If you want to experience the stunning scenery of Rüdesheim am Rhein in Germany, the Rüdesheim cable car (Rüdesheim Seilbahn in German) is the perfect starting point to do so. I had the pleasure of trying it out myself and the best part is that it is wheelchair accessible.
Short on time? No problemo, here’s how to make the most of your time in Rudesheim.
📍 Read until the end to find ALL the cool summer chairlifts in this part of Germany.
| Explorer Travel Tip
Enjoy some of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley’s most beautiful scenery during this Rudesheim Ring Tour. Keep your adventures brimming, but packed lightly of worries as you walk, ride gondolas and use the boat to feel the terroir!
Quick Guide: Rudesheim Cable Car
If you’re looking for a unique and unforgettable experience and one of the best things to do in Rudesheim, I highly recommend taking a ride on the Rudesheim chairlift.
- Location: Rudesheim, Germany
- When to Ride: April – October
- Price: Check here
- Points of Interest: Boppard, Oberwesel, Sankt Goar, Assmannshausen
- Duration: 10-15 minutes
- Closest Airports: Frankfurt International & Hahn, Cologne-Bonn, Luxemburg
- Buy: Ring tour tickets
- Parking: P9 is closest (5 min walk)
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Prefer Video? Morgan’s Rudesheim Ring Tour Video
Experience Stunning Views on the Rudesheim Cable Car
Even dogs ride free on this gondola (no bikes though).
I keep returning to this area because the German Rheinsteig offers one of the most delightful, fascinating, and scenic long-distance hikes with castle hotels where you can stay and feel like royalty amidst nature’s beauty.
Skip the hike – enjoy the ride!
Hiking is a safe an enjoyable activity, but sometimes it’s nice to skip the difficult parts and get right to the best views.
This charming cable car ride takes you on an unforgettable journey to explore the origins of Rhine romanticism in the steps of the artist, William Turner, just as I did. Or, just a cool way to chill after vibing the super cool Rhine wine town.
Sometimes it’s called Rudesheim or Rüdesheim am Main – Same thing.
2022 renovations have made both stations fully accessible for mobility impaired individuals.
The relaxing, peaceful ascent up the vineyard led me to the Niederwald Monument, which is a testament to one of the many German victories over the French (but they lost a lot also, like my village Konken where every single resident died in the 1600s!. Thankfully, we’re up to 812 humans, 21 alpacas and 16 cows for the census as of 2023).
Seilbahn Rudesheim
The monument is weirdly similar to the Statue of Liberty, except that she clearly loves wine and Nature.
Aside from the ride itself, Rüdesheim’s old town boasts an array of enchanting half-timbered houses, restaurants, castles, and authentic regional dishes.
Trust me when I say that this charming town and its gondola ride should definitely be added to your must-visit list!
Rudesheim Cable Car Hours of Operation
| Month | Dates | Operating Hours |
|---|---|---|
| March | 01.03. – 31.03 | Closed |
| April | 01.04. – 30.04 | Mon-Fri 9.30am-5.00pm, Sat-Sun 9.30am-6.00pm |
| May | 01.05. – 31.05 | Mon-Fri 9.30am-6.00pm, Sat-Sun 9.30am-6.00pm |
| June | 01.06. – 30.06 | Mon-Fri 9.30am-6.00pm, Sat-Sun 9.30am-7.00pm |
| July | 01.07. – 31.07 | Mon-Fri 9.30am-7.00pm, Sat-Sun 9.30am-7.00pm |
| August | 01.08. – 31.08 | Mon-Fri 9.30am-7.00pm, Sat-Sun 9.30am-7.00pm |
| September | 01.09. – 30.09 | Mon-Fri 9.30am-6.00pm, Sat-Sun 9.30am-7.00pm |
| October | 01.10. – 29.10 | Mon-Fri 9.30am-5.00pm, Sat-Sun 9.30am-6.00pm |
| November | 29.10. – 19.11 | Closed |
| Christmas Market | 20.11. – 23.12 | Mon-Fri 11.00am-6.00pm, Sat-Sun 11.00am-6.00pm |
Map of Rudesheim
How to Use This Map:
Click on the icon on the top left-hand corner. You will now see an interactive list.
For more info on each, click on the map icons.
To see the map in more detail, click on the [ ] in the top right-hand corner. This will open a larger map where the details of each point can be found by clicking on the location point name in the list on the left.
You can also save the map for your own use by clicking the next to the map name. This will save the map to your Google Maps, where you can make a copy and use it for your own trip planning.
To view the saved map on your phone, open Google Maps, click “saved” on the bottom, and then “maps” on the lower right.
