Looking for what to do between Frankfurt and Brussels where we will pick up the Eurostar to London. 6 nights/5 days. Prefer not more than 2 places. Considering Cologne/Bruge, We like history, museums, churches, food and wine/beer. No car. Active adults but not camping/hiking type. Late July. All ideas/input welcome!
Posted by
DFW TX, USA
457 posts
Frankfurt to Koblenz (Fortress Ehrenbreitstein … second largest in Europe) ... to Cologne (Cathedral) ... to Aachen (Cathedral, one of the original 12 UNESCO sites and the first in Germany ... contains Charlemagne's throne and tomb) ... to Liege (Citadel) ... to Brussels ... take your pick.
Posted by
8323 posts
Trier, Germany, Viaden, Luxembourg, Luxembourg city.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7939 posts
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/germany/can-i-see-enough-of-cologne
Many people will ask if you saw Bruges! I personally prefer Antwerp for sleeping, with a day trip by unreserved commuter train to Bruges (and some other towns, ideal location for daytrips. See links.) You have to change in Brussels to get to Bruges, but many trains to Antwerp/Gent/Bruges every hour. Eurostar leaves only from ONE of the 3 Brussels stations, Midi/Zuid. 60 minute advance arrival REQUIRED for customs and Immigration before boarding, no exceptions.
Posted by
Paradise
7107 posts
I just penned a post on this thread which lays out the case for a short stay in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, a UNESCO world heritage site. Boppard might work as a base town in your case too. However, I sense you might be looking for somewhere more urban since Cologne and Bruges (which btw is NOT between Frankfurt and Brussels!) are under consideration. So how about this... I'll get specific on Day 3 so you can see the transport options...
Nights 1 & 2 in Mainz
Mainz is a direct 25-minute train ride from FRA airport. It's a pleasure to negotiate Mainz's large tangle of pedestrians-only streets as you see the sights there (they're the pink streets on the linked map.)
On the official Mainz website you will find the best collection of things to see there on a suggest walk through town. Note the attached pdf file. Not to be missed:
- St. Martin's Cathedral (Dom)
- St. Stephans church
- Augustinerstrasse (main path through the old town sector) including St. Augustine's Church (Augustinerkirche) and to the Kirschgarten square
- The Gutenberg Museum
Nights 3-5 or 3-6 in Cologne
Begin Day 3 with a short train ride to Bingen, where you board a "Loreley" cruise boat for St. Goarshausen (9:15 - 10:45.) This is the most scenic part of the Rhine Valley. Then you have 2 good options:
1) Train from St. G'hausen to Koblenz' main station, the Hbf station (11:31 - 12:06) and drop bags in a locker. Then catch a train (12:22) to Braubach for a tour of medieval Marksburg Castle.
2) Train from St. G'hausen to Koblenz Hbf. station (11:31 - 12:06 and drop bags.) The aerial cable ride can get you to the fortress across the river.
You could spend the remainder of your afternoon in Koblenz, then catch a train to Cologne.
Days 4-5 or 6 in Cologne but consider a possible day trip to Aachen also.