3 Nights on the Rhine: An Active Traveler’s Guide to Boppard, Germany

Several regional trains can get you to Boppard from the Frankfurt area, as well as from other hubs like Köln/Cologne and Koblenz.

Consider stopping for lunch in Bacharach at the Posthof Bacharach in a historic courtyard setting. They serve some of the best schnitzel in Germany, and of course, great beer to pair with it. Once you arrive in Boppard, take time to wander around town to check out St. Severus Church and the Marktplatz. For dinner, head down to the promenade overlooking the river, where you can drink a glass of Bopparder white wine and enjoy traditional German cuisine at Le Jardin in Bellevue Rheinhotel.

Before you call it a day, book yourself an electric bike for tomorrow’s ride online with Rhein Bike.

Make sure you’ve rested up for an exciting bike trip today! Enjoy breakfast at your hotel (if they offer it) or walk to Bäckerei Martin Nickerig for some delicious coffee and pastries. Then, head over to Rhein Bike, just across from St. Severus, for your trip to Schönburg Castle and Oberwesel.

Make sure you’ve rented an electric bike; regular bikes will result in an exhausting and unpleasant journey since you’ll likely be pedaling into the wind at least part of the time. Set off towards Oberwesel on the paved bike path along the Rhine and take in the gorgeous views of the river along the way.

Once you make it to Oberwesel, follow the signs towards Schönberg Castle. After biking the winding, uphill path, you’ll eventually reach the castle, where you can sit and have a beer while staring out at the magnificent Rhine River and town below. When lunchtime rolls around, bike back down to Oberwesel to eat at one of the quaint restaurants in the town center.

On the way back to Boppard, stop in the small town of Sankt Goar to enjoy some surprisingly rich gelato from Eiscafé Rocco-Milano. Once you’re back in Boppard, maybe relax with a drink on the promenade before going to dinner at Restaurant Asia 86 for lovingly prepared Pan-Asian cuisine.

What better way to end your stay in the Rhine and Mosel Valley region than with a hike to one of the greatest castles in all of Europe? Catch a train to Koblenz, then to Moselkern to ascend the trail to the revered Burg Eltz, a fairytale castle that miraculously has never been destroyed in a siege and has been owned by the Eltz family since the year 1157. You’ll venture through a dense forest on this three-mile hike to the hidden-away castle accompanied by the Elzbach river, a tributary of the Mosel. When you reach the end of the trail, you’re rewarded with an absolutely unforgettable view of Burg Eltz looming above.

Walk up the final flights of stairs to the castle and enter through the gateway arch into the main castle courtyard. There, you can go on a guided tour through many of the castle’s rooms. Your guide will educate you on the fascinating history of the castle, its inhabitants and the medieval creature comforts they enjoyed due to their status and wealth. When the tour ends, enjoy lunch at Unterschänke, the castle’s counter-service biergarten specializing in bratwurst and cakes.

When you’re ready to return to the present day, take the shuttle bus to the nearby parking lot, where you can catch a bus to Hatzenport, and from there, a train back to Boppard. End your epic day with dinner at Fondels Mühle at the edge of town, with expertly prepared local cuisine in a historic, homey setting.