Go ahead, ask me which Christmas market was my favorite on this trip… It was Rüdesheim! What a special place–a village, really, right on the Rhine River, and home to the highest concentration of castles in the world. Just like a fairytale, right? This was the perfect day trip with a little one, and I’m so glad my local friend suggested it on our recent trip. Here are the details so you can plan your own Rudesheim Christmas trip!
Get There
Just half an hour by train from Wiesbaden, or an hour and 15 minutes from Frankfurt, Rüdesheim is a world away, seemingly from another era. The town is only a couple of blocks deep from the Rhine River, much like the other nearby villages, so it’s easy to explore in a couple of hours once you arrive. The train station is just a five minute walk to the center of it all, or you might visit here by riverboat.
(Coming soon) More here: What to Know Before You Visit Germany
Eat and Drink This
We loved the food and beverages of Rüdesheim! Iris enjoyed a ham and cheese crepe, while I loved my meal of German Goulash in a bread bowl. And I have to say, I think the Rüdesheim mugs for Glühwein and the like were my favorite. I enjoyed some hot apple cider at the market, and a hot chocolate on our Rhine River Cruise (more on that later). Iris’s favorite part was the whipped cream!
Keep reading: Why You Should Take Your Baby to the German Christmas Markets
See and Do
Rüdesheim is absolutely charming, but that charm extends beyond the riverbanks. This stretch of the Rhine River is home to the most castles in one place in the entire world! You can take a cruise to see them in the summer season, but the ships start operating again for two weeks leading up to Christmas as well. Winter in Germany can be hit-or-miss, and we did have a foggy day, but that just made the castles along the way all the more enchanting somehow. Click here for more information and to book tickets.
Also helpful: The Top 5 Reasons to Travel with Help as a Single Parent
Enjoy the Market
Though it’s one of the smaller markets we visited, I have to say this was my favorite! There were plenty of beautiful items to choose from, including jewelry, woodwork, knitted items, and more, and the food was amazing. It was quite a cold day, so my goulash soup warmed me right up, and Iris helped me finish off the bread bowl. Be sure to stay until it gets dark, too, so that you can enjoy the market as it’s lit up for the night!
Read next: Your Guide to Heidelberg’s Christmas Markets
Want more? Check out my dedicated Germany Page!
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