Rüdesheim from Sankt Goarshausen: wine lanes and a cable car

Rüdesheim is the busiest wine town on the Rhine, and it sits at the southern end of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley. It can be crowded and it is unashamedly touristy, but the setting is lovely, with vineyards rising straight up behind the town. It is also an easy day out from Sankt Goarshausen, because the same railway line and the same boats serve both.

Getting there

• By train: regional trains on the right bank of the Rhine link Sankt Goarshausen and Rüdesheim directly, in well under an hour. This is the simple choice, and the views over the river are excellent, so sit on the river side.
• By boat: a cruise takes longer, especially going upstream, but it passes Pfalzgrafenstein Castle and Bacharach along the way. Boats run mainly from spring to autumn, so check the timetable. Our cruise guide has the details.
• The best of both: go by boat in the morning and return by train, so that you are not tied to a boat in the evening.

The Drosselgasse

This narrow, cobbled lane is the town’s most famous street. It is lined with wine taverns, souvenir shops and places with live music, and it can be very busy when the tour coaches and cruise ships are in town. Walk down it, then explore the quieter streets around it, where you will find half-timbered houses and better prices.

The cable car and the Niederwald Monument

Do not miss the ride above the town. The cable car lifts you over the vineyards in small open gondolas to the Niederwald Monument, which was finished in 1883. The huge figure of Germania marks the founding of the German Empire after the war with France, so it is as interesting for its politics as for its size. The views over the Rhine and the Nahe are superb.

From the top you can take the classic round walk through the woods to Assmannshausen, then return by chairlift and riverside train or boat. Allow about half a day if you do it all.

What to eat and drink

• Rüdesheim coffee: coffee with local Asbach brandy, sugar and whipped cream. It is prepared at your table in many cafés.
• Riesling: the local wine. The Rheingau starts here, so try one and compare it with the wines of the Middle Rhine. Read more in our wine and food guide.
• Something to do on a wet day: Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet is a charming museum of old self-playing instruments.

A suggested day

• Morning: take the train to Rüdesheim and go up the cable car before the crowds.
• Lunch: walk down through the vineyards, or ride back down, for lunch in town.
• Afternoon: see the Drosselgasse and have a Rüdesheim coffee, then catch a boat or train home.

Back on your own stretch of the river, visit the Loreley and read about the castles of the Middle Rhine. Still planning your arrival? See how to get to Sankt Goarshausen.