What To Do In Koblenz Old Town – One Day Itinerary

One of the most Romantic cities in Germany is without a doubt Koblenz. Strolling through cobble-stone alleys, enjoying the view from a true German fortress, and admiring impressive churches in the original white-red colors, the Old Town of Koblenz has it all!

One of the reasons why this city is so popular and unique, is because this is the place where the Moselle river flows into the Rhine. Standing on the Deutsches Eck, you can watch two of the most important German rivers come together into one mass of water. If you’re planning to visit any of these valleys, the Moselle valley or the Rhine valley, Koblenz should be your place of departure!

The city is so small that you can do everything on foot but large enough so you can spend an entire day discovering its charm. What you should visit? That’s what this blog post is all about! Read on to find out the best things to do in Koblenz according to my experience!

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Top things to do in Koblenz

The Deutsches Eck

This is the most important (and according to my opinion best) place in Koblenz. This is namely the point where the Moselle river flows into the Rhine river. This happens literally in a corner. If you’re standing on the utmost tip, it almost feels like your standing in the river!

This is also the place where you’ll find the statue of Kaiser Wilhelm I to remember the German unification in 1871. Standing high on a pedestal and surrounded by the coat of arms of all federal states of Germany, it is quite impressive to behold. Climbing the statue will also give you a nice point of view.

Ehrenbreitstein Fortress

This fortress is the one you’ll see on the other side of the river when standing at the Deutsches Eck. The huge fortification cannot be missed and will certainly attract your attention. And if not the fortress, then the cable car running up the hill will. From the Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer you can take a cable car over the river to the fortress on top of the hill.

Why would you do this? To learn more about the history of Koblenz, to visit one of the temporary exhibitions or simply because you want to enjoy the best view of the city! If you’re a history geek then I recommend buying a duoticket for the cable car and the fortress. If not, you can go up anyway and take a stroll through the large park that is located on the hill. There, you’ll also find a tower you can climb to have a view of the river and city underneath. However, the best view is still the one you can see when entering the fortress!

Tip: don’t want to pay for the cable car but still want to go up? Get in your car and drive all the way to the fortress. There’s a large (paid) parking in front of it where you’ll be able to station your car!

Basilika Sankt Kastor

It’s worth it to start your tour at the Deutsches Eck and from there, stroll along the waterside. Because that’s where you’ll encounter Basilika Sankt Kastor.

This gem of a church is neatly hidden after the cable car station and some bushes but should not be missed! Not only does it have a beautiful garden, it’s also one of the most authentic Roman churches that you’ll find in the city of Koblenz. For those who fancy pretty pictures, this is the place to be!

Not so much into churches? Take a look at the Ludwig Art Museum that is located next to it!

Electoral Palace

If you walk further alongside the water, you’ll encounter another gem worth seeing: the Electoral Palace. This impressive 18th-century palace was once home to kings & queens but now has administrative functions. If you wish, you can even get married here!

Take your time to admire this building and stroll through the garden. You cannot visit the castle on the inside, but it’s still a beautiful photo spot!

Görresplatz

After visiting these pretty locations alongside the river, it’s time for a walk in the Altstadt of Koblenz! Start your tour at the Görresplatz. This place has been used since roman times and has had countless different names in the past. Since 1946 it’s been named after the famous German publicist & historian Joseph Görres.

The first thing you’ll notice while walking onto the Görresplatz is the large stone column in the middle. This is the history column and tells the story about the history of Koblenz in 3-dimensional scenes circling around the column. It has been gifted by the state Rhineland-Palatinate for the city’s 2000th anniversary in 1992. Certainly worth taking a close look at!

If you’re getting hungry along the way, or want a tasty snack, then I recommend finding a table at Altstadt Hotel & Café Koblenz, they have a great menu of healthy lunch options!

Jesuitenplatz

From the Görresplatz make your way to the Jesuitenplatz walking through the Firmungstraße. This small square is one of the cutest in the old town of Koblenz, mostly thanks to the beautiful Rathaus (or city hall) of Koblenz and the city church located here.

Although the church looks very picturesque on the outside, it’s actually a very modern church on the inside and thus not as special. If you walk through the alley under the Rathaus, you’ll find another square where a very special statue is located, Schängelbrunnen. On your left, you’ll find a door that leads to the courtyard of an old monastery. Go take a look inside!

