Rhine Valley Christmas Markets

We catch the ferry to Calais and journey onwards to the Rheinstein Hotel.

Rhine Valley Christmas Markets

After breakfast, we cross the Rhine by ferry from Rudesheim to Bingen, then continue to Boppard. Wander through Boppard’s festive Christmas market, surrounded by timber-framed houses and seasonal lights. Enjoy a glass of mulled wine, browse the stalls for handcrafted gifts, or simply soak up the cheerful atmosphere.

We then travel on to Koblenz, set at the meeting point of the Rhine and Moselle rivers at the famous Deutsches Eck. Here, the enchanting Old Town hosts a network of Christmas markets with more than 130 stalls offering decorations, local crafts and traditional festive treats. You may also wish to take the cable car across the Rhine to the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress (at own expense), for a visit and wonderful views over the rivers and town. There is time to explore at leisure before we follow the east bank of the Rhine back to Rudesheim, for an evening at leisure.

Rhine Valley Christmas Markets

Today begins with a ferry crossing from Rudesheim to Bingen, followed by a visit to Bacharach – often called one of the Rhine’s most picturesque towns. Enjoy a two-hour stop wandering its cobbled streets, timber-framed houses and charming squares. We return to Rudesheim via ferry to enjoy the town at leisure. Experience the joy of Christmas in this enchanting riverside setting on your last evening. Spend the afternoon exploring the Christmas market in the historic Old Town, sampling festive drinks and treats and browsing local crafts from cuckoo clocks to toys.

For a little extra relaxation, book a two-hour slot at the sister Rhein Hotel to enjoy the sauna, jacuzzi and steam room facilities for a small nominal charge (bookable at reception).

Rhine Valley Christmas Markets

After breakfast we check out of our hotel and head back to Calais for our return ferry home.

Continue on day 2 to Koblenz, dramatically set where the Rhine meets the Moselle. Follow your Tour Manager into the Old Town to explore Koblenz’s Christmas markets, a constellation of more than 130 chalets across Am Plan, Jesuitenplatz and Munzplatz. Taste bratwurst and cinnamon-scented treats as you enjoy a free afternoon weaving between half-timbered squares and festive stalls.

Stroll to the Deutsches Eck, crowned by the equestrian statue of Kaiser Wilhelm I, and pause for photos and reflection over the wide rivers. Across the water rises the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, a Prussian-era citadel guarding the valley. As dusk gathers, lights spill over the embankments and market huts before you follow the east bank of the Rhine back to Rudesheim.

On day 3, begin again with a short ferry hop from Rudesheim to Bingen, then drive to Bacharach, often called one of the Rhine’s prettiest towns. During your two-hour stop, wander cobbled lanes lined with half-timbered houses, pause in intimate squares, and browse seasonal stalls for ornaments and local crafts. It’s an ideal moment to sample Stollen or gingerbread while river bells echo in the distance.

Bacharach’s skyline is crowned by Stahleck Castle, while St Peter’s Church and stretches of medieval wall reveal the town’s trading past. Set within the UNESCO-listed Upper Middle Rhine Valley, its vineyards and slate roofs make superb photo backdrops before you return by ferry to Rudesheim for an afternoon immersed in festive cheer.

Spend your final afternoon and evening on day 3 in Rudesheim, where lanes brim with chalets and carols. Explore the Christmas market in the historic Old Town, follow the lively Drosselgasse, and duck into cosy wine taverns. Try regional flavours from Riesling-infused treats to the aromatic Rudesheimer Kaffee as you enjoy a free afternoon at your own pace.

Rudesheim’s identity is steeped in winegrowing and river trade; above town, the Niederwald Monument watches over terraced vineyards. Lanterns flicker on timber facades as the scent of roasted chestnuts drifts through narrow alleys. It’s a warm, atmospheric close to your Rhine stay, perfect for last-minute gifts and unhurried moments among locals and fellow travellers.

Twice during your tour—on day 2 and day 3—you’ll cross the Rhine by ferry between Rudesheim and Bingen. Stand on deck to pause for photos and reflection as barges slide past, winter light skims the current, and vine-clad hills close in around the river’s broad sweep.

The short crossing frames Rhine lore and landmarks: look toward the Niederwald Monument above Rudesheim and the storied Mäuseturm (Mouse Tower) near Bingen. This simple, working river passage adds a tactile sense of place—river spray, gull calls, and crisp air setting the rhythm for market-town wanderings on either bank.

Follow the east bank from Koblenz back to Rudesheim on day 2 and soak in the riverbank scenery of the UNESCO-listed Upper Middle Rhine Valley. Through the coach window, misty mountain passes give way to slate cliffs, terraced vines and villages tucked beneath castle keeps.

Glide past Marksburg above Braubach, the myth-laden Loreley rock near St. Goarshausen, and the midstream toll castle of Pfalzgrafenstein at Kaub. This scenic drive reveals centuries of river trade and winemaking, with winter light catching church spires and timber gables—an ever-changing backdrop to your Christmas market journey.

While in Koblenz on day 2, opt to glide by cable car over the Rhine to the hilltop Ehrenbreitstein Fortress for sweeping views of the rivers and Old Town. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour, offering a dramatic vantage above market lights and church towers.

One of Europe’s largest mountain fortresses, Ehrenbreitstein’s Prussian-era bastions crown a site fortified since the 16th century. Explore ramparts and exhibits, then step to the parapets to admire the sunset over the confluence and the statue at Deutsches Eck. The return glide sets you back among festive squares just as evening carols begin.

For a restorative break on day 3, reserve a two-hour wellness session at the sister Rhein Hotel to unwind in the sauna, jacuzzi and steam room. This is at additional cost and bookable on tour/at reception, ideal after market browsing in the crisp Rhine air.

Slip between heat and cool-down to soak in the warmth, letting muscles loosen as church bells and river traffic hum in the background. The unhurried setting balances the day’s sights, leaving you refreshed for an evening of strolling festive lanes and sampling seasonal treats back in Rudesheim.

After you cross the Rhine by ferry from Rudesheim to Bingen on day 2, continue to the river town of Boppard. Here, wander Boppard’s Christmas market beneath twinkling lights and timber-framed eaves, pausing to sip a warming Gluhwein and browse handcrafted gifts from woodcarvings to knitted scarves. The aromas of roasted almonds and spiced pastries mingle with brass-band carols on the Rhine promenade.

Steeped in history as Roman Bodobrica, Boppard still shows fragments of its late-antique fort. Step into the square by St Severus Church and admire its twin towers before following cobbled lanes past slate-roofed houses. There’s time to photograph the riverfront and enjoy the cheerful market ambience before your journey continues north along the valley.