I have been to the Rhine Valley twice before, but both times just long enough to ride ride the river between Boppard and Bingen. Once was many years ago on a fast-paced tour, and again in 2009, with only one day to the area before heading to the Alps. This May I will be making a more leasurely trip, and spending at least two days in the Rhine Valley, then off to the Mosel Valley, and then to the Back Forest, before returning to the Alps again. The three places I remember in the Rhine Valley are Boppard, St. Goar, and Bacharach. I did get to spend a nice evening in Bacharach in 2009 as I spent the night there, and was able to walk up the hillside to the castle. This time I have rented a car, rather use the trains (as I did in 2009), so I have some concerns about staying at my first choice in Boppard. My thinking is to find a hotel in St. Goar, explore that town and take the Rhine crusie down to Bingen, then take the train back to the hotel in St. Goar, and use the car for driving around and seeing Boppard, etc. Especially since it seems the best place to enter the Mosel Valley is via Boppard. Anybody have any ideas about which town to use as a hub, and what hotel is good? I worry about staying in Boppard because I read that the train service is not regularly scheduled to it. However, I do have a car, but we want to take the river cruise to see the castles, and might jump off and on it to see the towns on the way. That means either taking the cruise back, or the train.
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
Oberwesel and St. Goar, to me, are the most interesting towns on the west bank of the Rhine gorge. Echoing Lee, most of these towns have frequent rail service.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19240 posts
"I worry about staying in Boppard because I read that the train service is not regularly scheduled to it." Don't believe everything you read. Boppard probably has the best train service between Koblenz and Bingen. All of the Regional Bahn (RB or MRB) trains that stop in Bacharach and St. Goar stop in Boppard. In addition, Boppard is the only stop (or one of two) for some of the faster regional trains (REs) and an occasional IC. In 2004 I stayed in Boppard and took an RE to the airport. It started in Koblenz, stopped in Boppard, then next in Bingen. It skipped everything else in between. Look up schedules on the German Rail website.
Posted by
OP
Tarentum, PA, USA
45 posts
Well, I have been corrected. It appears I misinterpreted the description of Boppard train service. In any case, I have looked at some hotel reviews in both Boppard and St. Goar, and am leaning towards Hotel Hauser in St. Goar. Still would like opinions on hotels in the area, which town is a good place to stay the evenings, and what towns to spend the most time. I want to see Boppard and St. Goar, and probably stop in Bacharach again briefly (maybe drive up to the castle instead of walk) the next leg of the trip is from Boppard, along the Mosel, to Trier.
Posted by
Missouri City
252 posts
We've stayed in Bacharach twice and really enjoy the town itself and felt it was very convenient for visiting St. Goar and Boppard. Once we stayed at the Rhein Hotel and another time at the Bacharacher Hof Hotel. We've also stayed in Oberwesel at the Castle Hotel Schoenburg which is absolutely amazing if it's within your budget.
Posted by
Los Angeles, California
1986 posts
When we have done the Rhine, we enjoyed the opportunity to take the boat and stop on and off as you suggested, and then return to base by train. As you have a car, also consider the Moselle. Drive one way along the river and then come back through the vineyards at the top of the hill
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32325 posts
Robert, I was in that area in mid-2010 and chose the quieter ambience of Bacharach over St. Goar. I very much enjoyed my visit there, and would absolutely stay there again on my next visit. I also hiked up the trail to Burg Stahleck, and enjoyed a couple of "cool beverages" while enjoying the view of the Rhine (had a nice visit with a TV Anchorman from Germany, and his family). Happy travels!