Rhineland-Palatinate, located in the southwest of the Federal Republic of Germany, attracts countless holidaymakers from all over the world every year with its scenic and cultural sights. According to the State Statistical Office, based in Bad Ems, the state counted around 8.5 million overnight stays in 2023 by guests who were convinced of the beauty of the historic region.
These are reasons enough to present the most beautiful excursion destinations in Rhineland-Palatinate in this article.
City trip in Rhineland-Palatinate: culture, enjoyment and joie de vivre
If you ask random people about the most beautiful places in Germany, you will often hear the names of Rhineland-Palatinate cities. Trier, Koblenz, Mainz, Worms and Speyer, for example, look back on thousands of years of history that dates back to Roman times.
In the footsteps of the Romans in Trier
In 16 BC, the Roman Emperor Augustus founded what is now the oldest city in Germany. The buildings from Roman times are among Trier’s most famous attractions.
Particularly noteworthy is the landmark of the city with its approximately 110,000 inhabitants, the Porta Nigra. The building from the second century AD once served as a magnificent city gate and is now located in the middle of Trier. The thermal baths, which were once the largest of their kind north of the Alps, also date back to Roman times. The Romans also built the amphitheater, where gladiator fights took place at the time, as well as the early Christian Basilica of Constantine from the fourth century AD.
Rhine and Moselle Romance in Koblenz
With just under 115,000 inhabitants, Koblenz is the third largest city in Rhineland-Palatinate and at the same time one of the most beautiful in Germany.
Located at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers, the city enchants with its picturesque location at the Deutsches Eck and its historic old town. If you want to marvel at medieval and early modern architecture, you will get your money’s worth in Koblenz. Particularly worth seeing are the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, which offers a breathtaking view of the city and the surrounding area, as well as Stolzenfels Castle. In addition, the tranquil city invites you to take a leisurely boat trip on the Rhine or the Moselle.
Mainz: Gutenberg city and carnival stronghold
One of the most important inventions in human history comes from what is now Rhineland-Palatinate: More than 500 years ago, Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press with movable type in Mainz. A development that permanently changed the course of history and is one of the most important civilisational achievements of all time.
A visit to the Gutenberg Museum is therefore recommended for holidaymakers if they are in Mainz or the surrounding area. Other sights of the state capital, which has a population of just under 220,000, include the Romanesque cathedral from the 11th century and the Roman-Germanic Central Museum.
Mainz is known all over the world for the exuberant hustle and bustle at carnival time.
Legendary Worms
No other city is as closely associated with the Nibelungen saga as Worms. So it is logical that the Nibelungen Museum dedicates itself in detail to the most famous German heroic epic and makes visitors dream of the discovery of the legendary Nibelungen treasure. One of the most famous buildings in the city is the Worms Cathedral, built in the 11th century, one of the most important church buildings in the Federal Republic.
Worms welcomes visitors arriving from the east with the Nibelungen Bridge. The historic, listed and now completely renovated and partly newly built building crosses the Rhine and connects the Nibelungen city with the Hessian cities of Lampertheim, Bürstadt and Bensheim.
Modernity and tradition in Speyer
Speyer is known nationwide for its cathedral, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city on the middle reaches of the Rhine looks back on a long history as an imperial residence. The history of Speyer is particularly evidenced by the historical museum, which houses exhibits from the Palatinate from the Middle Ages to the present day.
The Museum of Technology is another nationally known excursion destination. It shows interested parties numerous exhibits on the history of technology and technological progress, including motor vehicles, locomotives and aircraft.
From the Palatinate Forest to the Eifel – experience Rhineland-Palatinate naturally
Away from the cities with their historic buildings, Rhineland-Palatinate attracts visitors with a variety of scenic attractions.
The Eifel is best known with its varied landscapes, maars and extinct volcanoes as well as the wide range of leisure activities. This part of Rhineland-Palatinate offers a well-developed network of hiking and cycling trails where holidaymakers and guests can experience the diversity of the state up close.
Located southwest of the Eifel, the Palatinate Forest is located with its imposing and bizarre-looking rock formations, the numerous castle ruins and the equally extensive network of paths for hikers and cyclists.
A unique sight is the Andernach geyser, which is located about 20 kilometers northwest of Koblenz. It is the highest cold-water geyser in the world.
The history of the geyser’s formation is also remarkable: it was created unintentionally and by chance in 1903 as part of deep drilling for natural gas. The hot spring spews water to a height of up to 60 meters. In 2005, it temporarily dried up. In 2006, the geyser became active again after drilling and investigations, so that it is still considered one of the most popular and impressive excursion destinations in Rhineland-Palatinate.
Conclusion – Rediscover Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate offers something for everyone: from historic towns to medieval castles to breathtaking natural landscapes. Active holidaymakers, culture lovers and connoisseurs get their money’s worth in the southwest of Germany.
