There are amazing trips that can be taken right from the Kaiserslautern area. Here are five great destinations to explore that you may not have thought of. Enjoy!

1. FREINSHEIM

Freinsheim is a smaller town in the Bad Durkheim region of Germany. It’s one of those quaint wine villages that we stumbled on one day. We liked it so much we started looking for events that would bring us back. We have visited the town a couple of times just to wander through the streets and browse the shops. Recently we were there for their Blütenfest to kick off spring and enjoy some wine.

Other Things to Do in Freinsheim:
Toy Museum: We haven’t been to this (because we no longer have kids at home), but I can see where young kids would enjoy this.

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Other Events:
Stadtmauerfest
The Town Wall Festival held on the third weekend in July in the historic gate is among the region’s largest wine festivals.

Kulinarischer Weinwanderweg
The Culinary Wine Trail is held on the fourth weekend in September, running through the town’s vineyards. Winemakers and food vendors offer traditional Palatine cooking, Mediterranean dishes, and wine.

Weihnachtsmarkt
The Christmas Market is held on the four weekends in Advent and attracts visitors with its Nativity scene, in which living animals are used.

How to Get There
By car, it is approximately 40 minutes from Kaiserslautern. Freinsheim is approximately a 1.5 hour train ride from Kaiserslautern. The train station is very close to the city Centre so this is really the most convenient way to get there, especially for a wine festival.

2. TRIER

Unless you are new to the area, you’ve probably been to Trier or at least know about it. Trier is Germany’s oldest city and is a great place to spend the day. They have a downtown area much like Kaiserslautern with plenty of shopping and restaurants. Trier offers a little bit of everything from Roman Baths to craft shopping. Even though it is technically a day trip, you might have to make it more than once since there are so many things to do!

Things to Do in Trier:
Porta Nigra: The largest Roman city gate north of the Alps. Designated as part of the Roman Monuments and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Imperial Roman Baths: The Kaiserthermen or Imperial Baths is a large Roman bath complex. This is also designated as part of the Roman Monuments and UNESCO World Heritage Site. We have been here a couple of times and it is definitely worth the small fee to take a self-guided tour.

High Cathedral of St. Peter (Cathedral of Trier): This is the oldest Roman Catholic cathedral in the country. Another important historical location designated as part of the Roman Monuments and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

How to Get There
By car, Trier is about 1.5 hours from Kaiserslautern. Visit Deutsche Bahn for train information.

3. HEIDELBERG

Heidelberg is the first place I heard about from my parents when we learned we would be moving to Germany. It’s the first city they visited back in the sixties when my dad was stationed here during the Vietnam Era. It was also the very first trip we took after arriving and unpacking. Heidelberg is situated on the Neckar River and is a very popular tourist destination.

Things to Do in Heidelberg:
Schloss Heidelberg: A truly impressive castle overlooking the equally impressive town along the river. We were last there in the fall to visit the castle along with the world’s largest wine barrel and the German Pharmacy Museum.

Philosophenweg (Philosophers’ Way): This is a path located on the northern banks of the Neckar River. Historically, it was just a path through the vineyards; however, later it was renamed because of the many professors and philosophers who enjoyed the path for its solitude and beauty. Today, the path features gardens and amazing views.

Karl Theodor Bridge: Commonly known as the Old Bridge. This is the stone bridge that connects the two sides of the river. You can see this bridge in pretty much any popular picture of the view from the castle.

How to Get There
By car, Heidelberg is approximately 1 hour and 5 minutes east of Kaiserslautern. Visit the Deutsche Bahn website for train information.

4. BERNKASTEL-KUES

Bernkastel-Kues is a well-known winegrowing center on the Mosel River. The town sits in the valley along the river overlooked by vineyards and a castle. We’ve been there every fall for their Wine Festival that ends with fireworks over the castle. The downtown area is a medieval market place zone strictly for pedestrians. Some of the houses, dating as far back as the 15th century, are a little crooked yet have stood the test of time while others are a bit more spacious. There are plenty of little stores, pubs and cafes.

Things to do in Bernkastel-Kues:
Mosel Wein Museum: This multimedia museum will give you a much better understanding of the region’s winemaking traditions. Guided tours and wine sampling are available daily.

Dr. Loosen Winery: Famous for their Riesling! They require a confirmed appointment before you arrive with at least a 7-day notice. I can personally vouch for their customer service. This is a very nice tasting.

Burg Landshut: Take a shuttle bus, the Burg Landshut Express, to the castle ruins. The trip up takes about 20 minutes. This castle was largely destroyed by a fire in 1692. It’s a great place to walk around and take in the view below.

How to Get There
By car, Bernkastel-Kues is about 1.5 hours from Kaiserslautern. Check with Deutsche Bahn for train information.

5. RÜDESHEIM AM RHEIN

In my personal opinion, I saved the best for last. I absolutely LOVE Rüdesheim! I’m not sure if it’s the ferry ride that takes you from Bingen, the quaint streets, the vineyards, or the ride over the entire village in a cable car that makes it my favorite. Maybe it’s all of the above. This is a great day trip. So much fun, in fact, that we ended up getting a room and spending the weekend.

Things to do in Rüdesheim am Rhein:
Broemserburg Castle: This is the oldest Castle in the Rhine Gorge. It is now owned by the town and is a wine museum.

Foltermuseum: Medieval torture museum.

Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Museum: This music museum offers a 45 minute tour for a nominal fee. This is the only option to visit the museum since the tour guides operate the musical instruments for you during the tour.

Niederwald Monument: Take the cable cars to see the panoramic views of Rüdesheim and enjoy some time at the monument. Cable cars leave from Oberstrasse.

There are also many wine tours available. When arriving in Rüdesheim am Rhein I recommend picking up a free city guide from the Tourism Office.

How to Get There
By car, Rüdesheim is approximately 1.5 hours from Kaiserslautern. Check with DB Bahn for train information.

Author’s Profile: Cheryl Koller is a native of Georgia. She is a DOD spouse, mom of 4 daughters (2 adults, 2 teens), thrill-seeker, avid traveler, and lover of food and wine. She is a self-proclaimed Freedom-Preneur and Blogger currently living in Ramstein with her family.

Featured Image Photo Credit: © Cheryl Koller