Pricing Rudesheim Cable Car
Dogs are free! No bikes.
| Type of Trip | Price | Adults | Children (5-15 years) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Trip (Journey up or down) | € 6.50 | € 6.50 | € 3.50 |
| Return Trip (Journey up and down) | € 10.00 | € 10.00 | € 5.00 |
| Assmannshausen Tour (to Assmannshausen) | € 12.00 | € 12.00 | € 6.00 |
| Ring Tour (with boat ride) | € 20.00 | € 20.00 | € 10.00 |
| Romantic Tour (with castle & boat ride) | € 22.00 | € 22.00 | € 11.00 |
| Advent Gondolas (with boat ride & Christmas market) | during the Rüdesheimer Christmas market | – | – |
| Cable Car Season Ticket | € 50.00 | € 50.00 | – |
| Cable Car Season Ticket (with partner) | € 90.00 | € 90.00 | – |
| Cable Car Season Ticket (Family 2 adults and children up to 18 years) | € 110.00 | € 110.00 | – |
| Non-Scheduled Rides (Outside operating hours by arrangement) | – | – | – |
| Bicycles (no transport possible) | – | – | – |
Getting There
If you’re planning to visit Rüdesheim, you should definitely take a ride on the Niederwald monument cable car. It’s a great way to see the beautiful scenery of the Rhine Valley from above. Here are some details on the location of the chairlift:
Top Station
Ideal for people with mobility impairments as it’s fully accessible. For those driving to the Rüdesheim Gondola, I found out that there’s a parking lot immediately near to the Niederwald monument that costs 4 euros. The ticket office is a 2 minute walk from the parking lot.
Bottom Station
The trip starts at the valley station in town, which is located near the train line. There is parking available at the top station or at one of the many parkplatzes in town.
Seilbahn Rüdesheim, Oberstraße 37, 65385 Rüdesheim am Rhein
Getting to Rüdesheim Germany
By Train: Rudesheim is served by the DB Bahn and the main (only) station is right in the center of town and about a 7-10 minute walk to the Rudesheim bottom station.
Name of the train Station: Rüdesheim (Rhein) Bahnhof
Trains are connected to Frankfurt, Mannheim, Trier, Koblenz and Luxembourg.
When you book your transport online, I personally recommend and always use OMIO. They search for trains, buses, flights and ferries, so you get the easiest way to your destination!
By Car: There are stunning 2 lane roads along the Rhine that are worth a drive in all seasons. What I really want to do is rent a convertible Porsche and zoom through this lowland mountain range and fairytale castle land.
🚗 Car Rental: I always use Discover cars because they search for local and international options so you get the best deal.
By Flight: Frankfurt Hahn is the closest airport, only 65 minutes away. There are also 3 easy airports close to Rudesheim that take about 1.5 hours to drive to get there. The first is Frankfurt International Airport. The second is Luxemburg International Airport. And finally, Cologne-Bonn International Airport is also an easy drive.
By Boat: You can easily walk from one of the many Rhine River cruises to the bottom station to ride the gondola.
Parking Facilities
I like to do things opposite, most people will park in town and take the gondola up, but I did the reverse to avoid crowds.
If you want to go the “normal” way, you can pay to park here. It’s a 5 minute walk past the Siegfried’s musical museum. Or park at the top station mentioned above.
No matter which option you choose, reaching the Rüdesheim Gondola is a breeze, and you’ll be ready to take in the breathtaking scenery in no time.
Things to do & Nearby Attractions
If you’re visiting the Rüdesheim gondola, I highly recommend checking out some of the nearby attractions! Since I love exploring, let me walk you through my personal favorites:
Rudesheim Ring Tour
People of different mobility levels can get ALL the views and experience the heights of Rüdesheim, the Neiderwald and Assmannshausen.
- After reaching the top of the Rhine gorge via the Rüdesheim cable car, you’ll walk or roll along a flat path with many historical stops marked with placards in German and English. The path makes its way to the Jagdschloss Hotel (hunters palace hotel).
- For people using wheelchairs it’s not advised to take the Assmannshausen chairlift, but return the same way back and take the gondola back to Rüdesheim.
- If you want to continue to the next village of Assmannshausen that is known for it’s red wine, there is a chair lift down to the village but it is not wheelchair accessible.
- It descends into the much less busy village of Assmannshausen or you can simply walk 20-30 min downhill, going past an enclosure with very cute deer. There is a vending machine to purchase feed pellets that you can try to hand feed the deer through the fence.
- From the riverside in Assmannshausen you can either take the train back to Rüdesheim or the KD boat on the river.
🚠 SUMMER CHAIRLIFTS in Germany
An easy & relaxing Way to experience the German OUTDOORS 🚠
It doesn’t have to be HARD to explore Germany’s mountains and vineyards.
1️⃣ On the Upper Middle Romantic Rhine UNESCO site:
the Rudesheim cable car and Assmannshausen chairlift help you create a gentle loop called the Rudesheim Ring Tour. The Boppard chairlift gets you to the Vierseenblick. And the Ko
2️⃣ Flying over the Moselle River:
the Scenic Cochem chairlift takes you over vineyards and slate blue craggy mini-mountains.
3️⃣ On the German Weinstrasse:
the gentle Rietburg Chairlift helps you skip the uphill and have unbelieveable views over the Rhine plain and skip the hard part of the Edenkoben Tal hike.
