Why this road
The fastest route takes the motorway over the Eifel and is about an hour quicker. That is exactly why you take the river road instead: it stays at the water's edge, through wine villages with half-timbered houses, past castle ruins and terraced slopes, with the river changing direction at every loop. Near Bremm you pass under the Calmont, one of the steepest vineyards anywhere, and from Cochem on every few kilometres brings another village worth a stop.
The route
- AKoblenz
Start at the Moselle bridges in Koblenz and follow the river upstream on its left bank.
- 1Moselkern
A small wine village. From here a walking trail of about an hour leads up the Elz valley to Burg Eltz.
- 2Cochem
The Reichsburg on its hill above the town is the classic Moselle view. Park by the river and walk the promenade.
- 3Ediger-Eller
Half-timbered houses and old walls between river and vineyards. Soon after, you pass Bremm under the Calmont.
- 4Traben-Trarbach
Two towns on either bank, joined by a bridge with an old gate, known for their Art Nouveau buildings.
- 5Kröv
A wine village on a wide bend. From here the road follows the river past Ürzig and Zeltingen.
- BBernkastel-Kues
The end, with one of the prettiest market squares on the Moselle and the Landshut castle ruin above the town.
Stops worth it
Plan 45 minutes for the riverside and the old town, or more if you want to walk up to the castle.
Twenty minutes for the bridge gate and the Art Nouveau houses along the river.
End with the half-timbered market square and a glass of Riesling.
Light and the best time
The Moselle loops so much that the sun keeps changing sides, so there is no single best direction. What matters most is Cochem: the castle sits on the hill to the west of the town, so in the morning it is front-lit by the sun from across the river, and in the late afternoon it stands against the light. Leave Koblenz around 9 and you are in Cochem by mid-morning. The steep vineyards face south and are lit for most of the day. In autumn, mist often lies on the river in the early morning and burns off before noon.
May and June for green vineyards and long days, September and October for the wine harvest, wine festivals and golden slopes. The road is open all year. Summer and autumn weekends are busy, especially in Cochem and Bernkastel-Kues, weekdays are much quieter.
By vehicle
A lovely slow drive with the roof down, river on one side, vineyards on the other.
Gentle curves along the river. For more fun, take one of the climbing roads up to the Eifel or Hunsrück and back down.
Easy driving all the way, mostly flat and well built.
Fine with a camper. There are many camper spaces along the river, and the town centres are best visited on foot.
The Moselle cycle path runs along the river the whole way, flat and mostly separate from the road. A classic multi-day ride.
Good to know
No tolls, the route avoids motorways. Parking in Cochem and Bernkastel-Kues is mostly paid and fills up on weekends. During wine festivals some village centres are closed to traffic. Fuel is easy to find along the way.
Route checked against OpenStreetMap on 2 November 2026. Roads, closures and rules change: always check before you go and follow local signs.
Questions
How long does the drive along the Moselle from Koblenz to Bernkastel-Kues take?
About 2 hours 15 of pure driving along the river, about an hour more than the motorway. With stops in Cochem, Traben-Trarbach and Bernkastel-Kues, plan a full day.
What is the most beautiful part of the Moselle valley?
Many say the stretch from Cochem to Bernkastel-Kues, with the tightest loops, the Calmont near Bremm and the wine villages of the middle Moselle.
Can I visit Burg Eltz on the way?
Yes, it is a short detour from the river near Moselkern. You can walk up from Moselkern in about an hour or drive round to the car park above the castle.
When is the best time to visit the Moselle?
September and October for the wine harvest and colours, May and June for green slopes and fewer crowds.