The Rheinsteig is a 312 km / 194 miles long hiking trail in western Germany and can be walked northbound (from Wiesbaden to Bonn) or southbound (from Bonn to Wiesbaden).
In this article you will find an overview of all stages of the Rheinsteig as I hiked it in late summer 2017.
I decided to go southbound, as I live in Bonn and wanted to enjoy the pleasure of starting directly from my front door.
Rheinsteig from Bonn to Wiesbaden in 13 stages
I hiked the Rheinsteig in 13 stages. You can also walk the Rheinsteig in 12 stages (approx. 26km / 16.2 miles per day) or in up to 18 stages (approx. 17km / 10.5 miles per day). The planning of the individual stages thus allows plenty of scope for people of all abilities. For the Rheinsteig I recommend you the hiking guide from Conrad Stein Verlag*, which officially runs northwards, but is also suitable for the southward version.
Last update on 2024-10-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Rheinsteig has many ascents and descents, so you should not overestimate yourself and your performance. Along the entire length of the Rheinsteig you have to climb up to approx. 10,000 m /32,808 ft and descend approx. 10,000 m / 32,808 ft.
- Distance 312 km
- Time 78 h 2 min
- Speed 4.0 km/h
- Min altitude 51 m
- Peak 400 m
- Climb 7724 m
- Descent 7759 m
- Distance Instructions
Rheinsteig Stage Overview
Rheinsteig Stage 1: Bonn – Rhöndorf, 23km
The first stage of the Rheinsteig takes you from Bonn through the Siebengebirge mountains past the Drachenfels to Rhöndorf. I had an encounter with wild boars here the first night. Read more.
Rheinsteig Stage 2: Rhöndorf – Bad Honnef, 12km
The second stage of the Rheinsteig takes you from Rhöndorf to Bad Honnef. The stage is again impressive and my first goal of the day is the ruin of the Löwenburg. Read more.
Rheinsteig Stage 3: Bad Honnef – Linz, 17km
The third stage goes from Bad Honnef to Linz am Rhein. Even though the stage is only 17km long, I come to the conclusion that the Rheinsteig is damn hard to walk! In the evening I’m just looking forward to a warm bed. Read more.
Rheinsteig Stage 4: Linz – Leutesdorf, 27km
The fourth stage takes you from Linz am Rhein to Leutesdorf. This passes Arenfels Castle, through a beautiful bird sanctuary to Leutesdorf. Read more.
Rheinsteig Stage 5: Leutesdorf – Rengsdorf, 18km
The fifth stage of the Rheinsteig starts in Leutesdorf and goes to Rengsdorf. This was the first stage on which I got lost. However, I noticed it soon enough and found my way back to the Rheinsteig. Read more.
Rheinsteig Stage 6: Rengsdorf – Sayn, 15km
The sixth stage takes you from Rengsdorf to Sayn, past the Nonnenley viewpoint and through many forests. In Sayn I met an old colleague who didn’t have good news for me. Read more.
Rheinsteig Stage 7: Sayn – Koblenz, 20km
The seventh stage leads from Sayn to the Ehrenbreitstein fortress in Koblenz. On this day I have to struggle with a real low, but a friend manages to make me feel better via Skype. Read more.
Rheinsteig Stage 8: Koblenz – Braubach, 20km
From my point of view, the eighth stage is one of the most beautiful of the Rheinsteig. It goes from Koblenz through the Ruppertsklamm, along the Lahn through beautiful nature to Braubach. Read more.
Rheinsteig Stage 9: Braubach – Oberkestert, 28km
Article will follow.
Rheinsteig Stage 10: Oberkestert – Kaub, 28km
Article will follow.
Rheinsteig Stage 11: Kaub – Rüdesheim, 33km
Article will follow.
Rheinsteig Stage 12: Rüdesheim – Am Rebhang, 20km
Article will follow.
Rheinsteig Stage 13: Am Rebhang – Wiesbaden, 31km
Article will follow.
I hope this overview will make it easier for you to plan your stages for the Rheinteig. If you like this article, I’m happy about a Like, a heart or a smile on your face. If you have questions, suggestions or criticism, I’m looking forward to your comments.
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