KD Rhine River Cruise & Rheinfels Castle

It's walkable if you are in good shape, but there's a shuttle as well:

http://rheinfels-shuttle.de/

Panorama means nothing. There are 4 K-D boats per day leaving Rüdesheim for St. Goar. 9, 11, 14:15, 16:15. Buying in advance is not "booking" or reserving anything (like a seat.) You can safely buy your cruise ticket at the dock that morning. Arrive early to line up for your best choice of seats.

Thank you, Russ. Do you know where the stop for this shuttle is in the centrum? I see a photo but no address or information on where to find it.

The climb up to the castle is fairly steep, so take the shuttle. We had a rental car so it was easy. With regard to the castle, some people love it. I was underwhelmed by it as it really is a ruin, but you do get some good views of the surrounding area. If I remember correctly, entrance was cash only. There is a cafe right by the castle.

The shuttle is a new-ish development. I have not taken it. I suspect you can catch the shuttle at the corner of Heerstraße and Schloßberg (the road used for driving up to the castle.) This location is where you see the green 'H' (near the #13 in red) on the map that follows.

https://www.stadt-st-goar.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/StadtplanStGoar2022Internet.pdf

The 2023 schedule I posted is seasonal, operating Sa Su and holidays only and starting in May. I don't see a '24 schedule yet. There may be changes.

This page shows the "new" bus type and the old type that found its way onto the schedule I gave you.

https://www.urban-transport-magazine.com/en/sankt-goar-the-mountain-bus-to-rheinfels-castle/

If you walk up, the most gradual route is the road (Schloßberg) which has a paved sidewalk. The trails up involve steeper grades.

The map shows the TI office location, near the Marktplatz. You can stop in there and get answers too, or shot them an email.

urlaub@stadt-st-goar.de

I suspect you can catch the shuttle at the corner of Heerstraße and Schloßberg.

I think you are right. In 2004, when I stayed in Boppard and came to St. Goar on the train, there was a little "train" of open cars pulled by a Mercedes tractor that took people up to the castle. It started in the Marktplatz, opposite the K-D dock.

When I came back in 2017, it wasn't leaving from the Marktplatz. Someone said it was leaving from somewhere, I think they said the TI office, at the other end of Herrstr. That sounds like it could have been Heerstr. and Schloßberg.

But the second link by Russ shows a man boarding a bus to the castle in front of the Hotel Goldenen Löwen (Golden Lion) near the Markt and K-D dock in St Goar.

That there's a preliminary stop just across the main road (Rheinstrasse) from the Hotel Goldenen Löwen makes perfect sense... boat and ferry passengers will want to board there... and then the bus will make a left onto the other end of Heerstrasse (just a little north of that stop) and before turning up Schloßberg to the castle pick up passengers that might be shopping/dining on Heerstrasse.

Looks like the shuttle is VRM bus 685. Here is the schedule. Bahnhof/Fähre is the stop in front of the Golden Lion, Rathaus (City Hall) is the stop at the other end of Heerstr., just before turning right up Schlossberg. The bus runs up the B9, along the river to Rathaus; Heerstr. is a pedestrian zone up to Schlossberg.

Helpful post, Lee. Looks like 685 will take the route we discussed.

The Rheinfels Shuttle was #699 previously and operated only Sat Sun Hol and only between 10 and 16:00.

685 will expand service to weekdays and start earlier but offers less frequent service than 699. It also serves the towns of Biebernheim, Urbar, Niederburg and Oberwesel. The goal appears to be a single bus service that meets the needs of both locals and tourists.

So I suspect the 699 Rheinfels Shuttle is being dropped and 685 will this year be doing aIll the town-to-Rheinfels transport duties...

The 685 will surely be a plus for weekday visitors. Not so much for weekend folks, however; the schedule notes indicate that
on SATURDAY, SUNDAY AND HOLIDAYS, riders will need to CALL AN HOUR IN ADVANCE to schedule the trip to 685.