Cochem is a wonderful historical town with medieval architecture, the picturesque banks of the Moselle River and vineyards scattered on the mountain slopes. These attractions make Cochem a popular place for tourists from all over the World. The “pearl” of the town is the Reichsburg Castle, located on a hilltop and rising above the Cochem. There are different ways how to get to Cochem, but the most popular starting points are usually Frankfurt, Cologne or Dusseldorf.
Table of Contents:
How to get to Cochem from Frankfurt
How to get to Cochem from Cologne
How to get to Cochem from Dusseldorf
When to travel to Cochem
Reichsburg Castle is perhaps the most famous castle in the Moselle Valley, and tourists moving around the Rhineland-Palatinate region usually visit it in the first place that is why travelling to Cochem is so popular. The best time to travel to Cochem and surroundings is the period from April to October, when navigation on Moselle River is open and nature is full of colors. I travelled a lot around southern regions of Germany and I can say that the climate in the region is quite mild that is why you can visit Cochem even during the winter time, when Christmas fairs and holiday illumination take place.
How to get to Cochem
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Where do you fly into to get to Cochem? Getting to Cochem is not difficult, since the town has a railway station. You can get there by direct train from any major city – Frankfurt, Cologne, Dusseldorf. All three cities have their own international airports. Check the current timetable from your city at Aviasales booking service. I often use Aviasales when planning my trips, because it can compare a great variety of available flight options. Besides, when searching I can choose individual settings. Among the ways how to get to Cochem you can use either public transport, or you can also rent a car in any city mentioned above. Usually, travellers rent a car if they want to travel around the Moselle valley and see the local castles that are scattered, like pearls, in the region, located on both banks of the Moselle River.
How to get to Cochem from Frankfurt
There are different ways how to get to Cochem from Frankfurt, be it public transport or a car.
How to get to Cochem from Frankfurt by train
Trains with a change in Koblenz run every hour during the daytime. Travel time is 2,5 hours. Trains depart from the Main Train Station in Frankfurt. You can check the current timetable and purchase tickets on the Raileurope service. I use Raileurope very often to check out the current train timetable and, in my opinion, it is a very convenient service, because I can compare different routes and duration of the train journey, which are very useful options.
How to get to Cochem from Frankfurt by car
After arriving in Frankfurt, you can rent a car for your trip either at the airport, or at the car rentals, located in the city center. To rent a car, you need to have a passport, an international driver’s license and a bank card. You can book a car in advance via the international online services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings and other similar ones.
Frankfurt and Cochem are connected with highways #A3 and #A48. The distance is 170 km, the travel time is 1 hour 40 minutes, depending on traffic (see on the map). I travelled along the highways from Frankfurt multiple times and I can confirm they are pretty much comfortable and it is often the fastest way to get to the desired destination. Anyway, a car is considered to be one of the most comfortable ways how to get to Cochem.
How to get to Cochem from Cologne
There are different ways how to get to Cochem from Cologne including trains and cars.
How to get to Cochem from Cologne by train
Direct train from Cologne runs once a day – in 14.23; the travel time is 1,5 hours. The trains with a change in Koblenz run every hour during the day; travel time is 1 hour 50 minutes. Trains depart from the Main Train Station in Cologne. You can check the current timetable and purchase tickets on the Raileurope service.
How to get to Cochem from Cologne by car
After arriving in Cologne, you can rent a car for your trip either at the airport, or at the car rentals, located in the city center. To rent a car, you need to have a passport, an international driver’s license and a bank card. You can book a car in advance via the international online services Discover Cars, Economybookings and the others. Cologne and Cochem are connected with highway # A61. Based on my research, the distance is 115 km and the travel time is 1 hour 20 minutes (see on the map).
How to get to Cochem from Dusseldorf
There are various options how to get to Cochem from Dusseldorf. Tourists can use public transport as well as a car.
How to get to Cochem from Dusseldorf by train
Direct train runs from Dusseldorf once a day – at 13.50; the travel time is 2 hours 5 minutes. Trains with a change in Koblenz run every hour during the day; the travel time is 2 hours 40 minutes. Trains depart from the Main Train Station in Dusseldorf. You can check the current timetable and purchase tickets on the Raileurope service.
