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This summer will be a “wow” on the water

Tips for great days out with the KD river boats
Unfamiliar paths, unknown worlds, hidden beauties, surprising moments: all this is much closer than you think. The regions along the Rhine, Main and Moselle feature countless sights, picturesque landscapes and excellent bicycle and hiking trails along the water or through the vineyards. The epitome of nature. There are even wild animals to discover. Well, if you count fire salamanders and grape phylloxera. The Köln-Düsseldorfer river boats are a comfortable and stress-free way to visit the local cultural and leisure hotspots. The summer holidays are made for a day’s outing or a short breather on board. We’ve put together a few ideas for day trips as well as round trips and panoramic cruises.

Ever-popular: Königswinter and the Siebengebirge

Among the most popular cruises are the sche-duled KD services to the Siebengebirge mountain range. These operate from Cologne to Linz. The eventful day out ideally begins with a hearty breakfast on board. Along the route are charming towns such as Bad Honnef, Unkel and Linz, as well as countless castles, ruins like the Rolandsbogen and silent witnesses to recent history like the bridge at Remagen. For generations, Königswinter with its Drachenfels has been a place of longing for Rhinelanders. The town in the Siebengebirge has been and still is sung about in many songs – mainly by Cologne dialect poets like Karl Berbuer or Willi Ostermann. A monument has even been erected to the latter in Nachtigallental in Königswinter. In Cologne, a magnificent Ostermann fountain can be found in the old town. One of the Rhine songs has become a golden oldie. Karl Berbuer recalls in “Heidewitzka, Herr Kapitän” (Full Steam Ahead, Captain) that it used to be a nice custom to take a boat trip from Cologne to the Drachenfels at least once a year. This statement is still highly topical a good 60 years after the song was released.

A special cycling tip:

Take your bike on board and enjoy a hearty breakfast before continuing by bike on the beautiful cycle paths along the left or right banks of the Rhine. And as a reward, get back on the boat for the return journey. Every Tuesday and Thursday is even KD’s Bicycle Day – two cyclists only have to pay for one ticket!

Detour to Duisburg port

North Rhine-Westphalia’s state capital Düsseldorf is the starting point for various day trips. From the KD jetty at Burgplatz, the cruise goes upstream to Zons. The town on the left bank of the Lower Rhine has a very well preserved medieval fortification. No less interesting is the picturesque old town in Monheim am Rhein, another stop on the cruise. The day trip to Duisburg includes an approximately two-hour round trip through Europe’s largest inland port. Cologne is definitely worth a visit. In the cathedral city, the boat docks directly on the bank of the Rhine in the city centre. Guests can discover what the historic old town has to offer during a stay of about two hours.

A special Düsseldorf-Cologne tip:

The cruise includes a breakfast and lunch buffet on board.

Panoramic cruises with added value

We offer one-hour panoramic cruises in Cologne, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt and Cochem. Completely new impressions open up from the water. If this has given you an appetite for more, you should add an exploration of the city to the leisurely round trip. In Düsseldorf and Cologne, the old towns and the Rhine promenades invite you to take a long stroll. The skyline of the Main metropolis Frankfurt speaks for itself. Just like the “Römer” city hall complex, Paulskirche church and the Museumsufer museum district. In Cochem’s old town, the baroque-style town hall in the market square is an eye-catcher.

A special Cochem tip:

The climb to the Reichsburg, one of the highest castles on the Moselle, is not only worthwhile for lovers of the Age of Chivalry. The view over one of the most impressive river landscapes is truly breathtaking. And the castle is even open to visitors.

New: Round trips from Bacharach or Rüdesheim

The new KD round trips on the Middle Rhine last just under three hours. Boats depart from Rüdesheim for the famous wine town of Bacharach four times a day. This cruise is peppered with tourist highlights: the Niederwald monument, the ruins of Ehrenfels Castle, the Mäuseturm near Bingen and Reichenstein, Sooneck and Stahleck Castles, to name just the most famous. Bacharach, the secret centre of Rhine romanticism, is also ideal for a short trip on land. The former wine trading centre impresses visitors with a largely intact city wall featuring towers and battlements. The old parish church of St. Peter is surrounded by delightful med­ie-val half-timbered houses. Highlights of the visit include a stroll through the picturesque old town alleyways to the Malerwinkel (painters’ nook), the ruins of the Gothic Werner Chapel or Stahleck Castle.

“Completely new impressions open up from the water.”

A special Bacharach tip:

Hiking fans are in for a treat on the “Rheinburgenweg” (Rhine Castle Trail) on the left bank of the Rhine or the “Rheinsteig” (Rhine Trail) on the right bank – including captivating views of the Middle Rhine Valley. The valley can also be explored by bicycle along the “Rheinradweg” (Rhine Cycle Path).

 

And the Lorelei eternally beckons

The Upper Middle Rhine Valley UNESCO World Heritage Site stretches from Koblenz to Bingen. At the heart of this unique landscape lies the legendary Lorelei Rock. The rock made of dark clay slate is located near St. Goarshausen. The wine town of Boppard makes an ideal starting point for a river boat cruise to the Lorelei. The two-and-a-half-hour KD round trips between Boppard and St. Goar/St. Goarshausen are new additions to the schedule. If you like, you can approach the Lorelei from the KD jetty in St. Goarshausen. On the Lorelei there is a beautiful park and a summer toboggan run. The eponymous lady, who, according to legend, ceaselessly combs her long hair, is not to be found on the rock. The Lorelei statue is somewhat hidden at Lorelei port. If you alight in St. Goar on the opposite bank, you should make time for a walk to Rheinfels Castle, one of the largest castles and fortifications on the Middle Rhine. There is no shortage of castles on this stretch of the romantic Rhine. Neu-Katzenelnbogen Castle and Peterseck Castle tower above the river but are better known under their nicknames “Katz” and “Maus” (cat and mouse).

A special Lorelei tip:

Until mid-August, there will be an eclectic music programme in St. Goar under the motto “Summer on the Rhine Balcony” with free admission. You can find the latest information on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RheinbalkonSommer.

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