Our group of 15 will be arriving in Frankfurt and heading straight to the Rhine/Mosel area. I have found great apartment options in both Boppard and Bacharach. We will be staying for 3 nights. Which would you recommend? Bacharach seems to be talked about a lot and on Rick Steve's list, but I've also seen comments about it being sleepy and 3 days may be too long. Over half of our group is between 25 - 35 years old. Any suggestions?

Don't know Boppard but 3 nights in Bacharach, which I have been to, seems like a lot. I will follow this post with interest, since we also wondered about Boppard.

We spent a day in Boppard a few years ago - - I think it would be fun for 3 days - - great river views, several hotels, the 'ski' lift to the cliff over the Rhine 'horseshoe' bend, bike rentals, and so on. We slept at St Goar which we enjoyed but very tiny and not much other than the ruins to 'do', thus we explored further afield while there. Boppard is a town rather than a 'hamlet' or village.

http://www.boppard-tourismus.de/file...ftkl_kopie.jpg

http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/med...king-rhein.jpg

- not my photos but representative....

We stayed in Bacharach in 2009 and made a day visit to Boppard. I would not limit myself to either of them for 3 days. Bacharch is the most scenic. Boppard is slightly larger with a few more choices for restaurants and shops.

There is excellent train travel along the Rhine to visit other places. St. Goar would make a nice trip. Visit the Rheinfels Castle Ruin and walk along the river to view Burg Katz and the Loreley. Marksburg Castle north of Boppard and across the river gets rave reviews. Oberwesel is scenic.

If you are using Boppard or Bacharach as a base to see them and other sights, either works.

If you want night-life I am not sure of either, almost certainly not Bacharach.

Gary

Bacharach is very cute and if you were to get up early to take photos, it would be a great choice.

We stayed in Boppard and have never forgotten it. Mostly because I had the best piece of cake I've ever eaten in my life at the little cafe in the market place. Bavarian Creme with apricots.

There's a bit more to see and do in Boppard, overall. I'd probably choose Boppard over Bacharach.

You will want to do some outings to other towns, perhaps including Bacharach, no matter where you stay. A train ride from Boppard to Bacharach takes 20 min. St. Goar (Rheinfels Castle) is 10 min. away, Oberwesel maybe 15 min.

Gary Mc's suggestion of St. Goar as a base is a good one - it's roughly centered between Boppard and Bacharach in the most attractive setting on the river, and the ferry (runs all day long) gets you across the river to St. Goarshausen, where you can daytrip easily to towns on the east side of the river (north to Braubach for Marksburg Castle):

www.roadstoruins.com/marksburg.htm
www.marksburg.de

A 3-day VRM mini-grop daypass to explore the area by train costs a total of 40€ for 5 people. It gets you as far south as Oberwesel (or Kaub on the east bank.) With 15, you'd need 3 of these, of course. A one-day pass is 20€ for 5:

http://www.vrminfo.de/en/tickets-and...eisure-ticket/

Like I said, the pass gets you to Oberwesel, but Bacharach, further south, isn't covered by this pass; the regular fare for an add-on ticket from Oberwesel to Bacharach is 2.20€ per adult.

If you want to see some other very attractive towns, check out Cochem on the Mosel River and Linz, north of Koblenz on the Rhine. The daypasses mentioned above will get you there.

This map shows the area covered by the VRM passes:

http://www.vrminfo.de/fileadmin/data...tzpl_apr12.pdf

I haven't been to Boppard but did spend 2 nights last year in Bacharach. More than that would have been too much.