Saarburg is a beautiful little town that every traveler should experience on their trip to Germany! We spent one night exploring the town and immediately saw why so many travelers fall in love with it. Here’s the 5 best things to do in Saarburg, from castle views to the waterfall, and so much more.
Our Visit to Saarburg Germany
Our first trip to Saarburg was actually a part of our Boat Bike Tour up the Moselle River. Over 7 epic days, we cycled through France, Luxembourg, and Germany, with the boat acting as our floating hotel.
One of the days our ship detoured to the Saar River and parked in Saarburg Germany! It was docked just outside of town, which gave us the entire afternoon to explore.
As soon as we caught our first glimpse of the old town, we were in love! We strolled over to see the Saarburg waterfall, stopped at a cafe for a hefeweizen beer, and took in the colorful architecture.
While there are many things to do in the area, here are our top 5 things to do in Saarburg on your own visit!
Planning Your Trip to Saarburg
If you’re planning to stay overnight in Saarburg Germany, then you should know it’s very small! This makes it a popular day trip destination from the city of Trier or other nearby towns.
Nevertheless, there are a few bed and breakfasts and hotels to choose from. Camping is also a fun way to experience Saarburg and many towns like it along the Moselle River.
Where to Stay: Hotel am Markt is a quick walk away on the other side of the bridge from Saarburg. Also, Weinhotel Restaurant Klostermühle is a beautiful wine hotel just a quick drive away.
Closest Airport: The first place we look for cheap flights is Skyscanner. Frankfurt is 2.5 hours driving from Saarburg, but Luxembourg has an airport which is just 40 minutes away.
How to Get Here: 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! Some of our other favorite towns we visited in the area were Bernkastel-Kues, Zell, Traben-Trarbach, and Beilstein.
Travel Insurance: Never travel abroad without insurance like SafetyWing. You can even book it once you’re already abroad.
5 Best Things to do in Saarburg Germany
1. Hike to the Saarburg Castle
We actually pedaled ahead of our cycling group and arrived in Saarburg earlier than our boat docked. This gave us some time to climb to the famous Saarburg castle which sits high above town.
Known by locals as Burg Saarburg, this ancient castle was first mentioned in text back in 964 AD. This makes it one of the oldest hilltop fortifications in the region!
Although it has been destroyed and rebuilt many times over the centuries, it still retains its beauty. When we first saw it along our cycling route, we knew we had to hike to the peak.
When you arrive at the Saarburg Castle, you’ll see there is a restaurant to grab a meal or drink. Yet, for the best views, you’ll want to climb up the 107 steps to the top of the tower.
From here, you’ll have panoramic views of the town, Moselle River, and rolling green hills of Rhineland-Palatinate. The castle grounds will only take a few minutes to see. However, it’s worth a visit for the views alone!
2. Stroll Through Old Town
After you make a trip to the Saarburg Castle, it’s time to head to the town centre. The colorful village of Saarburg looks straight out of a fairy tale.
The wooden and baroque architecture is simply stunning, with the river Leuk flowing through the middle. This area is great for some souvenir shopping or to stop in for a drink at one of the cafes on the water. There are small winding streets that actually continue all the way down to the river.
Eiscafé Cortina is hands down the best ice-cream in town if you’re looking for something sweet. Also, Gaststätte Brasserie was a fun place to grab a cold beer!
While many of the destinations along the Moselle River will captivate you, there was something truly special about Saarburg Germany.
3. See the Saarburg Waterfall & Canal
Without a doubt, the main draw to old town is the canal and Saarburg waterfall. It drops 20 meters down into the river, adding exclamation point to the already beautiful village. Unfortunately, it didn’t have much water flowing during our visit, but the canal was still beautiful.
During the middle ages, this small stretch was used to power water mills. You can learn more about the history of the town at the Hackenberg Mill museum.
The Saarburg waterfall and river that flows through town gives it such a unique touch. It’s no wonder why they nicknamed this the “Little Venice” of Germany!
4. Go Wine Tasting
One of the best things to do in Saarburg is to taste the local wine! The Moselle is one of Germany’s most popular wine regions, and for good reason.
Pretty much everywhere you look, you’ll see endless grape vines in the hillside. There are several local weingut’s with storefronts in old town where you can buy bottles and taste some for yourself.
You can also stop in one of the many cafes or restaurants and have a drink with your meal. If you’re visiting Saarburg in the summertime, you may even be lucky enough to attend a wine festival!
5. Ride the Saarburger Sesselbahn
The Saarburg castle provides stunning views, but there’s one more lookout you can’t miss! The Saarburg chair lift (official website) takes you high above town for a unique vantage point over the valley.
In the summertime, there is plenty to do from the top once you get there. Have a bite to eat at the restaurant, hike along the wine trail, or even take a toboggan run!
Day Trip From Saarburg to Trier
After so many fun things to do in Saarburg, we have one more treat for you! Be sure to leave time in your schedule for a trip to Trier, which is only 25 minutes away.
We highly recommend staying at the Weinhotel Restaurant Klostermühle. That way you could spend part of your day in Trier before returning to Saarburg for the night.
This is known as Germany’s oldest city and dates back to the Roman period. Take a walk through the massive Porta Nigra gate, see the Cathedral of St. Peter, and even the childhood home of Karl Marx.
Some travelers may consider staying in Trier and making a day trip to Saarburg, as there’s more accommodation options in the city.
Is Saarburg Germany Worth Visiting?
Absolutely! This was one of our favorite places we went on our recent trip to this region of Germany.
It’s small enough that you can see it in just an afternoon. However, with so many sites and outdoor activities, you could easily spend 2 to 3 days.
From the Saarburg waterfall to the historic castle, there’s so much to love about this amazing village!
Have any questions about this article or want to share your favorite things to do in Saarburg 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!
