Stop between Munich and Cochem (long train ride) ?

Heidelberg

Leave Munich 9:15; arrive Mainz 13:18

Sights in Mainz
"Cathedrals are something special..."
(Mainz' Dom , the Augustinerkirche, and the St. Stephens church are all outstanding.)
Mainz has a delightfully large tangle of pedestrians-only streets (see pink streets) with plenty of shopping/eating/drinking opportunities.

Leave Mainz 16:20; travel via the scenic Rhine Valley route to Koblenz for a change of train and arrive Cochem 18:06. (If you stopover in Cologne, the DB routing SKIPS the Rhine Valley in favor of the Frankfurt-Cologne route, which is far less scenic; from Mainz, the most direct route takes you on Germany's most scenic train ride.)

Seems like you've already manipulated the schedule to get a 3 hour stopover in Ulm? Right? So you must want to see the Münster in Ulm. BTW, technically, a Cathedral is a Catholic church, the seat of a Bishop. The church at Ulm was started before the Reformation as a Catholic church, but by the time it was completed the congregation was Lutheran. Impressive nevertheless.

The rest of the trip to Cochem is 13:56 to 17:41. The midway point is 15:48. Heidelberg is at 15:53. I'd stop in Heidelberg.

"Train leave Munich at 9:15 arrival in Ulm at 10:45 (Ice), Then it's IC Train to Koblenz (13:56-17:41) and last leg Koblenz-Cochem (RE18:06-18:41)"

If you pre-purchase a saver fare ticket like the one here, you're stuck with the schedule at least as far as Koblenz - so make sure it's what you want.

If you choose a Heidelberg stopover on a saver fare, you will need to include a stopover of specific length there on your schedule - and you will need to stick to that stopover time to use your ticket, assuming you're catching a high-speed IC or other train to Koblenz.

If you choose a Mainz stopover, however, a saver fare will have some scheduling flexibility because it is feasible to schedule yourselves from Mainz to Cochem using regional trains only (these trains can be used at any hour, even with a saver fare.) To find such a schedule, try this... Munich to Cochem with a stopover in Mainz of :30 and a second stopover in Ingelheim (enter no stopover time. You aren't getting off in Ingelheim!)

• You'll be routed on the fastest ICE/IC trains to Mainz. The 8:55 departure from Munich puts you in Mainz at 12:46. When you arrive in Mainz, pay no attention to the stopover time on your ticket; you can stow bags in a locker and see the town for 2,3, or 4 hours. Then when you're done, you board any sequence of regional trains you like from Mainz to Cochem, as long as you use the same route on the same day.

• The schedule on your ticket will say you should board the 13:51 RE train in Mainz, and then another RE train at 15:06 in Koblenz, but you can IGNORE those times and travel when you want. You can take any RE or RB or MRB trains you like between Mainz and Koblenz and between Koblenz and Cochem because DB doesn't care which regional trains you use - you are required only to take all the specific high-speed trains named on your ticket - and to use only regional trains where regional trains are designated. (You can do a separate search for Mainz - Cochem with "only local transport" checked to find possible train sequences for the last part of your trip.)

I cannot speak to cathedrals/churches in Heidelberg.

Thanks a lot for those answers !

Russ a big thanks about the tips for RE trains it's something I was not aware of !

We still have to decide what would be our stop (or if we stop !). Travelling un a sunday limits a bit our options. We have 24 hours to decide (reservation opens tomorrow).

Like i've said we will travell on sunday july 31 (that date can't be change).

After good looking, we got 5 options:

1) No stop. Departure from Munich at 8:55 arrival at Cochem at 14:41 (Change in Frankfurt and Koblenz)

2) Stop in Mainz for 3 hours. Departure from Munich at 8:55 arrival at Mainz at 12:46 ( change in Frankfurt). Arrival at Cochem at 17:41 (change in Koblenz)

3) Stop in Heidelberg for 3 hours. Departure from Munich at 8:55 arrival at Heidelberg at 12:44 ( change in Stuttgart). Arrival at Cochem at 18:41 (change in Koblenz). That trip take one hour more than # 2 (same time in Mainz or Heidelberg)

4) Stop in Ulm (for the Münster) for 3 hours. Departure from Munich at 9:15 arrival at Ulm at 10:45. Arrival at Cochem at 18:41 (change in Koblenz)

5)Stop in Cologne (for the dom) for 2 hours and half Departure from Munich at 9:15 arrival at Cologne at 14:05. Arrival at Cochem at 18:41 (change in Koblenz).

All those trains are mix of ICE, IC and Regional trains. Is there a big difference in ICE and IC ?

You can stop anywhere on a SparPreis ticket (as long as you use an ICE, IC, or EC before the stop) and continue your trip by regional train, which will make the stopover time flexible. Put in the stopover (Heidelberg), then go to "means of transport" and uncheck ICE, IC/EC, and D from the 2nd list. Then the ticket will use specific trains to Heidelberg, but allow you to use any regional trains the rest of the way. There are REs from Lugwigshafen to Mainz about every hour and they take about an hour. You can reach Ludwigshafen in a few minutes by S-Bahn from Heidelberg.

"I cannot speak to cathedrals/churches in Heidelberg."

Neither can I, but I've climbed the steeple in Ulm, and it's special. I don't think there is anything in Heidelberg or Mainz to compare.

i'm dumb ! I made a mistake about our travel date. We dont leave Munich july 31 but july 30. Now all the good price are already gone (yesterday was the first day to buy them). I'm not very proud .