Cochem is a small town in Germany that sits 100 km East of the Belgium border. Settled in 886AD, Cochem stills holds a lot of its history throughout the centuries; having seen many wars and plagues once ruled by the French. The Cochem Imperial Castle which sits above the town on a nearby hill is a reminder of the Royal families which once ruled the Cochem area.
Over 5,000 people live in Cochem which is the largest town in the Cochem-Zell District, which is a rural district of Germany. The Moselle river divides Cochem in half and makes for a perfect transportation option if you want to travel to other German towns along the Moselle or Rhine rivers.

Cochem is within a 2 hours drive of Frankfurt and Cologne, making it a perfect destination for day trips from any neighbouring towns. Overlooked by an 11th-century hilltop castle and bordered by a range of hills and mountains; walking through Cochem is like experiencing a real-life fairy tale.

Visiting Cochem, Germany

I first visited Cochem in 2017, and again with my husband in 2019, with both visits being better than I expected. I’m going, to be honest; If New Zealand were to cease to exist tomorrow, Germany would be my next choice of residence. Efficient motorways, straight-to-the-point communication, fantastic beer, and weather patterns that make sense.
Cochem is decorated with cobblestone streets, traditional German-built houses, and cute pubs perfectly adorned with German culture. The bridge that stretches across the Moselle river is the best place to watch the sunset over Cochem.

The waterfront pubs and establishments light up the old town with fairy lights and street lamps and create an inviting atmosphere that makes you want to stay forever.

Cochem may be the largest town in its area, but it only inhabits 5,000 people. Settled in 886, this town has seen wars, and plagues and was once ruled by the French.

How to Get to Cochem

Getting to Cochem is super simple whether you’re travelling by car, train or boat. This small German town is the perfect stop if you’re travelling the western border of Germany and makes for great day trips from any of the neighbouring towns, like Koblenz, Frankfurt or Treir.

Getting to Cochem by Car

Travelling by car is a great way to see more of the country and gives you more freedom than traditional travel methods of public transport. Getting to Cochem via car from Koblenz or Trier or Frankfurt will take you anywhere from 40 minutes to nearly 2 hours, respectively.  Traveling either along the A48 Autobahn or A1 Autobahn.

Getting to Cochem by Train 

I took the Trier HBF train from Koblenz to Cochem, this was a direct train ride that took around 40 minutes to reach Cochem. Usually, the train networks in Germany are one of the most straightforward transport options, however, it is quite easy to miss your stop or get on the completely wrong train if the timetables aren’t as straightforward and there is no one around to help you. This is how I accidentally ended up in Trier after Cochem rather than the next small town down the Moselle river.

Getting to Cochem by Ferry

Cochem is split down the middle by the Moselle River, which makes it an easy route for any ferry travel and day trips, especially from Trier and Koblenz which sit on the same river. To book any day cruises or boat transport options check out the K-D website to see when the next available cruise is.

I found the website Rome2Rio a super a great tool to use for planning travel via train or taxi. Their up-to-date timetables allows you to plan and make sense of public transport in most of the countries in Europe.

Either form of transport takes you through the incredible landscape, views of deteriorated castles and smaller towns sitting amongst dense forest.

Related: European Summer Locations, 20 Prettiest Sunny Places in Europe!

Where to Stay in Cochem

You will have a tough time trying to find hostels in Cochem, the majority of accommodation options that exist are ‘pensions’. Pensions are small hotels or bed and breakfasts where the manager or owner usually stays on site, they give a more personal touch and ‘homely’ feeling than a traditional hotel. The majoritythe of Pensions I have stayed in have been decorated with local memorabilia or locally made knick-knacks and traditional souvenirs.

The first time I visited Cochem in 2017 I stayed in a small room above a pub on the edge of town, the second visit in 2019 we found Haus Sonnschein (Sunshine House) on the eastern side of the Moselle river which had its restaurant with breakfast included each morning. It was a very cute room on the very top floor and had a direct view of Reichsburg Castle on the other side of the river.

We shared a bathroom with the only other room on the floor but had our key so no one else in the building had access. It was a bit of a pain in the morning when lugging my beauty products back and forth from the bathroom, but no one was occupying the second room so it was ours during our stay.

Things to do in Cochem

Explore Cochems Old Town

It is very easy to lose yourself among the streets and shops when exploring Cochem. The many and sometimes narrow and winding streets can lead you to some of the most gorgeous shops, pubs, or even the best views above the town.

Explore the cobblestone streets, and small alleyways and find yourself a pub to watch the world go by, or grab yourself a bottled beer from a corner store and sit in the town square waiting for the clock bells to chime every hour on the hour. Cochem has plenty of boutique and souvenir shops to settle your need for shopping, with many of the products prepared for travel. Or take a stroll to one of the many nearby vineyards to get good travel photos of the surrounding hills.

Reichsburg Castle

The Imperial Castle, aka Reichsburg Castle, is the large castle in Cochem which sits on a nearby hill towering above the town. It’s a decent walk to the top so make sure you are wearing comfortable shoes and are prepared with a bottle of water. The tour inside Cochem Castle is about an hour long and is available in English and German. Immerse yourself in the history of Cochem and the family that was protected by the fortified walls.

I mistakenly joined the German tour and missed a lot of information and jokes involved in the tour, but it was still an amazing castle to walk through and the era-specific furniture and decorations transport you back in time.

Cochem Castle Opening Hours and Information

Opening hours for Reichsburg Castle vary throughout the months, but it’s generally open between the hours of 10 am – 3 pm, with guided tours starting every 20 – 30 minutes during these times. Except for January and February where opening days are cut back to Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays only. For more information regarding Cochem Castle’s opening hours, visit their website here.

Burg Eltz Castle

A 30-minute drive outside of Cochem is another dreamy castle, Burg Eltz. Sitting in the hills in Wierschem which is between Cochem and Koblenz. Eltz castle is one of 3 castles on the Western side of the Rhine river which have never been destroyed. Burg Eltz is extremely popular among photographers for it’s stone bridge that stretches from the castle to the hill, making for amazing sunrise and sunset photos.

The oldest section of Eltz Castle dates back to the 9^th century and the youngest part of the castle was completed in 1540, excluding any restoration that has occurred in recent years.
Eltz castle is still owned by one of the branches of the family who once occupied it hundreds of years ago, and part of the castle is still actively lived in by members of the family, access to this section of the castle is prohibited for that very reason.

Cochem to Burg Eltz Castle

It’s easiest to get to Burg Eltz castle if you have access to a private vehicle. You can travel via train for the majority of the way to the small town in which Burg Eltz sits, but you will need to then catch a taxi for the rest of the distance. Check Rome2Rio again for options https://www.rome2rio.com/s/Koblenz/Cochem

Explore the Moselle River

Make the most of the river front town and take a ferry ride to any of the nearby towns along the river, The ferry usually stops at 2 towns and allows you 45 minutes to an hour to explore each one. This is a great way to cover more ground without having to put much thought into routes and day trip planning.