Experiences tagged: Rhine

Six days of winding river roads, hilltop castles and old towns, all in an electric car.

Day 1 (Sunday) – Siegen to Wiesbaden

We crossed the Dutch border into the green hills of the Siegerland. Siegen was a good stop to recharge, both the car and ourselves, before driving on to Wiesbaden, our base for three nights. With its red-brick Marktkirche and grand villas, this elegant spa city felt like coming home each evening.

Day 2 (Monday) – Braunfels Castle & Idstein

Schloss Braunfels looks like a fairy tale, with towers, turrets and ivy-covered walls rising above a small village. In the afternoon we wandered through Idstein, a charming town of crooked half-timbered houses.

Day 3 (Tuesday) – Mainz, Rüdesheim & Eltville

After the cathedral city of Mainz, we followed the Rhine through the Rheingau vineyards. Above Rüdesheim, the Niederwald Monument offers sweeping views over the valley. We ended in Eltville, the town of roses, where the electoral castle overlooks the riverside promenade.

Day 4 (Wednesday) – Bingen, Cochem & Mayen

Travel day, but what a route. From Bingen, where the Nahe meets the Rhine, we drove to the Moselle. Cochem's Reichsburg, perched above steep vineyards, was easily the most photogenic moment of the trip. We spent the night in quiet Mayen in the Eifel.

Day 5 (Thursday) – Cologne

Nothing prepares you for your first sight of Cologne Cathedral, with its twin spires and every surface of dark stone covered in detail. The old town adds colourful facades and quirky statues, and a Kölsch in a traditional brewhouse made the perfect finale.

Day 6 (Friday) – Heading home

A short drive back to the Netherlands gave us time to look back. In just six days we saw fairy-tale castles, vineyard valleys, two great rivers and one of Europe's most impressive cathedrals.

Travelling electric

It was easier than expected. Distances are short and chargers are easy to find. Charging breaks became coffee stops or an excuse to explore one more village.

Would we do it again? Absolutely. The Rhine and Moselle pack history, scenery and charm into a small area, all within easy reach of the Netherlands.