Cruises to Rudesheim

112 Reviews
Rudesheim (Photo:Ekaterina Pokrovsky/Shutterstock)

About Cruising to Rudesheim

Rudesheim (pronounced roo-des-hyme) is a town built for tourism. Its omnipresent oompah bands and sprawling hillside vineyards tickle all the right notes of "quaintness" for travelers cruising to Germany who are looking for a picturesque village. But the town and its environs -- particularly through the craftsmanship evident in the region's food and wine -- offer more than just a simple stereotype for those who want to peer behind the old-fashioned facade.

It is easy (and worthwhile) to allow yourself to be swept along in the festive currents of music, tempting aromas of grilled meat, free-flowing Rheingau wines and crowds of travelers who seem to find their way to the town's narrow Drosselgasse ("choke alley") year-round. The nice thing about Rudesheim's size and setting is that you can also make a quick exit from the melee. Within minutes, you can find yourself wandering through row upon row of ripening grapes to an uncrowded vista over the Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site -- or relaxing in a beer garden (biergarten).

Rudesheim is little, but it has a little bit of everything in an easily accessible package. So, indulge yourself. Take a gondola ride, taste some Rhenish wine and enjoy the summer sunshine on the Rhine Valley. Or meander through a winter evening's Christmas market in the warmly lit confines of ancient cobbled streets ... and if you fancy a nightcap, top off your coffee with local brandy and set it alight.

  • More about Rudesheim

  • Why Cruise to Rudesheim?

  • Rudesheim Cruise Port Facilities?

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7 Night
Festive Time On The Romantic Rhine

91 Reviews
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7 Night
Festive Time On The Romantic Rhine

104 Reviews
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92 Reviews
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More about Rudesheim

Why Cruise to Rudesheim?

Pros:

This storybook German village offers traditional touring options, while being easy-to-navigate for independent explorers

Cons:

While the town is walkable, the streets are cobbled, so if you don't walk carefully you might risk injury

Bottom Line:

Rudesheim offers a taste of classic German culture, scenic views and plenty of opportunities to indulge

Rudesheim Cruise Port Facilities?

The docking area is adjacent to a small public green space, just a few hundred yards from the main road fronting the river. Train tracks and the busy road separate you from the town, but there are a couple of well-marked subway footpaths to get you to the other side. The tourist information center, restaurants, ATM's and shops are all easily accessible.

Good to Know?

The cobbled streets can pose a trip hazard, and the size of the town necessitates a healthy amount of walking, so wear comfortable shoes and mind your step. One additional caveat is that many cafes, bars and taverns are smoker-friendly, which can be a shock to the system if you're coming from a region where smoking is not allowed indoors.

Getting Around?

On Foot: Given that Rudesheim is a hamlet of fewer than 10,000 residents, you really don't need any other form of transportation besides your own two feet. Although vehicles are allowed to drive through the town, there are various pedestrianized zones, and the narrow, cobbled alleyway of the Drosselgasse is best enjoyed on foot.

By Bike: If your cruise ship doesn't have bicycles available for use, your best bet for renting one in Rudesheim is the Hotel Zum Grunen Kranz (42-44 Oberstrasse), which houses Radkranz bike rental.

By Cable Car: A tram runs up the hillside from Rudesheim (Rudesheimer Seilbahn, Oberstrasse 37) to the Germania monument above. There are numerous ticket options, including combining the ride up with a chairlift ride down into the next village over.

Currency & Best Way to Get Money?

Germany's currency is the euro. There are only a handful of ATM's in Rudesheim. The closest, within a few hundred yards of the river cruise mooring points, is the Nassauische Sparkasse (Nassau Savings Bank) at 34 Rheinstrasse. Credit cards are widely accepted in restaurants, bars and shops.

Language?

German is the local language, but English is widely understood and spoken there and in much of Germany. A few handy phrases in German will always enamor you to the locals, though, so try these:

Hello / good afternoon: Guten Tag (GOO-ten tahg)
Please / Thank you: Bitte / Danke (BIT-tuh / DAHN-kuh)
Yes / No: Ja / Nein (yah / nine)
Excuse me: Entschuldigen Sie (ent-SHOOL-de-gen zee)
Beer: Bier (beer)

Where You're Docked?

Rudesheim is quite a small town, and river cruise vessels dock very close to the town center.


Rudesheim Cruise Reviews
Adorable! We took the gondola ride for panoramic views, then returned to see the mechanical music museum. A charming town, there was new wine to sample and Rudesheim coffee is a must! Read More
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MontereyCruiser
Loved Rudesheim and taking the gondola up the hill over the beautiful vineyards to see the Watch On The Rhine monument and the views over the village and river. Some really nice wines and we enjoyed the tasting afRead More
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GoodCarmaJeff
My favourite port on the cruise because we were slap bang in the middle of the village which it made it easy to walk in and out of this charming medieval village.Read More
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Copona
Lovely old village on the Rhine. Cable car to the top of the hill to overlook the valley. Nice shops and restaurants in town and the Musicbox museum is worth the tripRead More
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K from Canada

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