Moselsteig Trail: Hike and Wine Along The Moselle

The Moselsteig Trail starts in Perl, near the tri-border area between Germany, Luxembourg, and France, and ends in Koblenz, where the Moselle River flows into the Rhine. Both Perl and Koblenz and most intermediate stops in between are easily accessible by car and public transport. The Moselsteig is 365 kilometers long and is subdivided into 24 stages. With lengths between 11 and 24 kilometers, levels of difficulty ranging from easy to challenging, and paths through forests, vineyards, or typical wine villages, the Moselsteig is suitable for young and old and has a few suitable stages for everyone.

Germany is known for beer but along the of the Moselle River, you will find wine. An abundance of wine. The Moselle region is one of 13 German wine regions and the third largest when it comes to production. Next to that, the Moselle River and its wines are famous among connoisseurs and that has everything to do with its unique climate and the quality of Riesling wines, which you find a lot here.

With a 65° slope, the steepest registered vineyard in the world is the Mosel-side Calmont, which belongs to the village of Bremm and is therefore called Bremmer Calmont. Hikers on Stage 16 of the Moselsteig will pass by Calmont. But it doesn't really matter where you start or end, all along the Moselsteig, you'll find a good glass of wine. Or two.

While the Moselsteig Trail can be hiked all year round, the best seasons are obviously spring, summer, and early autumn. Note that some climbs on the Moselsteig can be muddy and slippery in winter. If you want to combine the Moselsteig Trail with the wine season, stick to July and August. During these months, there are various festivities concerning Riesling and other famous wines in the various regions. Beware of heavy legs along the way!

Hiking the entire Moselsteig takes nearly a month. The entire route covers 365 kilometers, so it's pretty easy to know which options you must have done at least. At Bookatrekking.com, we send you to Germany with a hiking guide combining the best hiking routes as well as local secrets. Below are just a few of the options that make the Moselsteig so special.

The most beautiful part of the Moselsteig can be found between Perl and Trier. On this 4-day hike, you will hike the first four stages of the Moselsteig. You walk between 16 and 25 kilometers per day, varying in difficulty. Each night, you’ll stay in a charming wine village, a great opportunity to plan a wine tasting. Weingut Hartmann in Perl and Weingut Zilliken in Nittel are definitely worth a visit!

Stages in a nutshell

Stage 1: Perl - Palzem (24 kilometers)

Stage 2: Palzem - Nittel (16,5 kilometers)

Stage 3: Nittel - Konz (22,5 kilometers)

Stage 4: Konz - Trier (21 kilometers)

You pass the Three Country Point fairly quickly. The first stretch you hike across the German-French border, enjoying insane views over France. The landscape changes constantly and one moment you walk through the vineyards with views over the Moselle Valley, then you walk through rustic forests, or even across stretched fields. You pass Palzem, the most southern Moselle village in Rhineland-Palatinate, right on the Luxembourg border. This ensures that you also have beautiful views of Luxembourg. Further on, the route is characterized by steep cliffs and vast fields over the Moselle Valley, where even the orchids cannot be missed. On the last day, you really walk in the footsteps of the ancient Romans. You are constantly surprised by nature and its diversity. As you approach Trier, you first have a fantastic panoramic view of this lively city.

The best part of the Moselsteig can be found between Neef and Cochem. Why is this the best part, you ask? Well, we'll tell you. This part of the Moselsteig is all about castles and wine. Lots of wine. This 3-day trek covers stages 16, 17, and 18 of the Moselsteig. You'll hike between 10 and 17 kilometers a day, while really immersing yourself in the viticulture of the Moselle. Here, too, you will spend the nights in typical wine villages along the Moselle. Again, you will have the perfect opportunity for some wine tasting. For example, visit Weingut und Edelbrennerei Gemmrich in Beilstein, or Weinhaus Hieronimi in Cochem.

Stages in a nutshell

Stage 16: Neef - Ediger-Eller (11 kilometers)

Stage 17: Ediger-Eller - Beilstein (16 kilometers)

Stagee 18: Beilstein - Cochem (14 kilometers)

You start these stages right away with the biggest challenge of the entire Moselsteig, namely climbing the steepest vineyard in Europe, the Bremmer Calmont. For those looking for even more of a challenge, it is possible to do the Calmont Klettersteig hiking trail. This hike is about 3 kilometers, taking approximately 2 hours of your time. You won't need any special equipment for this, and it will give you the most spectacular views as you hike through the vineyards. You will spend the night in Beilstein, which is also called the "Sleeping Beauty of the Moselle" because, with its small alleys and half-timbered houses, it was often used in the past as a filming location for local films. Once you are used to all the steep slopes of these stages, you can well imagine that viticulture on the Moselle is not easy. The rocky paths along the edge of the slope require some steadiness. When you arrive in Cochem, you can visit the fairytale-like Reichsburg.

The final section of the Moselsteig can be found between Löf and Koblenz. On this 3-day hike, you will hike the last three stages of the Moselsteig. You hike between 13 and 16 kilometers per day, taking a journey through time. You will also be introduced to the secret of the Tatzelwurm. Once again, you'll spend the night in charming wine villages. Plan a visit to Weingut Rüdiger Kröber in Winningen, or Weingut Schwaab in Koblenz!

Stages in a nutshell

Stage 22: Löf-Kobern-Gondorf (14 kilometers)

Stage 23: Kobern-Gondorf - Winningen (14 kilometers)

Stage 24: Winningen - Koblenz (15 kilometers)

These stages are all about a journey through time, castles, and fortresses. You can visit the 12th-century Thurant castle, which you soon pass. In Korbern-Gondorf, you can visit the Matthias chapel, where you have a fantastic panoramic view of before. This chapel was built in the 13th century in honor of the Apostle Matthias. Stage 23 is all about the secret of the Tatzelwurm, a legendary mythical creature said to live in the Mühlental forest. A little further on you pass the Hexenhügel, or Witches' Hill. Here you will find a memorial stone in memory of witch burnings in the Middle Ages. Around Winningen you will find the most extensive vineyard terraces in the entire Moselle region, and these provide a habitat for many special and rare animal species, such as the Apollo butterfly. The final stretch of the Moselsteig hikes along the riverbank to the town's landmark, the pointed headland Deutsches Eck, where the Moselle merges into the Rhine.

The Moselsteig is one of the most popular long-distance hiking trails and tourist areas in Germany. That ensures that you will find numerous accommodation options along the Moselsteig. Be it a hotel, a guesthouse, a Bed, and Breakfast or a so-called Zimmer Frei. On the Moselsteig trail, you'll find it all. The nice thing about the hiking route is that you are never very far from civilization. The Gasthöfer and Hotels along the Moselsteig are usually family-run businesses, often accompanied by an in-house restaurant(s) and bar, and play a central role in community life in the village or town. In the wine villages, you can also taste wine there, of course.

A typical example of a Gasthof along the Moselsteig: