rhine options

I suggest to look at the northern side of Rhine which is called Rheingau (https://www.rheingau.de/languages/english). Rüdesheim and Bingen are both not my #1 recomms. Closer to Wiesbaden you will find Eltville which has nice vineries and castles, no Drosselgasse which is a tourist trap at all. To have a real good time also look at the following places:

• Kloster Eberbach (old monastery you know inside from movie "The name of the rose") https://goo.gl/maps/KzhQsnp5JxC2
• Schloss Johannisberg (old castle on a mountain with very good wines): https://goo.gl/maps/gvJGEGueGhS2
• Kurfürstliche Burg Eltville
• Niederwalddenkmal https://goo.gl/maps/W6zxqVRWjt92

Another shout out for Eltville. It is my favorite town on the Rhein.

"This time, I have a booking in Boppard for two nights. Rudesheim and bingen seem to be interesting options."
Options for what? Day trip destinations from your Boppard base? Or as base towns instead of Boppard?

From a Boppard base, it's roughly 2 hours for a day trip by train to Eltville and another 2 hours back. Other Rhine day trip options might include Remagen (less than one hour by direct train) or Braubach/Marksburg Castle (closer yet.) But it's not clear whether you have already visited these places.

https://dreabobea.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/marksburg-castle.jpg
https://www.romantischer-rhein.de/uploads/pics/Altstadt_02.jpg

From a Boppard base you might also visit Cochem (on the Mosel River 1 hour away) or Limburg (on the Lahn River, 1.5 hours away.)

Bingen isn't an ideal destination. But if you are just considering a different base town... Bingen has a nice riverfront walk and its location is a scenic one... and it's a very good base for day trips... travel north along the Rhine to Boppard and Braubach, or across the Rhine to Rüdesheim and Eltville, or south along the Rhine to Mainz, or west along the Nahe River to Idar-Oberstein (70 min.) or Bad Sobernheim (45 min.)

I agree that Rudesheim may not be the best of choices. When I was there it was crowded and as I walked down the street along the Rhine every shop had the same touristy merchandise. I wouldn't stay there. We did walk on a pretty walkway above the city with a nice view of the Rhine that goes to the monument and a gondola. When we continued along the Rhine, I noticed that the gondola can be used to get down to the neighboring village, Asasmanhousen, I believe which looked more quaint. You have been given great choices, another thought might be Koblenz which would also provide you access to the Mosel.

thanks for the thoughts. Upon landing in Frankfurt, will head directly to the Rhine. I want a nice locale to hang out that first day, recover from the flight and relax and browse in the evening. Then on day two to take a Rhine Cruise and hang out in later afternoon and evening before heading to Aachen.

When are you going? No cruises right now, the Rhine is too low. Something like only 30cm. deep. They have stopped all the ships as far as I know for right now, until it rains enough to raise the water level.

Wow, Ms. Jo. That's too bad. I had heard that it was the Danube that was more unreliable in terms of cruises and water level. Does this typically happen on the Rhine? I would send you some of our rain if I could.

Wow, Ms. Jo. That's too bad. I had heard that it was the Danube that was more unreliable in terms of cruises and water level. Does this typically happen on the Rhine? I would send you some of our rain if I could.

No, this is extremely unusual - last time was 2003 if I remember correctly, but I think it is worse this year.

We were on the Rhine last week, and did the middle part ( the part with no locks) - Koblenz to Bingen - on a day cruise ship (the Rhein Star I believe). But we understood it was a day-to-day decision and no larger ships were making it. Lots of gravel bars visible in that section.

Oberwesel might be an option. It looked larger and more interesting from the river than I remembered.

Stan has another good suggestion. Oberwesel did look very interesting from the river at least.