Walking in the Romantic Rhine and Moselle Valley

The Rhine and Moselle Rivers form the backbone of Germany's wine-growing regions, home to some of the world's most distinctive white wines. The Moselle River begins in France and flows into Germany where it twists sharply for 150 miles (250 km) and deposits into the Rhine on its way to the North Sea.

The Rhine valley wines are often medium dry white wines, which has led to the term “Rhine wine” being used for white blends and Rhine-inspired wine. The Moselle Valley is similar and is included when describing 'Rhine' wines. 

Several wine regions are located along the Rhine River, including Alsace in northern France and Nahe, Rheinhessen, Mosel (formerly Mosel-Saar-Ruwer), Pfalz, and Baden, in Germany.

4 Types of Grapes Used to Make Rhine and Moselle Wines

Many grapes are grown near the Rivers (including red wine grapes), but these are best known.

Riesling: Riesling is perhaps the most famous grape grown in the Rhine and Moselle River Valley. Its reputation was built on sweet white wine, but it can also make a dry wine.

Müller-Thurgau: A cross between Riesling and reliable Silvaner, this early-ripening German variety has notes of peach.

Gewürztraminer: One of the most popular Alsace grapes, Gewürztraminer produces full-bodied, intensely aromatic white wines.

Pinot Gris: Although it originated in Burgundy, Pinot Gris is most prevalent in Alsace, where it's used to make rich, dry wines.

What does the wine taste like?

Rhine and Moselle valley wines vary immensely in taste. In Germany, designations for different styles of wine include Kabinett and Auslese. Wines designated as Kabinett are the lightest and least sweet of the German wine system. Auslese wines are sweet and high in alcohol, often made with grapes affected by noble rot.

Explore some of Germany's best walking regions, with each boasting its own unique characteristics and customs. From sacred lakes, enchanting forests to the otherworldly peaks reaching for the sky, you are spoilt for choice. Walk in Bavaria, the gateway to the Alps in the south with its panoramic views of the mountains, uncover the mystical Black Forest, discover the Moselle and the Rhine river valleys, which offer relaxed walking  (and plenty of hidden vineyards calling out to be discovered) or head off the beaten track to explore the lesser-known areas, such as Saxon Switzerland. In Germany, you will find something for everyone.

The Black Forest

Germany’s iconic Black Forest has been the inspiration for the famous Brothers Grimm fairy tales and other German myths and legends. Located in the southwest, in the state of Baden-Württemberg, it is one of the most popular hiking locations. The area is packed with mountainous terrain, miles of breathtaking forest and dotted in between are charming little villages. Our Black Forest Gorge trip takes in the highlights of the region.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen

This little town, located in the Bavarian Alps, is a hiker’s dream. The town lies near the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest peak. It is the perfect starting point for an alpine walking tour in the Bavarian Alps. For the more adventurous, cross the Tyrolean Alps into Austria and Italy on our challenging Tyrolean Alps: Garmisch to Sterzing.

Mosel and Rhine Valley

Quieter and stunning regions are the Mosel and Rhine Valley. The walking is less challenging than some of our other German trips as on either; you wander between quaint villages and local vineyards. You can follow the Rhine as it cuts deeply through the Rhenish slate mountains, meandering between hillside castles and steep fields of wine-producing grapes. Choose an in Style experience and embark on our Rhine in Style trip, or discover our Mosel Valley tour, which will take you through forested hillsides, along craggy cliffs and through near-vertical terraced vineyards.

Berchtesgaden National Park

This mountainous landscape in Bavaria is referred to as the Eagles Nest. It has a network of trails for both newbies and experienced trekkers. Hikes in this region ensure a day well spent in the mountains. The national park is known for its impressive wildlife—especially wonderful sightings include the golden eagle and red deer. A hike to the magnificent Königssee is also recommended, all of which you can explore on our Bavarian Alps: Hiking the Salt Trail.

Harz Mountains

The Harz Mountains is an off the beaten track way to discover Germany as you come across the beautiful wilderness of unspoilt forests, deep valleys, wild rivers and blossoming mountain meadows. Encounter local history and culture as you follow in the footsteps of witches on our Harz Witches Trail. Think picturesque, historic half-timbered towns, countless relics from the mining era, mysterious caves, old castles, spiritual places and nostalgic steam trains.

Saxon and Bohemian Switzerland

Situated close to Dresden, the beauty of Sächsische Schweiz (Saxon Switzerland) is of mythical proportions. Ancient, fingerlike rock formations make it the perfect location for climbing and hiking. The huge national park is known for its sandstone formations and splendid valleys and waterfalls. Discover more about our Saxon and Bohemian Switzerland trip.

Discover wanderlust in Germany, a dream destination for walkers. There is so much diversity, and our trips showcase this brilliantly as there is something for everyone. Here are a couple of things which you can look forward to:

Castles

Germany has A LOT of castles, which have inspired many fairy tales (and Disney Theme Parks), which add to the countryside's romanticism. Check out the King Ludwig Way to visit the Neuschwanstein Castle or meander along the Mosel River, with castles tucked away behind each bend.

Folklore & Legends

Germany is, of course, the origin of many of our favourite fairy tales (think Grimm brothers) and legends. Head to the Harz mountains to take on the Witches trail if you dare!

Views

The country is beautiful, with breath-taking views along each trail. Even the urban areas of Germany are works of art that tell fascinating stories. Garmisch-Partenkirchen (a highlight of the Tyrolean Alps: Garmisch to Sterzing) is a particular gem nestled deep in the Alps, and Saxon Switzerland is home to some jaw-dropping geology.  

Beers, of course

What better refreshment after a day on the trail? Prost!

Kaffee und Kuchen

.....as all that walking goes hand in hand with some coffee and homema

Macs Adventure has been running self-guided walking holidays in Germany since 2008.  Whether you like mountains and hills, lakes, rivers, dreamy villages and well preserved medieval cities, Germany has something to offer for everyone. This abundance of wonderful places to explore led us to seek out more and more areas to help people discover Germany on foot. 

From humble beginnings, we now send over 2000 walkers to Germany every year, each walking the route that excites them the most. We provide the freedom to choose your route, itinerary and travel companions and discover Germany at your own pace. 

We know how daunting it can be, setting off on an adventure of this scale and we quickly realized how important it was to have amazing partners on the ground in Germany to deal with any issues that you might come across.  We are proud to say that we work incredibly closely with all our accommodation suppliers and luggage transfer teams, and should you have the slightest issue, they will fall over themselves to help you out. 

We offer a tried and tested hiking experience that gets you comfortable, friendly overnight accommodation in local B&Bs and guesthouses. We carry your bags to lighten your load so you can concentrate on simply putting one foot in front of the other and enjoying the unique culture, food and scenery of Germany. No hostels, no leaky tents, no heavy bags on your back just a straightforward active holiday that you can book with confidence that we have it all covered for you. 

We want to showcase our expertise by giving you all the resources you will ever need.  We have free guides, comprehensive videos, and a host of staff with their own German experiences in the planning stage, waiting to answer your questions. On the route, we use high-quality digital mapping and the best maps and guidebooks to make sure you find your way.  

We love the diversity of walking in Germany, and our main aim is to make sure