Cochem is a beautiful town in Germany sitting along the Moselle River. We’ve now made several visits, with each experience being better than the last! Of course, you may have heard of the famous castle, but what are some more of the best things to do in Cochem Germany? Here’s our 7 favorite activities for your first trip to Cochem. Keep in mind, you will need at least 2 days to have time for everything we recommend.
Cochem Germany Travel Planning
What’s the Closest Airport: – Hahn Airport (HHN) is the closest, but Cologne or Luxembourg are both large with more flight options.
How to Get to Cochem: There is a train! However, if you want to see the entire area we highly recommend a car. We used this company to rent a vehicle for under 20 Euros per day and visited Cochem as part of a larger roadtrip.
Best Area to Stay: We loved Old Town and you certainly want to be walking distance. Check out Hotel Ravene, Hotel Zehnthof and Hotel am Hafen! There are honestly so many beautiful hotels and bed and breakfasts right along the river.
Summer vs Winter: Summer is our favorite time to visit Cochem Germany. This is the best time of year to enjoy the many wine festivals that take place in this part of the country. If you decide to go in winter, make sure plan around dates for the Christmas market.
How Long to Visit: You need at least one full day to experience Cochem. Yet, if you also want to bike to Beilstein like we did, then plan for two full days so you’re not rushed.
7 Best Things to do in Cochem Germany
1. Explore Cochem Old Town
Many of the best things to do in Cochem are centered around its stunning old town. Before heading up to the castle, we recommend strolling through cobblestone streets.
Cochem Old Town dates back to the Romans, as does much of the Moselle Valley. Nevertheless, it wouldn’t rise to greatness until medieval times, with its important location along the river.
The well-preserved architecture and colorful half-timbered houses are reason enough to book a trip here. We loved walking through the alleyways, scenic side streets, and grabbing a drink in the market square.
You’ll also want to see the historic churches like St. Martin, which dates back to the 12th century. Cochem Germany truly feels like it’s out of a fairy tale!
2. Tour the Cochem Castle
Without a doubt, the #1 attraction of Cochem is its incredible castle. First built around 1100, it has changed hands among kings and noble families over the centuries.
Unfortunately, it was completely destroyed by the French in 1689 during the War of Palatine Succession. It wouldn’t be rebuilt until the mid-19th century by a German entrepreneur named Louis Ravené.
Today, you can take a beautiful 20 minute hike from town and see it yourself. The most fun way to do it is with a guided tour to learn all about the history of the Cochem Castle. Know that the castle isn’t open in the winter, so if you’re visiting between November and March double check the times.
Also, you can check out Burgschanke Die Reichsburg, which is a cafe attached to the castle. Grabbing a coffee and slice of cake is well worth the hike alone for the view.
3. Ride the Cochemer Sesselbahn
While the views are certainly amazing from the castle, there’s another way to get an epic look at it! The Cochemer Sesselbahn is an open-air chair lift that was built in 1955.
The 10 minute ride takes you high above town to a hill that looks across the valley towards Cochem Castle. A short hike from Pinnerkreuz station will give you unforgettable views of the town and fortress.
There’s also a restaurant at the top for a beer or refreshing glass of Reisling wine.
4. Hop on a Panoramic River Cruise
One of the best things to do in Cochem is to take a river cruise! You’ll see many of the boats offering different daily trips on the water.
Some of them make stops in other towns, while others just loop around for the views. If you want to take a boat tour, this is one of the highest rated cruises.
Two of our visits to Cochem were actually stops on river cruises that we took this past summer. Both nights we were there, our ships parked right on the river directly across from the Cochem Castle.
This is one of the best ways to experience the Moselle River, and we can’t recommend it enough! If you’re looking for an adventurous cruise, check out Boat Bike Tours. We also loved our more relaxing journey with Viva Cruises that went on both the Moselle and Rhine rivers.
5. Bike the Moselle River to Beilstein
This region of Germany has so many great outdoor activities. Besides cruising on the water, our absolute favorite way to experience the Moselle is by bicycle.
There is a magical route which takes you on the river from Cochem to Beilstein. The 30 minute cycling trip goes right by several vineyards and is completely surrounded by heavenly nature.
Beilstein is known as the “Sleeping Beauty of the Moselle,” and totally worth seeing if you have time. There is also a historic castle here that can rival any in Germany. We also loved stopping by the Moselstrand for a herring sandwich just outside of Cochem.
If you’d rather hike to Beilstein, there is a scenic trail route that takes 2 to 3 hours. Be sure to look up the ferry schedule for returning boat times if you’re not planning to hike both ways.
Check out our full guide to Beilstein Germany before your visit!
6. Cochem Germany Wine Tasting
Cochem Germany is a great place to visit for wine lovers. The Moselle is specifically known for its Reisling, and we definitely had our fair share during our trip here!
It’s easy enough to go to any of the restaurants and bars around town and try a glass. Yet, for a truly unique experience, you should stop into one of the local weinguts for a tasting.
They are sprinkled all around Cochem Old Town, so you’ll have no problem finding one! If visiting during the summer you’ll want to look up the dates for the annual wine festival as well.
A wine tour can be a great way to see the process. If you’re up for a small drive, take this one to the small town of Reil Germany.
7. Cross the Bridge For a Castle View
The Cochemer Sesselbahn chair lift was amazing. However, one of our favorite views was from just across the river. Cross the bridge to the other side of the Moselle and stroll along the water.
From here, you’ll see the colorful buildings sitting in a row with the Cochem Castle above. This is likely the view that brought you to Cochem Germany in the first place!
When you get hungry, know that there are plenty of fun places to eat and drink on this side of the river with a view.
Have any questions about this article or want to share your own favorite things to do in Cochem Germany? Let us know in the comments 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!
