10 Best Things to Do in Rüdesheim, Germany (from a Local!)

Rüdesheim am Rhein, or Rüdesheim, is one of the top spots to visit in the Rheingau wine region of Germany. I have been multiple times and I always find many things to do in Rüdesheim that I never object to returning!

This is a complete guide on how to visit Rüdesheim and what to do when you’re there. It contains practical information, tours, travel tips, and other details to help you confidently plan your trip to Rüdesheim.

In the end, I also give a suggested Rüdesheim itinerary and other information on where to stay and places to visit nearby. 

Please note that these photos are taken at various times of the year, as I have been several times since I lived in Frankfurt for ten years! I also discuss when the best season and time for visiting Rüdesheim is in the post.

If you have any suggestions for what to do in Rüdesheim, please leave a comment for other visitors to see!

Why You Should Visit Rüdesheim

Rudesheim is a small town that genuinely has so much packed into one area that you will keep occupied visiting for an entire day! Just like Bamberg is known for its beer, Rüdesheim is renowned for its wine!

And while it is a place to drink and consume a lot of German wine (most notably, Riesling), you can do a lot more there, such as eat tasty German food, down a cup of Rüdesheim coffee, and take a boat trip down the Rhine to check out castles.

In addition to having a plethora of things to do in Rüdesheim, you can also do a little bit of hiking and activities while there. Alternatively, you can visit during one of the many festivals that the Rheingau town hosts. 

Rüdesheim is a charming place to visit and a fantastic day trip from Frankfurt or several other places in Hessen and beyond.

How to Get to Rüdesheim

Getting to Rüdesheim is fairly easy if you’re based in Frankfurt for your Germany trip. It is also an easy place to travel to if you’re in Wiesbaden, Mainz, or anywhere else close to Frankfurt.

You can see my tips for how to get to Rüdesheim below.

Getting from Frankfurt to Rüdesheim

The easiest place, in my opinion, to get to Rüdesheim from is Frankfurt. The trains leave regularly from platforms 22-24 (or around there!) at the Frankfurt Central Station (Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof).

You can purchase at the train station before your train departs and the journey is around 1 hour and 11 minutes and you will also pass through Wiesbaden on the way.  

If you’re looking for timetables from Frankfurt to Rüdesheim, head over to the Deutsche Bahn website.

The ticket price from Frankfurt to Rüdesheim is €15.30 per person (one-way). A day ticket for one person is €29.80.

If you’re with multiple people, it is actually cheaper to book a group ticket on RMV’s website. The group ticket price is €42.10 for a group of 5 people or less. This is an all-day ticket.

Tours to Rüdesheim

Alternatively, you can reach Rüdesheim by taking an organized tour from Frankfurt. I recommend booking one through my trusted partner, GetYourGuide, as they are a German company that only works with top-quality partners at their destinations.

Their tours offer cancellation up to 24 hours in advance and you will be able to get a full refund if you do need to cancel your Rüdesheim tour. The one below is from Frankfurt.

This tour is a day trip through the Rhein Valley from Frankfurt. The 7-hour tour will take you on a boat cruise through Rüdesheim and then onward to Niederwalddenkmal, Assmannshausen, and Sankt Goarshausen. You will even get to ride the cable car at Assmannshausen when there. Click here to check Rüdesheim day tour rates and availability.

Best Time to Travel to Rüdesheim

Rüdesheim is one of those places in Germany that is pretty much a desirable destination regardless of the time of the year.

While it is cold in the winter and hot in the summer, there are always festivals and events happening and Rüdesheim is renowned for its colorful and lively Christmas markets.

One issue that has occurred in recent years is that climate change in Germany has completely changed the wine harvest season in Rüdesheim. The grapes used to be harvested at the end of September but now they are being harvested in early to mid-August.  

So, if you’re going to the Rüdesheim wine harvest, just look up beforehand to see when it will take place. It will likely be the end of the summer, however.

