ion1122

My wife and I are planning to visit the Frankfurt area for two weeks or so in July, August, or September of this year. We'll use Frankfurt as a base and make day trips to the Rhine, Heidelburg, etc.

1. Any suggestions as to which of those months to choose?

2. I see that there are train routes along both banks of the Rhine between Bingen and Koblenz. From the point of sightseeing from the train itself, or regarding intermediate stops, is one route better than the other?

3. In order to get the lowest airfares, should I book now (5-7 months ahead), or wait till 90 days before departure?

Thanks everyone for your comments!

neckervd

" I see that there are train routes along both banks of the Rhine between Bingen and Koblenz. From the point of sightseeing from the train itself, or regarding intermediate stops, is one route better than the other?"

The best solution by far is a combinateion of trains with the boats plying the Rhine from Mainz, Bingen and Ruedesheim to Coblence, Bonn and Cologne.

traveller1959

Both routes are fine for sightseeing. The route on the right bank might be slightly better before noon and the left bank route slightly better afternoon. And, yes, a combination of a cruise in one direction and train in the other direction is advisable.

Best stops are:

Braubach with access to the Marksburg, an authentic medieval castle.

Oberwesel, a nice historic town.

Rüdesheim, a picturesque, yet touristy town with many wine taverns and a cable car up to a monument with great views.

Kloster Eberbach, a very old monastery (where the film "Name of the Rose" was shot) and very good winery.

Bingen and Andernach, two more historic towns.

Fussgaenger

"From the point of sightseeing from the train itself, or regarding intermediate stops, is one route better than the other?"

By train only: If the weather is bad and you're just trying to see what you can see from the train, then it's good to travel north along one bank to Koblenz and south along the other to Bingen (or Rüdesheim, opposite Bingen.) The views from both sides are great - but different, so try to do both.

By boat + train: train to Bingen, board KD boat north (far more time-efficient than a southbound boat because of the strong river current.) Do NOT cruise all the way to Koblenz or you'll spend nearly 4 hours on the boat (and the scenery approaching Koblenz isn't worth paying for anyway.) Disembark instead in St. Goar or St. Goarshausen (about 1.5 hours) and you will have seen the best part by boat.

My best advice for a full day involves getting off the train or boat and seeing some things... Here's something you can do in one day:

Take the 7:47 train from Frankfurt Hbf (main station) to Bingen Rhein Stadt station (8:59) and catch the 9:30 KD boat north to St. Goarshausen (11:05.) Catch the 11:32 train to Braubach (20 min.) for a tour of the best Rhine Castle - Marksburg:

http://www.marksburg.de/en/

Stop off in the old town of Braubach:

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4143/4...d7071291_b.jpg

Catch a train (14:06?) back to St. Goarshausen, cross by ferry, visit St. Goar across the river (Rheinfels Castle?) then catch a train 5 min. south to Oberwesel or 10 minute south to Bacharach. Both are lovely old world towns with handsome old buildings and worth walking through. Return to Frankfurt from Bacharach via Bingen and Mainz.

PVR340PLA

Following

PalenQ

the tracks along the west side of the Rhine Gorge are much higher speeds than the slower regional rail line on the east side which also stops everywhere - like near Marksburg Castle - the only castle on this part of The Rhine not to have been blitzed to bits in wars thru the centuries - all other castles are Ersatz or rebuilt.

Fuusgaenger and traveler1959 both are real experts on this area!

do take the K-D boats (www.k-d.com) as you can see both sides of the river and it is slower than the trains - on a nice day laze back on the open-air front deck and be with a lot of Germans too who are nostalgic about the Lorelei - at the narrowest part of the Rhine Gorge and where swirling waters crashed many medieval ships into them- being lured there by sirens according to German mythology - when the boat approaches the Lorelei many Germans join in singing along with the famous song ubiquitously played on ship PA:

http://www.young-germany.de/topic/li...of-the-lorelei

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujAfhLLVM7E

There are train stations are short walk or even at most docks - Boppard is a nice town to end in IME - on west bank with trains to Frankfurt and Koblenz. For lots on trains and boats in the area check www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.seat61.com.

If staying on the Rhine ask your prospective hotel about a quiet room - not one near busy rail lines or the two busy highways along both sides of this narrow gorge.

thursdaysd

I was disappointed with the fast train - very few views.

texasbookworm

All above great advice; that area along the Rhine is chock-full of great sites/sights; you can hardly go wrong.

Don't shortchange Frankfurt itself; I think it get undervalued. I know much of the historic parts are rebuilt, but it's still a great city. Try a city walking tour for overview--Frankfurt on Foot
http://www.frankfurtonfoot.com/

Mainz is terrific! Don't skip. It's one of my favorite towns in Germany.

Kloster Eberbach is fine; you need a car to get to it, though, unless you want to try to use a bus.

I agree that Marksburg is the "best" castle, but I loved being almost alone at the smaller Burg Rheinstein. Rheinfels is great, too, just much bigger with more ruined parts.

mokka4

I would choose the month of September hands down! Not quite so hot, and many wine festivals begin then. Some weekends with fireworks displays from high points along the Rhein ( Rhein in Flammen). However hotel rooms book fast, so get researching now!

traveller1959

>>I was disappointed with the fast train - very few views.<<

These are the types of trains:

ICE - probably the above mentioned "fast train". Does not go through the Rhine gorge, so indeed no views.

IC or EC - a moderately fast long-distance train with only a stop in Koblenz. Leads through the gorge on the left bank. Usually very good views, especially from the restaurant car.

RE - regional train with many stops in small towns and villages on the left bank. Through the gorge. Very good views.

VIA - regional train with most stops on the right bank. Also through the gorge. Very good views.

Fussgaenger

"3. In order to get the lowest airfares, should I book now (5-7 months ahead), or wait till 90 days before departure?"

It's become increasingly difficult for me to find airfares I can live with into FRA. If I see something I like well in advance, I jump on it.

Norwegian currently has low fares available in August (some around $600) for direct flights on the Oakland-Stockholm run, in September around $500+ for the same route on some dates. Other airlines have been competitive on this route as well. I have previously used Stockholm's ARN as a springboard for very cheap flights to/from Berlin Schönefeld on Norwegian and to other European destinations on SAS - also Stockholm's NYO (Skavsta airport) for a Ryanair flight to Düsseldorf's Weeze airport.

Depending on where you live, you may or may not have access to Norwegian flights. If so, check fights to Oslo as well.

ion1122

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses. They have made planning my trip easier.

PalenQ

Again - Fussgaenger and Traveler1959 are real experts - they seem to know everything about the Rhine, Mosel and Germany in general - both being German residents I do believe so ask anything you find you need answering!

GinnyJo

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