01.10.2022 Mittschiffs

Let’s see whether Drachenfels is still there

The trip to Germany's Siebengebirge ['Seven Mountains'] region ranks among the most popular excursions on the Rhine

Köln-Düsseldorfer Rheinschiffahrt (KD) is ringing out the summer and sailing with great élan into the golden autumn. With offers spanning panoramic tours, relaxed day excursions, unconventional event trips, lounge-basking evening trips and surprising gourmet evenings, the diverse programme leaves nothing to be desired.

All KD offers are provided under the now-customary hygiene rules in force and in full compliance with official requirements. The hygiene and infection-prevention concept on board all KD ships has proven itself in recent years. The concept is still subject to constant review, with adaptations made whenever necessary. The ultimate aim is the safety of our guests and employees whilst on board.

Combining ship and bike tours

For decades, the Siebengebirge region has ranked among the most popular destinations on the Rhine. Some Rhinelanders are said not to feel quite right unless they visit Drachenfels at least once a year. And twice is even better. The route between Cologne and Linz is dotted with magnificent castles, popular wine villages such as Königswinter or Unkel, and cultural stops, such as the museums in Bonn or the Arp Museum located in the Rolandseck quarter of Remagen. Königswinter is particularly worth the journey, and not just because of its Drachenfels and Drachenburg attractions. The SEA LIFE aquarium and the Siebengebirgsmuseum are highly recommended as well. The ride on the Drachenfels Railway is always an experience. It is the oldest of the four rack railway lines still in service in Germany.

Famous cruises to the Siebengebirge

SEA LIFE aquarium in Königswinter

Drachenfels Railway

Viewing platform on the Drachenfels

A hike in a nature park

Königswinter is the ideal spot from which to set out on a hike through the Siebengebirge region. The largely flat terrain with well-developed bicycle routes also offers excellent conditions for excursions that combine ship travel with bike tours. Siebengebirge Nature Park is perfect for hiking and cycling as well. It extends from Bad Honnef via Königswinter to Bonn – all locations where KD ships dock. Nearly half of the park is a nature reserve. There are numerous prepared hiking tours available to choose from. These include, for example, the Oberdollendorf wine trail, the ‘Zeitsprung’ [‘Leap in Time’] adventure trail or the tour around the abbey landscape of Heisterbach.

“The Rhine makes its way to Rüdesheim through the Rhenish Uplands as it carries guests through a unique landscape of cultural and natural attractions.”

Short excursions with a ‘home-pitch’ advantage

One-hour panoramic tours aboard our KD vessels also offer travellers interesting vistas and points of view of the cities of Frankfurt, Cologne, Düsseldorf and Cochem. In Frankfurt, you will pass the skyline of the metropolis on the Main, historic St. Paul’s Church and the institutions of the Museumsufer along the riverbanks. In Düsseldorf, the journey begins in Old Town and takes guests through the Medienhafen (media harbour). The journey in Cologne also sets sail against an Old Town backdrop before proceeding past the cathedral and the Rheinauhafen harbour complex, home to the city’s Chocolate Museum and impressive modern towers modelled after old-fashioned ships’ cranes. The panoramic tour in Cochem offers the appeal not of city flair but the breath-taking landscape of the area along the Moselle River. These excursions even give locals a surprising look at their home towns. This is also true of the day trips that combine a relaxed trip by ship with an interesting excursion on dry land. hoose from among tours from Düsseldorf to Cologne, Monheim or Duisburg, or from Cologne to Zons or Monheim.

Nostalgia route by paddle wheel ship

The KD Nostalgia Route takes you through the entire UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Upper Middle Rhine aboard a carefully restored paddle wheel ship that dates back to 1913. The tour starts from Koblenz daily at 9:00 a.m. and continues to Rüdesheim and back. Pass the sites of Rhine Romanticism along the way, such as St. Goarshausen, St. Goar, Bacharach, Assmannshausen and Bingen. The Rhine makes its way to Rüdesheim through the Rhenish Uplands [Rheinisches Schiefergebirge] as it carries guests through a unique landscape of cultural and natural attractions. The journey winds past steep vineyards, idyllic towns nestled along the Rhine, and magnificent castles. These include the nearly intact and scarcely altered castles in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, such as Burg Pfalzgrafenstein and Marksburg, a hilltop stronghold dating from the 12th century above the city of Braubach in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. Tourist attractions include Rheinfels Castle and the Niederwald Monument. Th e Mouse Tower near Bingen is a former military and watchtower. It stands in the middle of the Rhine, on Mouse Tower Island. Opposite the tower stand the Ehrenfels castle ruins. Both towers once served as customs stations, and ships were not permitted to pass until they had paid the Rhine toll.

Bringing the day to a relaxed conclusion

All-inclusive evening cruises in Düsseldorf, Cologne, Mainz and Koblenz combine dining, entertainment, atmosphere, conversation and sightseeing all in one. No wonder that the 3-hour tours have become real hits in the KD programme. Join with family, friends, co-workers, or enjoy yourselves as a couple as you bring the day to a relaxed conclusion. Th ere is reserved seating on board for guests aboard all of our all-inclusive evening trips. Th e off er features a platter of starters (served at the table) along with a rich buff et and drinks (wine, beer and soft drinks). KD DJs are on hand to provide the right musical backdrop. Brunch trips in Cologne and Düsseldorf take visitors past the stunning scenery of these two metropolises on the Rhine. Guests can look forward to a rich breakfast and brunch buff et on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month (dates up to and including October). Th is is accompanied by a glass of sparkling wine or orange juice to greet our passengers, together with coff ee and tea.