Day 5
| MONDAY
Oct 12 / Monday
Castles, Cathedrals or Both
Your day starts at your pace.
Wake Up and Grab Breakfast at the hotel or the bäckerei.
Burg Eltz | 930 AM - 530 PM
It’s not far away and one of the best castles in Germany.
TIPS
There are guided tours you can join in English.
There is a restaurant at the castle and that’s where I would do lunch.
If you love to walk then park in the parking area and take the stroll down to it.
There is a shuttle that goes up and down frequently for a few euro.
Koln
The best gothic cathedral
Love lock bridge
All around great city to walk.
TIPS
Parking garage recommendation below
You can do both it’s around 4 hours of driving total from the Ring to the castle then to Koln and back.
Lunch or Dinner recommendations below.
Activities
See BURG ELTZ / KOLN
BURG ELTZ
Visiting Burg Eltz feels like stepping into a fairy tale that never got the memo about the modern world. Hidden deep in the forested Elzbach valley above the Moselle, the castle has belonged to the same family for more than 850 years and has never been destroyed, so what you see is the real thing, not a rebuild. Towers, turrets and half-timbered walls rise straight out of the rock, and inside, the treasury and armory hold centuries of family heirlooms. The winding Eifel roads that lead you there are reason enough to make the trip, and the moment the castle comes into view through the trees is one you won't forget.
KOLN
Cologne (Köln) is a city that wears its history right out in the open, and nothing says that louder than the cathedral. The Kölner Dom took more than 600 years to finish, from the first stone in 1248 to completion in 1880, and its twin Gothic spires still dominate the skyline today. Step inside and the scale hits you all at once: soaring stained glass, vaulted ceilings, and the golden Shrine of the Three Kings at the heart of it all. Just a short walk away, the Hohenzollern Bridge stretches across the Rhine, its railings covered in tens of thousands of love locks left by couples from around the world. Walk across at sunset, look back at the cathedral glowing over the river, and you'll understand why Cologne stays with people long after they leave.
Directions to Burg Eltz
Directions to Koln
Schillinger Bäckerei
Schillinger Bäckerei offers a delightful breakfast experience with its selection of freshly baked goods. Known for their artisanal wood-fired breads, the bakery provides a variety of options perfect for starting your day. Enjoy a range of pastries, rolls, and breads made from natural ingredients, each baked to perfection for a robust flavor and satisfying texture. Whether you're grabbing a quick bite or sitting down for a leisurely breakfast, Schillinger Bäckerei ensures a warm and inviting atmosphere with exceptional quality and taste.
Lunch Recommendation
Vulkan Brauerei
The Vulkan Brauerei in Mendig is a brewery built on top of a volcano, and that's not a marketing line. Thousands of years ago the Laacher See eruption buried this corner of the Eifel in lava, and miners later carved vast cathedral-like halls into the cooled basalt some 30 meters below town. Those cellars stay naturally cold year round, which made Mendig a brewing powerhouse with 28 breweries at its peak. Today the Vulkan Brauerei, founded in 1875, is the last one standing, and it still ages its beer in the lava cellars beneath your feet. Take the cellar tour, then head back up to the brewhouse for a cold one and a hearty plate of food. Few places let you drink a beer with this much history poured into it.
Dinner Recommendation
Früh
Früh am Dom is about as Cologne as it gets. Sitting in the shadow of the cathedral, this classic brauhaus has been pouring Früh Kölsch since Peter Josef Früh opened it in 1904, and it still runs the old way. The waiters, known as Köbes, work the room in blue aprons carrying round trays of slim 0.2 liter Stange glasses, and they'll keep swapping your empty for a fresh one until you lay your coaster on top. The rooms are loud, wood-paneled and packed with locals and visitors elbow to elbow. Order a Halve Hahn, which despite the name is a rye roll with aged Gouda and mustard, or go big with a Schweinshaxe. Come hungry, count your coaster marks, and don't be surprised when one Kölsch turns into six.