Rüdesheim is a charming town with a rich history and culture and it’s located on the bank of Rhine River. The town is famous for its cobblestone streets, Historic timber-framed buildings, and vineyard fields.
How to reach Rüdesheim:
Train:
There are frequent direct train connections from Frankfurt Central Station to Rüdesheim and it takes around 1 hour. If you are coming from Mainz Central station, sometimes you need to change the train at Wiesbaden and take the direct connection to Rüdesheim from Wiesbaden but it takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes.
You could also take a train to Bingen Stadt station from Mainz Train station and take the ferry from Bingen to Rüdesheim which is located opposite Bingen.
The ferry normally takes passengers, Cars, bikes, etc back and forth from Bingen to Rüdesheim and vice versa and it takes around 8 minutes for the ferry to cross the river. The ticket cost is 2.5 euros for one day.
Cruise:
Do you fancy cruising along the Rhine Valley? Then you shouldn’t miss the cruising tour to Rüdesheim. There are cruising companies from cities.
We took a Cruising boat from Mainz with the cruising company called K-D Koln Dusseldorf and it cost us 28 euro for the round trip. You can also take a one-way ticket but the one-way ticket also costs 25 euro.
How can you find great discounts for your trip? Just click below to discover the best deals and prices for your next adventure.
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It takes around 1 hour and 45 minutes but the view and experience are so amazing it totally worth going to Rüdesheim: by cruising boat. There’s also a restaurant and you can order food there. As we started our journey in the morning, so we had breakfast on the cruise with a variety of cheese, bread and coffee, and juice.
Although, it was a big cruising company they don’t accept card payments lower than 20 euros. It would be much better to have cash if you are expecting to order below 20 euro.
Things to do in Rüdesheim:
Strolling around the old town of Rüdesheim
Scenic Ride of Sesselbahn
Niederwald Monument
Brömserburg Castle
Siegfried's Mechanical Museum
Fireworks in Rhein (Rhein in Flammen)
1. Strolling around the old town of Rüdesheim
Rüdesheim is famous for its beautiful picturesque Old Town. There is a parallel road along with the Rhine River and it has different cafes and modern restaurants along the roadside.
There are narrow 6 narrow streets which are parallel to each other and it takes it to the Oberstraße which is a little height.
One of the most famous streets is called Drosselgasse which is only two meters and 144 meters long. Back in the 15th century, Drosselgasse was a sailor’s quarter, who used to put their belongings like sails in the apartments located on the narrow alley and kept their boats on the water.
Only two meters wide and 144 meters long, Drosselgasse is the alley along which Rüdesheim’s boat owners would haul their equipment and goods from the riverside up to the old town.
Now, a day there are half-timbered house cafes, restaurants, and souvenir shops and the street is always full of tourists. The best would be to enter the street from Oberstraße and slope down while exploring the alley. One of our favorite artistic and must-visit shops is “Darwin Daughter”.
Oberstraße is also quite touristic as they have many restaurants and cafes and souvenir shops but it’s wider than Drosselgasse.
2. Scenic Ride of Sesselbahn
One of the must things to do in Rüdesheim is to enjoy the Scenic Ride on Sesselbahn. You can take the Sesselbahn from Oberstraße and it cost 10 euro for the round trip. It’s a dreamy open-air two-seater Gondola Sesselbahn which takes up over the vineyards, with a view of the Rhine River and Rüdesheim Old Town.
You can also take a Romantic tour which includes a Cable car, chairlift ride, and ship cruise with a Castle visit. You can find more information here.
After a scenic ride, we reach the top and there’s a restaurant where we can enjoy the beautiful view of the Rhine River and vineyards.
3. Niederwald Monument
The scenic Ride of Sesselbahn takes to Niederwald Monument. It’s also known as Niederwalddenkmal and it marked an important landmark that symbolizes the foundation of the German Empire in 1871.
The Monument is a Bronze Statue of Germania with a raised arm holding a crown which symbolized sovereignty and it’s built on Niederwald Hill.
