Rhineland-Palatinate

About Rhineland-Palatinate

Rhineland-Palatinate stretches from the Rhine Gorge in the north, past the Moselle Valley's terraced vineyards, down through the Palatinate Forest and Deutsche Weinstrasse to the French border in the south. The state contains the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage cultural landscape of castles, terraced vineyards, and the Loreley rock, along with Germany's oldest city, Trier, founded by the Romans and home to the Porta Nigra and an amphitheatre. Elsewhere, the fairy-tale silhouette of Burg Eltz rises from its forest, the Romanesque cathedrals of Speyer and Worms recall the medieval Holy Roman Empire, and the Palatinate wine country produces some of Germany's best Riesling. Mainz, the capital on the Rhine, combines a working state government with a lively student population, Gutenberg heritage, and a well-preserved old town.

Capital

Mainz

Largest city

Mainz

Population

~4.17 million

Languages

German

Currency

Euro

Time zone

CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)

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Best places to visit in Rhineland-Palatinate

The 24 destinations our editors recommend — from iconic landmarks to under-the-radar finds.

Porta Nigra

The best-preserved Roman city gate north of the Alps, built around 170 AD from massive dark sandstone blocks to guard the northern entrance to Augusta Treverorum, the Roman forerunner of Trier. Part of the UNESCO-listed Roman Monuments, Cathedral of St. Peter and Church of Our Lady in Trier, the gate can be climbed for views over the old town.

Trier Cathedral (Hohe Domkirche St. Peter)

Germany's oldest cathedral, with a core dating to a 4th-century Roman audience hall converted into a church under Emperor Constantine. The Romanesque-Gothic building forms part of the UNESCO-listed Roman Monuments of Trier and stands beside the Liebfrauenkirche, one of Germany's earliest Gothic churches, with a shared cloister connecting the two.

Kaiserthermen (Imperial Roman Baths)

The ruins of one of the largest Roman bath complexes outside Rome, begun around 300 AD under Constantine as a monumental imperial bathhouse for Augusta Treverorum. Visitors can descend into the surviving service tunnels and underfloor heating chambers beneath the towering brick walls. The site is part of the UNESCO-listed Roman Monuments of Trier.

Trier Amphitheater

A Roman amphitheater built around 100 AD into the slope of the Petrisberg hill, once seating up to 20,000 spectators for gladiatorial games. Underground chambers beneath the arena floor, used to hold animals and equipment, are open to visitors. It is part of the UNESCO-listed Roman Monuments of Trier.

Burg Eltz

A medieval castle owned by the same family for more than 800 years, rising on a rock spur above the Elzbach valley between the Moselle and Rhine. Unlike most Rhineland castles, Burg Eltz was never destroyed and preserves an authentic medieval interior, including the armory and treasury, viewable on a guided tour.

Marksburg

The only hilltop castle on the Middle Rhine never destroyed or rebuilt, standing 150 meters above the town of Braubach. Its intact medieval fortifications, kitchen, and knights' hall make it a benchmark for the region's original castle architecture, and it is part of the UNESCO-listed Upper Middle Rhine Valley.

Recommended itineraries

Pick a length, follow the route. Each itinerary balances headline sights with breathing room.

Where to stay in Rhineland-Palatinate

Three tiers, every traveller covered — from cost-conscious to flagship hotels.

Where to eat in Rhineland-Palatinate

Cafés, neighbourhood gems, and tasting menus worth the table reservation.

Getting around Rhineland-Palatinate

Rhineland-Palatinate is a landlocked state threaded by the Rhine and Moselle rivers, and getting around means combining Deutsche Bahn regional trains along the river valleys with a rental car for the vineyard villages and forest hill country that the railways bypass. Mainz, Koblenz, Trier, Kaiserslautern and Ludwigshafen are the main rail hubs, while Frankfurt-Hahn Airport, though named for Frankfurt, sits within the state's own Hunsrück district. Seasonal KD Line river cruises along the Rhine Gorge and the Moselle add a scenic, unhurried alternative to the train for towns like Bacharach, St. Goar, Boppard and Cochem.

Budget breakdown

Daily spend by tier in EUR, broken out by category.

Best time to visit Rhineland-Palatinate

Spring brings blossoming vineyards and mild hiking weather along the Rhine and Moselle; autumn brings the wine harvest, the Wurstmarkt in Bad Durkheim, and colorful vineyard foliage. Winter is quiet and cold but Mainz and Trier host atmospheric Christmas markets.

Essential travel tips

• Combine a Rhine Gorge river cruise with a stop in Boppard or St. Goar to see the Loreley up close
• Book Burg Eltz guided tours in advance in summer, as visitor numbers are capped
• Regional Deutsche Bahn day tickets can be shared by up to five people for group savings
• Try Saumagen and Riesling wine at a Palatinate Forest winery restaurant

Hidden gems

Off-the-beaten-path corners most travellers miss.

Safety information

Frequently asked questions

Explore Rhineland-Palatinate by city

The cities below have their own guides — hotels, attractions and where to eat, in depth.