Schängelbrunnen

The statue called Schängel Statue is located on the Willi-Hörter-Platz right next to the Rathaus. This bronze statue of a little boy is dedicated to poet Joseph Cornelius who invented the Schängel song, the anthem of Koblenz. Schängel refers to the names of children born under France influence, often named Jean but pronounced Schang in the local dialect.

Watch out! If you come too close to this little boy, you might get soaked. Every few minutes, water is coming out of the mouth of this little statue, raining down on unsuspecting passengers.

Liebfrauenkirche

The Liebfrauenkirche is beside the Basilika Sankt Kastor, a church you should have visited in the old town of Koblenz. This church dates back to the 5th century and used to be Koblenz’s main parish church from the Middle Ages until the French Revolution. Today it showcases what characterizes Koblenz so much, its round-shaped domes on top of the towers and the stunning red-white interior.

Denkmalzone „Vier Türme“

Koblenz counts many streets and many corners, but one street corner (or should I say four?) is particularly impressive. On the four corners of the streets Am Plan, Löhrstraße, Marktstraße und Altengraben you can find 4 peculiar houses of extraordinary architecture with a small tower. The original houses date from 1608 but have all been destroyed at least once in a war. Luckily, they have been rebuilt and are since 2002 UNESCO World Heritage.

One of the houses, called Hauptwache, has been a police office, another one, called Zum Heiligen Petrus, contained an apothecary for centuries, the third one, called Zum grünen Baum, offered people a safe way of turning around the corner when the tram used to ride in Koblenz. The fourth one doesn’t have a name.

So if you can, it’s worth taking a look at these peculiar corners!

Stadtarchiv Alte Burg

Another UNESCO piece is “Stadtarchiv Alte Burg”. This old castle from the 13th century nowadays holds the archives of the city. Unfortunately, the archives cannot be visited, unless you want to see a special document of course, but you have to make an appointment for that. However, the outside of the building is still worth admiring. But you don’t need to come here all the way for the building alone, make sure to also take a look at the garden next to it!

Florinskirche

Yet another church in Koblenz that you should visit, but one that will also speak to your imagination. The Florinskirche was built around 1100 and was the first protestant church in Koblenz. When entering, you can take a folder with more information. Use this to walk around inside the church and learn more about its history.

Tip: can you spot the cannonball that is stuck in the vault above the baptismal font? It was placed there to commemorate the destruction of the city.

Next to the Florinskirche, you’ll find the Florinsgarden, a small enclosed garden where it seems like time stands still. If you’re lucky, you might run into an art exhibition when visiting this garden!

When exiting the church, also take a look at the other historic buildings on the square, such as the Bürresheimer Hof and the Altes Kaufhaus. When walking past these buildings in the direction of the Moselle, you make your way back to die Deutsches Eck alongside the water.

Time left? Explore the Rhine

If you have time left after your visit to the city I recommend broadening your horizons and booking a boat tour on either the Moselle or the Rhine. You’ll see that on the Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer many boats are ready to take tourists on a small Rhine cruise. The Middle-Rhine valley next to Koblenz is full of fairytale castles and vineyards so definitely worth a visit! A good option is to book your boat tour beforehand via Get Your Guide. This way, you’ve secured your spot in time.

How to get to Koblenz

Koblenz is easy to reach by public transport. When you take the train and step out in Koblenz Stadtmitte, you’ll be directly in the heart of the old town:

• From Trier: 1h25
• From Düsseldorf: 2h with ICE
• From Frankfurt: 1h40 with ICE

Of course, you can also easily come by car and park in one of the underground parking in the city such as parking Görresplatz, Parkhaus Altstadt, or Tiefgarage Schloss.

The closest airports are Frankfurt-Hahn and Keulen-Bonn. From there, it’s easy to take a train to the city center of Koblenz.

Where to stay in Koblenz Old Town

There are many good places to stay in the old town of Koblenz, below I’ve listed some of them for you.

• Hotel in the old town: Altstadt Hotel & Café Koblenz
• Apartment in the old town: Ferienwohnung Koblenz Altstadt
• Good apartment but further from the old center: H-85 SUITES Level 5/9

Conclusion

I hope this blog post helped you plan your trip to Koblenz! I’m sure you’ll have an amazing time in this wonderful city! Don’t hesitate to leave me a comment afterward to tell me all about your trip!