The Best Things To Do In Rhineland-Palatinate Germany

The Romantic Rhine, ancient Roman sites, beautiful medieval castles and vineyards for days – the Rhineland-Palatinate state of Germany offers wow-inducing sights and fun activities. We’ve picked the best things to do in the area and came up with this list.

Take a cruise on the Rhine river

The Upper Middle Rhine Valley between Koblenz and Bingen is home to some of the most beautiful scenery Germany has to offer, and a cruise is a perfect way to explore the glorious landscape. A trip up or down the Rhine river takes you along the vine-clad hills of the valley, several medieval castles and fortress ruins, dreamy villages and myth-enshrouded rock formations. Day trips allow you to hop on and off wherever you like to get a closer look at the attractions, try local foods or sample the region’s best wines.

The romantic Rhine valley with Katz castle

Marvel at Speyer Cathedral

Speyer Cathedral, Domplatz, Speyer, Germany

Visit Eltz Castle

Burg Eltz is the epitome of a medieval castle. Perched on a rock in the midst of a forest, the grey-shingled turrets are the first thing you see before you step onto the cobbled bridge that takes you to the main portal. The thick walls of bricks and red-and-white timber structures hold the stories of 850 years. Once you’re done getting some epic Instagram shots, step inside. Guided tours give you a chance to travel back in time and explore the treasury, armoury, the old kitchen and furniture and a lot more.

Eltz Castle, Wierschem, Germany

Drink all the wine

The Rhineland-Palatinate state is serious wine country. Vineyards populate the steep slopes along the Rhine, Moselle and Saar Rivers and produce award-winning Rieslings, Pinot Noirs and other varieties. Not booking yourself in for at least one wine tasting while you’re in the area would be a wasted opportunity. Join a vineyard and cellar tour, stop by the wine taverns of Cochem and Bacharach, or time your visit for September so you can attend the world’s largest wine festival in Bad Dürkheim.

Learn about Germany’s Roman legacy

Out of all the ancient Roman settlements in western Germany, Trier is the city that boasts the most impressive relics of the time. Standing in front of the Porta Nigra will have you shaking your head in disbelief imagining that the imposing gate has stood here since 180 AD. Other UNESCO-listed sites in the city have a similar effect, including the Imperial bathhouses and the gigantic amphitheatre, which saw 20,000 spectators and bloody fights between gladiators and animals in its time.

Feel like a race car champion

As far as sports venues go, the Nürburgring is a must-see. The impressive race court fits 150,000 motorsports fans from all over the world who come here to watch race car drivers take on the parkour at head-spinning speeds – the lap record is still held by Germany’s legendary seven-time world champion Michael Schuhmacher. But how do you feel about getting behind the wheel yourself? The venue offers a myriad of packages – you can take your own car onto the track, join as a co-pilot, book race car driving training or, if that’s too much adrenaline for you, the behind-the-scenes tour is definitely worth the money.

Nürburgring Boulevard 1, Nürburg, Germany

See the Deutsches Eck headland

Koblenz is a combination of everything we have just mentioned. The city sits at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers and dates back to 9 BC, when the Romans erected a military post here. Don’t miss out on a cable-car ride across the river and up to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress. From here, you can enjoy panoramic views of the Deutsches Eck headland and the oversized statue of Wilhelm I, Germany’s first Emperor who unified Germany after the Franco-Prussian War.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.