Cochem is a place of wonders.

The town’s most prominent feature is a medieval castle perched high above the river.

At its feet lies a cute little town with winding streets and small squares that has remained unchanged since the Middle Ages, giving off romantic fairy tale vibes.

Many of the town’s half-timbered houses date from the 13th to 16th centuries and are decorated with ornate carvings and paintings depicting religious and mythical scenes.

There’s something about this town that stays with you—the beauty of the timber houses, the rhythm of the river, and the slow pace that invites you to linger.

It’s a wonderful place where you can breathe in the German countryside and explore the local winery culture.

If you’re wondering whether Cochem should be on your travel list, let me share why I think it’s worth experiencing.

Recently, we spent two days wandering around its colourful old town, stopping for tea and cake at a quiet cafés, and watching life unfold along the riverfront.

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Where is Cochem and how to get there

Cochem is a small town with fewer than 6000 inhabitants, located in the Rhineland-Palatinate region, towards the west of Germany.

It lies on the banks of the Moselle River valley and is encompassed by sweeping vineyards on both sides.

Despite its small size, Cochem is fairly well-connected to the rest of the country, with many options for reaching it.

• By Train: You can also arrive by train as Cochem is served by the DB Bahn, and the main station is right in the centre of town. Trains are connected to Frankfurt, Mannheim, Trier, Koblenz and Luxembourg. 

We arrived at Cologne Bonn airport, picked up our rental car and reached Cochem in less than two hours.

Here is an overview of the distances from the main nearby cities:

• Koblenz: 40 minutes (55 km / 34 mi)

• Bonn: 1 hour and 25 minutes (85km / 52.8 mi)

• Mainz: 1 hour and 25 minutes (110km / 68mi)

• Cologne: 1 hour and 45 minutes (125km /77.7 mi)

• Frankfurt: 2 hours (170km / 105.6 mi)

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Visit one of Cochem’s many vineyards or wine cellars

While Italy and France are renowned for their wine selection, the Mosel and Rhine Valleys in Germany also have a great variety.

Thus, it would be best not to leave Cochem without trying a local Riesling. There are also Dornfelder, Spätburgunder, and Pinot Noir.

While you can easily try a glass or two in a bar or a restaurant, for a more memorable experience, you should stop into one of the local wineries for a tasting.

If you are planning on visiting Cochem during the summer, you’ll want to look up the dates for the annual wine festival. It’s called Mosel Wine Week, and it usually takes place in mid-June.

During the wine festival, you can taste up to 300 wines, which are offered at the wine stands.

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Go For A Stroll Around Cochem’s historic old town

The town’s heart and soul is, of course, the Alstadt.

Just by wandering around the incredibly picturesque side streets, you can start to feel the weight of its history, from being besieged and occupied by the French to King Louis XIV to Napoleon’s army and even Prussian rule.

The old town offers a wonderful glimpse into the past and is where you can find the Marktplatz, the main square of the old town, originally used as a marketplace.

You will also find a 13th-century Gothic town hall, which features a glockenspiel that chimes daily, as well as shops selling a variety of wares – perfect for picking up a souvenir or two.

The square is surrounded by an ensemble of half-timbered buildings, medieval clock towers and cafés, and there’s also a statue of St. Martin topping a fountain as its centrepiece.

If you don’t want to miss any detail of the historical town, you can take a guided tour. You can even accompany Cochem’s night watchman as he makes his evening rounds through the old town of Cochem with his lantern, horn and halberd.

• The tour starts every Saturday evening at 8.30 pm in front of the Tourist Information and costs as little as € 10.00 per person and € 5.00 for children.

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Take a Sightseeing Tourist Train Around Town

Mosel-Wein-Express is a fun tourist train that gives a good overview of the town of Cochem.

It’s a great way to get your bearings on your first visit as the tour passes some of Cochem’s best highlights, including: Cochem Castle, the old city wall and castle gates, the historic old town, Winneburg Castle ruins, and vineyards.

• Tour duration: 25 minutes. Begins at the Moselle Bridge; tickets can be purchased on site.

• Ticket Price: The little train runs daily from April 1st to November 1st and costs 8 euros per person

Explore Cochem Imperial Castle – Reichsburg Cochem

The castle is a must-see attraction due to breathtaking views of the surrounding vineyards and valley.

The original Cochem castle was destroyed in the 17th century. After being left in ruins for more than 150 years, it was finally rebuilt by a wealthy businessman from Berlin in the late 19th century.

.Remains of the original medieval building can still be seen in the walls and towers of the restoration.

The only way to enter the castle is by taking one of the guided tours. Daily castle tours are offered for €7 per person and can be booked at the gift shop upon arrival.

