The Rhine curving past Sankt Goarshausen in autumn, with Burg Katz on the wooded slope and a ship on the river

Your independent guide to Sankt Goarshausen and the Loreley

Sankt Goarshausen: the Loreley, castles and Rhine wine

At the foot of the Loreley, in the heart of the Rhine Valley World Heritage Site, Sankt Goarshausen is the place to see the river at its most dramatic: castles on every hill, boats on the water and Riesling from the steep slate slopes. Honest advice, hand-picked tours and everything you need to plan your trip.

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Why Sankt Goarshausen?

The Rhine at its most romantic

Sankt Goarshausen is a small town with a big setting: the Loreley rock just upstream, Burg Katz above the rooftops and Burg Rheinfels across the water.

In a single day you can climb the Loreley for the view down the gorge, sail beneath it on a Rhine boat, take the ferry to St. Goar to explore the tunnels of Burg Rheinfels and end the day with a glass of Riesling by the river. Stay longer to walk the Rheinsteig, tour the Marksburg or visit the wine towns of Bacharach and Rüdesheim.

We help you choose the right tours and day trips, find a good place to stay and get more out of every day.

132 m the height of the Loreley above the Rhine
2002 the year the valley became a World Heritage Site
40+ castles and ruins along the Middle Rhine

The Loreley, a steep rocky hill covered in trees, rising from the Rhine under a blue sky

Traveller favourites

The best tours, cruises & day trips

Top-rated experiences booked through GetYourGuide, from Loreley cruises and castle tours to wine tastings, hikes and day trips. Tap any tour for live prices and availability.

A white passenger ship on the Rhine, seen from high on the wooded slopes near the Loreley

River cruise April to October

Loreley Rhine cruise from St. Goarshausen

1–2 hours
St. Goarshausen or St. Goar pier

Sail below the Loreley rock, at the narrowest bend of the Rhine
Views of Burg Katz, Burg Maus and Burg Rheinfels

Check availability

A white and red Rhine passenger boat moored on the river below wooded hills

River cruise April to October

Rhine Valley castles cruise from Rüdesheim

2–4 hours
Rüdesheim, Bingen or Boppard

The most castle-packed stretch of the Rhine
Wine towns such as Bacharach and Oberwesel

Check availability

Pink fireworks bursting over a fleet of lit-up boats on the Rhine at St. Goarshausen

Evening cruise Selected Saturdays from May to September

Rhine in Flames fireworks cruise

4–5 hours
Rhine towns between Koblenz and Bingen

Watch the fireworks from the river in a convoy of boats
Castles and riverbanks lit with red flares

Check availability

The white towers of the Marksburg on a wooded hilltop under a blue sky

Castle tour Year-round

Marksburg Castle guided tour

About 1 hour, plus the climb
Braubach

The only hilltop castle on the Middle Rhine never destroyed
The great hall, kitchen, armoury and medieval gardens

Check availability

Glasses of new wine and a slice of onion tart on a café table

Wine tasting Year-round; best at harvest in September and October

Middle Rhine wine tasting

1–3 hours
Wine estates along the Middle Rhine

Riesling from steep slate vineyards
Onion tart with new wine in autumn

Check availability

Eltz Castle rising from a forested valley in the morning mist

Day trip April to early November, when the castle is open

Eltz Castle day trip

Full day
Koblenz or Frankfurt

Germany’s best-known fairy-tale castle, still owned by the same family
Often combined with Cochem on the Moselle

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A narrow trail through dry grass on a steep slope above the Rhine, with the Marksburg on a hill beyond

Hiking April to October

Guided hike above the Rhine

Half a day to a full day
St. Goarshausen, Kaub or Braubach

Clifftop paths, vineyards and viewpoints on the Rheinsteig
A guide who knows the legends and the best views

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The Rhine flowing between steep wooded slopes in autumn, seen from the Loreley

Day trip Year-round; most run April to October

Rhine Valley day trip from Frankfurt

Full day
Frankfurt

A Rhine cruise past the Loreley
Free time in Rüdesheim or St. Goar

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Where to go

Must-see places around the Loreley

From the Loreley and Burg Katz to the ruins of Burg Rheinfels, the Marksburg, the island castle at Kaub and the wine town of Bacharach.

Landmark

The Loreley

The Rhine’s most famous rock

A slate cliff about 130 metres high at the narrowest bend of the Rhine, home of the legendary siren, with a park, viewpoints and an open-air stage on the plateau.

Castle

Burg Katz

The Cat above the town

The castle above Sankt Goarshausen, built in the 1370s by the Counts of Katzenelnbogen, destroyed in 1806 and rebuilt around 1900. It is privately owned, but it is the classic view of the town.

The large ruined castle of Rheinfels on a green hillside above St. Goar

Castle ruin

Burg Rheinfels

Tunnels, towers and views

Once the largest castle on the Rhine, founded in 1245 and blown up by French troops in 1797. Its huge ruins, towers and dark tunnels are open to explore above St. Goar.

