Rhine Valley
Rhine Valley
4.6
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.6
323 reviews
Excellent
238
Very good
66
Average
11
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5
Terrible
3
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Dans
Florida13 contributions
Jun 2024 • Family
The Rhine Valley charmed our family with its scenic beauty. The rolling vineyards, charming villages, and majestic castles created an idyllic backdrop for our journey. Cruising along the Rhine, we were captivated by the region's rich history and breathtaking landscapes. A truly unforgettable family experience.
Written August 4, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rumabo
Berlin, Germany27,661 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
The middle Rhine Valley is a wonderful part of Germany, a pure cultural landscape for centuries. The number of sights is impossible to grasp: castles, vineyards, restaurants, views, all very impressive. The number of visitors and tourists passing through on cabin ships is correspondingly large.
Written September 25, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gary T R
Janesville31 contributions
Sep 2019
Each trip to the Rhine Valley requires a KD cruise. Depending upon choice of locations, the trip is amazing. You can hop on and off at your discretion and enjoy the many amazing small villages. Definitely drop off in Bacharach and Rheudesheim. They are memorable stop. Others are also worth the time. You get to enjoy the scenery, history and many castles of the Rhine. And the price is right.
Written February 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
gfsc5
Perth, Australia1,912 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
We sailed through the Rhine Valley / Rhine Gorge as part of a river cruise heading to Amsterdam. We'd been once before eight or so years ago but if was pouring with rain and we didn't see much that time. This time, the weather was excellent.
Being on a river cruise is great. Cruising down through the Rhine Valley while sitting on the sundeck drinking prosecco just adds to the enjoyment.
Castles to the left and right high above the river. Pretty villages with decorative houses on the shore. Vineyards clinging to the steep slopes. It's all there!
A most enjoyable afternoon with lots of photos taken and lots of memories written down in the diary.
Recommended.
Being on a river cruise is great. Cruising down through the Rhine Valley while sitting on the sundeck drinking prosecco just adds to the enjoyment.
Castles to the left and right high above the river. Pretty villages with decorative houses on the shore. Vineyards clinging to the steep slopes. It's all there!
A most enjoyable afternoon with lots of photos taken and lots of memories written down in the diary.
Recommended.
Written July 29, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Johnlobster
Morpeth, UK2,632 contributions
Apr 2024 • Couples
We sailed through the rhine valley on our river cruise. It is absolutely sensational. The views are stunning, villages, churches and castles unbelievable. Our fantastic cruise director gave us a great running commentary of everything on view. An excellent way to see this region.
Written November 14, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
suntan47
Chelmsford, UK1,039 contributions
Jul 2023
Sailed along the Rhine & Moselle on a Scenic River Cruise . This is an absolutely beautiful area , full of breathtaking scenery and castles, wonderful towns with amazing half timber houses .
Everything is so colourful with lots of flowers .
Visit if you can .
Everything is so colourful with lots of flowers .
Visit if you can .
Written July 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mandy666_10
Haverfordwest, UK18 contributions
Dec 2019
Travelled on my own from South Wales with Edwards Tour Coaches Company. Joined coach at Swansea, over Ferry from Dover to Calaid. Overnight stay at Belgium and joined river boat at Colgne. Fantastic scenery and relaxation on the boat for 3 days, before returning back to South Wales. Thoroughly enjoyed and would do it again.
Written January 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ColinBMelbourne
Melbourne, UK37 contributions
May 2013 • Couples
This was our first ever River Cruise and apart from the weather being a bit 'iffy', we were not disappointed.
The MV Prinses Christina is not a big ship and because of some conflicting reviews, we were unsure as to the quality of our accommodation, we were pleasantly surprised though.
The decor was very good, the boat was kept very clean by the hard working staff who seemed mainly to come from Eastern Europe. They were very polite and pleasant. We selected a larger cabin (319) on the Promenade Deck (recommended) and were pleased with our decision as it had 2 large windows with excellent views. We noticed that the standatd cabins were half the size of ours and were quite small.
The boat was kept very clean and the meals in the restaurant were very good. the 'cream' soups were particularly tasty with a vegetarian option for main courses, if required. If you want something different to the menu towards the later stage of the cruise, I would suggest you get your request in early because on our holiday, they ran out of eggs. For guests with some limited mobility, there is a 'chair lift' from the Promenade Deck to the Lower Deck and then again to the restaurant. There isn't one though from the Promenade Deck to the Upper Deck, but there is a large lounge and bar with lovely views on the Promenade Deck.
The MV Prinses Christina is not a big ship and because of some conflicting reviews, we were unsure as to the quality of our accommodation, we were pleasantly surprised though.
The decor was very good, the boat was kept very clean by the hard working staff who seemed mainly to come from Eastern Europe. They were very polite and pleasant. We selected a larger cabin (319) on the Promenade Deck (recommended) and were pleased with our decision as it had 2 large windows with excellent views. We noticed that the standatd cabins were half the size of ours and were quite small.
