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Travel to Europe (To-Europe) · Independent rail & cruise circle tour

7-Day Historic Highlights Wine Rail Circle Tour (7R04)

Seven-day German rail and river cruise from Koblenz through Rhine, Mosel, and Black Forest.

Illustration of 7-Day Historic Highlights Wine Rail Circle Tour (7R04)

Travel to Europe's Historic Highlights Wine Rail Tour is a 7-day independent rail and river journey through the cultural heartland of Germany. You depart Frankfurt Airport by speed train to Koblenz, then follow a circle route through wine-growing regions and historic cities: a day excursion along the Mosel River to Trier (Germany's oldest city), a move to Freiburg in the Black Forest where you take a regional rail circuit to Lake Titisee and the source of the Danube, and finally arrival in Rudesheim am Rhein, gateway to the UNESCO-listed Rhine Valley. Day 6 is a full-day river cruise through that valley's castle-dotted reaches. All second-class rail tickets, six nights in solid three-star hotels, breakfast, and the cruise are included; you navigate each destination using the provided itinerary sheets, with no tour manager. This trip suits first-time rail travellers who prefer independence, history enthusiasts drawn to Trier's ancient monuments and the Rhine's cultural treasures, and budget-conscious couples seeking good value in a self-guided format.

What to know before you look closer

  • The from-price (USD 1,319) covers the package; airfare from your home to Frankfurt is separate.
  • Single supplement is USD 2,159, considerably above half the double price; couples receive better value.
  • All meals except breakfast are not included; plan restaurant costs for lunch and dinner.
  • This is a self-guided tour with no tour manager or guide; you navigate cities and confirm train connections independently using the provided itinerary sheets.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Koblenz

    Koblenz

    Direct speed-train from Frankfurt International Airport Long Distance Rail Station to Koblenz (about an hour). Explore the Altstadt, Deutsches Eck and Ehrenbreitstein Fortress.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Koblenz

    Day Trip to Trier

    Scenic train along the Mosel River from Koblenz to Trier, Germany's oldest city, passing Eltz Castle. Visit the Porta Nigra, the Basilika and the Imperial Baths.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Freiburg

    Freiburg

    About three hours by train from Koblenz to Freiburg. Explore the Cathedral Square, the medieval Old Quarter and the Bachle water channels.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Freiburg

    Day Trip To Lake Titisee and the Black Forest

    Train along the Hollental to Lake Titisee, then on to Donaueschingen (source of the Danube) and Triberg, home to the highest waterfall in Germany and the birthplace of the cuckoo clock, before returning to Freiburg.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Rudesheim am Rhein

    Rudesheim

    Train from Freiburg to Rudesheim am Rhein, gateway to the Mittelrheintal UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the Drosselgasse and take the funicular to the Niederwalddenkmal.

  6. Day 6overnight: Rudesheim am Rhein

    Rhine River Cruise through the Upper Rhine Valley

    All-day Rhine River Cruise on a KD 'Weisse Flotte' ship from Rudesheim through the Upper Rhine Valley, stopping at Oberwesel, St. Goar and Bacharach.

  7. Day 7

    Frankfurt International Airport

    Private transfer from the hotel in Rudesheim am Rhein to Frankfurt International Airport, about an hour away, where the tour ends.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Train journey along the Mosel River from Koblenz to Trier passes Eltz Castle; Trier is Germany's oldest city.
  • Day 4Regional rail circuit through the Black Forest includes the Hollental route to Lake Titisee, Donaueschingen (source of the Danube), and Triberg with Germany's highest waterfall.
  • Day 5Arrive in Rudesheim am Rhein and take the funicular up to the Niederwalddenkmal overlooking the UNESCO-listed Mittelrheintal.
  • Day 6All-day Rhine River cruise on a KD Weisse Flotte ship through the Upper Rhine Valley, stopping at Oberwesel, St. Goar, and Bacharach.

Included

  • Unrestricted speed-train ticket Frankfurt Int. Airport to Koblenz
  • Day trip rail ticket Koblenz to Trier and back
  • Rail ticket Koblenz to Freiburg
  • All Day Black Forest Rail Circle Tour: Freiburg to Lake Titisee, Donaueschingen, Triberg and back to Freiburg
  • Rail ticket Freiburg to Rudesheim am Rhein
  • All Day Rhine River Cruise through the Upper Rhine Valley (KD 'Weisse Flotte')
  • Private transfer from hotel in Rudesheim am Rhein to Frankfurt Int. Airport
  • Buffet breakfast daily
  • 6 nights hotel accommodation per itinerary

Not included

  • Airfare from/to your origin to/from Frankfurt International Airport
  • All meals other than breakfast
  • Gratuities (tips)

Questions travellers ask

Which trains are included?
All rail tickets in 2nd class: speed train from Frankfurt Airport to Koblenz, Koblenz to Trier day trip, Koblenz to Freiburg, a regional circuit through the Black Forest (Freiburg to Lake Titisee, Donaueschingen, Triberg, and back), and Freiburg to Rudesheim am Rhein. First-class upgrade available for USD 179 per person.
Is this tour guided or independent?
Fully independent. Travel to Europe provides day-by-day itinerary and tour information sheets, but there is no tour manager. You explore each city on your own following the itinerary.
What is included in the price?
Six nights in three hotels (Koblenz, Freiburg, Rudesheim am Rhein), all rail tickets in 2nd class, daily buffet breakfast, an all-day Rhine River cruise, and a private transfer from Rudesheim to Frankfurt Airport. Airfare, lunch, dinner, and tips are not included.
When does the tour run?
The operator does not publish a specific departure calendar in this listing; contact Travel to Europe to confirm available dates.
How much walking is involved?
Expect city walking tours in Koblenz, Trier, Freiburg, and Rudesheim, plus a funicular ride to the Niederwalddenkmal. The Black Forest rail circuit includes exploring Triberg (home to waterfalls and cuckoo-clock shops) and Lake Titisee.
Is the river cruise included?
Yes. Day 6 is an all-day cruise through the Upper Rhine Valley on a KD Weisse Flotte ship with stops at Oberwesel, St. Goar, and Bacharach.

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