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DrosselgasseRüdesheim am Rhein · independent

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Translated from German. In case of discrepancies, the German version applies.

Burg Rheinfels in St. Goar

Burg Rheinfels (Rheinfels Castle) above St. Goar was built in 1245 under Count Diether V of Katzenelnbogen; the town of St. Goar calls it one of the largest fortifications in Europe.1 Romantischer Rhein Tourismus GmbH describes it as the largest castle and fortress ruin on the Middle Rhine.2 From Rüdesheim you can reach it downstream by boat or via Bingen by train – an excursion for a whole day.

The key addresses: opening times, guided tours and directions are published by the town of St. Goar, which owns the castle: stadt-st-goar.de.1 Much background on its history is collected by the private information portal burg-rheinfels.org – according to its own legal notice, it has no connection with the town.3

Current status (checked on 18 October 2026)

  • Railway line to Rüdesheim closed until 12 December 2026, replacement buses; recommended: train to Bingen Hbf, then the ferry.4,5
  • Burg Rheinfels 2026: daily 10:00–18:00, last admission 17:00 (end of season not given by the town).1
  • Defensive passages and mine tunnels of Burg Rheinfels closed from 1 October to 31 March (protected period for bats).1
  • Köln-Düsseldorfer round trips Rüdesheim–St. Goar: 2026 season from 4 April to 18 October; in the winter timetable (19 October 2026 – 2 April 2027) only with a minimum number of passengers.6,7

Seasonal times change. For up-to-date times, the operator’s website applies.

What to expect

The castle stands on the Schlossberg above St. Goar, in the middle of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Upper Middle Rhine Valley.2,8 It can be visited with or without a guided tour.2 Because of ongoing restoration, the circular route has been adapted; follow the signs on site.1

The mine tunnels and the lower part of the castle can only be visited on a guided tour, and only in the summer season: from 1 October to 31 March is the protected period for the bats, when the defensive passages and mine tunnels are closed.1,2

Opening times and guided tours

  • Castle: in 2026 daily from 10:00 to 18:00, last admission 17:00; the museum is open from 10:00 to 17:30. The town does not give an end of season – before a winter visit, check the town’s website.1
  • Public guided tours: from mid-March to the end of October, Friday to Sunday at 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00; Monday to Thursday on request; groups of ten or more please register in advance.9
  • Other formats offered by the town: lantern tour, musical castle tour, castle tour with wine tasting and museum tour.9

History in brief

  • 1245: Count Diether V of Katzenelnbogen has the castle built2 – according to the information portal as a toll castle for boats travelling upstream.3
  • 1256: according to the information portal, the Rhenish League of Towns besieges the castle for a year without success.3
  • 1479: the castle passes to the Landgraviate of Hesse (according to the information portal).3
  • Thirty Years’ War and War of the Palatine Succession: sieges remain unsuccessful.2
  • 1794–1797: French revolutionary troops take over the castle without a fight and blow it up in 1796/97 (according to the information portal).3

Getting there from Rüdesheim

By boat: in the season, the Köln-Düsseldorfer (KD) sails from Rüdesheim downstream to St. Goar, according to the timetable in around two hours; the return trip upstream takes considerably longer. The 2026 season ran from 4 April to 18 October.6 In the winter timetable (19 October 2026 to 2 April 2027) the shipping company sails Rüdesheim – Bingen – Kaub – St. Goar – St. Goarshausen only if enough people have booked.7 The Bingen-Rüdesheimer also calls at places as far as St. Goar (season 21 March to 1 November 2026).10 When water levels are low, sailings are cancelled – check departures with the operator.6

By ferry and train: take the ferry to Bingen in six minutes11, then the RB 26 regional train on the left bank of the Rhine, which stops in St. Goar.12 From St. Goar, local trains run without changing to Bingen, Mainz, Koblenz and Cologne.13 Connections: bahn.de. Because the railway line on the right bank to Rüdesheim is closed until 12 December 2026, the route via Bingen is currently the more convenient one anyway.4 More about the crossing: Rüdesheim–Bingen ferry.

Up to the castle in St. Goar: a signposted footpath leads up from the market square in about 20 minutes (according to the information portal).14 Bus routes 681, 682 and 683 also serve the castle – Monday to Friday every hour, at weekends and on public holidays every half hour.1 Hikers reach the castle directly on the RheinBurgenWeg trail.1

By car: at the castle there is the car park “Burg Rheinfels – PKW und Busse” (cars and coaches).13

Good to know

  • Accessibility and dogs: we have not found any sourced information from the town on this; please ask the town of St. Goar in advance.
  • Across the river: the Loreley ferry links St. Goar with St. Goarshausen every 20 minutes during the day.13
  • For a day in Rüdesheim without an excursion: Day planner.

Next: Day trips · Around Rüdesheim · Getting there