Ingelheim am Rhein between the Imperial Palace and Rhine meadows

Ingelheim am Rhein brings together historic architecture, winegrowing and landscapes along the Rhine. The Imperial Palace tells the story of the town’s connection with Charlemagne; hiking and cycling trails lead through vineyards and floodplains. There are also specific destinations for different kinds of holiday days—from a family-friendly circular trail to a wine tasting. Which of these appeals to you most can also guide your search for suitable accommodation in Ingelheim.

Imperial Palace and museum

The Imperial Palace in Nieder-Ingelheim was built by Charlemagne and is associated with Ingelheim’s historical and cultural significance. The Museum bei der Kaiserpfalz, next to the Archaeological Zone, is part of a visit to the monument. Among the museum’s exhibits is a gold coin bearing a portrait of Charlemagne—a small, vivid detail illustrating the history of the place.

Ingelheim offers public guided tours and themed tours for individual visitors, couples and small groups. This lets you explore the history on a guided tour or independently as part of your stay. The Archaeological Zone is about a 25-minute walk from Ingelheim station. The station is a recommended starting and finishing point for cycling trips; park-and-ride spaces and bicycle parking are nearby.

Hiking, cycling and the Rhine floodplains

There are six cycling routes and 14 hiking routes in and around Ingelheim. The hiking options also include two Hiwweltour trails and a total of 88.2 kilometres of hiking paths. One specific longer route is the 11.8-kilometre Hiwweltour Westerberg, which links the Selz Valley, vineyards, Westerhaus Castle and historic sunken lanes. The Selztal circular trail offers a different experience: it is flat, starting in Ober-Ingelheim and following the Selz past old mills, meadows, fields and horse paddocks.

The Westerberg circular trail is another option for a walk; it is considered easy and offers sweeping views. A wine tasting at Westerhaus Castle can be added as a stop along the way. If you would like to combine exercise with information about winegrowing, the Weinmeile is a themed trail through Ingelheim’s vineyards. Information boards along the route cover wine, vineyard sites and winegrowing.

For an outing with a choice of route lengths, the Rheinauenerlebnispfad is designed as a family-friendly circular trail. It leads through the floodplain near Ingelheim and offers three route-length options, information boards, an exercise course and an observation tower. The Jungaue adventure trail also encourages exploration: its 13 stations cover the Rhine and former branches of the river, and there are also eight interactive play features.

The Rhine floodplains lie directly on the Rhine and offer a range of recreational activities. A path through the Ingelheimer Aue passes still waters, wetlands, a former branch of the Rhine and remnants of floodplain forest. These habitats provide a home for birds, plants and insects. The long-distance Rhine Cycle Route also runs along the riverbank through the Rhine floodplains near Ingelheim. Nature watching, walking and cycling can therefore be enjoyed as different activities, rather than being combined into a single tour.

Wine and other experiences

Several aspects of winegrowing come together at the Ingelheimer Winzerkeller: a multimedia wine exhibition offers an introduction, guided visits explore the history of the wine cellar, and wine tastings are available at the vinotheque. There is also a restaurant. The Weinmeile and the experiences at the Winzerkeller complement each other as different ways to explore the subject: outdoors among vineyards and information boards, or through an exhibition, history and tasting.

Boat trips around Mariannenaue and the ferry depart from Ingelheim’s harbour pier. If a trip is part of your day’s plans, check the timetable in advance. For travel by train, the approximately 25-minute walk from the station to the Archaeological Zone and the bicycle facilities at the station are also useful points of reference.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Ockenheim, Weinolsheim, Ober-Hilbersheim, Bodenheim, Oberheimbach, Münster-Sarmsheim, Lörzweiler, Essenheim.

Back to the main travel overview: Mainz-Bingen.