Christmas Market in Rüdesheim in Winter

If you’re considering visiting Rüdesheim in winter, you will definitely find plenty of activities waiting for you! Rüdesheim is known for the Rüdesheim Christmas Market, which takes place annually in the old town. You will find vendors, kiosks, and a cozy vibe throughout the town.

There are also plenty of Christmas Rhine cruises that will depart from Rüdesheim and take you up and down the Rhine with delicious wine and spectacular castle views. 

Below are two popular Christmas boat tours in Rüdesheim to consider if you end up in Rüdesheim in winter.

• Christmas boat cruise from Rüdesheim up the Rhein
• Christmas boat tour of the Rhein

Another fantastic reason to travel to Rüdesheim during winter is that there are so many delicious restaurants in the town that offer Christmas dinners and heavy, German food perfect for the cooler weather. Pair that with some wine and Rüdesheim coffee, and you’re all set!

Rüdesheim in Summer

A wonderful reason to head to Rüdesheim in summer is to experience the wine harvest! The wine harvest takes place earlier and earlier each year due to climate change but if you plan your Rüdesheim trip ahead a bit, you should be able to catch it.

In addition to attending the wine harvest, the summer in Rüdesheim is comfortable and there are many hikes in the surrounding area and the landscapes are so green! It is also a great time to take a boat tour on the Rhein.

What to Do in Rüdesheim

This next part contains all the best things to do in Rüdesheim. While there is more to do than this, these are ten of my favorite things! 

As usual, your trip to Rüdesheim will vary depending on what time of the year you visit the town, but each season offers a variety of other things to do to replace the ones listed that may be out of season.

If you have any ideas of what to do in Rüdesheim, please leave a comment below. Thanks!

1. Enjoy Rüdesheimer Kaffee (Rüdesheim Coffee)

One of the must-try things in Rüdesheim is Rüdesheimer Kaffee, an alcoholic coffee drink that you can find ubiquitously throughout the town.

It uses a local brandy called Asbach Uralt and it combines with sugar cubes and is flambeed until everything dissolves. It is sweet but not rancid at all (I hate alcoholic coffee) and I quite liked it.

Rüdesheimer Kaffee is rather expensive at €8.50 or so per coffee, but it is something essential to try when traveling to Rüdesheim!

I drank my Rüdesheimer Kaffee at Restaurant Graf von Rüdesheim when there. They put on the whole presentation and have a spacious terrace and an indoor seating area.

2. Ride the Rüdesheimer Seilbahn

One of the essential things to do in Rüdesheim is to take a ride on the Seilbahn, a cable car that takes you from the old town to the Niederwald Monument that overlooks all of the vineyards and the Rheingau.

The Rüdesheimer Seilbahn runs daily but only seasonally! It is closed during the winter most of the time (except during the Christmas period). You can see the hours here.

Rüdesheim Seilbahn ticket prices are as follows:

Adults: €7 (one way) and €11 (round trip)
Children (5-15 years old): €3.50 (one way) and €5.50 (round trip)

There is wheelchair access, so anyone can ride it. In addition, well-behaved dogs are also permitted to ride.

3. Take a Rhein Boat Trip

Another must-do activity in Rüdesheim is to hop on a cruise down the Rhein and take in the views of the castles and vineyards.  

Not only are the boats affordably priced, but they also offer drinks on board (for an upcharge) and they will be one of the most memorable things to do in Rüdesheim.

I took this specific boat tour on the Rhein (it was only €16!) and it was not the most luxurious cruise as it was only 1.5 hours and spent a lot of time at ports before turning around and going back to Rüdesheim, but for only €16, it allowed me to see many castles and take a trip down the river, which was amazing. Click here to check rates and availability for a Rhein boat trip.

4. Eat Zwiebelkuchen

I’d be lying if I didn’t say that one of my favorite things about Rüdesheim is eating Zwiebelkuchen, or Onion Cake, there. This local delicacy is served at various restaurants throughout the town and the main season for the stuff is early autumn.

