Me and my family of 6 planned to go for Rhines river cruise and stop by Bacharach, St.Goar and Rudesheim. I have only 1 day and plan to leave early morning from Cochem with a car and have to be at Frankfurt airport around 6.30 pm (My flight departs at 10.30pm). I can't figure out how the plan should be.
First option, Park my car at St. Goar. Take the train to Bingen (or may be take a ferry to Rudesheim) and cruises from there to St. Goar. Then I will take my car and stop by Bacharach and to Frankfurt airport.
Another option is driving from Cochem to Bingen and then cruises from there to St. Goar. Then take the train and stop by Bacharach. Then head back to get my car at Bingen and drive to Frankfurt airport.
Could you help me decide which one is better choice? IMHO, the first one is the better one, but I'm concerned about parking my car with lots of luggages inside. From my googling, there are public parking at each city which seems to be convenient, however I am still worried regarding safety. Is it safe to park in the public parking? I am also interested in Marksburg castle but my schedule is gonna be too tight, isn't it? I also planned to go to Burg Eltz the day earlier. Is it similar to Marksburg castle? Will it still worth to include Marksburg castle if I already have Burg Eltz on my list? Any suggestion would be very appreciate. Thank you very much.
Posted by
Paradise
6663 posts
Rather than spend that one final night in Cochem... Why not just drive to St. Goar in the evening and stay there instead? That way, you don't have extra driving time the next morning, and you can leave your your bags at your hotel's front desk and your car at the hotel; take the train to Bingen, and cruise back to St. Goar. After that you can visit Rheinfels Castle (right in St. Goar) or use the car ferry and drive to Marksburg Castle. Pick up your bags later in the afternoon, then drive to the airport.
Otherwise... your first option looks alright. The St. Goar tourist office may be willing to hold your bags for visitors if you are worried about them: https://www.st-goar.de/18-1-tourist-info.html
Posted by
Greeley, co, usa
2427 posts
Don't go to Bingen to then take the ferry to Ruedesheim only then to board the KD boat and go right back across the river to Bingen.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Thank you for the very good suggestion Russ and also Stephen. I can't find good hotel options in st. Goar most of them was fully booked. Now I'm considering one in Bacharach. If I would like to add Marksburg on my list which day should I add Marksburg in? My plan is as follow;
Saturday : Departs from Aachen then travel to Burg Eltz and late afternoon in Cochem. Where should I stay Cochem or Bacharach?
Sunday : Rhines cruise from Bingen to St. Goar. Visits St.Goar and stop by Bacharach on the way to Frankfurt airport.
Thank you.
Posted by
Paradise
6663 posts
Saturday : Departs from Aachen then travel to Burg Eltz and late
afternoon in Cochem. Where should I stay Cochem or Bacharach? Sunday :
Rhines cruise from Bingen to St. Goar. Visits St.Goar and stop by
Bacharach on the way to Frankfurt airport.
St. Goar doesn't offer much unless you want to visit Rheinfels Castle. Rheinfels was destroyed but is still interesting to visit. But you mention visiting Marksburg Castle, which is completely intact and really outstanding. If you want Marksburg, I would probably do this...
SATURDAY: Visit Eltz and Cochem, stay overnight in/near BOPPARD
Drive Aachen - Burg Eltz and Cochem - BOPPARD (just south of Koblenz) for one night. Boppard has a handsome old town and a lovely riverfront promenade. Boppard has more accommodations choices than other Rhine towns. If you can't find an apartment or hotel right in Boppard, there are nearby suburbs of Boppard (Boppard-Bad Salzig, Boppard-Hirzenach, Boppard-Weiler for example) as well as other towns nearby (Brey, Spay, Rhens - or Filsen, Osterspai, Kamp-Bornhofen on the opposite river bank; you can use the Boppard car ferry to cross the river if needed.)
SUNDAY: Visit Bacharach and Marksburg AND take a cruise
Check out early, leave bags at hotel front desk.
Drive or walk to the train station in Boppard or another nearby Rhine town on that side of the river - Brey, Spay, Rheins, Boppard-Bad Salzig, and Boppard-Hirzenach all have train stations (if your hotel is closer to one of those.)
Take the train from Boppard (7:44) to Bacharach (8:05.) See the town.
Take the train from Bacharach (10:06) to Bingen(Rhein) Stadt station (10:26.) Walk to the KD boat dock to get tickets, enjoy the riverfront scenery, and catch the 11:30 cruise to back to Boppard (13:50.) Get your bags from the hotel. Drive to Marksburg Castle (use the Boppard ferry) for a tour, have a meal. Leave Braubach by 17:00 to reach FRA by 18:30.
These times are typical Sunday times. I don't know your exact travel date. I don't know your kids' ages either - you can perhaps take advantage of the Rheinland-Pfalz ticket day pass - or share their ages on the forum and your travel date to get better train advice.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Thanks a lot Russ. I'm do deeply appreciated for your suggestions. Our group of 6 is all adults, Age range from 27 to 60. My travel date is on Saturday 14th April and Sunday 15th April 18. For the train tickets, Do I need to book in advance?
Posted by
Paradise
6663 posts
No advance purchase is needed. Normal Boppard-Bingen DB fare is €10.80 per adult. But you can buy the Rheinland-Pfalz ticket at the station from a ticket machine - €44 for 5 adults - plus one normal DB ticketfor one person, also at the ticket machine = €54.80 total. Both the R-P ticket and the normal DB allow you to stop over in Bacharach for any length of time you choose. The Rheinland-Pfalz ticket also covers passengers fare for 5 persons for the Boppard ferry. (However, the DB ticket does not - 1 person pays a small fee to cross. Cars probably are not covered by the R-P ticket at all, but it's not very expensive.) Also, these train tickets give you a discount on the KD cruise to Boppard of 20% - so be sure to show your tickets at the KD kiosk in Bingen. Some photos may help...
Ticket machines on the platform in Boppard
KD kiosk and boat dock in Bingen
Walking up to Marksburg from Braubach
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Thanks again Russ for your very detailed suggestions. This does help me out a lot. I will follow your suggested plan. 😀😀😀