Köln-Düsseldorfer (KD) is the largest operator of day cruises on the Rhine River (Rhein). True to its name, KD has roundtrip cruises in both Cologne and Düsseldorf but most Rhine River cruises on this section of the river are from nearby Bonn to Linz.
- Trains connect Cologne and Bonn a few times per hour in between 15 and 30 minutes while two trains per hour return from Linz to Cologne in an hour.
The main season for Rhine day cruises is late April to early October but cruises are generally available from late March to late October. Rhine cruises are rare in winter but sightseeing cruises in Cologne and Düsseldorf are available during the Christmas advent season.
Timetable of Rhine Cruises between Cologne (Köln) and Koblenz
Most Rhine pleasure boats cruise from Bonn to Linz and back but occasionally boats are available from Cologne or continue all the way to Koblenz. Upstream boats are slower – Bonn to Linz takes two hours while the return is only 85 minutes.
The following timetable is based on the standard Köln-Düsseldorfer (KD) timetable – some boats are faster or slightly slower and not all boats stop in all towns.
- Town – Left / Right bank – Minutes Upstream (Minutes Downstream)
- Köln / Cologne – L – 55 (35)
- Köln-Porz – R – 45 (25)
- Wesseling – L – 80 (45)
- Bonn – L – 30 (30)
- Bad Godesberg – L – 20 (5)
- Königswinter – R – 20 (15)
- Bad Honnef – R – 20 (15)
- Unkel – R – 10 (10)
- Remagen – L – 30 (10)
- Linz – R – 30 (30)
- Bad Breisig – L – 150 (110)
- Koblenz
During the high season, a KD boat departs daily from Mainz at 8:45 am for an eleven-hour cruise all the way to Cologne. The longest upstream cruise is from Bad Breisig (8 am) to Mainz (7:30 pm).
Round-Trip Sightseeing Cruises on the Rhine from Cologne / Köln
Many sightseeing roundtrip cruises on the Rhine depart from Cologne (Köln). These cruises can be as short as an hour but longer cruises are also available to include coffee breaks and dinner cruises.
- Köln-Düsseldorfer (KD) is again the largest operator but other competitors such as Kölntourist also offer cruises from Cologne.
Round-Trip Sightseeing Cruises on the Rhine from Düsseldorf
Köln-Düsseldorfer (KD) has many hour-long sightseeing cruises from Düsseldorf. It also has daytrips a few times per year from Düsseldorf to Cologne, medieval Zons, or Duisburg with the largest inland harbor in Europe.
Day Cruises in the Romantic UNESCO World Heritage Listed Middle Rhine Valley
The most popular section of the Rhine (Rhein) River for daytrips is the romantic Middle Rhine (Mittelrhein) between Rüdesheim / Bingen and Koblenz. This part of the Rhine Valley is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list and includes the Loreley Rock, numerous castles, and romantic villages.
- Frequent trains from Cologne (Köln) to Bingen take 90 minutes to 2 hours and often require changeovers in Koblenz. Koblenz to Cologne is just less than an hour by train.
Discounts available on Köln-Düsseldorfer (KD) day cruises on the Middle Rhine (Loreley Valley) are also valid on cruises from Bonn. Luxury multiple-day cruises on the Rhine and tributaries make for popular German and European vacations.
Henk Bekker - Henk Bekker is a freelance travel writer currently living on the shores of Lake Geneva in Switzerland.
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