The Moselle Valley is rich in beautiful towns and picturesque villages that are not far from some popular tourist destinations like Koblenz or Trier. That’s why you should definitely plan a day trip (or even better, a river cruise) to explore this area and discover its hidden gems during your next vacation in Germany!
Beilstein is one of the loveliest destinations you can visit, and it’s surely the one to pick if you’re short on time but you feel like getting a taste of the most authentic local atmosphere. This tiny yet cozy destination is permanently inhabited by 140 people, and its well-maintained historic buildings, other than its picturesque old town earned it the surname of “Dornröschen der Mosel”, meaning “the Sleeping Beauty of the Moselle”.
The surrounding vineyards and natural landscapes are perfect for some hikes in nature offering several trekking trails and scenic views. Of course, you cannot skip some wine tastings, a wine tour, or at least a meal in a traditional restaurant!
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The Fairytale Village of Beilstein in Germany
When to visit Beilstein
The best time to plan a trip to Beilstein is summer when the surrounding countryside is at its best and the half-timbered houses of the old town are full of flowers. September and early October could be great for wine tastings. Beilstein is the perfect destination for a day trip or a short visit but you can also plan a relaxing weekend or a romantic stay by the river.
How to get to Beilstein
- By plane: if you’re planning to fly to Germany, choose Cologne as your base.
- By bus: you can get to Beilstein in about 15 minutes from Cochem. For more information visit here.
- By car: you can reach Beilstein in about 10 minutes from Cochem, 45 minutes from Koblenz, 1h from Trier, and 1h30 from Cologne
- By train: there’s no train station in Beilstein, so you shall get to Cochem first
- By ferry: check the schedule of the Moselle River ferries here.
Where to stay in Beilstein
Hotel Restaurant Alte Stadtmauer: a typical building offering a taste of the local lifestyle. its picturesque restaurant has a great view of the Moselle and it’s quite renowned in town.
Hotel Burgfrieden: even if it does not directly overlook the Moselle River, it offers some free tickets to visit the Metternich Castle, which makes it an excellent choice for your stay!
Things to do in Beilstein
Have a stroll to the Metternich Castle
The first thing you should do upon your arrival in Beilstein is take the uphill path leading you to the ruined but scenic Metternich Castle. Its origins date back to 1268, but it actually became the property of the Metternich family in 1637. Today it’s still privately owned by the Sprenger-Herzer family who runs a café on its premises!
You can visit the ruins from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at a cost of 2,50 euro. Don’t miss the view from its 25m tower, and enjoy a break sitting at an outdoor table overlooking the Moselle River and the vineyards.
Enjoy some trekking
One of the best and most famous trekking trails in the area is named Moselsteig: it’s 365Km long, running along and above the entire length of the Moselle River. It can be split into 24 stages, and each one is between 11 and 24 km in length.
If you start from Beilstein, you can take either trail number 17 to Ediger Eller (16 Km long) or trail number 18 to Cochem (13 Km long). Of course, you can just have a short hike and simply enjoy the view! For more information visit here.
Spend a night out
Even if it’s a small and apparently sleepy village, Beilstein offers a couple of wineries and typical places to spend a pleasant night out and enjoy some local wines and live music. The best wine cellar in town is named Zehnthauskeller. This historical tavern was established in 1577, and it’s been offering local wines and typical snacks since then!
Another excellent option for your night out is Winzerschänke. It’s only working from April to November though!
Take plenty of pictures in the old town
Cobbled streets, picturesque small squares, and beautifully restored authentic half-timbered houses will welcome you to Beilstein! The heart of the town is the medieval Market Square with its many cafés and its historical buildings.
Another place you cannot miss is the so-called Klostertreppe (meaning “monastery staircase”): it leads you up to the Carmelite Church of St. Joseph, and it’s so beautiful it’s been used as the setting of many scenes in German movies! The small church deserves a visit too: it dates back to the XVII century, and its Baroque architecture and decorations are very well kept. It also houses the famous Black Virgin of Beilstein.