For my money, Bacharach is the prettiest town in Germany’s UNESCO-listed Upper Middle Rhine Valley. Half-timbered buildings, medieval walls and a Rhine River setting make it feel like a fairy tale brought to life.
I visited as part of my Romantic Rhine Valley itinerary, and this guide covers the best things to do in Bacharach, plus where to eat, where to stay and how to get here.
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A little bit about Bacharach
Bacharach is famous for its medieval architecture and spectacular setting, sandwiched between the Rhine and rolling vineyards. The name means “altar to Bacchus” (the Roman god of wine), and legend has it that Pope Pius II had the town’s wine shipped to Rome by the cartload.
The town flourished as a commercial and military hub in the 14th and 15th centuries, only to be repeatedly sacked during the Thirty Years’ War. Its recovery came slowly, and it wasn’t until the 19th-century Romantic Rhine movement that the world started paying attention again.
Insider tip: Make the tourist information office your first stop on Oberstrasse, the main street. They’ll give you a town map and tips on the sights, and it’s just five minutes from the train station
The best things to do in Bacharach
Despite its small size, Bacharach packs in a lot. The order below roughly follows a walking route from the train station or dock. For an interactive map of all the sights, click here.
1. The Old Posthof
Founded in the 11th century, the Old Posthof was once the seat of the Knights Templars. From the early 18th century, it served as the town’s post station, where stagecoaches running between Cologne and Frankfurt stopped to change horses.
Look for the flood marker on the wall: Rheinhöhe 30/1-4/2 1850, a reminder of the ice jam that caused catastrophic flooding downstream at Loreley.
2. The Protestant Church (Peterskirche)
Work on the Romanesque-Gothic Church of St. Peter began around 1100 and wasn’t finished until the 1300s. Inside, it’s a shadow of its pre-Reformation self – and its garish capitals may not be to everyone’s taste – but there are faded medieval frescoes and some interesting sculptures, including a naked woman entwined with serpents.
3. Altes Haus — the oldest house in Bacharach
Built in 1389, Altes Haus is the oldest house in Bacharach and one of the most photographed buildings in the Rhine Valley. In typical 14th-century fashion, the ground floor is stone, and the upper floors are half-timbered. It now houses a restaurant.
4. The Old Mint (Münze)
A little further along Oberstrasse, the Old Mint started minting coins here in 1356. Every trading town needed its own currency, and this is where Bacharach made theirs. Today it’s a bar and restaurant called Kurpfälzische Münze.
5. Climb the Post Tower for the best view in town
From the Old Mint, turn up Rosenstrasse and take the small stepped lane on your right up to the medieval wall and the Post Tower (Postenturm). The view from the top — across the town’s slate rooftops to the Rhine and terraced vineyards — is the classic Romantic Rhine shot, and entry is free.
6. The Wood Market Tower
This was one of my favourite spots in Bacharach. Timber was once gathered here, tied into enormous log booms and floated downstream to the Netherlands. The view of the town’s medieval skyline framed through the stone arch is very hard to walk past.
7. Painters’ Corner (Malerwinkel)
Don’t miss Painters’ Corner, a row of half-timbered houses with lovingly tended gardens flanking a shallow creek. This is one of the most photogenic spots in Bacharach, and given the competition, that’s saying something.
8. Werner Chapel (Wernerkapelle)
I’ll be honest: I found the Werner Chapel a little underwhelming, and getting there involves a short but steep climb. But as it’s the symbol of Bacharach, it felt wrong to skip it.
Work on this Gothic chapel began in 1294, and it took 140 years to complete, only to be destroyed in 1689 during the Palatine War of Succession.
9. Stahleck Castle (Burg Stahleck)
This must be one of the most affordable ways to spend the night in a castle anywhere in Germany — Burg Stahleck is now a youth hostel. First mentioned in historical records in 1135, it originally existed to collect tolls from passing Rhine traffic.
Even if you’re not staying here, the café at the top has fabulous views over Bacharach and the river. Reach it via the steep path from Wernerkapelle.
10. Walk the medieval town walls
Walking Bacharach’s town walls is one of the best things you can do here. The full circuit takes about an hour, and the views across the slate rooftops and over the Rhine are worth every step.