Castle

Marksburg

The castle never destroyed

The only hilltop castle on the Middle Rhine that was never destroyed, above the town of Braubach, about 30 minutes downstream by train. Visits are by guided tour.

Castle

Kaub and Pfalzgrafenstein

A toll castle in the river

A small wine town on the right bank, about 10 minutes upstream by train, with Pfalzgrafenstein, a 14th-century toll castle on an island in the Rhine, and Burg Gutenfels above.

Wine town

Bacharach

Half-timbered houses and Riesling

One of the prettiest towns on the Rhine, with half-timbered houses inside its old walls, the ruined Wernerkapelle, wine taverns and Burg Stahleck on the hill above.

Explore all places

The houses of Sankt Goarshausen and a white medieval tower beside the Rhine, with Burg Katz on the hill above

Where to stay

Riverside guesthouses, castle hotels and wine towns

Where you stay shapes your trip. We compare four areas along the Rhine, with the trade-offs of each and direct hotel searches.

Sankt Goarshausen for the Loreley
St. Goar for Burg Rheinfels
Oberwesel and Bacharach for wine
Boppard and Koblenz for more choice

Read the accommodation guide Search Sankt Goarshausen hotels

Stories & guides

Latest from the blog

Itineraries, cruises, hiking, wine, castles and festivals for your Rhine Valley trip.

Sankt Goarshausen along the Rhine below Burg Katz, with the town’s white riverside tower

Itineraries

One day in Sankt Goarshausen: the Loreley, a cruise and Burg Rheinfels

October 27, 2026

A one-day route from Sankt Goarshausen: the Loreley statue and plateau, a short Rhine cruise, the ferry to St. Goar and Burg Rheinfels, and a glass of Riesling by the river.

The Rhine flowing north from the Loreley between wooded slopes, with the long harbour wall below

Planning

Rhine cruises from Sankt Goarshausen: routes, boats and tips

October 26, 2026

How to cruise the Rhine from Sankt Goarshausen: the best stretches, scheduled boats versus tours, when they run, tickets and where to sit for the Loreley.

The village of Wellmich and Burg Maus seen from the Rheinsteig trail, with the Rhine below

Hiking

Hiking the Rheinsteig at the Loreley: trails, views and tips

October 25, 2026

How to hike the Rheinsteig around Sankt Goarshausen: the stages to Kaub and Kestert, short walks to the Dreiburgenblick and the Loreley, and what to know before you go.

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Plan like a local

Free Loreley travel guides

A Rhine passenger ship passing the riverside town of St. Goar below wooded hills

Tours & Tickets

Our pick of Rhine cruises, castle tours, hikes, wine tastings and day trips around Sankt Goarshausen and the Loreley, with who each one suits.

A red regional train passing along the riverfront of Sankt Goarshausen, seen from above

Getting There

Trains from Frankfurt and Koblenz, the nearest airports, driving, the ferry to St. Goar and getting around the Rhine Valley, explained.

Morning mist rising from the vineyards and wooded slopes above the Rhine

Travel Guide

Weather, seasons, festivals, money, safety and etiquette: what to know before you visit Sankt Goarshausen and the Loreley.

Plan your Loreley trip

Castles, cruises and Riesling on the Rhine

Sail past the Loreley rock, climb to Burg Rheinfels, walk the Rheinsteig above the river or watch the Rhine in Flames fireworks from the deck of a boat. Compare tours and book in a couple of taps.

Browse Rhine tours Compare all tours

Good to know

Visiting Sankt Goarshausen: your questions answered

Is SanktGoarshausen.com the official website of Sankt Goarshausen?

No. SanktGoarshausen.com is an independent travel guide. We are not the town of Sankt Goarshausen, the Loreley tourist office or any government body, we are not a boat or tour operator, and we are not linked to the castles we describe. When you book a tour through our links, you book with our partner GetYourGuide and the tour operator, who handle your booking, changes and refunds.

Where is Sankt Goarshausen?

Sankt Goarshausen is a small town on the right bank of the Rhine in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, at the foot of the Loreley rock. It lies in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, about 35 km south of Koblenz and about 100 km west of Frankfurt. See getting there.

How many days do I need?

One full day covers the Loreley, the town, a short cruise and Burg Rheinfels across the river. Two or three days let you add the Marksburg, Bacharach or Rüdesheim, a stage of the Rheinsteig and a wine tasting. Start with our one-day itinerary.

When is the best time to visit?

May to October, when the boats run on their full timetables and the castles have long opening hours. September and October bring the grape harvest, wine festivals and the Rhine in Flames fireworks at the Loreley. In winter many hotels, boats and sights close. See when to visit.

Can I visit as a day trip from Frankfurt?

Yes. Regional trains take about two hours from Frankfurt, and organised day trips include a Rhine cruise past the Loreley. Read our guide to getting to Sankt Goarshausen.

Is Sankt Goarshausen safe for tourists?

Yes. It is a quiet small town and Germany is a safe country to travel in. Take care on steep hiking paths, especially when wet, and with traffic on the busy riverside road. Check your government’s current travel advice before you go.