St. Goar is a picturesque and peaceful town in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It overlooks the Rhine River, at the heart of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, one of the largest and oldest European cultural landscapes included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
St. Goar takes its name from a monk who established a church there in the VI century. He was venerated as a Saint, and many people started to go there on pilgrimage after his death. Over the years, a village and later a proper town developed around the church, and a monastery was finally built.
If you’re searching for lovely natural landscapes, scenic trekking and bike trails, a majestic river, medieval castles, and plenty of wineries, plan your next weekend off in St. Goar!
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Visiting St. Goar Village in Germany
How to get to St. Goar
- By plane: if you’re flying to Germany, choose Cologne or Frankfurt as your base. You can easily reach St Goar from both cities by car or train.
- By train: you can reach St Goar in just 30 minutes from Koblenz, 1h from Mainz, 1h40 from Frankfurt, and 1h50 from Cologne. More information here.
- By car: exploring the Rhine River Valley is easy if you drive along the Autobahn A 61. It skirts all the best destinations, St. Goar included!
- By boat: just like the other villages and towns overlooking the Rhine River, St. Goar is easily accessible by ferry from the main cities nearby. More information here and here.
Things to do in St. Goar
Step back in time to Rheinfels Castle
One of the highlights of St. Goar is this medieval castle perched upon a hill in a scenic location. It was built in 1245 by Count Dieter V di Katzenelnbogen, but Napoleon and his army heavily damaged it in the XVIII century. However, it’s still considered one of the best and largest ruined castles in the Rhine River Valley.
You can reach it with a 45minute walk along the Rheinburgweg starting from St Goar’s train station: it’s quite steep, but it offers some amazing views! The castle is open on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cost is about 6 euros.
Take a picture of Katz Castle
Burg Katz is located opposite Rheinfels Castle, halfway between the Rhine Valley and the Forstbach Valley. You just have to reach the other river bank and land in St. Goarshausen, which is St. Goar’s twin town. Katz Castle was built in 1371 by Count Wilhelm II of Katzenelnbogen, from the same family as the other castle.
It was also heavily damaged by Napoleon, but it was rebuilt and restored, and it’s now privately owned and closed to the public. Anyway, the trail leading to the top of the hill is scenic and relatively easy, offering a great view at the end.
Enjoy some wine tastings.
Every visitor of the Rhine River Valley should not miss a wine tour, or a wine tasting, or at least a glass of local Riesling at a local restaurant! The best place in town to taste local wines is Stefan’s Wine Paradise: they offer a wide selection of wines for any occasion and budget. You can also buy some souvenirs and gifts there!
Go cycling along the Rhine River.
You don’t have to be particularly fit to go cycling along the river! You can either plan a bike tour combining ferries and rides or spend one day (or even a few hours) slowly riding down the river. The trails are flat and really easy along both banks, and you’ll be able to explore the area at your own pace, even with kids.
Learn the story of Loreley
Loreley Rock is one of the most famous landmarks of the Rhine River Valley, and you definitely cannot miss it! Just plan a trekking trip or a cruise to watch it from the river and learn more about a mythic lady. The myth’s origins are found in a romantic ballad written by Clemens Brentano in 1801: it was about a lady named Loreley who threw herself off the cliff out of heartache.
Later on, several other versions of the story sprung here and there in ballads and fairy tales. For example, a story told that Loreley was a mysterious lady sitting on the rock and combing her hair while distracting the sailors with her beauty and causing several shipwrecks.
The most popular version of the story is the one written by Heinrich Heine and set to music by Friedrich Schiller in 1837. To reach the top of the rock, you just need to reach St. Goarshausen and take the panoramic trail. For more information, visit Loreley Visitors’ Center.
Feel like a child at the Deutsches Puppen- und Bärenmuseum
The Dolls and Teddy Bear Museum has a special collection of toys that will surely intrigue both kids and adults. Have fun watching its more than 4000 items, and search for a childhood memory! It’s also an interesting place where you can learn more about the evolution of toys and their manufacturing process.
Enjoy a Rhine River Cruise
You can plan a day trip to Mainz, Cologne, or Koblenz from St. Goar. Or you can enjoy a cruise leading you to discover the best natural areas of the valley. The local ferry company offers several options, like the Nostalgia Route, showing you the best German Romantic landscape from a boat named Goethe! For more information, visit here.
Attend the spectacular event named the Rhine in Flames
Its German name is “Rhein in Flammen,” and it’s a folk event taking place in September. It mainly consists of a spectacular firework display over the river. That’s an annual event organized in several German locations by the Rhine River, one weekend at a time. On the third weekend of September, the twin towns of St. Goar e St. Goarshausen also celebrate their wine festival, and the two events merged in 1949. Thousands of tourists attend the show every year, so make sure to book your accommodation well in advance!
Find the largest free-hanging cuckoo clock in the world.
One of the most typical German souvenirs is the funny cuckoo clock with nice figurines and cheerful sound. You’ll find them everywhere in Germany, but no one is as large as the one hanging outside a souvenir shop in the old town of St. Goar! It’s 3.5m high and 2m wide, and you shall go and see the mini-show of its figurines on the hour! Another special feature making it one of a kind is the difference between its two faces, which are usually the same.
Learn more about how to navigate the Rhine River at the Wahrschauer-und Lotsen Museum
The Signalling and River Pilot Museum will teach you more about the ancient navigation techniques and the ships crossing the Rhine River throughout the centuries. In the past, the Rhine river was quite dangerous here, mainly because so many underwater rocks created deadly whirlpools that scared the most inexperienced sailors.
Visit the Stiftskirche
Right on the main square of St. Goar, you’ll find the famous church built over the remains of the former pilgrimage site. Inside, you’ll find some beautiful frescoes dating back to the XV century, but the highlight of the church is outside: a panoramic terrace overlooking the Rhine River.
When to visit St. Goar
The best season to visit St. Goar is summer, when the weather is sunny and warm but never too hot. That’s the best season to go hiking and to enjoy a river cruise. September is the perfect month to visit some vineyards and to attend two special events: the Rhine in Flames and the local wine festival!
One weekend is enough to visit St. Goar, but you can also plan a longer river cruise to visit many other lovely towns along the way!
Where to stay in St. Goar
Hotel Schloss Rheinfels: a glamorous and romantic hotel perfect for your special occasions. It’s literally next to Rheinfeld Castle, and its highlights are a great view over the valley, an internal restaurant, and an indoor pool.
Weinhotel Landsknecht: another scenic location offering great views by the river bank. It also has an internal restaurant specializing in German cuisine and a winery where you can shop for your favorite local wines.
Planning a trip on the Rhine? You might also like:
Ultimate Guide to Bacharach, Germany
Ultimate Guide to Braubach, Germany
Ultimate Guide to Boppard Germany
The Best Rhine River Castles and Towns to Visit