Today, the only way to see the castle’s rooms and the interior gardens is by taking one of the guided tours, which can be booked on arrival at the gift shop.

Most tours are in German; however, several time slots throughout the day offer English tours.

If you visit during the summer, try to make it in the first week of August. That’s when the Castle Festival takes place, and you can see medieval performers, artisans, and various other medieval activities.

• Opening Hours: 9am – 5pm daily

• Tickets: €7/adult, €3.50/child, €18.50/families

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Check out the events at the Capuchin Monastery

Located on a hill above the old town, Cochem’s Cultural House is housed inside a former monastery that was founded around 1623.

It was a monastery until 1802, and it became the town’s cultural centre.

They usually host various events, and you can even take part in a guided tour that ends with a wine tasting at the Cultural House. Just ask the Tourism Information Office about it.

As the exhibitions and events here are always changing, you never know what you’ll discover. 

But it’s not just the events that make this place special. The architecture and atmosphere of the Kulturzentrum Kapuzinerkloster are truly unique, too.

The cloister and chapel are particularly impressive, and you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time as you explore them.

• Address: Klosterberg 5, 56812 Cochem

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Stop by the historic Mustard Mill

If you would like to learn how the finest cold-ground gourmet mustard is produced, you can visit a Mustard Mill, which has been producing mustard since 1810.

While a guided tour of a mill might not be something you thought of doing while visiting Cochem, it is a pretty cool and educational activity, especially as it is known as one of the oldest mustard mills in Europe.

The mill is over 2000 years old, and besides traditional mustard, you can sample and purchase exotic Indian Curry mustard and Honeycomb mustard.

• Address: Dehren GmbH, Endertstr. 18, 56812 Cochem

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Embark on a Soothing River Cruise

One of the most enjoyable ways to explore the scenic Moselle Valley is to take a relaxing cruise along the Moselle River, and we can’t recommend it enough.

Cochem is a great departure point for a boat tour up and down the river, and you will find many tours offering various daily trips on the water.

You can choose to loop around for the views or even travel all the way through to the city of Koblenz.

Once you are on a boat, you can relax and admire one of the most beautiful regions in Germany while learning about the city’s history and seeing the imposing Cochem Castle from a unique perspective.

The gentle pace of the boat allows you to snap plenty of photos. I’d recommend sitting on the upper deck for the best views, but bring a light jacket as it can get breezy.

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Visit the Bundesbank Bunker

Hidden beneath Cochem’s picturesque surface lies one of the most intriguing Cold War relics you’ll find in Germany – the Bundesbank Bunker, where 15 billion German Marks were secretly stored.

The underground bunker is tucked away in a residential area across the river and is a perfect attraction if you’re looking for unique things to do in Cochem.

The bunker is located 30 meters underground and was designed to withstand a nuclear blast. It’s a massive facility that covers over 2,000 square meters and has multiple levels and rooms for you to see and explore.

The 45-minute guided tour takes you through chambers where Germany’s Central Bank once stored its emergency currency, and you’ll be able to see security systems, the original vault doors, and living quarters that kept this operation running in complete secrecy.

Make sure you bring a jacket, because the temperature inside the facility is 12°C throughout the year.

*Top Tip – Book the tour in advance because spaces tend to fill up quickly, especially during peak season. 

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Take in the views from Pinnerkreuz Viewpoint

Located directly across from the Reichsburg Castle, the Pinnerkreuz viewpoint offers a sweeping view of the town.

While you can walk to it, the easiest way to get there is by taking a ride in the Cochemer chair lift, which, for an affordable fee, will bring you to the top in just a few minutes.

Once you get there, take a short walk to the viewpoint to admire the incredible view of the valley and castle. Make sure to stop at the nearby restaurant to enjoy a drink while taking in the same amazing views from their outdoor terrace.

You’ll also find a selection of walking trails at the top. For those who are up for it, you could choose to hike to the viewpoint instead of taking the chairlift.

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Go For a Ride on Cochem Sesselbahn Talstation (Chairlift)

If you are visiting Cochem, you should take a ride on the Cochem Chairlift, also known as the Sesselbahn. 

Not only is it an amazing way to see the whole Mosel Valley from above, but you can also admire the picturesque town, the vineyards and the surrounding forests.

The 10-minute cable car ride takes you to the Pinner Kreuz viewpoint, at 255 meters above sea level, and you can choose between an open chair or a covered cabin.

If you are hungry, there’s also a restaurant at the very top where you can enjoy a refreshing glass of Riesling wine.

It operates from 10 am daily during the warmer months and is closed in the winter.

