The Imperial Palace, routes through the Rhine meadows and wine experiences give Ingelheim on the Rhine several distinct focal points for a stay. When looking for accommodation, you can first decide whether culture, hiking, cycling or wine will shape your daily plans. For the Archaeological Zone of the Imperial Palace, remember to allow time for the walk from the railway station: it takes about 25 minutes.
Imperial Palace and museum
The Imperial Palace in Nieder-Ingelheim was built by Charlemagne and is closely associated with Ingelheim’s historical and cultural significance. The Museum at the Imperial Palace is located right next to the Archaeological Zone of the Imperial Palace and is part of a visit to the monument. Its exhibits include a gold coin bearing a portrait of Charlemagne. Public guided tours and themed tours are designed for individual visitors, couples and small groups. You can therefore complement your visit to the Imperial Palace with a museum visit or a guided tour.
Hiking trails and vineyards
Ingelheim offers six cycling routes and 14 hiking routes in and around the town. There are also two Hiwweltour trails and 88.2 kilometres of hiking paths. The 11.8-kilometre Hiwweltour Westerberg connects the Selz Valley, vineyards, Westerhaus Castle and historic sunken lanes. The Westerberg circular route offers a different focus: it is an easy walk with wide-ranging views and an optional wine tasting at Westerhaus Castle. For a walk along the Selz, the Selztal circular route is a flat trail from Ober-Ingelheim, passing old mills, meadows, fields and horse paddocks.
The Weinmeile is also a route through Ingelheim’s vineyards. Information boards explain wine, vineyard sites and viticulture. The routes described therefore offer different focal points: the Hiwweltour combines several landscape and cultural highlights, while the Weinmeile focuses on viticulture. When planning, you can decide whether you would prefer a longer hike, a walk or a themed trail.
Rhine meadows and nature
The Rhine Meadow Experience Trail is a family-friendly circular route through the Ingelheimer Aue, with three length options. Interpretation stations, an exercise course and a viewing tower are part of the trail. A Rhine meadow route in Ingelheim passes still waters, wetlands, a former branch of the Rhine and remnants of the floodplain forest. These habitats support birds, plants and insects. The Jungaue Experience Trail focuses on the Rhine and its former river courses: in addition to 13 stations, there are eight interactive features that present the content in a playful way.
The Rhine Meadows Nature Reserve lies right on the Rhine and offers various recreational activities. The long-distance Rhine Cycle Route also runs along the riverbank through the Rhine meadows near Ingelheim. Those who want to focus on cycling and walks will find different ways to experience the Rhine landscape, without confusing the floodplain trails with the vineyard or Selz Valley routes.
Wine experiences and practical information
Several wine-related experiences come together at the Ingelheim Winzerkeller: a multimedia wine exhibition, guided visits exploring the wine cellar’s history, wine tastings at the vinotheque and restaurant visits. These complement the Weinmeile and hiking trails with opportunities to enjoy exhibitions, tastings and food.
Ingelheim railway station is recommended as a starting and finishing point for local cycling tours. There are park-and-ride spaces and a bicycle parking facility nearby. Boat trips and the ferry depart from the harbour pier. If you plan to take advantage of these services, check their respective departure times before your trip.
Take your planned routes into account: the Archaeological Zone is about a 25-minute walk from the railway station; hiking, wine routes and the Rhine meadows each offer different destinations and routes. Compare the location of the hotels with your own daily plans so that your accommodation suits the experiences you want to prioritise.
Discover more destinations: Nierstein, Genheim, Stadecken-Elsheim, Dienheim, Uelversheim, Wintersheim, Eimsheim and Trechtingshausen.
Go to the main travel overview: Mainz-Bingen.
