which belongs to the imperial cathedrals, is, in its present form, a three-aisled Romanesque column basilica with gothic and baroque elements in its annexes.

Mainz Cathedral

Mainz Cathedral

Electoral Castle Eltville

Located on the Rhine River in the Rheingau wine region is the enchanting Eltville Electoral Castle (known in German as Kurfürstliche Burg). This 14th century castle is surrounded by vineyards, timbered framed houses, rose gardens and slow moving boats going up and down the river. Looking like it’s right out of a fairy tale, Eltville Electoral Castle is truly a delight for all your senses!

Electoral Castle Eltville

Monastery Eberbach

The monastery "Kloster Eberbach" is located in a beautiful valley next to the Rheingau where it´s surrounded by trees and vine. Since its foundation by Saint Bernard of Clairvaux in 1136 the works of the Cistercian Monks have characterised the Spirit of the monastery as well as its architecture. Today the foundation "Stiftung Kloster Eberbach" carefully protects the cultural traditions as a historic heritage. Many cultural events bring them to the attention of a large number of people. The monastery is open to you to experience it with all your senses. 

Monastery Eberbach

Drosselgasse Rüdesheim

The heart of Rüdesheim's old town is a meeting place for locals and visitors from all over the world. This is where the music is and where it never stops! Whether you're after something lively or classical, romantic or groovy, from brass bands to string quartets, from dusk until dawn. There's a wide range of wine bars and garden taverns to satisfy everyone. Come to Drosselgasse and revel in its unique atmosphere.

Drosselgasse

Monument Niederwald

The Niederwald monument with its massive “iron lady” Germania is also known as the “Watch on the Rhine”. The foundation stone was laid in 1877 in the presence of Kaiser Wilhelm I. and the Niederwald monument was inaugurated in 1883. The 38 metre high monument and the 10.5 metre high statue of Germania recall the founding of the new German Empire immediately after the Franco-German War.

This patriotic memorial has been a major tourist attraction ever since. It towers above the Rhine Valley which opens out beneath it and offers fascinating views from the Rheingau to the Middle Rhine Valley.

Monument Niederwald

Loreley

The Loreley is a 433 feet high slate cliff in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley World Heritage near the town of St. Goarshausen. The view of St. Goarshausen, from the Loreley ( Lorelei ) outlook point, with Castle Katz and the view of the town St. Goar and its Fortress Rheinfels, leaves a wonderful impression on all Loreley ( Lorelei ) tourists.

The Rhine, at the Loreley, is up to 82 feet deep and only 371 feet wide. Because this area is so deep and narrow, it is one of the most dangerous places in the World Heritage Upper Middle Rhine Valley. Ships, crossing each other here and all along the section between Oberwesel and St. Goarshausen, are directed by light signals, called “Wahrschau”.

Loreley

Electoral Palace in Koblenz

The Electoral Palace in Koblenz is one of the most important palatial buildings in the French early Classicism style in south-western Germany, and is one of the last residential palaces that was built in Germany shortly before the French revolution.
Today, the middle section of the palace offers exclusive rooms for festive banquets, meetings and family celebrations.
The exclusive Grand Café is open to all and invites you to come and visit. Up towards the Rhine, there are also freely accessible, beautiful terraced gardens.

Electoral Palace

Das Deutsche Eck

Shortly after Kaiser Wilhelm I’s death, the idea arose of creating a memorial to him, as it was the Kaiser who had brought about the unification of Germany after three years of war. Three years later in 1891, Kaiser Wilhelm II, the grandson of the deceased, chose the Deutsches Eck in Koblenz as the most suitable location. A harbour of refuge in the Moselle estuary was filled in to create space for the memorial. The Deutsches Eck in its present form was created.

Deutsche Eck

Promenade Kaiserin Augusta in Koblenz

The beautiful Rhine Gardens, a three-and-a-half-kilometer stretch of promenade and walkways connecting the green spaces on the east bank of the Rhine, extends upstream from the Electoral Palace to the island of Oberwerth. Architectural highlights of this pleasant walk include the Pfaffendorf Bridge, the historic Weindorf (a reconstruction of a Mosel village built in 1925), and the Rhein-Mosel-Halle convention center. The big draw here, however, are the many splendid riverside gardens, in particular the Gardens of Empress Augusta (Kaiserin-Augusta-Anlagen). Laid out for the spouse of Emperor Wilhelm I, the project was completed in 1861 and remains a highlight of any visit to Koblenz due to its spectacular views of the Rhine, pleasant tree-lined pathways, sculpture gardens, and colorful flowerbeds. A great place for a photo is the large statue of Father Rhine and Mother Mosel, a 19th-century monument celebrating Koblenz as the meeting place of the region's two most important rivers.

Kaiserin Augusta Promenade