The cake is made of onions, diced bacon, cream, and caraway seeds and it is so deliciously tasty that I continue going back to Rüdesheim for more and more!

You can find Zwiebelkuchen almost anywhere in Rüdesheim during the right season. The last place I enjoyed it was right on the river at Restaurant Cafe Rosenberger.

5. Visit a Middle Ages Torture Museum

Right in the middle of Rüdesheim, you will find the Folter Museum, a Middle Ages Torture Museum. It is a ‘medieval torture museum with a modern message’, as it states on its website.

The museum is educational and enlightens visitors on stories from four centuries ago… that still happen today in some places around the world.

Inside, you will see whipping posts, gallows, stretching ladders, knee screws, breast talons, heretic forks, guillotines, iron lockjaw, and much more.

The interactive museum has many documents and photos available showcasing the heinous activities that used to take place centuries ago and humanizes the events in a way that will leave guests captivated. It is one of the top attractions in Rüdesheim.

6. Try Rüdesheim Federweisser

Another must-try in Rüdesheim is Federweisser, a special type of wine that comes from the area and is a seasonal treat.

It is often referred to as ‘young wine‘ or ‘new wine‘ and the appearance comes from a suspended yeast called ‘strum’. It usually hovers around 9% alcohol but can go all the way up to 11.5%.

One thing to note is that Federweisser is usually rather refreshing and light. The best time of the year to drink Federweisser depends on the wine harvest in Rüdesheim but it is usually available from September until October (earlier and earlier each year, however!). It is best served with a slice of Zwiebelkuchen.

You can find it at almost any establishment in Rüdesheim during the season.

7. Visit Boosenburg Castle

Right once you get off the train or boat, you will see Boosenburg, a lowland castle located in Rüdesheim. It is part of the Rhine Gorge World Heritage and has been since 2002.

The 12th-century castle is locally known as Oberburg and is located near Bromserburg. It is one of the most Instagrammable and photogenic places to visit in Rüdesheim and is a must-see for visitors.

8. Eat Schnitzel at Jakobsklause

German food is heavy and hearty and it pairs so well with wine and beer that I have no complaints as someone who lives in the country.

One of the best things to eat in Rüdesheim is a large schnitzel and bratkartoffel (potatoes).

While there may be other dishes people recommend when there, I know from personal experience that schnitzel soaks up alcohol quite well and it will allow you to keep going and tasting these delicious wines in Rüdesheim!

My favorite place to get schnitzel is Jakobsklause right at a square of the same name and St. Jakobus Church.

They have a spacious outdoor terrace and a traditional, spacious area to eat inside as well. It is also rated as one of the best restaurants in Rüdesheim. The customer service was fantastic and they had a variety of wines to accompany their menu options.

9. Check Out Georg Breuer Winery

Rüdesheim is teeming with traditional restaurants and wineries, so when I stumbled upon Georg Breuer Winery in the middle of the town, I was in for a real surprise.

Georg Breuer Winery specializes in Riesling and particularly, dry Rieslings (my heart is happy as I don’t love sweet wine). They also have some Pinots and lighter Burgundies in their Rheingau portfolio.

The coolest thing about this winery in Rüdesheim is that the place doubles as an art gallery. It is very modern and interesting, and the woman who helped me there was friendly and extremely knowledgeable.

They also have a wine cellar and restaurant downstairs. I did a quick tasting of their Rieslings and even took a delicious bottle home!

10. Go Hiking in Rudesheim

One of the absolute best things to do in Rüdesheim is to go hiking! Above the town and Rhein sits the Niederwald, a forest that is also part of the Rheingau UNESCO World Heritage Site.

You can go by foot from Rüdesheim to the next-door quarter called Assmannshausen and it will give you some of the most impressive views over the river!