The path starts near the train station — look for signs marked Stadtmauer-Rundweg. If you’re short on time, focus on the section skirting the river’s edge.
11. Wine tasting at Weingut Friederich Bastian
Well, it would be rude not to.
One of the best places in Bacharach to find your favourite Riesling, this family business has been making wine from grapes grown in the vineyards around Bacharach and Steeg for more than 300 years. Their bar opens for tastings in summer at Oberstrasse 63.
12. Riesling ice-cream
Trust me; this has to be done. I tried the Riesling wine-flavoured gelato from Eis Café Italia, and it was every bit as good as it sounds.
13. The Riverside Park
Before heading back to your train or boat, take a walk through Bacharach’s riverside park.
Originally laid out in 1910, its trees were planted to frame the town’s prettiest buildings. There’s also a striking modern sculpture commemorating Victor Hugo, Clemens Brentano and Heinrich Heine, three writers who helped put the Romantic Rhine on the map.
Places to visit near Bacharach
Bacharach makes an excellent base for day trips along the Rhine Valley. Here are three worth adding to your itinerary.
Rheinfels Castle
Rheinfels Castle (Burg Rheinfels) is one of the finest and best-known castles on the Rhine. Once the mightiest fortress on the river, it ruled the water for more than 500 years and is easy to reach without a car. Catch a riverboat or local train to St. Goar, then it’s a 15-minute walk uphill.
Oberwesel
It’s worth visiting Oberwesel to march along its medieval wall, the best preserved in the Rhine area. St Martin’s Church (“the white church”) and the Church of Our Lady are also worth a look.
Boppard
Boppard has a flower-lined Rhine promenade, Germany’s finest preserved Roman fortification and a chairlift (Sesselbahn) up to the famous Four Lakes View (Vierseenblick). I used it as my Rhine Valley base (it just pipped Bacharach to the post).
When to visit Bacharach
Summer (June to August) brings warm weather and long days, with Rhine riverboats running a full schedule. When I visited in July, the skies were clear and the sun unbroken. That said, it’s also the busiest time of year.
For milder crowds, visit in spring (March to May) for blossom and cooler temperatures, or autumn (September to November) for fall colours in the surrounding countryside.
Getting to Bacharach
Bacharach is on the west bank of the Rhine, roughly midway between Koblenz and Mainz — about 80 miles south of Cologne and 50 miles west of Frankfurt.
By train: The train station is minutes from the town centre on the Koblenz-Mainz-Cologne-Frankfurt line. Check times and prices at bahn.com.
By boat: Rhine riverboats operated by Köln-Düsseldorfer (KD) stop at Bacharach.
By plane: Frankfurt (FRA) is the nearest major airport; a direct train takes under an hour.
By car: Follow the B9 road along the Rhine between Koblenz and Bingen.
Once you’re there, Bacharach is entirely walkable. Oberstrasse, the main street, takes less than ten minutes end to end.
Where to stay in Bacharach
Although I chose to use Boppard as my base for exploring the Rhine Valley, Bacharach came a very close second. Here are a few places that I had my beady eye on.
Gästehaus Rheinromantik – Three apartments in a superb riverside location. Guest reviews are excellent.
Hotel am Markt – Centrally located with modern rooms in a historic building. The suite with a whirlpool bath is surprisingly good value.
Where to eat in Bacharach
My top pick is Gästhaus Jagerstube at Blücherstrasse 2 — a no-frills local hangout where I had an excellent mushroom dish with a cold beer. It was good value, no tourists, and cash only. You’ll find it tucked behind the main drag.
I had a wonderful day in Bacharach. If this guide has been useful, check out my other Rhine Valley posts:
- 12 Best Things to Do in Boppard, Germany
- How to Visit Burg Rheinfels, Germany: King of the Rhine Castles
- 12 Wonderful Things to Do in Oberwesel, Germany & Beyond
- How to Explore Germany’s Romantic Rhine Valley: Itinerary & Planning Tips
For planning further afield, take a look at my guide to solo travel in Germany.
About Bridget
Bridget Coleman has been a passionate traveller for more than 30 years. She has visited 70+ countries, most as a solo traveller.
Articles on this site reflect her first-hand experiences.
To get in touch, email her at hello@theflashpacker.net or follow her on social media.