Rudesheim is on the Rhine River at Km 527. This is a classic wine village and is famous for it’s Drosselgasse Lane whose back to back cozy taverns provide generous helpings of Rhenish music, wine, and good cheer. Many Vintiners offer wine tastings and Asbach Distillery introduces Germany’s best known brandy. Rudesheim has a wine museum located in Bromsaberg fortress.
Ama Waterways offers six tours of Rudesheim at different times of the day.
- “Rudesheim Wine Tasting” is 2 1/2 hours and a level 3 or 4 in difficulty. It is a 15 minute bus ride with 1 and 1/2 hours of walking. Arrive in Rudesheim and enjoy a wine tasting at the Bassenheimer. Take in the views of the vineyard, town and Rhine Valley. Three stations of Specialty of Reisling wine is offered. Then to town to explore Drosselgasse Lane the town’s Cultural Heart with restaurants and open air wines gardens to explore.
- “Rudesheim Gondola Ride” is 1 hour and 15 minutes and is a level 2-3. Take a peaceful ride in the gondola over the vineyards for some fantastic views of vineyards, Rudesheim and the Rhine River. You will have some free time to explore the Niederwalddenkmal.
- “Vineyard Hike” is three hours with three hours of walking and is a level 5 for a distance of 9.5 Km or 6 Miles. Scenic hike through the vineyards above the Rhine River and through Rudesheim to climb into the surrounding vineyards. Hike continues til you reach the Nake River with it’s Roman Bridge. Then continue back to the town of Rudesheim by the Abby of St. Hildegardis and the Bromsaburg Castle.
- “Guided Bike Tour of Rheingau” is 3 hours long with a difficulty level of 5. The distance is 23 Km or 14 Miles. Glide through the Rhine Valley by bike riding between storied Rheingau Hills by the Rhine River. Bike through Rudesheim past the castle, winery and Schloss Johnnesberg back to the ship.
- “Seigfried’s Mechanical Musical Instruments Museum” is in the evening and is 1 and 1/2 hours long. This has a difficulty of 1 to 2 with 30 minutes of walking. This is a whimsical adventure through Seigfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum to see and hear his collection of automated musical instruments. There are 350 robotics and self-playing musical instruments to tiny music boxes to big piano players.
- “Rudesheim Coffee” is an evening adventure lasting 1 hour and 30 minutes and is level 1 in difficulty. Rudesheimer Coffee is made with coffee, brandy, chocolate flakes, whipped cream and served in special mugs and saucer.
The population of Rudesheim is 9,000 and it’s history dates back to the Roman times. This is the home of Reisling wine.
Shopping abounds in Rudesheim from candies filled with brandy, Rudesheimer Coffee Sets which includes brandy, mugs and a recipe, Kathe Wohlfahrt Shop, Music Shop outside of Seigfried’s and lots of shops with wooden toys and Christmas ornaments. You can shop til you drop.
Drosselgasse Lane means Thrush Alley. You will hear the clock tower bells which ring every hour. This street has lots of wine gardens and restaurants. Wirshaus Hanifore is located on Drosselgasse and has a very good German menu. Drosselgasse was bombed during the war and has been re-built.
Note: The Ama Viola arrived in Rudesheim in the early afternoon and did not leave until the next morning so there is plenty of time to see and do everything.
