Moselle River Cruise Map
From the Rhine to the Luxembourg border, town by town.
Get Free Moselle Cruise QuotesThe Moselle river cruise map, from the Rhine upstream to the Luxembourg border.
Moselle Towns in River Order
| Upstream from Koblenz | What it is known for |
|---|---|
| Koblenz | The Deutsches Eck, where the Moselle meets the Rhine; cable car to Ehrenbreitstein fortress |
| Treis-Karden | Small twin village, a quieter mooring on some itineraries |
| Cochem | Reichsburg castle above a riverside old town; base for Burg Eltz excursions |
| Zell | Wine town known for its “Zeller Schwarze Katz” label |
| Traben-Trarbach | Art Nouveau buildings and old wine cellars on both banks |
| Bernkastel-Kues | Half-timbered market square and famous steep vineyards |
| Trier | Roman city: Porta Nigra, basilica and baths |
| Grevenmacher, Remich, Schengen | Luxembourg’s wine villages on the border stretch |
Not every sailing goes all the way to Trier or the Luxembourg border; some turn back at Bernkastel or Traben-Trarbach. Check the port list if a particular town matters to you.
Reading the Moselle on a Map
- Loops, not straight lines. The Moselle doubles back on itself repeatedly; distances by river are much longer than by road.
- Locks in sequence. Expect regular lock passages between Koblenz and Trier.
- Coach transfers. Some itineraries reach Luxembourg City or Trier by coach rather than by ship.
- Water levels. The canalized Moselle is usually reliable, but very high water can affect bridge clearance; Germany’s PEGELONLINE service publishes gauge readings.
Upstream or Downstream?
Ships that enter the Moselle from the Rhine sail upstream, against the gentle current, from Koblenz toward Trier; the return run is a little quicker. Itineraries that begin near Luxembourg or Trier do the opposite. Either way, the most photographed stretch is between Cochem and Bernkastel-Kues, where the river makes its tightest loops and the vineyards are steepest. If your sailing passes it at night on the way in, it will usually pass it by day on the way out — ask us to check the timing.
| Stretch | Character |
|---|---|
| Koblenz to Cochem | Castles, forested slopes, the side valley to Burg Eltz |
| Cochem to Bernkastel-Kues | Tight loops, steep vineyards, wine villages on every bend |
| Bernkastel-Kues to Trier | Broader valley, famous vineyard names, Roman remains |
| Trier to Schengen | Border river between Germany and Luxembourg, gentle wine country |
Locks Along the Way
Every lock on the Moselle has a weir beside it and often a small hydroelectric station. A passage takes a short while: the ship glides into the chamber, the gates close, and the water level rises or falls by several meters before the far gates open. Watching from the sun deck is a small pleasure of the trip, and on busy days you may share the chamber with a barge carrying coal, grain or gravel.
Match the Map to Your Wish List
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