When it comes to wine, no one can fool the inhabitants of the Rhine banks! Become an expert too and take the 'Rheinsteig hike', a journey to the noble juice of grapes but of course also a lot of walking pleasure! The Rheinsteig, in total 320 kilometres long, is one of the most popular hiking routes in Germany and especially the stage between Rüdesheim and Koblenz is worth seeing and walking.
Vineyards follow one another, just like castles, fortresses and monasteries. The villages where you spend the night are characterized by half-timbered facades and genuine friendliness. Another reason to end an exciting day of hiking in the evening is with a glass of Rheingau Riesling.
Details about the hiking holiday on the Rheinsteig
Even the ancient Romans knew that the Mittelrheingau was made for viticulture. They laid the foundation for the success of today's winemakers with the painstakingly constructed wine terraces. Today the Rheinsteig leads largely along the Winzerwegen where traces of the Romans are still numerous. What else is waiting for you besides wine? There is the unique landscape, the views and a particularly high number of castles and fortresses.
The highlights of this walking holiday at a glance
Rheinsteig: Voted the most beautiful hiking trail in Germany several times and for good reason. From nature-shaped trails to cultural attractions, the Rheinsteig is a treat for all hikers.
Hiking on the paths of the winegrowers: The wine leaves its mark not only in the form of good wines but also in the form of lonely hiking trails. The Rheinsteig between Rüdesheim and Koblenz mainly runs through and along idyllic wine-growing routes.
Historic castles and palaces: The term 'Rhine Romanticism' is no coincidence, it describes the style of many castles in the region but also the prevailing attitude to life along this river. Countless castles and palaces line your route and are places where a short break is well worth it.
Worth knowing about the hike on the Rheinsteig
The next few days will be sporty. Every day of the walking holiday, you can expect varied walks between 13 and 21 kilometres. A good basic condition is an advantage, especially for the ascents and descents on the ridges of the Middle Rhine Valley.
Route summary
Hiking tours along well-maintained paths and in parts on asphalted vineyard paths. Depending on the route you can enjoy the tours leisurely or make it more challenging. Summits in the Rhine Valley area are not high, but partly steep. Hence surefootedness is required in a few places. This week of walking offers a beautiful combination of nature, sights and enjoyment.
Today you will climb (cable car) the ridges to the Middle Rhine Valley and enjoy the breathtakingly beautiful panorama and view. Past Jagdschloss Niederwald you continue to Assmanshausen, known for its excellent red wines and beautiful half-timbered houses. In your overnight stop at Lorch, you will also find many half-timbered houses and excellent wine.
On varied paths and along mountain ranges with fantastic views over the Rhine Valley, your path takes you to the historic shipping town of Kaub or up into the hills to Dörscheid. The ruins of Nollig Castle, Gutenfels Castle and, as a highlight, the imposing Pfalzgrafenstein Castle, located on an island in the Rhine, make today's route a real experience.
The heart of the Middle Rhine Valley awaits you with winding paths, fantastic views and beautiful castles. The most famous rock on the Rhine, the Loreley rock is also on your program, as well as the view of the three towers of Katz, Maus and Rheinfels. A great way to end the day before reaching St. Goarshausen.
Via beautiful paths, fantastic landscapes and past fascinating castles, today you go through the Filsener Lay, one of the most beautiful nature reserves in the region. Castles Liebenstein and Sterrenberg, the "enemy brothers", will accompany you on your way to the winegrowing community.
On the way to Braubach, you will come across Burg Liebeneck, the Dinkelholder mills and the impressive Marksburg Castle. You should definitely take the time to visit the fully preserved castle. The wine town of Braubach welcomes you with its ramparts and numerous half-timbered houses.
On the last leg, you can expect many more highlights: castles, nature reserves, forest areas and the thriving Bienhorn Valley. The hike offers distant views, and beautiful nature, as well as an adventurous passage through the Ruppertsklamm, a real highlight! You cross the Rhine via the impressive Pfaffendorfer bridge and ends your hiking week at the "Deutsches Eck" in Koblenz.
ca. 5,5 hours
20 km
690 m
680 m
Day
8
Return trip or extension
Route information
Most of the time you will walk on wine trails and quiet hiking trails, always accompanied by beautiful views. The ascents/descents to the ridges of the Middle Rhine Valley can be walked without any problems with a good basic condition, in some cases a certain amount of firmness is required when hiking. However, most stages can be shortened by bus, train or boat.
Luggage transfer(s) max. 1 piece of luggage 20 kg per person
Travel folder 1x per room (German, English with route and overview maps, detailed route description, places of interest, important telephone numbers, luggage labels)
GPS data available on request
Service Hotline
Not included
Tourist tax, if applicable, to be paid locally
Arrival information
Airport: Frankfurt
Train: Rüdesheim station and in a few minutes or by taxi to the hotel
Parking: Limited number of free parking spaces, reservation not possible. Public parking around €10 per day
Return journey by train, travel time approx. 1 hour for all routes
Return journey by ship (www.kd.com), travel time Koblenz-Rüdesheim approx. 6 hours
Sample hotel list
This is a sample hotel list. Hotels will be booked depending on availability.