How to get to Cochem from Dusseldorf by car
After arriving in Cologne, you can rent a car for your trip either at the airport, or at the car rentals, located in the city center. To rent a car, you need to have a passport, an international driver’s license and a bank card. You can book a car in advance via the international online services Discover Cars, Economybookings and others. I checked out these services and most of the reviews are positive so I can recommend both of them. Dusseldorf and Cochem are connected with highway #A61. The distance is 160 km; the travel time is 2 hours (see on the map).
Please, be noted! You can climb up from Cochem to the castle on foot or by taxi on weekdays, and you can go up by shuttle buses # 781 on weekends. Buses stop at the bus station, in the old town, at the stops of Tummelchen-Burgsattel and Reichsburg-Alte Linde. The fare is 2.5 euros.
Where to stay in Cochem
After you figured out how to get to Cochem, is it the time to find out accommodation variants. Cochem is an incredibly interesting town with a large number of historical and architectural highlights. There are no modern buildings here, and the local architecture is authentic and plunges into the vibes of the Middle Ages. Not surprisingly, many tourists choose to stay in Cochem for more than one day.
In addition, Cochem is a convenient starting point for travelling around the Moselle Valley. I did some research and I can say that tourists can stay in Cochem in hotels of various categories, also in apartments, guest houses, holiday homes.
3-star hotels
Flair Hotel am Rosenhugel 3* is located in an idyllic location surrounded with natural attractions, wherein a 10-minute walk from the town center. The hotel is surrounded by the garden and has views of the vineyards and Reichsburg Castle. There is a gym on site. You can stay in rooms of various categories. Some rooms have balconies with a view of the castle. Breakfast is included in the price. All rooms are also equipped with a coffee pot or a kettle. Wi-Fi is available in public areas and is free of charge. Free public parking is available nearby.
Hotel Germania 3* is located just 600 meters from the railway station. The hotel has a terrace overlooking the Moselle River. Guests can stay in rooms of various categories, including family rooms. Breakfast is included in the price. Wi-Fi is free of charge. Public parking nearby is available upon reservation and at an additional cost.
Stumbergers Hotel 3* is located in a picturesque area of the town and has a view of the Reichsburg castle. The hotel terrace also offers views of the Moselle River. The historic center is about 2.5 km away. This hotel has a restaurant, a bar and a beer garden. You can stay in rooms of various categories. The type of food offered is breakfast. Wi-Fi is free of charge. Free private parking is available on site.
No-star hotels
Hotel Weinstube Klasen is located in a quiet and picturesque area of the town, 1 km from Reichsburg Castle. The hotel has a terrace with panoramic views and is surrounded by vineyards; it is an ideal place for hiking and cycling. Guests can stay in rooms with river or mountain views. Breakfast is included. Wi-Fi is free of charge. Free private parking is available on site. It is important to find out a parking space in advance in case you choose a car as a way of how to get to Cochem. The front desk provides luggage storage services.
Hotel Villa Vinum Cochem is located on the bank of the Moselle River. You can walk to the town center and the railway station in about 5 minutes. The hotel has a massage room, a library and a fireplace room. Guests can stay in rooms of various categories, including family rooms. Breakfast is included in the price. Wi-Fi is free of charge. Private parking is available on site at an additional cost. The front desk provides luggage storage services.
What to see & do in Cochem
Cochem is located in a picturesque natural place. On the one hand, the Moselle River is flowing near here, and on the other hand, mountains and vineyard terraces surround the town. A medieval “pearl”, as Cochem is sometimes called, is situated between the mountains and the river. There are no modern houses here, and the locals, as before, live in a traditional dwelling with colorful half-timbered decor. Of course, Reichsburg Castle is considered to be the most famous attraction of the town.
Reichsburg Castle
After some research, I discovered that the castle was built at the beginning of the 12th century, and its main architectural style is Gothic. The castle looks epic, rising over the Cochem and standing on a top hill. The exterior of Reichsburg is especially impressive in the morning hours after the rain, when the building is immersed in a light haze of fog. But not only the exterior of the castle impresses, but also its interior, so it’s definitely recommended to visit the castle inside. Here you find lavishly decorated halls, authentic frescoes, candelabra, paintings and much more.
