We are flying into Frankfurt and staying in Beilstein. We plan to see Burg Eltz(renting car in Frankfurt) the day of arrival despite the possibility of jetlag. Would it be realistic to see the towns of Cochem, Zell, and Trier the same day? They appear to be close together--we will be in the Mosel area for just one night and this would be the only opportunity to visit these towns. If we only could see one town which one would be preferred? Our plane arrives very early so we should have the better part of a day for sightseeing. Jetlag doesn't seem to be a problem until late afternoon.
Posted by
Lake Forest, CA, USA
1633 posts
On our return last week from Frankfurt, we visited Cochem the day before our flight. It's very crowded and touristy. However, I didn't want to spend my last day in a large city and Cochem has some traditional German sites and great cafes. It took us about 1 1/2 hours to drive from Cochem to Frankfurt. Maybe we didn't take the most direct route, although we were using a GPS. Went through Koblenz. I think it might be hard to see more than Burg Eltz and Cochem in one day. Trier is too far to do that same day.
Posted by
Paradise
7063 posts
Agreed. Trier is pretty far and too large to see w/ Eltz. Cochem is wonderful and doable, perhaps; it's very busy in summer, and parking can be tricky. It's more interesting than Zell. Still, you probably won't have time for everything in Cochem - the chairlift ride and the castle tour (and falconry show on castle grounds) are quite good.
Still, Burg Eltz requires a good bit of walking, both to and from the parking lot and within the castle grounds - lots of stairs - and it seems like you're squeezing in an awful lot for what could be an exhausting Day 1. After Eltz you're driving on and marching around Cochem, then on again to Beilstein... I'd suggest you add at least another Mosel night to your itinerary; the first day may be more demanding than you have imagined. And Cochem makes for an excellent daytrip by cruise boat from Beilstein on Day 2.
Posted by
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
2779 posts
Susan, whatever your GPS says make sure from Frankfurt airport you follow freeway A3 to Köln (Cologne) until past the town of Montabaur (you can see their big yellow castle from the freeway) at Dernbach Dreieck (interjunction) you change on to A48 towards Koblenz and Trier. The other route along the rhine river may be more scenic but will definitely take you much longer. Depending on your chosen speed you will be at Burg Eltz in 60 to 90 minutes.