What to do · Moselle Valley
Guided tour of Cochem's Reichsburg
Information
- From
- €12 per person
- Duration
- 1 h 30
- Season
- All year, with reduced hours in winter; tours from November to December from 10:00 to 15:00
- Who it's for
- All ages; the walk up is steep
What it is
The Reichsburg is the castle you see from anywhere in Cochem, perched on a hill among vineyards above the town and the Moselle. From outside it looks like a fairy-tale medieval castle, with towers and balconies; inside it is above all a 19th-century reconstruction, built on the ruins of the castle that French troops destroyed in 1689. That mix is what the tour tells: the history of the imperial castle and that of the Berlin family who rebuilt it as a summer house.
It can only be seen inside on a guided tour. It lasts about 40 minutes and no booking is needed: you buy your ticket in the courtyard and wait for the next group.
How much it costs
The castle publishes the rates for the next two years. In 2026 an adult ticket costs €10, a child's ticket for ages 6 to 17 €5, a student's €9 and a family ticket, for parents with at least two children under 18, €26. In 2027 they rise to €12, €6, €11 and €31. Groups of 12 or more pay a reduced price.
When to go
It is open all year, but with different hours according to the season. In winter 2026 there are tours from 2 November to 23 December, daily from 10:00 to 15:00, with the last tour at 15:00. On Advent weekends there are festivities at the castle with tours in German only. The Burgschänke, the castle tavern, is closed from 16 November to 23 December. The 2027 timetable is published on the castle's opening-hours page: check it before you go.
If you coincide with one of those festivities, expect more people and shorter tours, such as the Burgweihnacht one, of about 25 minutes.
Getting there
On foot you climb up from Cochem's old town by a steep slope; the castle's address is Schlossstraße 36. The castle has a shuttle service, the Reichsburg-Shuttle, whose timetable it publishes on its website. There is no parking at the top: leave the car in the village car parks by the river.
With children
Children pay a reduced entry and under-6s do not appear in the rates table. The tour is short and has suits of armour, painted rooms and views from the battlements, so they cope well. The slope with a pushchair is hard: better a baby carrier.
Tips
- Walk up and come down through the vines The way back along the paths among the vines has better views of the castle than the street you climbed.
- Ask about the language The website does not publish in which languages the normal tours are given; those of the Advent festivities are in German only. Ask at the ticket office.
- Combine it with the chairlift Cochem's chairlift goes up the other side of the valley, to the Pinner Kreuz viewpoint, with the castle in front of you.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need to book the Reichsburg tour?
No. The normal tours need no booking; you buy your ticket at the castle.
How long does the tour last?
About 40 minutes.
Is it open in winter?
Yes, with reduced hours: in November and December 2026, from 10:00 to 15:00 until 23 December.
How much does entry cost in 2027?
€12 for adults and €6 for children aged 6 to 17.
As a familyWith teenagers
