Day 1 in Koblenz
Welcome to Koblenz!
Upon arrival, you will go through customs and
immigration. Should you opt to purchase a transfer to your hotel; a
representative will be waiting for you as you exit immigration. Arrive at your
hotel, check in and do not give in to jet lag! There is so much for you to see
and do!
Start your afternoon with a lunch to fuel up for your day of
sightseeing. Koblenz has a ton of lovely cafes that serve up some great local
food. After lunch, it`s time to discover the romantic city center. Koblenz ranks among Germany`s
oldest cities, bursting with sights from the past 2,000 years. Follow the maze
of alleys and streets past the spectacular Basilica of St. Castor, which dates back to 836 and was
once an important meeting of emperors and kings, and the Romanesque Church of Our Lady and its
two iconic onion-shaped towers that dominate the Koblenz skyline.
Not far from the here is the mega-modern Forum Confluentes, a
six-level space that houses the tourist
information office, the Middle Rhine Museum, the City Library and the Romanticum, an interactive multimedia exhibition where
visitors can discover the cultural history, the legends and myths and sights of
the Upper Middle Rhine Valley.
End your afternoon with a visit to the Electoral Palace. The 18th-century
building is considered one of the region`s most important palaces built in
French early neoclassicism style, and the on-site café is a great place to stop
for a coffee of snack. Continue your stroll through the lavish gardens and
along the Rhine waterfront.
Head to Deutsches
Eck (German corner) for sunset. The corner marks the confluence
of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers and a popular strolling promenade both for
locals and tourists. A monumental statue of Emperor Wilhelm I stands high above
it to commemorate the ruler with unified Germany after the Franco-Prussian War
in 1871.
As evening approaches, grab some dinner at any of the delicious
restaurants in town before heading back to your hotel for a restful night
sleep.
Day 2 in Koblenz
Grab a quick bite to eat at one of the
many local bakeries in town and start your day with a trip on the Koblenz` cable car, a must-do
during your visit! The lift not only provides a fabulous view of the Upper
Middle Rhine Valley, but it will also take you straight to the Ehrenbreitstein fortress.
This structure sits at a height of 387
feet on a bank of the River Rhine. An early Roman fortification was replaced by
a Conradian fort, which was said to be indestructible. It proved to be true
until Napoleonic troops seized the fortress and blew it up in 1801. When the
Rhineland region became a Pressian province in 1815, the reconstruction of the
fortress as a strategic military post was made a priority. Make sure to check
out the archaeological and historic artifacts at the State Museum of Koblenz
housed in the fortress.
Take the afternoon embarking on a scenic cruise across the rivers Rhine and
Mosel. Boats from Koblenz go southwards all the way to Mainz and
northwards till Cologne, both routes offering views of a series of hilltop
castles, romantic vineyards and the chance to hop off at any stop to explore
picture-perfet towns.
In the evening enjoy sampling some wines of the area.
Both the Rhine Gorge and Moselle Valley boast vine-clad hills that produce some
of the best wines Germany has to offer. Several traditional wine growers in
Koblenz offer tours to visitors, while countless wine bars and taverns entice
visitors with a range of delicious wines produced locally.
For dinner, we suggest a visit to the Weinhaus
Hubertus that resides in one
of the city`s oldest half-timbered houses. Here, you`ll find a cozy
atmosphere with rustic wood-panelled
walls, old furniture and a fireplace. The restaurant offers a great place to
enjoy regional specialties and a selection of carefully choosen wines from the
region that are sourced directly from local winemakers.
Day 3 in Koblenz
Rise and shine! Start by fueling
your day with a traditional local breakfast. Afterward, head over to the old Mittelrhein Museum, once the
old town hall and now an art gallery of 19th-century romantic
English and German landcape paintings depicting the Rhine River. Above it you
will see the Augenroller, or `eye roller,` which rolls
its eyes on the half-hour and sticks out its tongue on the hour. See the new
modern Mittelrhein Museum in the same building as the Romanticum.
If the weather allows, spend the
afternoon cycling around
Koblenz and the surrounding areas. This is one of the most
enjoyable ways to explore more of this part of Rhineland-Palatinate. The region
has excellently signposted cycle paths that lead through beautiful winegrowing
landscapes along the Rhine and Moselle River. Inns and restaurants invite you to stop
in along the way.
Alternatively, spend a relaxing
afternoon shopping through the
city. Koblenz has two shopping centers available: the new Forum-Mittelrhein on the
Zentralplatz with around 80 shops, restaurants and cafes; and the Löhr-Center in the Hohenfelderstraße which also offers
a huge selection of stores. There are also many downtown
shops on or near Löhrstraße. Also check out Old Town and Schlossstraße for
great shopping options.
Spend your
last evening enjoying some performing
arts offered in the city. The Rheinische Philharmonie Orchestra performs in the
Rhein-Mosel-Halle which also hosts other performances. Also, the Stadttheater (City Theater), housed
in the Grossehaus, Dinehartplatz, stages dramas, comedies, and musicals (in
German) September to June.
Additional Days in Koblenz
Should you be able to spend additional days in Koblenz, take a day trip to discover the region around Koblenz in the Rhine Valley, there are several interesting small towns close by. Andernach is located just 12 miles north of Koblenz, a lovely German town with plenty of shops, restaurants and lots of history to discover. Rhens is another charming town close by along with Boppard, Braubach and St. Goar, home to the famous`Loreley`, the narrowest and once the most dangerous part of the Rhine for ships.
Your Last Day in Koblenz
Depart your hotel for the airport for your return home. We recommend that you purchase a private transfer, if so a representative will meet you at the hotel, in time to take you to the airport for your flight out.