24/08/2026
Just the other day someone asked, “What is there to do other than drink wine on the Mosel?”
Of course the wine is the star of the beautiful valley, but there are so many other things you can do.
Cycling is the first to come to mind. The trails along the river connect the villages together and the ride is stunningly beautiful. There are many places along the Mosel to rent e bikes. One I can recommend is Wanderland Zell-Mosel.
Hiking is another great option. The Moselsteig stretches the length of the river. The trails are well marked and mostly go up through the vineyards and woods. Views from above are breathtaking.
Interested in history? There are many museums to explore. The Zylinderhaus in Bernkastel Kues is a classic car and vintage technology museum. There’s a restaurant attached that stays with the theme. You can eat delicious food in the restaurant or on the large patio admiring the views of the Mosel and vineyards.
Traben Trarbach has a Buddha Museum with around 2,000 Buddha statues. And, Ernst has the Moselland museum with four floors of history about the wine-growing region.
Going along with the history theme are castle tours. Cochem has a beautiful castle with daily tours. Not too far from the Mosel is Burg Eltz. There’s also the Grevenburg Ruins in Traben-Trarbach. It’s a great hike up and the views are worth it.
Do you prefer to be on the water? You can go up and down the Mosel on a ship or rent a private boat. There are also places to rent a jet ski, kayak, or paddle board.
Are you more sporty? There’s a golf course in Ediger-Eller, beach volleyball in Burg, tennis courts in Zell, bowling in Briedel, and even an outdoor boules court in Merl.
Want to relax in a picturesque garden? Straußwirtschafts are seasonal wineries open for business. Even though wine is their main purpose for opening, you don’t have to drink wine. They offer their own grape juice, made from the same grape vines as wine but alcohol free. A Traubensaftschorle is a refreshing drink that’s grape juice mixed with bubbly water. And, many of these Straußwirtschafts have tasty food to go with it.
You don’t have to drink wine to enjoy the Mosel. And… you can enjoy all of the above with some Riesling if you so choose!
One of the things I love about the Mosel valley is that you can decide how you want to experience it, and once you do you will fall in love with it just like I did.
Zum wohl! Enjoy the wine (or grape juice)!
