Rhine River Cruise. A perfect tour if you have 4 days/ 3 nights in the Frankfurt Rhein-Main Area. Often booked by trade fair or congress visitors as a beautiful extension to their stay before they fly out of Frankfurt Int. Airport.
Rhine River Cruise ships near St. Goar ©Thomas H. Giesick
The valley is narrow, the currant of the Rhine River is strong and wild, there is a mysterious echo; is there someone singing, up there on that steep rock…….? As the saga tells us, many a ship found its end here, its men confused by the beautiful Loreley, sitting on her rock, combing her long, blond hair, beguiling the mariners with her songs … .
Come and see for yourself the place where the myth of Loreley emerged, experience the beautiful nature and the romantic towns of Rudesheim and Sankt Goarshausen, enjoy outstanding hospitality, food and of course a glass or two of the famous Rheingau wines. The tour includes second class rail tickets. (see the tableau this is already included in the price of your tour). Here you also find everything else that is included: rail tickets and tours.
Price per Person
| two sharing a double room | one in a single room | three sharing a triple room |
| US $ 549 | US $ 849 | US $ 479 |
Would you like to submit your personal information so we can check availability for your specific travel dates for this beautiful tour? On our BOOKING INQUIRY page you find a form which you may use to forward your personal information:
View 4 Day Castle Road & Rhine River Cruise Rail Tour (4R01) Rail Tour in a larger map
Day 1 Frankfurt
It only takes 11 minutes from the Airport local train station located below baggage claim in arrival Hall 1 of Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) to Frankfurt Central Station. The fare is covered by the “Frankfurt Card” which is already included in the price of the vacation package. Your hotel is located in short walking distance of Frankfurt Central Station. Although Frankfurt is not part of the Romantic Road, it still is an honorable location to start this Romantic Road Coach tour. Frankfurt is a very modern metropolis which nevertheless offers many historic sites such as the Romerberg (hill of the Romans) with its beautifully restored timber-framed houses, of course the Goethe Haus where the world famous poet once lived, the Paulskirche, symbol for democracy and freedom in Germany, “Alt-Sachsenhausen“, where in Schellgasse number 6 you will find Frankfurt’s oldest timber-framed house which was built around 1291, to name only a few of Frankfurt’s historic landmarks.
Frankfurt Central Station and Concert Hall Frankfurt ©Thomas H. Giesick
The Frankfurt Museum Riverbank is one of the most important locations for museums in Germany and Europe. The exhibition buildings are lined up on both sides of the Main riverbank, several famous museums are to be found in the city centre. Visit the “Stadel“, the German Museum of Architecture as well as the Museum of Applied Art or the “Schirn Kunsthalle” to name only a very few. Don’t miss out on Frankfurt’s “Zeil“, a huge pedestrian zone where shopping is the name of the game. So, if you arrive early enough in Frankfurt, visiting this interesting metropolis is certainly worthwhile.
Day 2 Rudesheim
Today a train takes you from Frankfurt Central Station to Rudesheim am Rhein, gate to the Mittelrheintal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The stunning valley measures around 65 kilometres in length, here the majestic Rhine Rivers breaches the Rheinische Schiefergebirge (schistose mountain). Along the Mittelrheintal are so many historic monuments and cultural landmarks as just about no where else in Europe. The vineyards are towering high above the rapidly floating Rhine River – beautiful landscapes to see!
Especially during your Romantic Tour (ticket included) which starts right in the Old Town of Rudesheim am Rhein: by cable car you will be “sailing” above vineyards (where the white wine “Riesling” is grown) when you take a ride up to the “Niederwald”-Monument – the “Germania“. The monument symbolizes the foundation of the German Empire. From the Germania Monument you will walk on an easy walk to the “Hotel Jagdschloss Niederwald“, built in the 18th century as a hunting lodge. Here you may have a cup of coffee or have lunch. By chair lift you will then take a ride down to Assmannshausen, “sailing” above vineyard where red wine is grown. A short Rhine River Cruise will first take you to the historic Rheinstein Castle. The way uphill to the Castle is for people who like to take a hike – the walk to the Castle may be challenging for people who have problems walking up- or downhill. In this case you may consider to just stay on the Cruise ship which will take you back to Rudesheim am Rhein). For those of you taking the hike: take some time to visit the Castle (admission included) – the roots of the castle date back to the late 13th century and the setting within the vineyards above the Rhine River is absolutely stunning. You have a great view from the Castle. A riverboat will then take you back to Rudesheim am Rhein.
Rudesheim is not only famous for its “Drosselgasse” (a lively alley with restaurants and taverns stretching from the river into Rudesheim Old Town). Rudesheim am Rhein is also famous for its scenic location in midst steep vineyards along the Rhine River and for the Riesling which is grown here. The Riesling is a dry white wine which is very popular in Germany. Explore the Old Town of Rudesheim and also maybe take a walk into the vineyards from where you have great views of the Rhine River and the scenic area surrounding it. If your arrival in Frankfurt is before noon you may consider taking a funicular ride up to the “Niederwalddenkmal”, a monument which was constructed to commemorate the foundation of the German Empire. From next to the “Germania” figure you have a great view over Bingen (across from the Rhine river). In the evening make sure to try a glass of Riesling and enjoy dinner in one of the many wine taverns, e.g. at the Wine Restaurant Rudesheimer Schloss where you will find local specialties as well as German “Gemutlichkeit”.