Inside, such rooms as the Knight’s Hall, the Great Dining room, the Hunting room, the Gothic room, the Romanesque room and the Armory are open for visitors. The rooms are decorated with paintings by Rubens and Titian, collections of porcelain and Moselle glass vases, carved wooden furniture, weapons, armor, mosaics, fireplaces etc. You should also take a walk along the courtyard, which offers a gorgeous view of the valley. I examined and collected practical information for visiting the castle and here what I found out:
Visitor’s Information
- The castle is open daily. Opening hours: 09.00 – 17.00
- Visiting of the interior is possible only with an organized tour
- Tours in English start daily at 10.30, 11.30, 12.30, 13.30, 14.30, 15.30 and 16.30 (less often in winter)
- Tickets can be purchased on site at the gift shop and at the gate
- Please note that payment can be made only in cash. The entrance ticket costs 8,5 euros
Other historical attractions
In addition to the castle, I also recommend visiting the historic center of Cochem, which is filled with the unique charm of the old town. If you are interested in architecture as much as me, you can discover that there are a lot of architectural monuments here, as well as charming residential buildings decorated with half-timbered decor. So, for example, you will certainly be impressed by the local church – St. Martin’s Cathedral with an unusual onion tower. The temple was built in the 15th century. The church is decorated with stained-glass windows and wooden sculptures.
Tourists also often visit the Mustard Mill, which today is a museum and shows how the famous Moselle mustard is produced. By the way, it is mustard and wine that are the best souvenirs that you can bring from Cochem. In the shop at the museum, you can choose a wide variety of mustard types.
- The museum is open daily from 10.00 to 18.00
Of course, the main square of the town, called Market Square, is also worth visiting. You can observe here a number of buildings with traditional German half-timbered architecture. Local houses, the Town Hall and other buildings – they are all decorated with famous decor. The square is paved with stone, and in the center of it there is a fountain. In addition, the old town, which is called Altstadt, is partially surrounded by fortified walls, and in two places medieval gates have been preserved, which are also considered to be local architectural and historic attractions.
Where else to go
Reichsburg Castle is not the only castle in the Moselle Valley region, so tourists often combine a visit to Cochem with other attractions in the surrounding area. For example, you can find the Eltz Castle nearby, which is also considered to be one of the “pearls” of the Moselle Valley. The distance between the castles is about 25 km. They are connected with the road #B49 along the Moselle River.
Based on my experience, I can say that the southern regions of Germany can boast quite a mild climate and a picturesque countryside so it is definitely worth visiting them when travelling around Germany. There are different ways of how to get to Cochem and other Moselle Valley towns. However, the most popular starting points are usually Frankfurt, Cologne or Dusseldorf.
Take a note! When going on a trip to Germany, do not forget to take out travel insurance, which is useful for receiving a tourist visa and for solving emerging medical problems when travelling in another country. You can purchase insurance via online services, for example, via EKTA and others. You can choose from different modes, including quiet, active or extreme rest.
Photo above the article: Frans Berkelaar
Julia is an experienced traveller, BA in International Relations and Languages and true lover of planning trips in advance. Learn more about the author…
Exploring the Moselle Valley is something that I haven’t had a chance to do yet. What other towns would you suggest to combine with a visit to Cochem while in the area?
Hello!
I would definitely recommend visiting the Eltz Castle which is located quite close and kept its authentic look.
Cheers,
Julia
What a fantastic and practical guide! Cochem has been on my list for a while, and your post makes me want to visit even sooner. The description of Reichsburg Castle sitting above the vineyards sounds like an absolute fairytale. I really appreciate the detailed breakdown of getting there from Frankfurt—knowing the train journey takes about 2.5 hours with a change in Koblenz is exactly the kind of specific, helpful info that makes planning so much easier.
I love all of the historic sites to check out!! I’d especially love to do Reichsburg Castle.
Wow Cochem looks so beautiful, i’d never heard of it before! I’ve been looking for quaint German towns to visit, so this is perfect. 🙂