• Ticket Prices: Children aged 4-14 years – 2.90 EUR, and adults – 5.90 EUR for a one-way ride

• Opening times: Daily in the summer, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

• Adresse: Endertstraße 44, 56812 Cochem

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See Balduinstor and Enderttor – the Town’s Medieval Gates

Cochem is a place where the medieval past is still very much alive, and one of the best examples of this is the town’s medieval gates.

Therefore, it would be best not to skip two of Cochem’s city gates: Balduinstor and Enderttor, as they have played a defensive role throughout the ages.

The largest one is Enderttor, which has stood since 1332  and still has an attached guardhouse to it.

The gate is located in a pedestrian-friendly area of the old town and is easily accessible from all directions.

It is a truly stunning piece of architecture that once served as a defence against the town’s attackers, as a prison, and as a landmark for travellers travelling in stagecoaches from various points in Germany back in the day.

While Enderttor is located in the Old Town, Balduinstor has a beautiful background of hills and vineyards.

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Cross the Skagerak bridge for the best Castle View 

While we loved taking in the views from the main viewpoint, one of our favourite views of the castle and the town all in one frame was from across the river.

It was the view that brought us to Cochem, Germany, in the first place.

All you have to do is cross the bridge to the other side of the Mosel River and go for a stroll along the water.

From here, you’ll get a great view of the Cochem castle and colourful houses at its feet.

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Go For A walk along the River Promenade

A walk along the paved Mosel Promenade follows the river’s edge, offering stunning views of the water, the iconic Reichsburg Castle and the surrounding landscape.

This is where you can capture the postcard-perfect views of Reichsburg Castle perched on the hillside above town.

The promenade is lined with outdoor seating, cafes and restaurants selling culinary feasts. It is a prime spot for people-watching, tasting local Riesling, or watching swans and tourist boats pass by.

If you go for a walk after dark, you’ll see the castle and promenade beautifully illuminated.

For a longer adventure, you can even rent a bike from one of the shops in town and cycle along the promenade. It’s an easy, flat ride that lets you cover more ground and explore further upriver.

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Stop by the Catholic Church of St. Martin

St. Martin’s church, located in the heart of Cochem’s old town, was first mentioned in 1130 and is the most interesting church in town. 

It is a beautiful example of Gothic architecture that surprises with eight colourful Gothic stained glass windows, a towering spire and intricate carvings.

The stained glass windows were designed by the glass artists Graham Jones and Patrick Reyntiens from London.

The Oberlinger organ in the church of St. Martin in Cochem is also a special feature of the church building.

You can attend services or, like us, simply visit to admire the beauty of the historic church.

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Where to stay in Cochem

The bulk of accommodation in Cochem can be found in the old town or along the banks of the Mosel River.

There are plenty of guesthouses, self-catering apartments, and bed and breakfasts to choose from.

There’s even a budget-friendly hostel.

Some of the accommodation options you can check out:

• Hotel Villa Vinum Cochem  | Located less than 5 minutes’ walk away from Cochem Train Station and the historic Old Town, Hotel Villa Vinum Cochem features an elegant lobby with a small fountain and fireplace, and spacious rooms with scenic views of the Moselle River.

• Hotel Villa Vie Cochem  | The wonderful hotel offers comfortable accommodations that feature balconies and river views, as well as a delicious breakfast and a prime location.

• Hotel Germania  | Set within an 18th-century building and located right on the edge of the Moselle River, the Hotel Germania’s rooms are spacious with nice views over the river, and there’s even an on-site wine tavern

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Well, and that’s a wrap-up about Cochem, Germany

I hope you get to visit Cochem and experience all that it has to offer.

Cochem is truly a hidden gem in Germany, and it has pretty much everything you’d want from a German town – scenic overlooks, a beautiful castle, a historic old town and a lovely winding river.

As you can see, there is something for everyone.

We highly recommend visiting or staying in the town if you’re planning a trip to the Rhine Valley

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One more thing…

While you’re in the area, be sure to make a side trip to see the romantic medieval Burg Eltz, located in the mountains between Cochem and Koblenz.

The castle is a must-see and is located 30 minutes’ drive away from Cochem, so it can be easily incorporated into your itinerary.

Once you arrive at the parking lot, you can easily reach the beautifully maintained castle of turrets and towers by a short walk on a forest trail.

Alternatively, regular shuttle buses run between the car park and the castle.

You could also visit Wild-und Freizeitpark Klotten, Wildlife Park.

It has a puppet theatre, thrilling rides, animal shows, white-water rides, a horse riding arena, a giant slide, over 50 different species of animals, falconry flight demonstrations, and so much more.

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Now, over to you!

Have you been to Cochem? Let us know in the comments!

Let us know if you are planning a visit to Cochem and have travel-related questions

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