Has anyone biked in the Rhine Valley? My husband and I are relatively experienced bikers (multiple 100 mile one day rides and 180 mile two day rides). We are considering renting bikes in Bacharach, biking to St. Goar, taking the ferry to Bingen and biking back to Bacharach in one day. My areas of concern are: elevation changes, locations for rentals, and estimated time. Are there lots of things worth stopping at along the way or is it best just to ride along and enjoy the scenery?
Posted by
Edmonds, WA, USA
32 posts
I have biked from Bacharach to Bingen, I think it was only 10 or 11k. The pathway is very easy and flat. There are places to stop along the way including a castle to visit. We rented the bikes from out hotel.
Posted by
Paradise
6663 posts
I've only done a few miles along the west bank between St. Goar and Boppard, but the biking is riverside/roadside and very easy. The "ferry" in St. Goar only goes across the river to St. Goarshausen. If you're boating to Bingen, you'll be on a cruise boat, more than likely. Not sure what the bike situation is with those - check www.k-d.com.
We stayed in a 2-BR vacation rental overlooking the Rhine in St. Goar and had simple bikes that came with the rental. Google "Walter Huppertz"; the "Rheinblick" apartment if interested. Bacharach is cute and worth a visit but has become somewhat packed with North Americans as a result of Rick's guidebooks; I've found St. Goar more scenic (3 castles visible from town, one tourable) and authentic.
Check out Rheinstein Castle just north of Bingen; ride down to Rüdesheim to check out the chairlift ride up to the Niederwald monument - nice view up there - then ferry to Bingen. Also, just north of St. Goarshausen is Burg Maus - cool falconry show.
Posted by
Florida, USA
12172 posts
St. Goar to Bacharach is basically flat so it won't take long. I haven't ridden to Bingen. I really like the Rheinfels Castle ruins and the ferry ride.
Posted by
Seattle, Washington, USA
25 posts
We rented bikes in Bacharach and rode to St. Goar (very short ride) then took the river cruise back (they stored our bikes no problem). The castle in St. Goar is good for a few hours and the little shops along the water in St. Goar might offer you some Eiswein samples (so fun!).
Posted by
southwest, Missouri, U.S.A.
1717 posts
Hello Margie. That will be an enjoyable bicycle ride. I did not ride a bicycle there, but I travelled between those towns by train, and by boat. The path for bicycles is along the river. The boat ride on the Rhine river from St. Goar to Bingen is one of the world's great boat rides. (You can bring bicycles on the boat). If you start from Bacharach early in the morning you might have time to visit one of the castles that is located between Bingen and Bacharach (that side of the river). The road from the river up to the castle is steep. I think only one of those castles has tours frequently.
Posted by
OP
Houston
86 posts
Thanks for the feedback. I'm glad to see that all the responses have been positive.