A One-Day Trip Along the Rhine (Rhein)

Looking for a day trip from the big city of Frankfurt, Germany? Rin recommends this one! After you land and explore Frankfurt, continue on to Germany's Rhine (Rhein) Valley, a World Heritage region.

Rüdesheim (RUDESHEIM)

Just 60 km from Frankfurt, you will reach the first charming wine town worth visiting: Rüdesheim am Rhein. As the name suggests, it sits right on the Rhine. Rüdesheim (RUDESHEIM) is a small town with a population of just over 10,000.

• It is an ancient town more than 2,000 years old.
• It has thousands of acres of vineyards, planted in terraced plots on the broad hillsides.
• It is famous for producing fine wines.
• It has several old castles, some of them a thousand years old.
• It has old churches and historic houses.
• It has beautiful, peaceful natural scenery.

Highlights of Rüdesheim (RUDESHEIM): a stroll of 1-2 hours is enough to see it all 1. The main highlight is the lane called "Drosselgasse", a narrow alley only 100 meters long. When the flowers are in bloom, flowers and grapevines burst into color in front of the shops on both sides, making it the best spot for photos. 2. Take photos with the town's old timber building called KLUNKHARDSHOF, a beautiful half-timbered building that dates back to the 16th century. 3. If you have time, take the cable car up for the views. The Rüdesheim am Rhein cable car is right near this street. The cable car costs 6.5 euros. At the top, you will see a view of the river bend and the vineyards, and you can take a short walk in the woods. Looking down, you will see an old castle that was once a center of wine growing. 4. By the time you finish strolling, it is usually just about noon, time for a good meal and some local wine. As for local restaurants, they are scattered all over town, and all of them are inviting, so choose the atmosphere you like. But the one Rin has tried and liked is this one. Please call ahead to book. Breuer's Rüdesheimer Schloss Steingasse 10, 65385 Rüdesheim am Rhein, Germany www.ruedesheimer-schloss.de Tel. +49 6722 90500 5. Afterwards, pick out some fine wine to take home. The recommended local wine is the white wine made from Riesling grapes grown in the Rheingau region, Germany.

• Wine from the Rheingau region is believed to be among the best white wine in the world.
• Production is small each year. The Rheingau is one of the smallest of Germany's 13 wine regions, yet one of the most important.
• The Rheingau enjoys good temperatures, plenty of sun and steep riverside slopes ideal for vines, which is why it produces Germany's best Riesling white wine.
• Its signature is a lively acidity with a distinct fruity aroma and a fresh, unusual flavor, with notes of apricot, honey and caramel.
• For something slightly sweeter, the red wine is Spätburgunder, known as Pinot Noir. Almost 80 percent of the vineyards here are planted with Riesling, followed by Pinot Noir red.
• German wine may not be as famous as wine from other countries, but wine from this region is the most famous in Germany.
• Try a famous label from Schloss Johannisberg, Rheingau. (When Rin leads a tour, she usually takes the group to dinner here. You can try booking by e-mail: [email protected])
• Wine shopping: Weisser Riesling, Johannisberg Riesling, Johannisberger, Rhine Riesling, Riesling Renano
• Besides the famous Riesling, other well-known wines in this area include Mosel and Pfalz, as well as wine from the Alsace region (sometimes called Alsace Riesling).
• In fact, Riesling is also grown on the Austrian side, in Wachau and Kremstal near Vienna. If you have been there, you will recognize the vineyards along the Rhine, as it is the same grape.

Boppard

Next, we continue to Boppard, the largest wine-producing center on the Rhine. The distance from Rüdesheim am Rhein to Boppard is 45 km. When Rin leads a tour, she usually takes the group on a Rhine river cruise to enjoy the beauty of the Rhine, the romantic river that is the third longest in Europe after the Volga and the Danube. The cruise leaves around 15.00 and runs every day all year round, in both summer and winter. The cruise schedule is as follows. Rhine cruises are most popular from Boppard to St. Goar, because this is the most beautiful stretch, where the narrow river winds through the valley. Both banks are lined with castles, lush green mountains, charmingly unusual houses along the riverside, and green vineyard-covered slopes all along the river, creating a wonderfully romantic and relaxing atmosphere. The cruise arrives at the pier in St. Goar, a small, peaceful town on the Rhine. The trip takes about 1 hour 25 minutes, arriving in St. Goar at 16.25. Our driver will be waiting to pick you up in St. Goar, which is 15 km from the drop-off point at the pier. What is there to see in St. Goar?

This town has a castle to wander through and enjoy views from above, called Rheinfels Castle. Admission is 5 euros. You can also take a relaxed stroll and soak up the atmosphere of what was once a wine center. Then travel 37 km to dinner at Schloss Johannisberg at 18.00.

After dinner, Rin usually continues to Heidelberg, Germany, about 120 km away, to stay overnight there, so you can start exploring the city early the next morning, with perfect timing. This is the exclusive itinerary Rin designed, and it has worked out perfectly for many groups. Why not try following it yourself? P.S. In summer, if you are worried about strong sun on an afternoon cruise, switch to a morning cruise instead.

Text by Netnapa Kaewsaengtham

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