The boat was kept very clean and the meals in the restaurant were very good. the 'cream' soups were particularly tasty with a vegetarian option for main courses, if required. If you want something different to the menu towards the later stage of the cruise, I would suggest you get your request in early because on our holiday, they ran out of eggs. For guests with some limited mobility, there is a 'chair lift' from the Promenade Deck to the Lower Deck and then again to the restaurant. There isn't one though from the Promenade Deck to the Upper Deck, but there is a large lounge and bar with lovely views on the Promenade Deck.
Written June 14, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ms. Vagablonde
Minnetonka, MN410 contributions
Sep 2013 • Friends
Take to the water for a truly breathtaking experience along the Rhine. See vineyards, castles, barges, trains, and more. Learn about the area with detailed, historical narration provided in English and German through speakers throughout the ferry. Make a day out of the trip, visiting villages at the start and end of your ferry journey. Don't spend money on private tour groups, do it yourself on a public ferry with these helpful hints.
Don't fight the current! The Rhine is a very powerful river, and upstream travel times are significantly longer than downstream. I recommend starting your journey in Rudesheim and sailing at least as far as St. Goar.
Don't be afraid to do this on your own without a tour! It is much less expensive and more flexible to catch a ferry. Map our your journey beforehand and you'll have no issues.
Here is a sample itinerary: Our hotel was in Oberwesel, on the left bank of the Rhine. We took the train from the Oberwesel station to Bingen (4,50 euro each). Rudesheim is on the right bank, so we had to cross the river to catch the KD Ferry. After leaving the Bingen station, head to the river and turn right. Walk about 125 yards to the crossing ferry. 2 euro for each foot passenger. KD ferry is across from the Park Hotel in Rudesheim. Tickets from Rudesheim to St. Goar are 18,70 euro each (13,10 for seniors over 60 years old). We chose to end in St. Goar because it was a long enough journey to see many of the castles and attractions on the river, and was on the same side of the river as our hotel so we could catch the train back without crossing the river again on a separate ferry.
Ferry Schedule: http://www.kdrhine.com/rhineschedule.htm
Allow yourself time to explore Rudesheim, which is a bit touristy but beautiful nonetheless.
Don't fight the current! The Rhine is a very powerful river, and upstream travel times are significantly longer than downstream. I recommend starting your journey in Rudesheim and sailing at least as far as St. Goar.
Don't be afraid to do this on your own without a tour! It is much less expensive and more flexible to catch a ferry. Map our your journey beforehand and you'll have no issues.
Here is a sample itinerary: Our hotel was in Oberwesel, on the left bank of the Rhine. We took the train from the Oberwesel station to Bingen (4,50 euro each). Rudesheim is on the right bank, so we had to cross the river to catch the KD Ferry. After leaving the Bingen station, head to the river and turn right. Walk about 125 yards to the crossing ferry. 2 euro for each foot passenger. KD ferry is across from the Park Hotel in Rudesheim. Tickets from Rudesheim to St. Goar are 18,70 euro each (13,10 for seniors over 60 years old). We chose to end in St. Goar because it was a long enough journey to see many of the castles and attractions on the river, and was on the same side of the river as our hotel so we could catch the train back without crossing the river again on a separate ferry.
Ferry Schedule: http://www.kdrhine.com/rhineschedule.htm
Allow yourself time to explore Rudesheim, which is a bit touristy but beautiful nonetheless.
Written August 28, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
onero
Brisbane, Australia893 contributions
Jun 2014 • Couples
The best collection of castles in Germany are packed into the 65 kilometer stretch of the Rhine Valley known as the Rhine River Gorge, also known as the UNESCO World Heritage Upper Middle Rhine Valley, between the pretty riverside towns of Rüdesheim and Koblenz. Seeing all the castles crowning the hilltops along this stretch of the Rhine River at their best absolutely depends on the mode of travel you choose (either Rail, Road or River), and the weather. There’s a railway line on both sides of the river, but unless you want to get off at every station, the castle views are restricted and therefore a rail trip is best reserved for getting yourself quickly to a specific destination like Koblenz or Rüdesheim. The road has more flexibility than rail, but views are again limited by which side of the river you are on, and there are few ‘vista’ stops along the way and no bridges over the Rhine in the Gorge. However, a road trip gives you an opportunity to stop and explore each of the castles along the way. Some have even been turned into hotels. The river route offers the best views, but makes visiting each castle difficult if not impossible. Kathie Shenstone and I travelled through the Rhine River Gorge on the cruise ship River Empress, during our 2-week Uniworld ‘Jewels of Europe’ river voyage from Budapest to Amsterdam. After calling into Rüdesheim early one morning and exploring that town for half a day, we set off downstream through the Rhine River Gorge, and almost immediately began passing castle after castle after castle! There were nearly 30 castles and monuments crowning hills on both sides or sitting in the river itself along this 65km stretch of water! Unfortunately a very strong wind was blowing up the river, and it drove all but the most intrepid travelers from our ship's top deck. Nor did the River Empress stop at any of the little towns that nestled on the river at the foot of most of these castles. It just cruised on down the Gorge and into the Rhine River beyond. But the views were impressive nonetheless. If I were to do it again, for the castles alone, I would catch a train to the