Rheinburgenweg

Understand

The Rheinburgenweg runs mainly on elevated trails, providing excellent views of the UNESCO World Heritage Site valley and the many castles on both sides of the river. The trail alternates between the relatively flat plateau above the Rhine and the steep sides of the Rhine and its side valleys. A large part of the walk is through forest, but also opens out into agricultural fields, meadows and vineyards in many places. In the mixed woods on the slopes of the valley there is a good chance to come across deer. The Rheinburgenweg was started in 2004 with the path on the right side of the Rhine, which is now part of the Rheinsteig. In 2006 the Koblenz to Bingen stretch was defined, with the full path opening in 2010, at which point it was awarded the "Qualitätsweg Wanderbares Deutschland". Most of the walk is on good paths with some steep rocky sections, so no special hiking experience is required. However, hiking footwear is highly recommended.

Prepare

No special permits are required to hike the trail. The route is well signed with the red R way-marker, but a local map or guidebook can still prove useful. Take care on exposed rock slopes in rainy conditions. You can carry a daypack with water and snacks, as the route generally passes through a town or village roughly every 10 km.

Eat There are many places to eat along the way, not just in the towns along the route, but also a few isolated restaurants and taverns (Gaststätte) on the trail itself, so there is no need to carry a camping stove or prepare all your own meals.

Drink Restaurants, taverns and towns are found regularly along the route, meaning you will not need to carry large amounts of water. In the summer, be aware that you could be exposed to strong sun for a large portion of the walk, so carry sufficient water between stops. In the villages you pass through, there is ample opportunity to purchase local wines.

Sleep Both sides of the Rhine provide hotel and camping facilities. Places on the route are listed below; for others, follow the links to the town pages. No tent is strictly necessary given the availability of accommodation, but you should consider making reservations in advance, particularly during busier seasons.

Climate The generally mild weather in Germany means this trail is accessible all year round. The colours of fruit tree blossom in spring and the orange leaves of trees in autumn are both worth seeing. In summer, be aware that you could be exposed to strong sun for a large portion of the walk, so do not forget sun protection. Take caution at some points of the walk on rainy days, particularly on rock-exposed slopes.

Environment The trail passes through a variety of natural habitats including forests, vineyards, meadows and river valley slopes. Walkers should stay on marked paths to protect the natural environment and avoid disturbing wildlife such as the deer commonly found in the valley woodlands.

Get in

The trail starts in Bingen in the south and ends at Rolandsbogen, south of Bonn, in the north. For detailed transport information, see the articles on Bingen and Bonn.

By plane The area can easily be reached from Cologne/Bonn, Hahn and 1 Frankfurt Airport (FRA IATA) airports.

By car The A61 autobahn runs north-south about 10 km to the west of the Rhine, providing the primary high-speed access to the southern trailhead at Bingen. However, for reaching specific stages of the trail, the B9 federal highway (Bundesstraße 9) is the most useful route; it runs directly along the left bank of the river, connecting almost every town and trailhead mentioned in this guide.

By train From Mainz or Cologne the West Rhine railway (Linke Rheinstrecke) runs through Bingen and Koblenz to Bonn, serving both trailheads directly.

By boat Fähre Bingen-Rüdesheim. Ferry from Bingen to Rüdesheim, near the southern trailhead.

Walk

The walk does not need to be done in a single expedition. There are points at convenient distances, between 8 and 12 km, where you can park a car allowing you to use the two car one direction hiking technique. There are also points where trains are available or even one of the Rhine cruise ships.

Upper Rhine section

The walk begins at the northern edge of 1 Bingen, climbing steeply out of the Rhine valley and into the Bingen forest. As the path climbs, the 10th-century 1 Mouse Tower is visible on its islet in the middle of the Rhine. Two viewpoints follow in quick succession — 1 Viewpoint Prinzenkopf with views towards Rüdesheim, and 2 Viewpoint Kreuzbach overlooking Assmannshausen. The 1 Forsthaus Heiligkreuz lies just off the trail, and near Weiler bei Bingen the remains of a 2 Villa Rustica are tucked into the forest. The trail passes the Josefsbrunnen parking area before reaching the 3 Steckeschlääferklamm, a narrow gorge with quirky wood carvings worked into the trees. Those looking to stop for the night can detour slightly to 1 Forsthaus Jägerhaus, which has good food and comfortable rooms. The impressive 4 Burg Rheinstein is well worth a visit for its architecture and Rhine views, and also has a small restaurant. The section ends above 2 Trechtingshausen, with the well-placed 2 Waldgaststätte Haus Waldfrieden / Gerhardshof — best reached via the track from Forsthaus Jägerhaus — offering good food and friendly service.

This section begins in the Binger Wald, spending most of its length under forest cover before emerging above the Rhine valley to deliver spectacular views of the river and its castles. The first reward is 3 Viewpoint Sieben Burgen Blick, with its panorama of seven castles. Just below the trail stands 5 Burg Sooneck, a fine medieval castle. The trail then descends into 3 Niederheimbach. After climbing out of the Heimbachtal, the route meanders along the top of the valley through more open country, passing through the small villages of 4 Oberdiebach, 5 Medenscheid and 6 Neurath, before dropping back down to the Rhine at 7 Bacharach. Perched above the town, the 12th-century 6 Burg Stahleck now serves as a youth hostel.

The steep climb out

Stay safe

There are a few points with narrow path and steep drops but the route is basically a safe walk. The trail is not as well kept as the Rheinsteig and can be in places be overgrown, so expect the odd scratch from branches or irritations from stinging nettles. There is a very small chance in the region to come across wild boar, in this rare event stay well away from them!

Go next

Rheinhöhenweg Trail Rheinsteig Trail on the right Rhine side