4️⃣ In Bavaria:
the Kranzberg Sessellift gets you high above Mittenwald and allows you to hike the stunning Hoher Kranzberg hike good for family.
Just like an e-bike, a bit of technology can make exploring nature more accessible to everyone.
Niederwald Monument
The first place I’d say you should visit is the Niederwald Monument. This impressive monument, with its majestic statue, can be reached easily by taking the gondola and is surrounded by beautiful woodland trails. I found the views here fantastic and the history fascinating—definitely not something to miss!
Drosselgasse
After taking in the views at the Niederwald Monument, my next favorite spot was the charming Drosselgasse. This quaint cobbled street in the heart of the old town is lined with timber-framed buildings and is home to some of the best entertainment and dining options I experienced in Rüdesheim. From live music in the taverns to trying the local cuisine, it was a real treat for my senses!
Local Cuisine and Wineries
I just love how Rüdesheim is filled with delicious cuisine, wine tasting events and captivating wineries. One of the places you shouldn’t miss is Drosselgasse, a charming cobbled street at the heart of the old town. Trust me, the timber-framed buildings and live music in taverns are simply unforgettable.
Now, let’s talk about the wineries. The Rüdesheim area has a rich tradition of wine production. I had the opportunity to visit Weingut Adolf Störzel, which left me in awe of their wine selections. Another great winery is the Rüedesheimer Sektkellerei Ohlig, known for their charming ambience and delicious sparkling wines.
When it comes to food, there’s a lot to explore, from traditional Rheingau dishes to international cuisine. One of my favorites has got to be trying the local Riesling wine paired with delightful regional dishes such as Handkäs mit Musik – a marinated cheese served with onions – and Rheingau Riesling bratwurst.
If winery tours and wine tasting are your thing, you might want to consider a wine tasting trip in Rüdesheim. It’s a wonderful way to flavor your gondola adventure in this beautiful town. Cheers!
Accommodations and Lodging
Here’s some great hotels nearby if you want to make a weekend out of it.
Best Historical Hotel
For a hotel with a touch of history, I have my eyes on Breuer’s Rüdesheimer Schloss. This charming establishment is just 0.88 mi from the Seilbahn Rudesheim. Location, location, location!
Best Spa Hotel
When I want a more modern experience, the Papa Rhein Hotel seems like the perfect choice. At only 0.89 mi from the gondola, I can almost reach out and touch those vines from my hotel window.
Best Overall Hotel – On the Vineyard!!!
For those times when I want a more intimate and homely feel, I found this gem – Das Rebenhaus. It’s a mere 0.04 mi away, making it difficult to beat when it comes to convenience.
Best Luxury Stay – Your Own Apartment on River
And last but certainly not least, I stumbled upon the spacious Villa Sturm Rüdesheim am Rhein, offering a touch of luxury just 500 meters from the Seilbahn Rudesheim. I’m already dreaming of that fluffy bed…
All in all, there’s no shortage of great lodging options right near the gondola, making it an easy trip back after a day of adventures. Sweet dreams!
Frequently Asked Questions
As an avid fan of the Rudesheim gondola, I often get questions about this charming cable car experience. So, I’ve decided to combine some of the most frequently asked questions into one delightful section for all you gondola enthusiasts out there.
1. Is Rudesheim worth a visit?
Rudesheim is a charming town in Germany’s Rheingau region, known for its picturesque streets, wine tastings, and scenic views of the Rhine River. If you enjoy wine, history, and stunning scenery, Rudesheim is definitely worth a visit.
Is there a cable car to the Niederwald Monument?
Yes, there is a cable car that goes from Rudesheim up to the Niederwald Monument. The ride takes about 10 minutes and offers beautiful views of the surrounding area and a short break from stress.
How long does the ride take?
It takes about 10 minutes to get to the top, giving you plenty of time to enjoy the views and sneak in a selfie or two. Trust me, that view is worth it!
Can I bring my kids on the ride?
Of course! The Rüdesheim cable car gondola ride is family friendly, and your little ones will surely enjoy the spectacular view. Just make sure to hold onto their hands for safety. See, we all care about each other here!
What can I expect at the top?
Only the easiest and most awesome hike with history! At the top, you’ll find the Niederwald Monument, which commemorates German victories over the French. There are also opportunities to take the Assmannshausen chairlift down, so everyone is happy even with bad knees and will be one of the best unforgettable excursions in Rüdesheim.
What are the operating hours?
The gondola usually operates from 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM. But I always recommend checking their website for the most up-to-date information, just in case. I mean, you wouldn’t want to miss out on this dazzling experience, would you?
So, if you ever find yourself in Rüdesheim am Rhein, I highly recommend taking a spin on the gondola. Trust me, it’s an experience you’ll cherish for a lifetime. Until next time, happy travels!
Author profile: Morgan Fielder is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and passionate hiker who believes in exploring the world on foot with good food. Follow her journey as she shares science-based hiking tips and advocates for sustainable tourism.
Well, there you have it: the answers to your burning gondola questions. May your Rudesheim cable car experience be an unforgettable one!