Day trips from Düsseldorf/Cologne

Most of the towns usually discussed on the Rhine are a little far for a daytrip, but certainly feasible. The section between Koblenz and Bonn gets far less attention, but the scenery is still impressive (barring a short industrial zone in Koblenz), and much closer for your purposes.

Linz am Rhein and Remagen are just opposite one another in that area of the Rhine that Tom mentions. You can easily catch a train to/from these towns to/from D'dorf or Cologne. Linz is a handsome old-world town, Remagen is nice too and also has a very good WW II museum at the site of the former struggle between US and German troops over the bridge crossing there.

http://www.linz.de/pdf/Linz_Prospekt_2007.pdf

http://www.precision-panzer.moonfruit.com/communities/9/004/006/621/409/images/4538646570.jpg

http://www.bruecke-remagen.de/

The trick for train travelers is to cross the river at the right time and the right place. Erpel is a train stop just north of Linz - arrive there between 13:30 and 18:00 (12:30 - 18:00 on Sat or Sun.) and walk to the river to use the passenger ferry to Remagen. The AUTO ferry from Linz to Remagen has better hours but will drop you off far outside town.

You don't say what places in Belgium you've already been to, but a few nights in Antwerp would not be too many, and you could say it's closer to Amsterdam than to Cologne. Cologne is quite far from the "scenic" middle-Rhine valley. I'd think you'd save that for when the boats are running and you could enjoy the one-way river trip. The trains just aren't as scenic as are the boats. Koblenz is also suitable for a cool-weather stop, but I don't think it's nearly as interesting as Cologne.

Aachen is an obvious daytrip from Cologne, as is Duesseldorf. I wonder if Mosel wineries are open for visitors in March? The best require reservations. We certainly liked Trier, but it's very far from Cologne. I don't think I'd want to stroll or bike around Traben-Trarbach or Bernkasel-Kues in March. For museumgoers, art lovers, or in dreary weather, Cologne is good for at least three nights.

It's unclear whether you've already done the daytrips from Amsterdam. Have you considered sleeping in Leiden, Utrecht, Rotterdam, or Den Haag? Rick Steves might add Haarlem, but I didn't care for it. There are just as many daytrips from Brussels or Antwerp. I'm tempted to say that Cologne has fewer daytrips available. For example, it's not that quick to get to Monschau from Cologne by public transportation. We went by car, on the way towards the Netherlands.

Thank you all for the feedback! I appreciate it. I will look into these suggestions.

I didn't mention the places we've been to in Belgium and near Amsterdam because either I've set them in my mind, and I also found a lot of information and suggestions on those forums for ideas for day trips and such. I will keep the places you've mentioned in mind though! Thanks!

Hi,

From Düsseldorf or Cologne I suggest Bonn and Bad Godesberg. If the interest is WW2 related, then Kleve and Wesel am Rhein.