Before you go

Your trip to Cochem.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

Cochem – Renânia-Palatinado Destination Vale do Mosela

How to get there

Flughafen Frankfurt am Main (FRA) Frankfurt am Main · 133 km
Cochem (Mosel) 1 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

From Frankfurt or Colônia, take the train to Koblenz Hbf (Hauptbahnhof, central station) and change to the regional Mosela line, which stops in Cochem. The journey takes about two hours. From Trier, the regional train arrives in around an hour. Confirm before buying.

How many days

One full day is enough for the Reichsburg, the old town and the chairlift. With two days there's time for Burg Eltz and for a boat trip on the Mosela. Many people use Cochem as a base to explore the lower Mosela.

When to go

From April to October, when boats, the chairlift and the castles operate daily. Cochem's wine festival usually takes place at the end of August. In winter, the Reichsburg opens with reduced hours and Burg Eltz is closed; confirm before you go.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

Do you need a car?

No. The station is about 1 km from the market square and the entire center is walkable. To Burg Eltz, the regional train goes to Moselkern or Hatzenport, from where you continue on foot or by bus in season. A car only makes it easier to get to Eltz and neighboring villages early.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in Cochem

Morning
Reichsburg Cochem
Walk up the trail that starts in the old town or take the shuttle bus and join the guided tour of the Reichsburg, the only way to enter the castle. From the courtyard the view covers the river and the vineyards.
Afternoon
Old town and market square
Descend to the market square, with the baroque town hall and the Martinsbrunnen, and wander the half-timbered lanes down to the Mosela's bank. Have lunch at a restaurant serving regional wine.
Late afternoon
Chairlift to Pinnerkreuz
Along Endertstraße, stop at the Historische Senfmühle, the mustard mill, and take the chairlift to Pinnerkreuz, from where you can see the Reichsburg head-on. The season usually runs from March to mid-November.
Evening
Evening by the riverside
Dine in a Weinstube (wine tavern) in the old town and finish with a walk along the illuminated promenade by the Mosela.

2 days in Cochem

Day 1

Morning
Reichsburg Cochem
Start with the guided tour of the Reichsburg, leaving early to avoid the midday tour groups.
Afternoon
Cochem's old town
Market square, half-timbered lanes and lunch by the river.
Late afternoon
Pinnerkreuz or boat
Take the chairlift up to Pinnerkreuz or go on a boat trip on the Mosela; boats usually operate from March or April through October.
Evening
Dinner in the old town
Try regional dishes with a Mosela Riesling in a town tavern.

Day 2

Morning
Burg Eltz
Take an early regional train to Moselkern or Hatzenport and make your way to Burg Eltz. The visiting season usually runs from late March to early November.
Afternoon
Guided tour and treasure
Take the guided tour of the rooms and see the Schatzkammer, the castle's treasure, with items of gold, silver and armor.
Late afternoon
Return through the valley
Return along the Eltzbach trail to Moselkern and catch the train back to Cochem.
Evening
Last night in Cochem
Dine by the river with the Reichsburg illuminated atop the hill.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

How to get from Frankfurt to Cochem by train?

Take the train from Frankfurt to Koblenz Hbf and change to the regional Mosela line that goes to Trier and stops in Cochem. It's about two hours in total. Cochem station is roughly 1 km from the market square.

Can you see Cochem in one day?

Yes. In one day you can do the guided tour of the Reichsburg, walk through the old town and go up to Pinnerkreuz. To include Burg Eltz, allow a second day.

How to get to Burg Eltz from Cochem?

By regional train to Moselkern, followed by a walk through the Eltzbach valley, or to Hatzenport, from where a bus runs to the castle car park in season. The visiting season usually runs from late March to early November: confirm before you go.

Are shops open on Sundays in Cochem?

In much of Germany shops are closed on Sundays. In Cochem, restaurants, cafés and tourist attractions usually operate, but supermarkets and many shops close. Cash is still accepted in many small places.

Is it worth staying overnight in Cochem?

Yes. In the evening the tour groups leave and the old town becomes quieter. Cochem is also a convenient base for Burg Eltz and the villages of the lower Mosela.

Back to Cochem