Niederwald Monument, Vine Yards in Rudesheim am Rhein ©Diana Schulz and View Katz Castle in St. Goarshausen ©Thomas H. Giesick
Day 3 – Rhine River Cruise through the Upper Rhine Valley
Today a cruise ship of the “Weisse Flotte” (White Fleet) operated by the largest Day-Cruise company – the “KD”, Koln-Dusseldorfer – will take you from Rudesheim am Rhein thru the very scenic and romantic Upper Rhine-Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The cruise follows the Rhine downstream for 33 kilometers (20.5 miles) to St. Goar which is located across from the famous Loreley Rock. Along this cruise you will get off the Cruise ship three times to visit scenic wine villages along the way. For your visit of Oberwesel, St. Goar and Bacharrach you have about two hours in each of the villages. Total cruising time will be a little more than 4.5 hours (both ways), 1:40 hours downstream and almost 3 hours upstream. So actually on your way back from St. Goar you will have more time to see the historic villages, castles, ruins and scenic landscape. We will provide you with detailed tour information for this Rhine Cruise so you will be able to identify the Castles and historic sights you see along this beautiful Rhine River cruise!
You will be back in Rudesheim am Rhein in the evening – right in time to get ready for another night in this scenic wine village. If you plan to book this tour during winter time please be aware that there is a limited cruise schedule which we will arrange for you.
Day 4 Frankfurt International Airport
If you still have time before you have to travel to the airport you may consider taking a hike into the vineyards. At your convenience, take the train to Frankfurt International Airport where your tour ends. Travel time is a little less than an hour.
Would you like to download an overview of the 4 Day Castle Road & Rhine River Cruise Rail Tour (4R01) as a pdf to print it out or to forward it to a friend? Please download it right here:This is already included in the price of your tour
| Day 1 - Frankfurt Int. Airport to Frankfurt Central Station/ Frankfurt | Ticket for unlimited free use of the public transportation system (buses, trams, subways) within Frankfurt as well as for the train from Frankfurt Int. Airport to Frankfurt Main Station (travel time about 10 minutes) | Hotel Hamburger Hof (or similar if not available), located within 10 walking minutes from Frankfurt Central Station | Frankfurt Card for free use of public transportation within Frankfurt and discounts to many sights, restaurants and shops |
| Day 2 - Frankfurt to Rudesheim am Rhein/ Rudesheim am Rhein | Train ticket from Frankfurt to Rudesheim am Rhein (travel time about 1:15 hrs) | Hotel Rudesheimer Schloss (or similar if not available), located within 10 walking minutes from Rudesheim Central Station | Buffet breakfast at your hotel in Frankfurt, Cable car to Niederwalddenkmal, chairlift to Assmannshausen, boating trip to Rheinstein Castle, admission Rheinstein Castle, boating trip back to Ruedesheim am Rhein |
| Day 3 - All Day Rhine River Cruise/ Rudesheim am Rhein | no train ticket needed | Hotel Rudesheimer Schloss (or similar if not available), located within 10 walking minutes from Rudesheim Central Station | Buffet breakfast at your hotel in Rudesheim am Rhein, All Day Rhine River Cruise |
| Day 4 - Rudesheim to Frankfurt Int. Airport/ Frankfurt Int. Airport | Train ticket from Frankfurt to Rudesheim am Rhein (travel time about 1:15 hrs) | no hotel needed | Buffet breakfast at your hotel in Rudesheim am Rhein |
The tour package we provide includes a day by day itinerary as well as all tickets, vouchers and information necessary to enjoy a great independent tour. It also contains general information about the cities you visit which you can downloaded from our website once your tour is confirmed.
This is not included in the price of your tour
- Airfare from/to your origin to/from Frankfurt International Airport
- all meals other than breakfast (which is included)
- gratuities (tips)
You have booked the tour already and would like to download the to-europe tour package for this tour now? Please download them right here:
CASTLE ROAD & RHINE RIVER CRUISE Hi Thomas, My wife Lynne and I want to extend our thanks for your efforts in providing us with an exceptional fantastic 4 day tour of Frankfurt and Rudesheim and the additional day in Frankfurt. The arrangements, schedule and hotels were all great. All the additional considerations with respect to locality, convenience, timing, etc reflects on you as being a super organized individual and always thinking of your clients. A job very well done in our eyes. The Rudesheimer Schloss Hotel was a five star experience. The owners treated us almost as royality, we wish we could have stayed longer. Many thanks – Bob and Lynne T., Delta, British Columbia, Canada
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