Rheinsteig hiking guide: route map, stages & where to stay

The Rheinsteig is a long-distance hiking trail on the right bank of the Rhine in western Germany. It runs for about 320 km from the market square in Bonn to Biebrich Palace in Wiesbaden, through the Siebengebirge hills, past Koblenz and through the castle-lined gorge of the Upper Middle Rhine to the vineyards of the Rheingau. It opened in 2005, is certified as a premium trail by the German Hiking Institute and is one of the Top Trails of Germany. The route is waymarked with a white R on a blue background; yellow R signs mark the access paths down to stations and villages. There are no permits or fees.

The route

The trail leaves Bonn along the Rhine and climbs into the Siebengebirge, a small range of old volcanic hills with forest paths, quarries and the ruined castle on the Drachenfels. South of Bad Honnef it follows the Lower Middle Rhine past Linz, Bad Hönningen and Leutesdorf, over steep vineyard slopes and through quiet side valleys; near Bad Hönningen and Sayn it meets the Roman Limes frontier, with a rebuilt watchtower and palisade. Between Leutesdorf and Sayn the route turns inland to Rengsdorf in the Westerwald hills, then comes back to the Rhine at Vallendar and Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, high above the Deutsches Eck in Koblenz.

South of Koblenz begins the Upper Middle Rhine Valley World Heritage Site, the most dramatic part of the walk. The path climbs and drops between Lahnstein, Braubach with the Marksburg, Kamp-Bornhofen with the two "hostile brothers" castles, Kestert and St. Goarshausen, then passes high above the Loreley rock to Kaub, where the Pfalzgrafenstein toll castle stands on an island in the river. From Lorch the trail enters the Rheingau: vineyards, the Niederwald Monument above Rüdesheim, Johannisberg Castle, the Cistercian abbey of Kloster Eberbach and the Gothic village of Kiedrich. A last loop through the Taunus forest leads to the spa town of Schlangenbad, and the trail ends on the Rhine at Biebrich Palace.

This guide follows the main route as mapped on OpenStreetMap and splits it into the 21 official stages, about 14.9 km each. The stages are short by long-distance standards because the trail climbs and descends all the time: the official figure is about 11,700 m of ascent in total, and many days have 400 to 900 m of climbing.

Highlights

• Drachenfels and the Siebengebirge: castle ruins, views over Bonn and the Rhine, and quiet beech forest
• The Limes near Bad Hönningen and Sayn: the Roman frontier, part of a World Heritage Site
• Ehrenbreitstein Fortress: one of Europe's largest fortresses, above the meeting of the Rhine and the Moselle
• The Loreley: the famous rock high above the narrowest bend of the Rhine
• Kaub and Pfalzgrafenstein: a toll castle in the middle of the river
• Niederwald Monument and the Rheingau vineyards: wide views over Rüdesheim and the river
• Kloster Eberbach: a 12th-century Cistercian abbey on the trail

When to walk the Rheinsteig

The trail is open all year, but April to October is best. Spring brings blossom and fresh green in the vineyards; September and October are harvest time, with wine festivals and autumn colours, but also busy weekends. In July and August the south-facing vineyard slopes can be very hot, so start early. In winter days are short, some small hotels and all campsites close for a time, and wet leaves hide roots and stones on the steep paths.

How many days do you need?

The official plan has 21 stages of 8 to 22 km, which most people walk in three weeks. Fit hikers often join short stages and finish in two weeks, and many people walk the Rheinsteig in sections over several trips: there is a village with a station or a ferry every few kilometres. Plan a rest day in Koblenz or Rüdesheim, and add time for castles and museums.

Difficulty

The Rheinsteig is a moderate to hard walk. There is no technical climbing on the main route, but you must be sure-footed: the paths are often narrow, rocky and steep, with steps, short ladders and railings or cables at exposed spots, especially around Braubach, the Loreley and Kaub. The optional Rabenacksteig via ferrata near St. Goarshausen is only for experienced walkers. Paths are slippery after rain and in autumn. Water and food are not available on every stretch, so carry lunch and at least 1.5 litres of water.

Getting there and away

Bonn has an ICE station and is about half an hour by bus from Cologne Bonn Airport. Wiesbaden is 30 to 40 minutes by train from Frankfurt Airport. Normally regional trains on the right-bank railway stop in almost every village on the trail, but in 2026 this line between Troisdorf and Wiesbaden is closed from 10 July to 12 December for rebuilding. Replacement buses serve every station, with express buses Wiesbaden – Rüdesheim – Koblenz and Koblenz – Bad Honnef – Bonn-Ramersdorf; trains on the left bank run normally. Between Koblenz and Wiesbaden there is no bridge over the Rhine, so you cross by car ferry or passenger ferry (for example St. Goarshausen – St. Goar, Kaub – Engelsburg, Rüdesheim – Bingen) or by KD Rhine boats in summer. Check the stage pages on rheinsteig.de for diversions before you go.

Where to sleep

You sleep in hotels, guesthouses, wine estates with rooms, youth hostels and a few campsites; there are no huts. Wild camping is not allowed. Beds are plentiful in Königswinter, Koblenz and Rüdesheim but few in Rengsdorf, Kestert and Kiedrich, and wine-festival weekends fill up early, so book ahead from May to October. Certified Rheinsteig partner hosts offer packed lunches, drying rooms and luggage transfer, and several companies sell self-guided trips with bag transport.

Money and phone signal

Germany uses the euro. Hotels and most restaurants take cards, but small wine taverns, bakeries and some guesthouses still prefer cash, so carry some. Mobile coverage is good on the heights and in the towns, with gaps in deep side valleys. In an emergency call 112.

What to pack

Take hiking boots or shoes with good grip, trekking poles for the steep descents, a rain jacket and a warm layer, sun protection for the open vineyards, a small first-aid and blister kit, and a tick remover: check for ticks every evening. A map or offline navigation is useful where forest tracks cross.

Safety

The main dangers are slips and falls on steep, wet paths, heat on the vineyard slopes and storms in summer. Tell someone your plan, keep to the waymarked path and turn back or use an access path when the weather turns. In an emergency call 112; in the forest, look for green "Rettungspunkt" signs and give their code to the rescue service. Every stage page lists the nearest hospital with an emergency department.