Rüdesheim is also situated along the Rheinsteg, a trail that covers a 320-kilometer (200-mile) distance that runs between Bonn and Wiesbaden and winds through the Upper Middle Rhine Valley UNESCO area.

You will also be located right at the Hildegard of Bingen Trail, a 6.7-kilometer (4.1-mile) loop trail that cuts through the vineyards of Rüdesheim to Eibingen. It covers many of the main Rüdesheim landmarks.

Some of the shorter hikes in Rüdesheim are:

• Freiligrath Route
• Ostein Route
• Potters’ Way
• Monastery Route
• Rhine Romantic Route

Trip to Rüdesheim: On a Map

Other Places to Visit Near Rüdesheim

If your itinerary for Rüdesheim is part of a larger Germany trip, then there are so many awesome places to visit near Rüdesheim that are often overlooked due to this town’s popularity. 

Below are a few of my favorite places near Rüdesheim that you should consider visiting on your Rheingau trip.

Bingen am Rhein

Sitting across the river from Rüdesheim is the town of Bingen. Bingen am Rhein has a long history and the Mouse Tower that sits in the middle of the Rhein is the site in which the story of a cruel lord who was eaten alive by mice takes place.

Within the town, there are plenty of other beautiful old buildings and sites along with some newer constructions, such as the Old Rhein Crane. Several music events take place in Bingen, along with the region’s largest wine festival.

Eltville

Sitting at the beginning of the Rheingau, Eltville is the largest town in the valley. The town is full of beautiful buildings and castles, including the beautiful Electoral Castle with colorful rose gardens.

During the summer months, the town is a hive of activity with various cultural events that often highlight the region’s spectacular produce and wines.

Assmannshausen

Although Assmannshausen is officially part of Rüdesheim, it is separated from the main town by a bend in the river.

There are a few wineries in the town that specialize in red wine. Several hiking routes start from Assmannshausen, which take you up into vineyards and forests behind Rüdesheim.

Suggested 1-Day Rüdesheim Itinerary

If you’re spending merely one day in Rüdesheim, you will be able to see quite a bit if you plan ahead! Here is my quick 1-day in Rüdesheim suggested itinerary for travelers:

Morning

• Arrive in Rüdesheim
• Head to Restaurant Graf for a Rüdesheimer Kaffee and breakfast pastry or cake
• Ride the Rüdesheim Seilbahn and visit the monuments and vantage point

Afternoon

• Visit St. Jakobus Church
• Head to Jakobsklause for a delicious lunch of schnitzel and wine
• Take a boat trip at 3:30pm down the Rhein to admire the castles (1.5 hours)

Evening

• Walk the streets of the Rüdesheim Old Town and photograph
• Visit Boosenburg Castle and the grounds (or take photos of it!)
• Go to Restaurant Cafe Rosenberger for dinner 
• Have a dry Riesling wine at Georg Breuer Winery (and buy a bottle to-go!)  

This Rüdesheim itinerary is for those who are visiting for a lot of hours and are not doing a quick pass-through of the city! You should be able to squeeze in many things if you plan your trip in advance and don’t just show up and expect to know what to do.

Where to Stay in Rüdesheim

I typically advise visiting Rüdesheim as a day trip from Frankfurt, but if you’re planning to stay overnight there, you will find a few options throughout the town. 

Below are a couple of recommended places to stay in Rüdesheim am Rhein.

• Breuer’s Rüdesheimer Schloss (4-star, modern accommodation in Rüdesheim)
• Hotel Trapp (3-star hotel located in Rüdesheim Old Town)
• Hotel Rüdesheimer Hof (3-star hotel located in Rüdesheim center)
• Zur Lindenau (mid-range, family-owned guesthouse in the town center)

I hope that this guide to the best things to do in Rüdesheim has helped you plan your trip and see all the wonderful reasons to visit the Rheingau town! If you have questions, pop them into the comments section!