Visit Germany’s 5 greatest rivers ()
The waterways of Germany have always inspired art and music. They’ve been a connection to the wider world and the borderlands dividing it. Today, visiting one of Germany’s five largest rivers is an experience not to be missed, and each one offers something a little different.
Flowing into the North Sea:
The Rhine and its left-bank tributary, the Mosel, are still powerhouses of industry, flowing north to connect the chemical and industrial companies of Germany with worldwide shipping lanes from ports in the Netherlands.
Modern industry mixes with history as barges trundle up and down its course, past vineyards and castles along the Middle Rhine, between Bingen and Bonn. In ancient times, this was frontier land to the Romans who brought their wine-making skills. You can still visit a few Roman ruins in the town of Boppard, where you can also check out the Rhine’s largest loop. For a great view of the river, hike, take the chairlift (sesselbahn) or, with proper equipment, climb the local via ferrata (klettersteig) west of town.
Get out on the water by taking The Köln-Düsseldorfer (K-D) ferry. Stop in Bacharach to enjoy a meal along the cobblestone streets amongst half-timbered buildings and old city walls. Visit Sankt Goar where you can walk (or take a shuttle) up to the Rhine’s largest castle ruin: Burg Rheinfels. Village train stations along this section of the river are all connected via the RB26, so exploring is easy.
Vineyards around the village of Lorch along the Rhine river in Germany (Carlos Sanchez Pereyra - Adobe Stock)
The Weser River has a hard-working history. Flowing north from the forests of central Germany, it became a major route for exporting German goods during the Middle Ages.
Thanks to the river, the city of Bremen grew into a powerhouse of trade. It became a wealthy hub for the Hanseatic League, and nowadays, the old town is still full of ships and the brick gothic architecture of guild halls. There are also quaint, colorful merchant houses in the Schnoor neighborhood which now house small shops and restaurants that spill into the tiny streets.
If being on the water is more your style, then the Weser River is a perfect destination for canoe or kayak trips. With few cargo ships and no dams, the Upper Wesser offers 135 kilometers of navigable fun between Hann Münden and Hamelin. Be sure to stop into Hamelin, which leans hard into its “Pied Piper” heritage. A tourist walking trail marked by brass cobblestone rats takes you past historic buildings and all art forms representing the famous piper who led rodents to their death in the Weser River and then took the kids as payment.
Sunset at the Weser river in the old town of Bremen, Germany (Michael Abid - Adobe Stock)
The Elbe River is unique in Germany. Much of this waterway formed the border between East Germany and West Germany. Inside the frontier zone, some of the riverbanks were fenced off to prevent escape attempts. Without human interference, these areas returned to their natural habitat, and now much of the Elbe is part of the UNESCO Elbe River Landscape Biosphere Reserve. In the Lower Saxonion portion of the reserve, the river spreads into a large floodplain with numerous tributaries and wetlands.
In the former border towns of Popelau and Darchau, you can climb up former BT-9 observation towers to look out over this former “no mans land.” Across the river from these two hamlets (via a short ferry) is the town of Neu Darchau and the Albia Kanu company which offers canoe and kayak rentals and shuttle services along the Elbe River.
Elbe panorama, UNESCO biosphere reserve river landscape Elbe, Boizenburg, Germany. (Olaf Simon - Adobe Stock)
Flowing into the Baltic Sea:
The Oder River and its major tributary, the Neisse, define Germany’s border with Poland. The northern portion, near its mouth in the Baltic Sea is protected by large national parks. One of the best ways to explore these wetlands and bird habitats is along the Oder-Neisse Cycle Route.
At the other end of the river system, the town of Görlitz on the Neisse River has a unique blend of past and present. With historic architecture at every turn, and a series of fortified towers, Görlitz advertises itself as the most beautiful city in Germany. The entertainment industry seems to agree. Numerous movies, such as “The Monuments Men,” “Inglorious Basterds” and “The Grand Budapest Hotel” were filmed in the city. Now dubbed Görliwood,® a free tour of all 36 filming sites is available via the SmartGuide app.
The Neisse, a tributary of the Oder River, through the town of Görlitz in Germany (nejdetduzen - Adobe Stock)
Flowing into the Black Sea:
The only major German river that doesn’t flow north, the Danube (Donau in German), is perhaps the most sophisticated of the bunch. From its representation in art and music, to its course across ten different countries and through numerous major cities, it represents a mishmash of cultural icons.
To really dig into all the Danube represents, take a trip to Regensburg. The old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with its architecture showing off the city’s cultural and artistic heritage. Don’t miss the stained glass in St. Peter Cathedral or taking a tour at the monastery-turned-palace called Schloss Thurn und Taxis.
East of the city is Valhalla. Well, it’s a monument called Walhalla, named after Woden’s feast hall from Germanic mythology. A ferry ride on the Danube from Regensburg takes you to this memorial that honors German-speaking notables including royalty, scientists and artists.
Much of the Danube south of Regensburg flows through Hopfenland, or Hops-growing land, and, you guessed it, the heart of beer brewing. Even better, Germany’s oldest monastic brewery, the Kloster Weltenburg, is still active and produces the award-winning Barock Dunkel. Tour the abbey and brewery, have a drink in the biergarten and then walk out to the stony beach and dip a toe in the waters of the Danube.
Weltenburg Monastery on the Danube River in Germany (David Brown - Adobe Stock)
