Surrounded by picturesque hills dotted with historic castles and countless vineyards and wineries to visit, the charming town of Rüdesheim am Rhein is the perfect place for a short getaway in Germany’s Rhine Valley region.

Known for its wine and scenic beauty, Rüdesheim am Rhein sits at the southern end of the Upper Middle Rhine and marks the gateway to the UNESCO-listed Upper Middle Rhine Valley. This area is actually known as the ‘Romantic Rhine”, and for good reason. Having seen a lot of Germany, I would argue that this is one of the most beautiful parts of the whole country. Here you’ll find rolling hills, steep vineyards, well-preserved castles and fortresses, and an abundance of cute little towns along the banks of the winding river. It is truly a spectacular sight to behold.

While there are plenty of places to stay along the Rhine, I think Rüdesheim is the ideal base for exploring the region. With a history dating back centuries, it has everything you could possibly want from an adorable German town. It is also a great hub for those wanting to do river cruises and indulge in a glass (or three!) of locally-produced wine. Keep reading to find out how to spend 3 unforgettable days in lovely Rüdesheim!

Rüdesheim is relatively easy to get to with public transportation as it is well-connected by train from several nearby cities. The fastest option is high speed ICE trains. Tickets for these can be found at the Deutsche Bahn website. Prices fluctuate so it is recommended to book in advance to get the best deals. 

Regional trains are another good choice as, despite being slower than ICE, they are covered by the Deutschland ticket. This Germany-wide ticket costs €58 per month and covers all regional and local transportation across the country, including long-distance trains, buses, metro, and trams. The Deutschland ticket could be a very cost-effective way to travel if you are moving from city to city, or using local public transport often. Check the DB site to see if this ticket or individual tickets works out as better value based on your plans.

• Note: The Deutschland ticket needs to be cancelled by the 10th of the month, otherwise it will roll over to the next. Keep this in mind to avoid extra payments.

Here are some common routes to Rüdesheim by train:

• Frankfurt to Rüdesheim: The nearest major city from Rüdesheim is Frankfurt. From here you can get a train from the main station to Rüdesheim Bahnhof in around 1 hour.

• Heidelberg to Rüdesheim: From Heidelberg you can take the train to Frankfurt main station. From here, change to your connecting train and do the same as the above instructions. In total, this journey by train should take around two hours.

• Cologne to Rüdesheim: Rüdesheim is also relatively close to Cologne, though this journey will take longer with public transportation as it is a bit further north. Depending on the route you choose, you will either have to change at Frankfurt or Koblenz. Both journeys take just over two hours.

How to get to Rüdesheim by car

If you want more freedom to explore, you should definitely consider renting a car. We rented a car with Discover Cars, which worked out really well as we could quickly and easily compare the different rental companies, car types and offers to get the best price. Rental cars can be picked up and dropped off in different locations, including airports.

The roads in this area are in very good condition, and traffic is not too bad either. Parking can be an issue in small towns, but there will usually be somewhere to park. Due to the lack of bridges along the Rhine, you may need to cross using a passenger ferry depending on your route. Luckily, these ferries are very regular and only take a few minutes to cross.

Start your first day in Rüdesheim am Rhein by exploring its utterly adorable Old Town. Here you will find beautiful half-timbered houses, old churches, historic taverns serving up tasty German beer, and picture-perfect cobble-stoned streets to wander through. The most famous part of the old town is the Drosselgasse, a narrow lane that attracts visitors in droves with its fantastical “ye olde’ charms. However, there are plenty of other interesting sights in this area like the striking two-story 15th-century half-timbered Klunkhardshof and the Brömserburg, one of the oldest castles in the Rhine Gorge. No matter where you find yourself though, you will find something that makes you want to whip out your camera, especially if you are lucky enough to be here when the roses are in full bloom! 

There are also plenty of cute souvenir shops in this area, including the legendary Käthe Wohlfahrt Christmas Shop. This quintessentially German store is full of the most intricate, delicate and wholesome decorations and home decor that will tempt you to part with your hard-earned cash. Conveniently open all year round, it is the most impressive Christmas-themed shop I’ve seen and would convert the most “Bah Humbug” person into a festive super fan!

