I’m flying into Frankfurt, Germany mid next week. Instead of going straight to Berlin I’d like to spend 1.5 days/2 nights in a charming town with medieval architecture that I can access by train. I could stroll around the town the first day, second day do a Rhine cruise or pick a town to explore. I don’t need formal tours, I love just wandering streets of towns and learning about their history.

Having a look online possibilities are Heidelberg, Bingen, Rudesheim, Erfurt, Bamberg. Any other suggestions or comments on which town I should choose?

I will then train to Berlin and spend 10 days there. I may do a day trip to Leipzig and/or Goslar. I’ve been to Berlin a few times but there’s so much to love.

Thank you!

I hope someone with more knowledge can answer your question as I haven't visited the towns you mentioned but we really enjoyed the little town of Bacharach along the Rhine. It is about an hour train ride from Frankfurt and from there you can cruise further down the Rhine. Just a thought...

Rather than Bingen, have you thought about Mainz? Which is not significantly far from Frankfurt so you won't be delayed on the way to Berlin. Mainz is pretty good in many respects (nice old town, great museums, 1000 year old cathedral). Ruedesheim is mobbed with tourists but is pretty. It's a launch pad into the Middle Rhine gorge (north) and the Rheingau (east to Wiesbaden), but you really have to make sure you can hack mass tourism before you choose it. Heidelberg is good, Bamberg is good (although these two are in the wrong direction for Berlin), Erfurt is good. If you are going to Leipzig on the way, Erfurt is in the same direction. I would also praise Goslar highly, and that would also be an excuse for me to see some of the other Harz towns (Quedlinburg is UNESCO World Heritage).

Lavandula

You do know that there is a major football tournament (the Euros) going on right now, and one of the places they are playing in is Frankfurt?
England play Denmark there on 20th June. The place will be heaving, so if you are there then that is a great day to get out of town.
Germany play Switzerland there on 23rd and Romania play Slovakia on the 26th as well.

Of course that could be the reason you are visiting Frankfurt .

I enjoyed Heidelberg, which would meet your criteria. I haven't been to the other places you mention.

I wanted to thank everyone for their advice.

i ended up choosing Rüdesheim. It was perfect for what i wanted, beautiful buildings, the drosselgrasse, it would be charming at Christmas. A small town, picture perfect to recover from the very long flight before going on to berlin. Easy to walk around, I took the Seilbahn to the top of the hill and took some pics.

It was easy to hop on a ferry up the rhine, look at the castles and vineyards and stop off at a town. I stopped at Sankt Goar and walked 20 mins up to the castle, did a walk through some woods & had lunch. There wasn’t much to the town so likely much better places to stop.

I didn’t know the euros were on at the same time, there were a few tourists staying in Rüdesheim to take the train to the games.

I would recommend this town for older people or mobility impaired as it was very easy to get around the town but also up & down the rhine, & to & from the airport and train stations.

Thanks for all your advice.

Thanks for coming back and leaving a report. Ruedesheim is beautiful - it's popular for understandable reasons. The Christmas market is all along the Drosselgasse. It is also well-sited for those Rhine cruises. Glad you enjoyed your time in Germany!

Lavandula