Highlights of a Moselle river cruise

It’s all valleys and vineyards along the Moselle, so you can pay a toast to its pinch-yourself scenery with a glass of Riesling in hand. The Moselle is a tributary – a smaller river which flows into a larger river – of the Rhine. Its landscapes might be along the same lines as its parent river – expect the likes of hairpin bends and castle-crowned hills – but you won’t find any major cities on its banks. The Moselle deals in ancient towns and villages that are crammed with charm. On a TUI River Cruise, you can sail along the river from Frankfurt, ticking off a total of nine stops, including Koblenz, Trier and Cochem. Read on for some insider info on the very best bits of a Moselle cruise...

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These are the big-hitting landmarks that you can’t miss on a cruise along the Moselle…

Porta Nigra, Trier

You’ll understand why Germany’s oldest city’s often called the Rome of the North when you clap eyes on this mighty city gate. It’s been standing since 180AD.

Deutsches Eck, Koblenz

See the point where the Rhine and Moselle rivers kiss at Deutsches Eck, AKA the German Corner. Once you’re done admiring the views, there’s also a tall monument to the first German Emperor.

Museumsufer, Frankfurt

If you want to get cultural, this is the place to start. More than 10 museums line the banks of the Main River – where our river cruises cast off before joining the Moselle – so this historical hub is the best spot to get to know Frankfurt’s past.

You might not have heard of these under-the-radar places, but you won’t want to miss them…

Bernkastel-Kues, Germany

This town of two halves has a modern and mature side. Most stick to Bernkastel, on the eastern bank, with its beam-covered buildings, cute churches and snug wine cellars.

Traben-Trarbach, Germany

This place is an old hand when it comes to winemaking. Back in the day – at the beginning of the 20th century, to be exact – it was the second-biggest wine trading city in Europe, after Bordeaux. Now, it lines up a selection of family-run wineries and vineyards.

Your taste buds will thank you for a trip here…

Piesport, Germany

For such a pint-sized town, Piesport has its fair share of wineries. You can sample everything from Riesling to the light-bodied local white. Food-wise, there’s also Schanz, which has earned two Michelin stars.

Make sure to snap a photo for the album at these scenic spots…

Cochem Castle, Germany

Time-frozen Cochem is watched over by a hilltop castle. From here, you can look down over the multi-coloured town – considered one of the valley’s prettiest – and the vineyard-filled slopes.

Boppard, Germany

Here, you can choose between the chairlift up to Vierseenblick and the Hunsruckbahn train – both spots offer up some impressive views that’ll have you reaching for your camera.

Prepare for your trip with these tips, so you can make the most of your holiday…

Look out for Weinprobe or Weinverkauf signs when wandering Traben-Trarbach – this place has been crushing grapes since Roman times.

If it’s the wine scene that really floats your boat, pick a cruise that casts off in July or August – lots of towns in the Moselle Valley have their annual wine festivals at this time of year.

The Moselle Valley has more sunshine than anywhere else in Germany, so it’s a great place for fruit growers. Make sure you try locally grown kiwis, limes and figs.

If you want to explore the Moselle with TUI River Cruises, pick the Moselle Valley – Vines & Views itinerary. This trip ticks of all the Moselle’s best bits, plus a fair few under-the-radar favourites. Ancient cities, bottle-filling vineyards and fairytale castles are all on the cards.

Choose your Moselle Valley – Vines & Views sailing

Ready for a river adventure?

Take a look at our full range of river cruises on the Rhine, Moselle, Main, Danube, and Dutch & Belgian Waterways. Plus, get some more inspiration with our round-up of the best European river cruises and highlights of a Rhine river cruise.

Pssst. Head to the Discover homepage for our latest articles.

Author: Hannah Stratton and Annabel Langley

Last updated: 25.06.2019