A day trip to Koblenz

 

Statue of Kaiser Wilhem I at the Deutsches Eck in Koblenz

A Day Trip to Koblenz

The summer months in Germany are excellent for day trips. You get plenty of day hours; hence you can travel farther, explore more places and yet manage to return home by the end of the day. By avoiding a hotel stay, one can save considerably on the costs too. Thankfully, Darmstadt has plenty of lovely places nearby.  Located 132 kilometers northwest of Darmstadt in the state of Rheinland Palatinate, Koblenz makes for an excellent day trip from Darmstadt. Recently we visited this lovely city, and I would love to share my experience with my readers about our day trip.

Koblenz is one of the oldest cities in Germany and gets its name from the Latin word Confluentes which means Confluence in English. The city is located at the confluence of rivers Mosel and the Rhine hence justifying its name. 

How we reached Koblenz?

We took the train from Darmstadt Hauptbahnhof to Koblenz Hauptbahnhof. It took approximately 2.5 hours to reach. However, one can also use the car. Koblenz is a 1.5-hour car drive away from Darmstadt. We arrived around 12:00 pm and started our day by exploring the market area and stopping by for lunch at the marketplace. 

My review of the restaurant we ate in is here.

The market areais huge, with plenty of eateries and shopping opportunities. There are many beautiful old structures to admire . It was about 2 pm, when we crossed the market area and reached the riverside. 

Koblenz Marketplace near Hauptbahnhof

It took us about 30 minutes to walk along the river till we reached the Deutsches Eck, an artificial headland at the confluence of Mosel and Rhine. This place also has the monumental equestrian statue of the first German Emperor, Wilhelm I. The place is surrounded by greenery. We spent about 1.5 hours exploring the place, clicking pictures, and playing frisbee in the open space behind the monument. 

Deutsches Eck

The distinguishable colors of the 2 rivers and the way they merge together is a sight worth seeing.   

Statue of Kaiser Wilhelm I

After spending a relaxed time at the Deutsches Eck, we headed to the cable car station, located just a few meters away. 

Inside the Cable Car

The cable car took us to fortress 'Ehrenbreitstein' (Festung Ehrenbreitstein in German), located 118 meters above Koblenz on the east bank of the Rhine. 

Festung Ehrenbreitstein, as seen from across the river

The fortress is massive, and the beautiful gardens surrounding it are lovely. Various species of plants and colorful flowers enhance the beauty of the garden. A walk through the garden takes you to the museum shop/ticket counter. Entry to the museum was included in the cable car ticket so we headed directly to the museum and checked out the museum shop after the visit.

 

Festung Ehrenbreitstein

After visiting the museum, we relaxed at the cafe from were, we enjoyed beautiful views of the rivers and the city of Koblenz. 

A view of the Deutsches Eck and the cable cars from Festung Ehrenbreitstein

It took us approximately 2.5 hours to go up the hill in the cable car, see the fortress and the museum and return to the base. 

Another view with a huge cargo ship on the Rhine

Beautiful view of the city and the Rhine river from the fortress

After coming to the base, we walked along the bank of the river, grabbed something to eat, and then headed to Koblenz Hauptbahnhof, from where we took our return train to Darmstadt Hauptbahnhof.

A view of the fortress from the road across the Rhine

A view of the old city

Click here to read a more precise article on the Top 5 things to do and experience in Koblenz.

Koblenz is one of Germany's most beautiful cities, and its proximity to Darmstadt makes it an ideal destination for a day trip. To read about other places in and around Darmstadt, click here.

Click here to explore some of the best experiences you can gift yourself and your family.