Bidish Koblenz is a beautiful city nestled in the Rhineland valley. The city is mainly popular among tourists for being the meeting point of two great rivers, the Rhine and the Moselle. As a local who has lived here for three years, I can confirm that this beautiful confluence is the life of Koblenz. Calm river promenades, cruise ships, and a dreamy Altstadt, along with other things to do in Koblenz, can make up for a perfect day trip.
Koblenz boasts a rich history; it was founded by the Romans in 9 BC and was known as “Confluentes,” meaning “confluence.” Subsequently, Koblenz flourished in the Middle Ages in commerce and administration, leading to the construction of churches and castles, many of which still stand today. Today, it remains a calm yet culturally vibrant place, sure to charm you with its personality the moment you start exploring.
Best Things to Do in Koblenz
Explore Koblenz Altstadt
Immerse yourself in the historical Altstadt (old town) of Koblenz. Firstly, Cobblestone streets, timbered houses, historical squares, and beautiful churches are the highlights of Koblenz Altstadt. All of these beautiful sights can be explored while walking through the Altstadt. Some notable places to see include Vier Türme, Munzplatz, Görresplatz, Die Liebfrauenkirche, and more.
Besides, don’t forget to quickly sneak into the egeLoSIa ice cream shop to taste the most satisfying ice cream in Koblenz. It is the best ice-cream shop in Koblenz.
Recommended: 10 Best Places to Eat in Koblenz
The Deutsches Eck (The German Corner)
Deutsches Eck (the German corner) is where the Rhine and Mosel rivers converge. This historic place attracts a lot of tourists from all over the world. Additionally, it is renowned for Kaiser Wilhelm I’s monument that stands tall in front of the rivers. Many locals find this place soothing and frequently visit to just sit around and observe. Similarly, some also love to take a leisurely stroll and enjoy the river views.
Furthermore, many seasonal events such as concerts, beer festivals, and Rhein inFlammen happen in this location regularly. So, please make sure to check if you could catch one of those awesome events while visiting. It will add to your Koblenz experience. 🙂
Where to Eat in Koblenz? Check out my 10 favorite restaurants.
Take a river cruise
As Koblenz is located right in the intersection of two rivers, you have the opportunity to take river cruises to explore the smaller and charming towns along both the rivers.
Along the Rhine, you can visit the beautiful towns like Boppard, St. Goar, Bacharach, and Rüdesheim am Rhein. Similarly, along the Moselle, you can explore towns like Winningen, Alken, and Cochem. Moreover, as Rhineland valley is popular for its romantic and beautiful castles, you will also see many of those during the river cruise.
Many short and long cruise trips are available from Koblenz which can be booked here and here.
Take a cable car up to the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress in Koblenz
Taking a cable car up to the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress is one of the best things to do in Koblenz for any visitor. The beautiful view of the confluence of two rivers from the cable car is simply stunning.
Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, the second-largest surviving fortress in Europe, lies atop a hill on the other side of the Deutsches Eck. Importantly, the fortress offers an interesting look into Koblenz’s history.
While the fortress may not look like much from the outside, the inside is truly magnificent. It will sway you back to medieval times. The fortress houses a state museum with diverse exhibitions on the fortress, Rhineland’s cultural history, photographs, and more. Additionally, you can also experience the army memorial, Koblenz youth hostel, and an interesting cannon from the 16th century. There is also an observation deck that offers the best view of Koblenz.
Info: Students can buy a two-way cable car ticket and entry to the fortress and its exhibitions for 10.99 Euros. For adults, it costs 18.99 euros.
Explore the Electoral Palace (Kurfürstliches Schloss)
The Electoral Palace was once the residence of the last Archbishop and Elector of Trier in the 18th century. In the mid-19th century, Emperor Wilhelm I (whose monument stands tall in the Deutsches Eck) had his official residence there during the times he was the military governor of the Rhine Province.
Currently, the castle offers exclusive rooms for conferences and festive banquets. You could also freely access the beautiful terrace garden facing the Rhine and relax amidst the beautiful scenery.
Moreover, this place has a spacious park in front, which is frequented by people from all walks of life. On sunny days, you can go to this park for a picnic, play some games with friends, drink some chilled beers, or just sit and read some books.
Löhrstraße and Löhr Center
The shopping hub of Koblenz, Löhrstraße, is almost always busy. It boasts the presence of popular brands like H&M, Galeria Kaufhof, Tk Maxx, Snipes, among many others. Notably, Löhrstraße is the busiest street on Saturdays as Koblenz suddenly comes alive.
A short distance away from Löhrstraße lie two shopping malls, Löhr Center and Forum shopping mall, which has even more of the esteemed brands to get your shopping needs sorted.
The square in front of Löhrstraße is also a good place to stroll around as it provides a picturesque view of the Herz-Jesu-Kirche.
