Bacharach to St. Goar transportation

"We plan to take a train up to St. Goar" Up? I guess according to the map, if you mount it on the wall with North up. However, geographically, it's down. The reason that is significant is that the Rhein flows down from Bacharach to St. Goar and the current is swift. The boat takes 70 min up the river, from St. Goar to Bacharach, and 40 min down from Bacharach to St. Goar. You'll spend a half hour more, but see the same things, going from St. Goar to Bacharach. Unless you really enjoy being on a boat and want to extend your time on it, go from Bacharach to St. Goar and take the train back. Information about the boats is on the K-D website, www.k-d.com. Prices are shown here. You might be able to purchase in advance by writing to info@k-d.com, but I found it easy to just purchase my ticket at the kiosk in front of the dock. The one advantage to arriving on the train (from Bacharach) is that you supposedly get a 20% discount by showing a Bahn ticket that got you there.

Jodi, As Lee mentioned, you'll have to decide whether you prefer the shorter or longer trip on the boat. In any case, it's not necessary to book now, especially for a trip in April (shouldn't be too busy at that time of year). I bought my ticket at the small booth next to the dock, about half an hour before the boat departed. It was very easy! For the train portion, it's also VERY easy to buy your tickets there. It's only a short ride from Bacharach to St. Goar. The station in Bacharach is unmanned, so you'll have to purchase tickets at the Kiosk. Be sure you have some change at hand. If you decide to return by train from St. Goar to Bacharach, you could possibly buy your tickets at the Kiosk in Bacharach before boarding the boat. On the boat trip, hopefully you'll be riding on Goethe, an elegant old Paddlewheeler. Happy travels!

Thanks to both of you for all of the information! It was very helpful.

I haven't been in St. Goar since 2004, but when I was there, the station was not manned. At the same time, the station in Bacharach was also unmanned; it still was unmanned in 2008 when I returned. Oberwesel, between St. Goar and Bacharach, was also unmanned. The trend has been towards unmanned stations, not the other way around, so I don't think you will see those station manned in the future. But not to worry. The ticket automats are easy to use and give change (in coins only). To view a typical automat of the type you will probably see there and learn how to use it, see my webpage. The adult fare between St. Goar and Bacharach is €3,40/p.

the Bacarach station is still unmanned (last Dec.). I had trouble there in having certain denomination bills being accepted by the ticket machine. I had a similar problem at a machine in Stuttgart.