After some exploring I recommend taking a cake break. After all, sitting down for a lovely sweet treat and a coffee is a national pastime in Germany. One of the best known places for delicious pastries is the Art Cafe on Drosselgasse, where you can tuck into freshly made Baumstriezel (chimney cakes). Or, if you are in the mood for a nice warm slice of Apfelstruedel with ice cream, stop by Eis Café Fabio. This little cake shop in the quaint market platz stands in the shadow of Sankt Jakobus Kirche, a church that dates back to the 11th century! There is also a nice little wine bar in the centre of this square, so keep that in mind if you fancy an evening drink.

With your sugar cravings now sufficiently satisfied, it’s time to take in the wonderful views of the town and its stunning surroundings. For this, head on up to the Niederwald Park. You can reach this point by hiking up the hill, but a less tiring way of getting up there is by the cable car-chairlift loop (Seilbahn in German) The journey is rather expensive at €7 for a single trip and €11 return, but the views over the vineyards more than makes up for it!

Once at the top you are free to roam around this peaceful, forested area. The highlight here is the Niederwald Monument, an impressive 38-metre tall structure built to commemorate the Unification of Germany, but there are plenty of other sights around here. Various paths will take you to lookouts and other places of interest like the ruins of Burgruine Ehrenfels. After some exploring, you can either take the cable car back to Rüdesheim or walk back in about 30 minutes through the vineyards and scenic countryside. 

If you have the energy and time, you could instead walk to the Niederwald cable car station (25 minutes west of the monument) and take a chair lift down to Assmannshausen, a small village known for its Pinot Noir (Spätburgunder) red wines.

If you plan to do this you should buy a combined ticket that includes the Rudesheim cable-car. There are several tickets available at the cable car station, such as the popular ring tour which includes both cable car and chair lift journeys, as well as a ferry from Assmannshausen to Rudesheim. If you don’t fancy the ferry option then you can take the train back to Rudesheim in just five minutes. Check out the official Rudesheim cable car website for updated information and prices.

After a day of exploring and admiring the gorgeous scenery, it’s time to relax with a nice crisp glass of wine. There are dozens and dozens of fantastic wineries (known as weingut) here that offer tastings, but a fun way of sampling some of the best from local producers is to visit WeinWelt. This unique store by the train station has eight large rooms, each of which has wine vending machines filled with around eight bottles. You can buy tasting tokens (10 for €12) at the reception desk and then use them in the wine machines with your provided glass.

Simply select the one you would like to taste, press the button, and it will dispense a tasting measure for you! Riesling grapes are the main type grown in this area, but there is a huge range of styles to sample here. Bottles of wine available to buy too, so you can stock up on any you enjoyed for later.

A stay along the Rhine River wouldn’t be complete without a relaxing boat trip, and Rüdesheim am Rhein is a great place for this. There are plenty of cruises to choose from here varying in length, time of departure, destination, and of course, price. 

For a shorter trip you could head to Bacharach, a fairytale wine village known for its well-preserved medieval architecture and gorgeous surroundings. However, I recommend taking the longer trip up to the small town of St Goar. The boat ride takes around two hours, drifting along the most scenic part of the Middle Rhine Valley, past castles, vineyards, palaces and the legendary Loreley Rock. This point is one of the narrowest parts of the Rhine River and is known for its dangerous currents that have caused many a shipwreck over the centuries. This gave rise to the legend of the Loreley siren, said to lure sailors to their doom with her enchanting songs. Don’t worry though, this area is perfectly safe for visitors now, assuming you have a competent captain!

Food and drink is available onboard, but it’s unsurprisingly very overpriced so bring your own snacks and soft drinks or plan to eat on land. There is plenty of seating on the ferries, with individual tables and chairs available on the deck, and longer tables in the covered area should it rain. There are also loudspeaker announcements in English about interesting sights and historical tidbits throughout the journey.

The two main providers, KD (Köln-Düsseldorfer) and Bingen-Rüdesheimer, offering several departures per day. We travelled with KD one-way from Rüdesheim and St Goar. If you really enjoy ferry rides, you can take the boat back but we chose the train as we wanted more time and flexibility to explore St Goar. Trains back to Rüdesheim am Rhein are relatively frequent and only take 30 minutes. To get the train you will have to get the short passenger ferry from St Goar across to St Goarhausen (€2 per person) where the train station is located.

