Southwestern Germany's ultimate castle, vineyard, and forest route from the UNESCO Middle Rhine and Moselle valleys to Heidelberg and the Black Forest.
Route overview
- Day 1 — Frankfurt Römerberg, Museumsufer & Rheingau to Rüdesheim: Tour Frankfurt's Neue Altstadt and Main Tower before riding the RB10 train into the Rheingau vineyards at Rüdesheim am Rhein.
- Day 2 — UNESCO Middle Rhine Steamer: Bacharach, Loreley & Marksburg: Board the KD river boat through the castle-lined Rhine Gorge to St. Goar and Braubach's Marksburg Castle; overnight in half-timbered Bacharach.
- Day 3 — Moselle River Loop: Burg Eltz & Cochem Reichsburg: Follow the winding Moselle past Koblenz to hike to fairy-tale Burg Eltz and sample steep-slope Riesling below Reichsburg Cochem.
- Day 4 — Heidelberg Red-Sandstone Castle & Philosophers' Walk: Ride south to Heidelberg for the castle funicular, Great Wine Tun, Old Bridge, and sunset over the Neckar Valley.
- Day 5 — Baden-Baden UNESCO Thermal Spas & Black Forest High Road: Soak in the Roman-Irish Friedrichsbad or Caracalla Therme in Baden-Baden and stroll the Lichtentaler Allee park.
- Day 6 — Schwarzwaldbahn to Triberg Waterfalls & Freiburg im Breisgau: Ride the 39-tunnel Black Forest Railway via Triberg waterfalls and Titisee lake to sunny Freiburg im Breisgau.
- Day 7 — Freiburg Münster Market, Kaiserstuhl Vineyards & Return to FRA: Climb Freiburg's Gothic Münster tower, browse Münstermarkt, and take the direct 2-hour DB ICE back to Frankfurt Airport (FRA).
Rail & Transit Strategy
Start at Frankfurt Airport (FRA) and connect seamlessly via RB10/RB26 Rhine regional trains, Moselle Valley trains, and the scenic Black Forest Railway.
Day 1 — Frankfurt Römerberg, Museumsufer & Rheingau to Rüdesheim
Tour Frankfurt's Neue Altstadt and Main Tower before riding the RB10 train into the Rheingau vineyards at Rüdesheim am Rhein.
Day 2 — UNESCO Middle Rhine Steamer: Bacharach, Loreley & Marksburg
Board the KD river boat through the castle-lined Rhine Gorge to St. Goar and Braubach's Marksburg Castle; overnight in half-timbered Bacharach.
Day 3 — Moselle River Loop: Burg Eltz & Cochem Reichsburg
Follow the winding Moselle past Koblenz to hike to fairy-tale Burg Eltz and sample steep-slope Riesling below Reichsburg Cochem.
Day 4 — Heidelberg Red-Sandstone Castle & Philosophers' Walk
Ride south to Heidelberg for the castle funicular, Great Wine Tun, Old Bridge, and sunset over the Neckar Valley.
Day 5 — Baden-Baden UNESCO Thermal Spas & Black Forest High Road
Soak in the Roman-Irish Friedrichsbad or Caracalla Therme in Baden-Baden and stroll the Lichtentaler Allee park.
Day 6 — Schwarzwaldbahn to Triberg Waterfalls & Freiburg im Breisgau
Ride the 39-tunnel Black Forest Railway via Triberg waterfalls and Titisee lake to sunny Freiburg im Breisgau.
Day 7 — Freiburg Münster Market, Kaiserstuhl Vineyards & Return to FRA
Climb Freiburg's Gothic Münster tower, browse Münstermarkt, and take the direct 2-hour DB ICE back to Frankfurt Airport (FRA).