Most scenic part is from Bingen to Koblenz. This part has also a more frequent boat service than starting in Mainz.

Directions matters a lot for the boats. Downstream is considerably faster than upstream.

http://www.k-d.com

DB timetable

http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en

From: FRA airport

To: Mainz Rheingoldhalle/Rathaus

To: Bingen Stadt

From: Koblenz Deutsches Eck

To: Frankfurt

In Mainz and Koblenz the distance train station to the boat piers is 1-2 km. But you can use public transport. I've already given the closest stops above. All other places the boats stop are small and thus it's never far from the boats to the trains.

A good deal between Mainz and Koblenz is the Rhineland-Palatinate Ticket (RPT). A day ticket covering all regional trains and other local public transport in the state Rhineland-Palatinate. And a bit beyond (Wiesbaden). But not Frankfurt Airport or Frankfurt. From/to there you would need extra tickets (Frankfurt Airport to (anywhere in ) Mainz is EUR 3,60.

RPT is EUR 26,00 for 2-5 persons. Validity

Mo-Fr from 9am till 3am next day

Sa,So from midnight till 3am next day

To get only connections you can use with the RPT select at the DB timetable as means of transport "only local transport".

RPT or other valid train tickets will give you a 20% discount on the boat fares.

Stopovers with the KD boats are possible, but you have to inform KD staff.

As there are railroads on both sides of the Rhine you can do any train/boat combination you like.

Abalada

You are an encyclopedia of information! Thank you for the pointers. (I should have expected trips downriver to be faster).

I'm still trying to find some boat timetables--or are there several daily?

Now I think we will go by train further along the river, but a six-hour chillout sounds pretty good too. I travel with a walker so don't want too many transfers.

Thanks again

Patricia

Dear folks

Now I am becoming more confused. Looking for a train from Frankfurt to Bingen, I seem to have been directed to go by the Stefan Zweig Strasse. I guess that is a train station? But I can only find the street by that name, which looks to be fairly near the Hoptbanhoff. I'm surely lost.

Patricia

> Now I am becoming more confused. Looking for a train from Frankfurt to Bingen, I seem to have been directed to go by the Stefan Zweig Strasse.

Seems to be the result of a typo. Than DB timetable suggests also bus stops.

Bingen has only 2 train stations

Bingen(Rhein) Hbf

Bingen(Rhein) Stadt

While you can also walk from Hauptbahnhof (Hbf) to the boat piers these are closer to the Stadt (town) train station.

Dear Abalada

Thanks again for your help.

Please, let's get very basic here--I am not the traveller I used to be and I guess I need someone to take me by the hand. As you say, it probably was a typo that set me off in the wrong direction.

To go to the Stadt railroad station in Bingen, what railroad station in Frankfurt should we use?

(We will be in a Frankfurt hotel the night before - I want to book one near whichever railroad station we will use. Also plan to leave our luggage in that station and retrieve it before we meet the tour. Good thing we're going by tour, there someone can hold my hand!)

Patricia (pat_the_wise is supposed to be ironic)

There are no direct trains from Frankfurt to Bingen Stadt. Most common would be a change in Mainz.

There are regional trains from Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof (main railway station) to Mainz or you can use the S-Bahn S8. Here you have some more options (Hauptwache, Konstablerwache, ...).

If you want to store your luggage in lockers you have to do this however at Hauptbahnhof.

RMV railroad map

rmv.de/coremedia/…image.gif

Abalada

That railroad map is awesome! Now I'll never get lost!

Thanks.

Patricia

Here also a map with regional train lines showing Braubach and Koblenz.

bahn.de/regional/view/mdb/pv/planen_buchen/l…

Please note, that this is a schematic map. The "distance" on the map between the Rhine and the two railroads on both sides does so not exist.

Abalada

Again, thank you.

Patricia