Hello,
Group of 4 landing in Paris and returning out of Brussels 16 days later. Would like to see some small towns in Germany, visit Luxembourg city, perhaps do a day cruise on the Rhine River. We are travelling by train only to the other countries. Wanted to see some of france like Chamonix or Colmar but if our range of travel doesn't permit would like to see similar small towns in Germany. Do these towns you suggest have access to railway. Also wanted to spend some time in Holland and back into Brussels. Also looking for suggestions for the Rhine River cruise or any other river cruises that would allow for a half day river cruise and have the option of getting dropped off in a town of our choice and return to our beginning destination by train. Looking for suggestions as to which route to take, which towns or cities would be a good base for our travel which would allow us to travel by train and do day trips to explore nearby towns and cities. Appreciate all info you are willing to give! Thank you!
Posted by
Paradise
7077 posts
Sounds to me like you should visit the Mosel River on the way to the Rhine.
The train route from Paris to Luxembourg continues along the Mosel River to Trier (ancient Roman settlement, pleasant city) and beyond to the smaller towns along the Mosel River. Not every Mosel town has a station but many do and are easy to reach. You can see all of those on this map of the rail line (black-white-black-white line) between the Luxembourg border and Koblenz, where the Mosel meets the Rhine. The map shows other Mosel towns too.
https://www.bahn.de/moseltalbahn/view/freizeit/moselsteig-karte.shtml
Of these, Cochem and Traben-Trarbach are two of the more popular Mosel towns for visitors. Beilstein and Zell are popular too, but lack stations; you can get to Beilstein with a pleasant one-hour boat ride from Cochem. Zell is a short bus ride from the rail junction town of Bullay. Bullay also sends off trains to Traben-Trarbach. Bernkastel is a beautiful old town too - no station, but easy access if you take the train to WITTLICH and the bus from there to the "Kues Forum" stop in Bernkastel.
So for ease of access, Cochem and Bullay make good base towns for easy day trips to all the other places mentioned by rail and/or bus (or boat in the case of Beilstein.) Other towns on the main railway might work as well.
Posted by
Paradise
7077 posts
The Rhine: Focus on the area south of Koblenz and north of Bingen. Of all the small towns, St. Goar is likely the most convenient for outings by train as well as for a river cruise. St. Goar is central to the west-bank towns you will want to visit - Boppard, Oberwesel, and Bacharach, all just a few minutes by train. St. Goar has one of the Rhine's main attractions - Rheinfels Castle. St. Goar's ferry crossing to St. Goarshausen permits you to use trains along the east bank very easily. And to take a river cruise is easy too - train south to Bingen, cruise back north to St. Goar, and you've seen the very best part - and you are "home" as well when you step off the boat.
Map of west bank train line with St. Goar and other towns
Map of east bank train line with St. Goarshausen and other towns
On the east bank, you will likely want to visit the excellent Marksburg Castle in the attractive town of Braubach. The busy town of Rüdesheim is on that side too - touristy but fun .
Posted by
OP
6 posts
Thank you both for this valuable info. I will certainly take a look at the links you have provided. Thank you for all the travel tips!