Landhotel Ringelsteiner Mühle
What to order: a regional dish after the castle, or cake from its bakery buffet between 14:00 and 17:00.
Wednesday to Sunday · Kitchen from 13:00 to 20:00 · Closed Monday and Tuesday
geocalia
Day itinerary · 50.15° N · 7.17° E
Eltz Castle, arriving on foot through the forest, and in the afternoon the Reichsburg above Cochem.
Train to Moselkern, the path through the Elz valley to Eltz Castle, home cooking at the Ringelsteiner Mühle and a guided tour of the Reichsburg at Cochem before heading back.
Leaving from
Direct flight to Fráncfort fromBarcelona 2 hPalma de Mallorca 2 h 15Alicante 2 h 30Málaga 3 hTenerife Sur 5 h
Part of Moselle ValleyMoselle wines
Add to my trip
Total time13 h
By car2 h each way
From FrankfurtTrain · about 2 h, with a change at Koblenz
On footAbout 5 km return along the valley
TicketsEltz €14 · Reichsburg €12
DifficultyEasy: valley path
Season21 March – early November
The plan
The day at a glance
Any part can be swapped for another without spoiling the day.
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Leave Frankfurt 2 h by train
train to Koblenz and the Moselle regional train to Moselkern; check the connection on bahn.de
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1
Eltz Castle on foot from Moselkern
along the Elz valley from the station · €14; tour of 35 to 40 minutes
- 45 min on foot
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2
Landhotel Ringelsteiner Mühle
kitchen Wednesday to Sunday from 13:00
Elztal 94, 56254 Moselkern · +49 2672 910200
Restaurant €€Book - 45 min by train
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3
Guided tour of Cochem's Reichsburg
walk to Moselkern station, train to Cochem and walk up · €12 in 2027
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Back home 2 h 15 by train
from Cochem, in Frankfurt around 20:30
Approximate cost
About €20–35 per person
Adds up the activities and meals in the plan at their published prices; travel and accommodation not included.
The route
Eltz Castle on foot from Moselkern
Eltz Castle is the one everyone has in mind when they think of a German castle, and it is best to arrive on foot: you set out from Moselkern station, climb the Elz valley beside the stream and it appears suddenly on its crag, among the forest. This day does it that way, with home cooking at the foot of the path and, in the afternoon, the other great sight of the Moselle, the Reichsburg above Cochem. You arrive by train from Frankfurt, which has a direct flight from Spain.
The day, hour by hour
7:30 · Train to Moselkern. From Frankfurt to Koblenz and there the Moselle regional train, about two hours.
9:45 · To Eltz Castle through the valley. From the station follow the Elz valley to the Ringelsteiner Mühle and from there the forest path, 2.5 km, about 45 minutes. Admission costs €14 and includes the guided tour, of 35 to 40 minutes, and the treasury chamber. There is no tour in Spanish, but they give you the text in Spanish.
13:00 · Lunch at the Ringelsteiner Mühle. Return the same way. The kitchen opens at 13:00, Wednesday to Sunday: regional cooking and, from 14:00, cakes from its bakery.
15:30 · Reichsburg at Cochem. Walk to Moselkern station, train to Cochem and a climb on foot to the castle. The guided tour lasts 40 minutes and costs €12 in 2027.
18:00 · Journey back. Train from Cochem to Koblenz and Frankfurt.
Is it for me?
If you like castles and a little walking, it is the perfect day on the Moselle. With children who walk, the valley path is flat and entertaining. Bring cash in case you want to use the castle shuttle.
Distance5 km
Time3 h
Change the route
Where to eat
Where to eat?
Lunch is half the plan: book before you set off.
Rathaus Café Rünz
What to order: a slice of cake from the display with coffee, or an ice cream if it is hot; to eat, one of the small dishes.
Every day from 10:00 to 18:00 · Table booking on its website
Hotel Haus Lipmann
What to order: something from the kitchen's daily dishes with a Moselle wine on the terrace; in the afternoon, coffee and cake.
Open to everyone from 11:00 · Kitchen until 20:00 · Closes at 22:00
Map
The stops, in order
With where to park at each one.
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Getting there
By car or without one?
When to go
When to go to Moselle Valley
From 21 March 2027 to early November, when Eltz Castle is open. Do it from Wednesday to Sunday: the Ringelsteiner Mühle is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Check the day of the week
The Ringelsteiner Mühle is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
- 2Do not go in winter
Eltz is closed from November to 20 March.
- 3Arrive early
The castle opens at 9:30.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How far do you walk?
About 5 km there and back along the valley, almost flat.
Can it be done in a day from Frankfurt?
Yes, by train: about two hours each way.
How much do the tickets cost?
€14 for Eltz and €12 for the Reichsburg in 2027.
More plans like this
Other days of walking and good food
geocalia.com/en/germany/rhineland-palatinate/moselle-valley/itineraries/eltz-on-foot-from-moselkern
Prices, opening hours and times are approximate: check them before you go. Each place has its own page on Geocalia.