Take a leisurely walk along the Rhine promenade
Walking along the Rhine river offers amazing views of the houses and architectures on both sides. The walk from Deutsches Eck to Kaiserin-Augusta-Denkmal is a beautiful river walk where you can explore beautiful gardens, wineries, and picnic areas where people are seen enjoying the sweetness of life. This is one of my favorite walking promenades in Koblenz.
The walk takes around 30 minutes which you can end with a chilled beer on the river bank.
Basilica of St. Castor
The Basilica of St. Castor is the oldest church in Koblenz, originally founded in 817 AD. It was dedicated to St. Castor, a missionary who played an important role in spreading Christianity in the Middle Rhine and Moselle regions. Since then, the church has undergone many additions and restorations, most recently during World War II when it was heavily damaged but quickly restored to its original glory.
During the medieval period, the church served as a meeting point for many political events. Currently, the church continues to serve as a place of worship and has also recently grown as a tourist attraction. The beautiful garden surrounding the church is a superb place for pictures.
Explore Görresplatz and Jesuitenplatz
Even though these places may be covered within the Altstadt, it is worth mentioning these here so you don’t miss them. Two beautiful squares within walking distances that share a lot of restaurants, coffee shops, and history among them, you would love to walk these streets.
Firstly, Görresplatz is probably the biggest square in Koblenz with a beautiful fountain in the middle of the square. The fountain is called “the history column”, which was gifted by the state of Rhineland-Palatinate for the 2000th anniversary of the city of Koblenz in 1992. It tells the story of Koblenz in ten three-dimensional scenes that are layered upon each other.
Similarly, Jesuitenplatz is located in the heart of the old town. The town hall of the city of Koblenz has been housed in the southern side of the square since 1895. It’s a beautiful square where you can sit with a cup of coffee and adore the decorated town houses surrounding you. I highly recommend the Cafe Galestro that’s located right next to the square.
Explore Winningen
Winningen is a beautiful town located in the Moselle river that is just 10 minutes from the Koblenz train station. You will enjoy exploring the cute and charming streets of Winningen.
Additionally, do not forget to visit the wineries. A visit to Winningen most definitely be accompanied by tasting the wines from the region and probably buying some. You will see many wineries as you make your way through the town.
Getting to Winningen: RB 81 goes to Winningen regularly and it takes only 10 minutes from Koblenz.
Explore Forum Confluentes
A modern architectural building in the middle of the central square, Forum Confluentes houses history, education and art under one roof. It includes the art collection of the Mittelrhein Museum, the city library, and an interactive Romanticum where you can board a virtual steamboat and experience a journey through the Middle Rhine Valley. It is a great place to experience the history of Koblenz right in the heart of the city.
The city library is a good place to rest while grabbing some books and enjoying the calm ambience and you can see many people coming to do just that.
Other things to do in Koblenz
Explore Vallendar and Niederwerth
Vallendar is a popular student neighborhood as it is home to one of Europe’s most prestigious business schools, WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management. In addition to being a student neighborhood, the location is also perfect for a relaxing evening. Students normally flock to the riverbank in summer with chilled drinks, barbecue, and hang out. The view throughout the day is quite quite amazing, however, I would recommend visiting in the evening to enjoy the atmosphere with a great sunset.
On the opposite side of the river is an isolated neighborhood of Niederwerth. It is a small island formed through the divergence of the Rhine River. You can see people fishing and canoeing on the other side, and it has some similarity to classic fishermen villages. Additionally, you can also free some time to explore this tiny village-island.
Lounge at the riverside ‘beach’
Koblenz has a few places along the Moselle River that are popular with the public and are places for lounging, picnicking, and swimming in the summer months.
First up is Stattstrand Koblenz, a bar and grill with sand, beachside chairs, and an ambiance that gives you the proper feel of being on a beach. It opens on May 24, 2024, for the coming Summer season.
Next is Strand Moselbogen, located in the neighborhood of Güls. Bus 3/13 goes regularly from the city center, and you can get off at Gülser Brücke and walk for 10 to 15 minutes to reach the place. It is a common point for people living nearby to have a picnic and go for a swim.
Some practical information for your Koblenz trip
- Koblenz is a walkable city and exploring the area around old town by walking would be perfect for a Koblenz day trip.
- Recommended café: Cafe Galestro, in front of Jesuitenplatz
- Best local place to chill on the Rhine and drink beers: Check this location
- Recommended restaurants: Check out my 10 favorites
You can also follow Visit Koblenz on instagram to check out new and exciting events happening in Koblenz. They regularly share updates and events, so you can check that for more inspiration.
Koblenz in itself is a pretty charming city which will excite you from the moment you’re here, that I’m sure of. If you have not visited yet, I hope you will soon be able to book a perfect vacation to the beautiful city of Koblenz.
