St. Goar Hostels

Right on the Romantic Rhine, St. Goar is a relaxed town hugging the river, shadowed by its ruined castle, and dedicated to various leisurely pursuits. While it's not as quaint and historical as Oberwesel or Bacharach, St. Goar (Sankt Goar in German) is also slightly farther off the tourist radar, and thus less crowded.

The bulk of town is only a few streets wide, but wandering is pleasant; enjoy the classic German architecture, sidewalk cafés, little shops, and tiny squares. The grassy, flowery, riverside park stretches along town, giving ample opportunity for strolling and watching the boats drift past.

The main site in town is the castle, Burg Rheinfels. The entry fee gets you into the castle, but since you don't have to join any sort of tour, you can just wander around all the nooks and crannies and darkened tunnels of the fortification. Don't miss the good views from the ramparts. For another castle, you can take the ferry across to St. Goarhausen and hike to Burg Maus to catch a falconry show. Check times and opening hours at the tourist information office first.

The Rhine itself is St. Goar's most popular attraction -- follow it a little upstream from the center of town to find the small and rocky swimming beach, where locals and tourists take a dip in the river. Boat lines make daily trips up and down this romantic section of the Rhine. Renting a bike in St. Goar and pedaling along the easy bike path is also a great way to enjoy the river; you can also make it a one-way trip and return with your bike on the train.

Choices for hostels in St. Goar are limited. Most hostels in the region belong to the German Jugendherberge (Youth Hostel) Association, DJH. You may need an HI card, but the services are consistently good -- clean rooms, sports equipment or games for check out, full delicious breakfasts, and plenty of opportunity for enjoying this relaxing region of the romantic Rhine.