The Rhineland Travel Guide

The Rhine River winds through Germany amid a fertile valley of villages, castles, mountains and vineyards. An important trade route for the last two millennia, the Rhine and the towns that have sprung up along its banks exhibit all the tradition and charm of that rich history, making it a popular region for tourism and a really exciting area to explore.

Each section of the Rhineland has its own attractions, including the winelands of Rheinhessen, the hiking trails of Westerwald, the mineral springs of Ahr and the historic Roman and Celtic settlements of Hunsruck. The region is full of fairytales and mythology, and has inspired tales such as Wagner's epic Ring Cycle and those written by Byron, Goethe and Mark Twain.

Today, bustling small towns along the river such as Mainz, Trier, Koblenz, Neustadt an der Weinstrasse and Worms all provide charms of their own. Larger cities such as Cologne, Bonn and Düsseldorf are attracting business to their growing metropolises and offer more cosmopolitan shopping and dining options. The variety of experiences makes the Rhineland a perfect holiday destination for just about anyone, and one of the best ways to explore is by cruising down the river itself.