KD Köln-Düsseldorfer

Köln-Düsseldorfer Deutsche Rheinschiffahrt, KD to everyone, is the Rhine's scheduled shipping line. It is celebrating its 200th anniversary and carries passengers between Cologne and Mainz from more than thirty landing stages. In the Upper Middle Rhine Valley it is the classic way to go downriver: from Bingen or Rüdesheim to St. Goar, Boppard and Koblenz, stopping at the villages.

What it does on the Middle Rhine

In 2026 the regular service sails from 4 April to 18 October, with the high season from 25 April to 4 October. Downstream, the first boat leaves Rüdesheim at 9:00 and Bingen at 9:15, stops at Assmannshausen, Lorch, Bacharach, Kaub and Oberwesel and reaches St. Goar at 10:55, after passing beneath the Loreley rock. There are other departures from Bingen at 11:15, 14:30 and 16:30. Upriver the journey is slower, because the boat is going against the current.

As well as the scheduled service, KD sells round trips: the Loreley circuit from Boppard and St. Goar, of about two and a half hours; the circuit from Rüdesheim to the Loreley; a castles route, and trips on the Goethe, a historic paddle steamer. In winter it publishes a reduced timetable for the Middle Rhine.

How much it costs

KD charges by zones according to the stretch. With the 2026 table, from Bingen to St. Goar a single ticket costs €28 and a return €31; from Bingen to Bacharach, €22 and €25; from Oberwesel to St. Goar, €17 and €20. Children aged 6 to 13 pay €10 on any route and return, under-6s travel free, over-65s get up to 20% off and students up to 27, up to half price. Only one discount applies. On board you pay cashless, by card and with no minimum. You must arrive at the landing stage a quarter of an hour early if you buy your ticket there.

On board

The boats have a bar and kitchen, and the loudspeaker commentary points out the castles and villages you pass. KD warns on its website of timetable changes due to low or high water: check the day before.