We are planning to be in Bacharach in early October and I was thinking that we would take one day and take the train to Bingen, and from there, take a K-D cruise to St. Goar where we would take the train back to Bacharach. My questions are as follows:
Does this seem like a good plan, and would it be better in reverse? Is it ok to do ticketing for the train and cruise on the spot, or do we need to purchase in advance? It appears that there isn't too much to see in either Bingen or St. Goar, but maybe I am missing something? Thanks!
Posted by
Green Bay
20802 posts
These are largely local trains you can buy with the DB app, or the RMV app. Bacharach to Bingen Stadt is an RMV ticket. Price is always the same and there is no reserved seating. Think commuter train. St Goar might be worth a look around.
Posted by
Salt Lake City
1521 posts
We enjoyed our stay in St. Goar.
We visited the ruins of the Rheinfels Castle. The barebones remainder was more impressive to me than many still intact castles.
I also liked walking the river front at St. Goar with views across the Rhein at the Lorelei rapids and the Burg Katz.
Posted by
Alsenborn, Germany
1268 posts
It's very workable. Taking the cruise upstream (the other direction) would make it twice as long. And St Goar/Rheinfels is great when the weather is good.
That being said, it rains in October. Which, to me, limits the attraction of the boat ride. But there are other towns between Bacharach and Bingen, and you can easily stop in one or more of them on the same train ticket. Trains run both ways every 30 minutes. Call it Plan B.
Posted by
Paradise
6897 posts
...we would take one day and take the train to Bingen, and from there, take a K-D cruise to St. Goar where we would take the train back to Bacharach.
Your plan should work fine. However...
The cruise takes about 1 hr 40 minutes. The first train takes 13 minutes (8:39 - 8:52 example) to reach Bingen, the second train 10 minutes. You will have some down time between trips, but this plan will clearly allow you plenty of time do see/do something else that same day!
options:
- On train ride back to Bacharach, stop over in Oberwesel (5 train minutes from St Goar) for a walk around the handsome town and along the old town fortifications:
- Leave the cruise boat in St Goarshausen (across the river from St Goar) instead. Then...
1) ... take the train north along the river to Braubach (22 minutes) and tour medieval Marksburg Castle. OR...
2) ... take the train south along the river to Rüdesheim (25 minutes.) Lots to see/do there.
https://www.marksburg.de/en/
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g187345-Activities-oa0-Ruedesheim_am_Rhein_Hesse.html
Getting back to Bacharach after that in the late afternoon...
From Braubach: train to Koblenz + train to Bacharach
From Rüdesheim: ferry to Bingen + train to Bacharach
Posted by
OP
Atlanta GA
2 posts
Thanks for the good suggestions and information!
Posted by
Greeley, co, usa
2528 posts
I would either stay on the boat to Boppard ( unfortunately not many go that far ) or train from St. Goar to Boppard.
there take the sessellift ( ski type chairlift ) and then walk to Vierseenblick where you get a view of the Rhine that instead of a river, looks like 4 lakes. The ride back down on the chairlift has superb views
Riding back to Bacharach, stop in Oberwesel. Walk some of the wall. Also visit the Liebfrauenkirche, the red church by the train station.