The Rhine and Mosel

Hi Nicole, We spent 4 nights in Cochem (Mosel). Probably could have been ok with 3, but we travel at a slower pace than some. Spent a day in Trier, visited Bernkastel, Zell, Beilstein and Cochem. Spent a few hours at Burg Eltz. Burg Eltz was the highlight for me. It's amazing to see in person! Just an opinion... Beilstein would have been too quiet and small for us to base in. Very charmimg though. If interested, we have some pic's at: www.worldisround.com/home/pja1/travel15.html www.worldisround.com/home/pja1/index.html Paul

A very rushed day on the Mosel might include an early train to Trier, touring the Roman ruins and town, lunch, train/hike to Burg Eltz, then train back to your base. If you changed to two days, you could plan to stop at a Weinstube and take it at a more relaxed pace. The Rhine has more to see. I usually plan two big sights in a day, then fill my time, if I have any, with other options. Reinfels can be a good half day to explore (or a quick look around depending on your preferences). The one hour KD line ride between Bacharach and St. Goar will consume two to three hours by the time you get your ticket, board, then catch a train back to your starting point. The RS self-guided Bacharach walking tour is at least two to three hours. Marksburg will take awhile because it's on the opposite side of the river (so a little scheduling needed to get across). I'd plan it as a half day, including lunch in the area.

I would say for a first trip to the Rhine and Mosel that 10 days is way over the top. Two or three days on each river will seem quite a lot. The views from the rivers (boat, train or bike or walk) are cool, the castles and fortifications around St Goar wonderful, Burg Eltz neat but cold (to us) but after a few days of that we would move on. You could get involved with the grapes on the Mosel and take a little longer. Hook 'em Horns. Sorry Aggies..

I think how long you stay depends on how much you see. The state of Rheinland-Pfalz is packed with things to see and do. With everything from ancient volcanoes to Roman ruins to medieval castles to spa towns to WW II sites, it would be easy to blow a couple of weeks in the area: http://flyhahn.com/cities/city-travel-guides-germany-frankfurt-hahn.htm#cochem If you stick just to the Middle Rhine region and the Mosel, 4-5 days would work but would still probably go quickly. Seeing Beilstein itself will take a few minutes. Consider Paul's suggestion, Cochem, for a place where you can spend down time wandering narrow cobblestoned alleyways or checking out the many half-timbered buildings; you'll also have a much wider variety of eateries and shops right at your feet. And you can visit Beilstein from Cochem very easily by cruise boat - a pleasant 1-hour ride each way. Also, Beilstein almost requires a rental car if you plan to take outings to Trier, Burg Eltz, or other Mosel destinations, as it is served only by bus; in Cochem, 40 or so trains per day leave Cochem in each direction and make it easy to get around the area. On the Rhine, St. Goar doesn't require a lot of time. But there's a good bit more than St. Goar to see nearby: Marksburg Castle (tour) in Braubach Boppard (wineries, chairlift ride) Linz (gorgeous old town) Remagen (WW II museum) The Rhine Castle Trail (Rheinburgenweg) for great views (try St. Goar - Oberwesel, about 2.5 hours): http://www.loreley-info.com/eng/rhein-rhine/walking-hiking/rhine-castle-trail.php