What is the Rhine?
The Rhine (or Rhein in German) is the second longest river in Western Europe after the Danube, flowing for 760 miles. It begins in Switzerland and runs north west through Germany, France and the Netherlands until it reaches the North Sea. The main cities on the Rhine include Basel, Strasbourg, Koblenz, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Duisburg, Rotterdam and Arnhem.
What is the Rhine like?
I visited the Rhine Gorge, a 40 mile stretch of the river that stretches from Rüdesheim am Rhein (where I stayed) to Koblenz. This part of the Rhine is known for its Grimm fairytale-like beauty, with towns and castles dotted along the banks. There are also vineyards galore - this is the Rheingau wine-making region, where they produce Riesling and other wine. There were plenty of tourists around, especially when the cruise boats pulled up, but it still had a sense of being authentically German.
Where is the Rhine?
It runs through Switzerland, Germany, France, and the Netherlands.
When did we go?
September 2024
How did we get there?
I was in Frankfurt for work so I got a train to Rüdesheim am Rhein and stayed overnight in a hotel before walking along the river the next day.
Worth noting
There are many ways to see the Rhine. There's the Rhine Cycle Route (known as the EuroVelo 15) or you can see it by boat: from Rüdesheim you can do a round-trip past the castles and towns, or you can hop from town to town, or you can do a Rhine cruise - TUI even do a 5 day cruise called "Mistletoe & Rhein" covering the Christmas markets in the cities.
What was the Rhine's position on the 2015 edition of the Lonely Planet Ultimate Travel List?
It was a new addition in 2020.
Does the Rhine deserve its place on the 2020 Lonely Planet Ultimate Travel List?
I think so. The Rhine is the only river on the list, as far as I can make out - the Danube Delta is on there but no Amazon or Nile or Mississippi.
