I will be arriving in Mainz on 10/21 at noon, via train from Bruges, Belgium. We leave early on 10/23. We have a short time, but we'd like to take the 1 1/2 hour Rhine cruise on 10/22, see Barcharach, perhaps St. Goar, too. On the other side of the river we'd like to tour Marksburg Castle, and visit Rudesheim. Am I correct that we need to catch the boat in Bingen? If so, is it clear once I get off the train, where the boat is? What times do the boats depart? And what is the best schedule to fit all of these places into such a short period of time? Thanks for your help!!
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7297 posts
Posted by
OP
9 posts
I just saw a ferry schedule on KD that shows the season ending on 10/20. We will be there on 10/22. Is there another ferry running on that date?
Posted by
Frankfurt, Germany
8942 posts
There is usually at least one ship per day almost all year round and if the weather plays nice they may run more. You can always email them and ask the time and schedule.
Take the ship from Bingen to St. Goar. Train back to Bacharach.
What might work well for you if you want to see Rüdesheim or the Marksburg, you should do this by train from Mainz on your arrival day. Save the left side of the Rhein for the next day after your ship ride.
Posted by
Paradise
6637 posts
There might be other ways, but here's my "Plan A":
8:03 - 8:50 train from Mainz to Bacharach
10:24 - 10:40 train to Bingen Rhein Stadt station, scurry to cruise dock for tickets, board cruise...
https://www.bingen-ruedesheimer.de/en/loreley-cruise
11:00 - 12:50 Bingen-Rüdesheimer cruise to St. Goar (12:50.) See town. Then use the ferry crossing...
https://www.schiffbilder.de/1024/personen-fahrzeugfaehre-loreley-vi-zwischen-18381.jpg
13:50 Cross by ferry to St. Goarshausen then walk north to St. G'hausen station.
14:32 Train north for Braubach (14:53.) See old town, walk to castle for tour. Dinner in Braubach? I liked this place, and it's well-liked by the locals too.
Train back to Mainz whenever you like.
I assume you have the DB schedule page. Just in case:
https://reiseauskunft.bahn.de//bin/query.exe/en
You need RNN tickets (9.90 ea.) to cover travel to Bacharach (ticket machine in Mainz.) At the same time, buy a Rheinland-Pfalz ticket for two (€30) to cover your other train journeys AND the St. Goar ferry crossing.
Alternatively... incorporate the cruise into your 10/21 day. Arrange to take the train to St. Goar, board the 12:50 southbound B-R cruise for Bingen (15:45) and then proceed to Mainz. The cruise takes more time this way - and perhaps you already have train-specific tickets to Mainz, which means this plan won't work for you.