Getting to the Rheinsteig: Bonn, Trains & Rhine Ferries

The Rheinsteig runs Bonn → Wiesbaden along the east bank of the Rhine. Most hikers stage the trail in sections — Lee drove from Amsterdam, started near Bonn, and used trains to return to the parked car after each leg.

Also read: Complete Guide · Itinerary · Trek overview

Trail endpoints

Official start	Bonn (north)
Official finish	Wiesbaden (south)
Lee's section start	Bonn city centre → Königswinter
Lee's section end	Bendorf (stage 6) — continuing toward Koblenz

Getting to Bonn

From the Netherlands (Lee's approach)

• Drive Amsterdam → Bonn (~3–4 h)
• Park near start or leave car at section end and train back
• Fuel + parking: €50–80 round trip typical

From elsewhere in Germany / Europe

Mode	Notes
Train	Bonn Hbf well connected (Cologne, Frankfurt)
Fly	Cologne-Bonn (CGN) or Düsseldorf + train
Car	Flexible for Rhine towns; parking in trail villages

On-trail transport

Rhine trains

The Rhine valley railway parallels the trail — ideal for:

• Returning to parked car after a section
• Skipping a stage (weather, injury)
• Luggage-forward logistics on longer hikes

Budget €10–15/person per local hop.

Rhine ferries

Iconic small Fähren cross the river at towns like Andernach.

Day 5 lesson: We needed the last ferry to reach our hotel on the far bank. Miss it and you walk to the bridge (extra km — Day 6).

Check timetables — ferries don't run 24/7.

Buses

Supplement trains in smaller villages. Less critical on Lee's Bonn–Bendorf section than in remote Rhine bends.

Section-hike logistics (our model)

Year 1: Drive to Bonn → hike Days 1–3 → train back to car in Bonn
Year 2: Start Linz (where we ended) → hike Days 4–6 → train to Linz / Bonn

Advantages: Daypack only, full hotel comfort, Joey in the car between years.

Alternative: Luggage transfer between hotels for full 21-stage thru-hike without a car.

International arrivals

• Cologne-Bonn Airport (CGN) — closest major airport
• Frankfurt (FRA) — high-speed train to Bonn
• Amsterdam — direct drive or train via Cologne

First-night checklist (Bonn)

• Confirm hotel near trail or short transit to Day 1 start
• Download offline Komoot / Rheinsteig maps
• Buy bakery supplies for tomorrow's lunch
• Withdraw EUR cash for beer gardens
• Check Stage 1 weather

Related planning

• Itinerary — Bonn → Königswinter Day 1
• Accommodation — book towns ahead
• Cost guide — transport line items
• Navigation — Bonn city start