Dating to the 12th century, this striking castle perched on a rocky hilltop was reconstructed in the 1800s. Now privately-owned, it houses an excellent museum with impressive collections offering interesting insights into the region’s past and life at the castle. You can find a large variety of beautifully decorated cast-iron plates, weapons, ancient armor, rooms decorated with centuries-old furniture, and a slightly disturbing number of deer antlers and stuffed animal heads from around the world. It is clear that Baron Nikolaus von Kirsch-Puricelli – who renovated and decorated the castle in its current state – was a huge fan of hunting!

There is a very informative and entertaining audio guide included in the ticket price too. Voice actors portraying the well-to-do family members tell you all about the von Kirsch-Puricelli family history and their time at the castle, so expect lots of over the top “Downtown Abbey”-esque narration.

You are free to explore not just the inside of the castle, but also its beautiful grounds. In fact, it is such a gorgeous location that people can even have their wedding here! There is also a restaurant, as well as a lovely Burg Reichenstein hotel for those of you looking for more opulent accommodation during your stay on the Rhine.

Getting to Burg Reichenstein is easiest by car, taking just 10 minutes from the passenger ferry port in Bingen to the castle car park. However, you can get there by train, which requires crossing the river by passenger ferry to Bingen. From there, catch the hourly regional train from Bingen Station to Trechtingshausen Station in around 15 minutes then walk up to the castle entrance.

Burg Reichenstein Admission: €12 with an audio guide. Opening times: Daily from 9am-6pm.

With the rest of your day, I have two suggestions. The first is to enjoy a scenic hike in the hills above Rüdesheim. Walking through the vineyards is incredibly calming, with beautiful flowers, happy bees buzzing away, and birds tweeting all around you. There are several benches to stop at to admire the spectacular views. It is also possible to hike to St Hildegard’s Abbey, which towers over the landscape in the distance. As this is Rüdesheim, there is of course a vinothek on the premises too, just in case you want a cheeky drink after your walk. The area is also very pleasant in the evening, especially at dusk.

An alternative is to simply relax back at town and enjoy the friendly atmosphere. Have a drink at one of the many bars or wineries in town or along the river front, try some more local cuisine, or simply relax at your accommodation. You’ve had a busy few days and deserve a well-earned rest!

When to visit Rüdesheim

The best time to visit Rüdesheim (and the Middle Rhine Valley in general) is between May and October. The warmest period is typically during the summer months, with July recording the highest average temperatures. This is also the peak time for tourists, so keep that in mind when booking hotels (the sooner the better to secure the best rates!). I visited in May and was very lucky with the weather; it was sunny, pleasant and mild, making it ideal for river cruises and hikes. Keep in mind that even in the summer months there is a chance of rain, so make sure you pack a waterproof jacket in case!

If you are a wine lover, consider visiting during one of the festivals. There are two that take place each year in Rudesheim – the Rüdesheimer Wine Fest in August and the Tage des Federweißen in October. 

Where to stay in Rüdesheim

Rudesheim is split in two, with the Old Town to the west of Grabenstraße, and the newer, more “built up” part of the town to the east. The Old Town is where you will find all the pretty cute buildings, main attractions, the train station, and ferry ports. As such, this is the most popular part of the town.

The newer part, while not as picturesque, is still nice and quiet, as well as cheaper to stay in. There is plenty of accommodation to choose from in both areas, ranging from hotels to guest houses and rooms at wineries. The latter is a great option as they often provide you with a complimentary bottle of their wine when you arrive, and also offer tastings and tours.

We had a lovely stay at LaBed Apartment Auf dem Weingut. The apartment is very comfortable and tastefully furnished, with a private terrace, which overlooks a winery’s courtyard. It is a lovely space to eat outside, or enjoy a cup of coffee (or a glass of wine!). It is also very well-located (10-15 minutes’ walk from the river or historic centre, and from several large supermarkets) and well-equipped if you want to do self-catering.