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Best Tips for visiting Cochem on the Moselle River
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
Cochem is a fairytale town located on the bank of the Moselle River in Rhineland-Palatinate. The town is famous for its medieval old town with cobblestone streets, half-timbered houses, vineyards, and a hilltop castle. It looks straight out of the storybook.
How to reach Cochem:
By Air:
If you are travelling internationally, you can take a flight to Trier or Koblenz, or the closest international airport is Frankfurt. From there, you can take a Train to Cochem.
By Train:
There are frequent train connections to and from Cochem. The station is quite small, so you have to take a regional train instead of ICE. But you can still take an ICE to Koblenz and then change to a regional train.
Where to stay in Cochem:
The Hotels are often expensive during the season, especially in summer. You can look for a hotel in the old town. Here are some options:
Hotel Villa Vie Cochem: You can stay in a boutique hotel famous for its design, friendly staff, and excellent breakfast. It's located within walking distance of Cochem Castle.
Hotel Germania: The hotel is located on the Moselle River with a beautiful view, and it's closer to Cochem Old Town.
Hotel am Markt – This hotel is located in Cochem’s market square, offering easy access to local attractions and dining options.
Pro tip: In our case, we stayed in the town called Klottern, which is around 5 KM from Cochem. There is a direct frequent train and it takes around 15 minutes to reach the Cochem train station.
If you are looking for day trips from Frankfurt, check out the blog about the 20 Best Day Trips from Frankfurt.
Things to Do in Cochem
1. Reichsburg Cochem (Cochem Castle)
The most iconic and picturesque castle, known as Reichsburg Cochem, is located on the hilltop, and you can enjoy the beautiful view of the old town and the Moselle River. The castle was built in the 11th century, and it’s only possible to go with a guided tour.
In the 17th century, the French troops destroyed the castle, and it was rebuilt.
You can easily walk to the castle and pass by the picturesque narrow streets of Cochem Old Town.
If you don’t want to walk, you can also take a bus that takes you to the top of the castle.
Check out our blog about Reichsburg Cochem to plan your trip.
In July, the castle also hosts Cochemer Burgfest, which is a medieval festival held at Reichsburg Castle with tournaments and period costumes.
2. Cochem Old Town
The beauty of the Cochem Old Town is beyond words to explain - you have to experience it. The narrow maze of cobble town streets with hidden cafes and restaurants and half-timbered houses makes it such a lovely experience to stroll in the streets and get lost in the beauty of it.
The Marktplatz and the Rathaus (Town Hall) are located in the heart of the city, with a beautiful fountain and restaurants.
If you are looking for day trips from Munich, check out the blog about the best day trip from Munich.
You can also find unique local boutiques, restaurants, and bakeries.
3. River Cruise on the Moselle River
If you are in the Moselle Valley or in Cochem, the river cruise is a must, and it’s the best way to explore the beauty of Cochem. There are different cruise companies offering short and long sightseeing tours. We opted for the long tour to Beilstein.
Normally, it’s easier to get a ticket for the cruise on the spot, but you have to go a bit before the time of the cruise to secure a good seat.
The view of the castle and the town is exceptionally mesmerising. During summer, you can also opt for a sunset cruise, which is a kind of party cruise with music.
Check out the blog about the 50 places to visit in Germany.
There are also long cruise that stops at different locations in the Moselle valley, and you can explore different towns while enjoying the cruise.
4. Walk on the Moselle River Bank (promenade)
Even if you experience the river cruise, it’s highly suggested to walk on both sides of the riverbank.
There are lots of places where you can sit and enjoy the beautiful view. You can also rent a cycle and enjoy cycling on the riverbank. The best Time is around sunset, so you can also enjoy the blue hour.
5. Sesselbahn to Pinnerkreuz
To enjoy the beautiful view of the town, you can also take a cable car ride to Pinnerkreuz Viewpoint. This viewpoint is perfect for photography. In our case, we took the Bahn to the top and climbed down to the town.
It’s a very peaceful place where you can sit for hours and get lost in the beauty.
Check out the blog about things to do in Rome.
6. Bundesbank Bunker Museum
Bundesbank Bunker Museum used to be a secret bunker during the Cold War era, and it once stored billions of Deutsche Marks in an emergency.
It turned into a museum, which you can explore with guided tours and learn about the history of Germany during the Cold War.
7. Hike or Cycle Along the Moselle
Cochem is ideal for outdoor lovers, there are lots of hiking and cycling tracks along the Moselle river from where you can enjoy the beautiful view of the valley. You can also take the Moselsteig Trail, which passes through the vineyards and villages.
Check out the blog about the Budapest Travel Guide.
Pro tip:
We have been to the vineyards, which are directly in front of the Reichsburg Cochem across the river. The view of the castle is amazing from there.
8. Day trip to Burg Eltz
One of the most iconic castles, Burg Eltz, is located on a short drive from Cochem. You can also take a day trip to Burg Eltz. This castle has still owned by the same family for over 850 years.
9. Christmas Market of Cochem
The town also hosts a small but very charming Christmas market. If you happen to be in the Moselle valley during December, do not forget to visit the Christmas market.
Where to eat in Cochem:
a. River restaurants
b. Ice cream
c. Pakist pizza
Ending Note:
From Old Town streets to majestic castles and half-timbered houses, this small town offers everything for a lovely vacation. If you happen to be in the region, don't forget to visit the neighboring towns like Beilstein, Bernkastell-Kues, or Traben-Trarbach.
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