- Visit the Rhine Valley in spring or autumn. The valley should be quiet and the weather pleasant. In summer, tourists swarm the valley and in winter events almost completely shut down. Each town along the Rhine offers accommodations such as an inn, bed and breakfast or camping.
- Though you can visit the Rhine Valley from Frankfurt on a day trip, the long drive can be frustrating. Start in Koblenz or Mainz and head toward the other town. Once in the Rhine Valley, pick a mode of transportation. The Köln-Düsseldorfer Line offers boat trips from one town to the other. Trips run about four hours downstream and more than five hours upstream. If you have a rail pass, these trips should be included. If not, they cost about $65. The KD Line boats are not direct voyages but stop at many small towns. Or take a train along the Rhine for spectacular views. The trains on the left bank are easier to navigate, and you can chose between faster, nonstop trains or slower, regional trains that make numerous stops. Rent a car to explore the area. Both Mainz and Koblenz have rental businesses.
- One must see the ruins of Burg Rheinfels. This fortress, built in the 13th century, once towered over the region. You can explore its grounds and labyrinthine underground tunnels. Another ruined castle, Ehrenbreitstein, sits on the right bank. Destroyed by Napoleon's forces in 1801, the castle was rebuilt. It serves as a hostel, museum and site for two restaurants. Schloss Stolzenfels is perhaps the best example of Rhine architecture with its turrets and ornate grounds.
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