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Frankfurt to Koblenz by train
How to take the stunning railway journey through The Rhine Gorge
When taking the train from Frankfurt (Main) to Koblenz there is a choice of services:
(1) The express trains are inevitably faster and if you can book ahead online, they can be cheaper too.
(2) Though if you want to take a spontaneous day trip by train and book walk-up tickets at the station, you'll save money by taking one of the more frequent Regio trains.
Though the Regio trains take two routes, the faster journey along the west bank of the River Rhine through Bingen (which they share with the express trains), and a slower journey along the east bank through Weisbaden.
So if you will making a day trip to Koblenz in fine weather, the trip will even be even more delightful if you travel one way and then return by the other.
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Routes
Option 1: taking the express trains
Journey Summary
1hr 29min (approx)
Daily
Travel Information
Final Destination: Hamburg (or Kiel or Stralsund or Koln)
All trains also call at: Mainz
Most trains also call at: Bingen
9 x trains per day
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes (if you take these trains)
Online bookings usually open: 6 months ahead of the travel date
There are 3 x train services between Frankfurt (Main) and Koblenz:
(1) These express IC/ICE trains and limited numbers of discounted tickets are placed on sale for these trains.
If when booking ahead when the Super Saver tickets are still available, these trains can be cheaper than the slower Regio trains.
Also if you book 1st class ticket journey tickets and your seat reservation is included
(2) Alternative Regio trains operated by DB
When the discounted tickets for these IC/ICE trains have sold out, those trains become the cheaper option, so if you will be booking at the station, those trains will be a money saver (if the timings suit)
(3) Trains operated by VIAS, which are hourly on Mon - Fri and at weekends they are the only departures available in even hours; they are around 45mins slower than these express trains, but if you are booking last minute at the station, you can also save by taking those trains.
Booking Tickets for these IC and ICE trains:
If you can book ahead on the DB Bahn booking site look for journeys that have:
- 0 in the Chg. column
- IC or ICE in the Products column
Use the earlier/later buttons to search for the cheapest ticket prices.
Trains departing at different times can be cheaper than others leaving on the same day - so you may need to look through the day's departures to find the cheapest fares.
Our step-by-step guide to booking train tickets on the DB (German national railways) website is available HERE.
Seat Reservations:
Book 1st class ticket journey tickets for these express trains and your seat reservation is included - but they're optional when booking 2nd class tickets, or if you will be travelling with a 1st or 2nd class rail pass.
Reservations are not available on any of the Regional trains.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| DB | from €17.90 |
On this journey
Journey Features
Good to Know
These trains depart are usually scheduled to depart from Frankfurt (Main) in the odd hours.
The alternative slower Regio trains, which are operated by DB and travel via Bingen on the same route as these express trains, also usually depart Frankfurt (Main) in the odd hours; and if you will be booking tickets at the station, those Regio trains will be a cheaper option.
If you will be leaving Frankfurt (Main) in the alternate even hours, the only direct trains to Koblenz will be the other Regio trains, which are operated by VIAS and take a different, slower, route along the east bank of the River Rhine.
Step on board for the most spectacular journey taken by German express trains.
After Bingen there are some fabulous views of The Rhine Gorge from the right of the train, when facing the direction of travel.
After Boppard the train will travel right by the river for the final part of the journey all the way to Koblenz; the views of the valley aren't quite as spectacular north of Boppard, but they're still fabulous!
The journey is a delight, you can't miss the endless parade of boats travelling up and down the river and look out for the multitude of castles perched on top of the hills.
As our images show, this is a journey which can be worth taking for the sake of making the trip; even if the weather isn't absolutely perfect.
(the video clips were filmed from trains travelling in the opposite direction).
Option 2: taking a Regio train via Bingen
Journey Summary
1hr 46min
Daily
Travel Information
Final Destination: Koblenz
All trains also call at: Mainz and Bingen and Boppard (these are the only direct trains between Frankfurt and Boppard).
1 x train every other hour
Tickets
Book early and save: No - if you take these trains.
Tickets will cost the same price if purchased at the station immediately before departure
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| DB Bahn | * |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
If you will be buying walk-up tickets at the station, these Regio trains operated by DB are the optimum choice, if the timings suit, as they only depart from Frankfurt (Main) every other hour, in the odd hours.
They're faster than the other Regio trains, which travel via Weisbaden, but they won't be any more expensive.
These trains take the same route through the Rhine Gorge as that followed by the IC and ICE trains.
Option 3: taking a Regio train via Weisbaden
Journey Summary
2hr 13min
Daily
Travel Information
Final Destination: Neuwied
All trains also call at: Rudesheim and Assmanhausen and Lorch and St Goarshasen - the closest station to the Lorelei rock.
1 x train per hour
Tickets
Book early and save: No - if you take these trains.
Tickets will cost the same price if purchased at the station immediately before departure
Though the less frequent Regio trains which are operated by DB, are typically scheduled to depart apart after these trains, but they will get to Koblenz before them; and they will cost the same price as these slower trains
So if you will be booking tickets last minute at the station, check the departure if there will be a DB Regio train service due to depart, it will be calling at Bingen and Boppard, take it instead.
Though in some hours, these slower Regio trains, operated by VIAS, can be the only option for a direct train journey from Frankfurt (Main) to Koblenz.
There are also the ICE and IC trains and limited numbers of discounted tickets are placed on sale for those trains, so when they're still available, when booking in advance, they can be cheaper.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| DB Bahn | * |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
These trains are operated by VIAS, but the general ticket terms etc are no different to the trains provided by the national rail operator, DB.
Eurail and InterRail passes are valid on these trains.
These trains take a different route to the other trains between Frankfurt and Koblenz
They travel on the right bank of the River Rhine, so the best of the views are from the left of the train, when facing the direction of travel.
Though as can be seen, the weather was against us when we travelled along this right bank of the river.
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