There’s another spot called “Niederwaldtempel” where you can also enjoy the view of the valley.
You can reach the Niederwald Monument either by walking, cable car, or driving. We took a cable car ride. The monument is also a famous tourist attraction because of its beautiful and stunning view of the Rhine Valley. We spent around an hour enjoying the mesmerizing view of the valley.
From the Niederwald Monument, you can also walk for 45 minutes and reach the Chairlift point called “Assmannshausen Chairlift”. From there, you can enjoy the beautiful chairlift ride which takes you to the other side.
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4. Brömserburg Castle
One of the main things to do in Rüdesheim is visit Brömserburg Castle. The Castle is located on the main avenue of the town. The Castle takes you back to the 10th century when it was constructed as a strategic point on the eastern bank of the Rhine to control the trade route.
The castle is named after the Brömser family who ruled it among the other nobles during the mid ages. The castle was affected during the wars in the 15th & 16th centuries and went through a renovation in the 19th century.
Nowadays, Castle represents the cultural heritage of the Rheingau region and its historical importance. Unfortunately, during our visit, there was an event going on and the castle was closed that’s why we haven’t got the chance to visit inside.
5. Siegfried's Mechanical Museum
You might have already been to different museums focusing on history, culture, fashion, and other disciplines but have you ever had the opportunity to visit the Mechanical Music Museum?
Rüdesheim also has Siegfried's Mechanical Museum which is a unique museum that presents different mechanical musical instruments from different eras. The museum is named after its founder Siegfried Wendel who was a collector of mechanical music boxes and he opened his collection to the public in 1969.
The mechanical musical instrument often has characters like human or animal which performs with the music and depicts the skills of past generations.
There’s a guided tour that offers a demonstration of different instruments and their history. The tour is full of amusement and presents the creativity of past generations.
6. Rhein in Flammen
During the summer season, you can also enjoy the beautiful firework in different locations in Rhein Valley. Check out more details about the firework here.
Best Restaurants & Cafes in Rüdesheim
Rüdesheim has beautiful picturesque cafes and restaurants located in the old town and also the main avenue of the town. During our 1 day trip, we experienced a dining experience in different restaurants. Here are our three favorite restaurants in Rüdesheim.
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Winzerkeller:
Winzerkeller Restaurant is located on the historical street of Oberstraße and offers a great dining experience. It’s a picturesque traditional wooden architecture with wooden bricks which offers a very inviting atmosphere.
It also offers the culinary delights of Rhineland with traditional German flavors including Schnitzel, Sauerbraten, River fish, and lots of vegetarian dishes.
Eiscafé Tirreno:
If you're in town during the summer, make sure to check out Eiscafé Tirreno. They serve amazing ice cream and refreshing ice milkshakes.
Their Mango Milkshake is a must-try, especially coming from a top mango producer like Pakistan. We can definitely recommend a tasting of the authentic goodness of a Mango Milkshake.
Quetschkommod in Drosselgasse:
It’s a must for you to at least try out one of the restaurants or cafes in Drosselgasse. As we step into Quetschkommod, we reached the world of creativity where you can find a treasure of handcraft and artistic work.
Each piece of art is a masterpiece and depicts the imagination of the artist. It’s truly the best place for art lovers where you can indulge in art while enjoying your food. We also enjoy the artistic vibe while sipping a coffee.
Magic Bike by Harvey Davidson:
During our visit to Rüdesheim, we witnessed an incredible event hosted by Harvey Davidson. The event is called “Magic Bike”. It’s a meet-up of the Harvey Davidson Bikers, who gathered in the small town of Rüdesheim and enjoy the event.
There are different stalls and musical performances set up for entertainment. There were more than 5000 bikers with their Harvey Davidson in the town and enjoying the event. This event takes place every year and there are lots of bikers travelling from far to participate in the parade.
Ending Note:
There are numerous charming towns grace the mid-Rhine valley, offering you the choice to either establish one as your base and venture out to explore the valley's beauty or opt for an overnight stay in various towns, each adding its own unique touch to your Rhine Valley experience.