While there are so many beautiful towns along the Moselle River, this is one that can’t be missed! Beilstein Germany is truly what fairy tale dreams are made of. It’s so small you can easily explore it in hour or two, but charming enough you will want to spend the night. From walking the streets of the picturesque village to making the climb up to the Metternich Castle, here’s everything you need to know about Beilstein!
Planning a Trip to Beilstein Germany
Planning to stay overnight in Beilstein Germany? First of all, you should know it’s not so big. This makes it a popular day trip destination from Cochem or other nearby towns.
If you do want to spend the night, there are a few bed and breakfasts and hotels to choose from. Camping is also a fun way to experience Beilstein Germany and many towns like it along the Moselle River.
Where to Stay: Hotel Restaurant Alte Stadtmauer and Hotel Gute Quelle are some cozy family-run accommodations right in Beilstein. There is also the Camping Happy Holiday site which is located right across the river from town. A boat runs back and forth all day with passengers!
Closest Airport: The first place we look for cheap flights is Skyscanner. Both the major airports of Frankfurt and Luxembourg are about 1.5 hours driving from Beilstein. You can also check routes to the smaller airport of Hahn if you’re flying domestically.
How to Get There: It’s best to rent a car in this part of Germany to give yourself the freedom to explore. We always use this website where we’ve found cars for as low as $10 USD a day!
Also, renting a bicycle for the day is a fun idea if you’re based in Cochem. Riding from Cochem to Beilstein is one of the most popular day trips and something we highly recommend.
Travel Insurance: Never travel abroad without insurance like SafetyWing. You can even book it once you’ve already arrived in Germany!
Our Visit to Beilstein
Renting a car is the best way to get around the Moselle Valley, but we had quite a different experience! The town was actually a scheduled stop along our cycling route with Boat Bike Tours.
Over 7 incredible days, we biked up the Moselle River from France to Germany. This included so many stunning villages, with Beilstein being one of our final stops.
As soon as we turned the corner on the bike path, we gazed up and saw the tremendous Metternich Castle. Little did we know, our afternoon in Beilstein would end up being one of our favorite memories of the trip!
Our guided tour only planned for 1 hour to explore Beilstein. However, we were so blown away by what we saw, that we decided to stay longer.
After our boat tour, we spent another month in the Moselle Valley as well. We loved it so much we made a return visit to Beilstein a couple of weeks later! Here’s everything we loved about the town and what to do when you’re there.
A Lovely Stroll Through Town
The small village of Beilstein is highlighted by its historic architecture. The town itself dates back many centuries, and in some ways it still feels like you’re taking a trip back in time.
We started our first visit by taking a walk through the cobblestone streets and colorful squares. It’s filled with traditional half-timbered houses which are decorated with flowers and vineyard vines.
Make no mistake about it, this is a very popular tourist destination along the river. Still, there’s so many quiet streets and nooks to discover, that on most days you wouldn’t notice.
Really, it’s no wonder they nicknamed it the sleeping beauty of the Moselle! We were taken aback by the simple life and scenery of this special place.
There are many cafes right on the water where you can taste wine from the region or treat yourself to a coffee. Yet, don’t be afraid to venture into the backstreets and find some hidden gems.
History lovers will also want to make a stop into the Carmelite church of St. Joseph. However, the crown jewel of the town sits high above!
Wine Tasting in Beilstein Germany
As you stroll through town, you’ll find several wine cellars where you can enjoy a glass or grab a bottle for later. On our most recent visit, we found a unique cave winery and stopped in to escape the hot July sun.
One helpful tip for the Moselle region is that there are different prices for the wine. You’ll typically pay 2 to 3 euros more to drink them at the winery instead of buying a bottle take away.
For example, the bottle at Weingut Hans Knipp was 11 euros on the menu, but we paid just 8 to bring one home with us.
Hike to the Metternich Castle
Eventually, we started making our way up the hill towards the fortress of Beilstein. This is definitely the highlight of the town and certainly worth the hike up!
Our climb from the river to the Metternich Castle took about 25 minutes. Be sure to have sturdy shoes, as the stairs do get rather steep towards the top.
The ancient castle ruins date back to the year 1268 when it was first mentioned in text. Its name comes from the German noble family from the 17th century called the House of Metternich.
Although it was destroyed in 1689 by the French during the Nine Years War, it has been beautifully restored into what you see today. It will only take you a few minutes to explore the Metternich Castle grounds.
However, there is also a restaurant inside to grab a local meal or drink and take in the views. From here, you’ll be able to see endless vineyards, Beilstein old town, and the Moselle River in all its glory.
More to See Around Beilstein Germany
You’ll be happy to know that there’s so much to see in this area of Germany! Many travelers may choose to stay in nearby Cochem as there is far more accommodations available.
There are plenty of things to do in Cochem itself, and it’s a place you could easily spend 2 to 3 days in. It’s also just a 10 minute drive from Beilstein to Cochem if you have a car.
As we mentioned, renting bicycles is an amazing way to get between the two towns. We stayed in the small village of Reil and used it as a base to see the Moselle.
More of our favorite destinations in the area include Bernkastel-Kues, Traben-Trarbach, Zell, Trier, and Saarburg. Be sure to check out our 8 favorite towns on Moselle River in Germany, all of which are not far away from Beilstein.
Bremm is also only 15 minutes away if you’d like to combine Beilstein with another incredible Moselle town. Here you can hike to an iconic Moselle Valley viewpoint above the Bremmer Calmont Vineyard to see the famous bend in the river.
Is Beilstein Worth Visiting?
Yes! Beilstein is truly one of the most gorgeous towns of the Moselle Valley. It’s more than deserving of the recognition it gets, but also didn’t seem overcrowded with tourists.
If you have time, it would be ideal to stay a night or two right in town. Yet, it’s small enough where you could simply see Beilstein Germany on a day trip in just a couple of hours.
Have any questions on this article or want to share your own experience in Beilstein Germany? Leave us a comment below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
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We’re Brigitte and Jake! American travel bloggers currently based in Spain. If you can believe it, we started Nothing Familiar way back in 2015 on an Ipad in the Ecuadorian jungle. Ever since, we haven’t stopped traveling! We’ve now been to over 60 countries around the world, with our expertise being Europe and Southeast Asia. We love outdoor adventures, tasting local specialties, and island hopping through tropical destinations. Hopefully, our guides and authentic experiences will inspire you on your own travels!
