It was a sunny May day that we visited Rudesheim and the first thing on the agenda was a Rhine…read moreriver cruise. Whether you want to get off or not, it's a pleasant ride up and down the river with ample chances to take in the views of the many castles, vineyards, and Germanic scenery. We took the chance to hop on and off, saw a castle, ate some lunch, and then enjoyed our ride back to Rudesheim on the patio of the boat. You can order the famous Rudesheim coffee drink on board, along with some other goodies, which adds an element of fun to it. Overall, it's a fun thing to do when in the region. Don't expect a luxury liner, but you'll be comfortable.

We took the passenger ferry from Bingen to Rüdesheim and it's really nice to go on the river like…read morethat. As public transportation works so well in Germany we were going by train and bus, but Bingen and Rüdesheim are separated by the Rhine, so boat was in order. Fare: 2.20€ per person. The bus from Bad Kruznach to Bingen stopped very close to the ferry but be aware that on the Rüdesheim side the boat stops near the station, which is a bit of a walk to the city center, and the buses are infrequent.

First time in the Rhein River area and our Airbnb host suggested the cable car ride as a different…read moreway to see the beauty of the region (we took the train and our host said that many of the castles are only accessible by car). It was 12 euros round trip, and we enjoyed both the views of the vineyards on the ride up as well as walking around the Niederwald forest and temple after getting dropped off at the top. We went on a busy and gorgeous Saturday afternoon so there were lines to get in at both the bottom and the top, but they moved quickly and the staff were very efficient.

Probably the coolest cable car I've ever been on. Riding over the Rheine wine country was…read moreincredible. And the top has incredible views and some hiking trails. Highly recommend!