riverside town of Koblenz, and book passage on one of the numerous boats that cruise from here to Rüdesheim every day. They leave every couple of hours, and offer good views. I'd enjoy castle-spotting on the way up-river. I'd stay overnight in Rüdesheim and spend a day exploring that town and the impressive 'Germania' monument on the hill above it (reached by a cable-car). Then I'd go back down the Rhine River Gorge next day to Koblenz again. There are numerous boats doing this route daily, and it’s easy to book passage on them at the many wharves riverside. If there was a chance of booking passage on a boat that stopped at towns along the way, I'd consider doing that too; but most castles are high above the town, and it takes time to reach them. So, making frequent stops to visit lots of castles presents a time-and-motion problem if you travel by boat and you don’t have lots of time to spend on this stretch of the Rhine. It’s better to go by boat if you just want to see all the castles, and better to hire a car if you actually want to visit each one. I downloaded a map to give me a quick glance at the whole route and castles along the way. This was the map I used: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Karte_Mittelrhein.png But I also downloaded Rick Steve’s chapter on the Rhine Gorge at: http://podcasts.ricksteves.com/pdfs/easy-access-europe/18_RSEZA06_Rhine.pdf
Bottom line here: Prepare for your trip in advance by downloading a map of the castles in the Rhine Gorge ... so you'll know which way to look for the next castle, and what it's called. Then take into account the weather if you can. Then make the journey. And make sure you buy one of the highly-illustrated tourist books on "Castles of the Rhine Gorge", which are only available (in many languages) in the tourist shops in both Koblenz and Rüdesheim. These hand-books will give you a brief but useful account of each of the castles you’ll pass along the way .... The Katz Castle, The Maus Castle, The two castles Liebenstein and Sterrenberg built side by side, by feuding brothers, the infamous (blink and you’ll miss it) Loreley Rock etc etc.
Bottom line here: Prepare for your trip in advance by downloading a map of the castles in the Rhine Gorge ... so you'll know which way to look for the next castle, and what it's called. Then take into account the weather if you can. Then make the journey. And make sure you buy one of the highly-illustrated tourist books on "Castles of the Rhine Gorge", which are only available (in many languages) in the tourist shops in both Koblenz and Rüdesheim. These hand-books will give you a brief but useful account of each of the castles you’ll pass along the way .... The Katz Castle, The Maus Castle, The two castles Liebenstein and Sterrenberg built side by side, by feuding brothers, the infamous (blink and you’ll miss it) Loreley Rock etc etc.
Written July 14, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hola, me interesaria realizar un crucero de 8 dias por el Rhine Valley. me pueden ayudar a encontrar una buena compañia? gracias
Written August 28, 2019
try Viking, it is a premier product though.
Written August 30, 2019
Is there a footpath along the Rhine Valley gorge western side following the road/rail?
Written March 3, 2019
Sorry, don't know. We were travelling in a north-westerly direction along the River Rhine upto a little beyond Loreley & did not go up to the Rhine Valley Gorge.
Written March 8, 2019
We are going on the MS Prinses Christina. We are wanting to know are there safes on board either in room or else where. thanks in advance
Written February 2, 2019
I’m sure there is a safe at reception this is a very friendly riverboat there is always someone to give assistance
Written February 19, 2019
hi all charges on the boat are payable on the final night you can pay by credit card but not American Express we paid by euros you also get an envelope to pop your tip money for the week we gave the maximum as we thought the staff made the holiday
Written September 5, 2018
I am planning a self guided bike trip from Heidelberg to Worms to Mainz in July, I m trying to figure out if there is a service that will rent bikes and then transfer my luggage from Heidelberg to Mainz, and also pick bikes up in Mainz. Thanks you!
Written June 4, 2018
Hello Vanadiumho,
I was reading about your info you posted about driving along the rhine and making stops along the way, where was your stay over place. We reserved a place in Rudesheim for 1 night in early June and wanted to drive along the Rhine and stop and get out to see the castles and landmarks on our our time. Do you think a hotel is Rudesheim is a good spot to stay or should we stay a little further up Rhine? Also what do you think about the ferry going up the Rhine as far as Castle Liebenstein? We are thinking to drive along the river and stop as we want.
Thank you!
Valerie
Written February 3, 2018
Rüdesheim is a small town but perfect for one night. I cruised the Rhine gorge on a cruise ship and wished I could be driving it instead. A 3 hour cruise is not a bad idea but the villages look so quaint as you pass that you will probably wish you had driven too. If you want to stop and really see these towns, I would go by car and take your time. The views of the castles and churches will be closer and you can always shoot pictures of the opposite bank. The best views are high up looking down at the gorge. If you see a road that goes up - I would explore it!
Written February 3, 2018
I'm considering a Rhine Valley river cruise in Sept or Oct 2018. My only experience has been with Grand Circle. I would like an 8 to 12 day cruise. I'll be traveling with a friend so we would share a room with twin bed accommodations. I'm very interested in hearing about excursions/tours that are INCLUDED in the price of the trip.
Written November 18, 2017
What is the name of the female purser on THE PRINSES CHRISTINA?
Written November 12, 2017
I know it is 8 months since you asked so you may not still need to know! I believe it is Daria.
Written July 31, 2018
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