Linksrheinischer Jakobsweg

At a Glance

• Start / Finish: Cologne → Bingen (via Bonn and Koblenz)
• Length: 239.0 km
• Elevation gain:↗ 4,764 m / ↘ 4,736 m
• Highest point: about 461 m
• Duration: about 11–12 days on foot (estimated)
• Marking: Yellow scallop on a blue background
• Character: Rhine Pilgrimage Route from Cologne through the Middle Rhine Valley to Bingen, partly through a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Overview

The Left Bank Way of St. James follows the left bank of the Rhine from Cologne via Bonn and Koblenz to Bingen. It was established in 2009 at Arnstein Abbey as a revival of the ancient Way of St. James from Cologne to Bingen, thereby closing a long-standing gap in the network of routes leading to Santiago de Compostela. As early as the Middle Ages, pilgrims on the Way of St. James and the Way to Rome used the historic Roman roads that ran through this area.

The trail is marked for pilgrims on foot, but thanks to excellent rail and boat connections, it can also be covered in individual day-long stages. In its southern section, it runs partly through the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where it largely follows the RheinBurgenWeg as well as parts of the Rheinhöhenweg.

Who This Route Is Ideal For—and Who It's Not

Ideal if you’re looking for a scenic, easily accessible pilgrimage route in Germany—featuring grand cathedrals and basilicas, vineyards, castles, and the famous Middle Rhine Valley. Thanks to the extensive train and boat connections, the route is well-suited for pilgrims who prefer to travel in stages and for beginners who don’t want to set off for Spain right away.

Not the best choice if you’re expecting a completely flat route: In the Middle Rhine Valley, there’s a total elevation gain of nearly 4,800 meters over about 239 kilometers, and some sections require sure-footedness. If you’re looking for peace and wilderness, you should know that the trail runs for long stretches through the densely populated, traffic-heavy Rhineland.

Route & Landscape

From Cologne Cathedral, the route follows the left bank of the Rhine southward through Wesseling to Bonn and its cathedral. It continues through Niederbachem, Sinzig, and Andernach to Koblenz, where the Rhine flows into the Moselle.

The Middle Rhine Valley proper begins just past Koblenz: The trail winds through Rhens, Bad Salzig, Oberwesel, and Bacharach, passing through vineyards and over wooded hills high above the Rhine, past castles and cliffs, until it reaches the confluence of the Rhine and the Nahe in Bingen. On the section from Rolandsbogen to Bingen, the trail runs partly through the Upper Middle Rhine Valley UNESCO World Heritage Site and along the RheinBurgenWeg.

Stages, Terrain & Difficulty

The trail guides suggest 12 daily stages ranging from about 10 to 30 kilometers—from Cologne via Wesseling, Bonn, Niederbachem, Sinzig, Andernach, Koblenz, Rhens, Bad Salzig, Oberwesel, Bacharach, and Trechtingshausen to Bingen.

The northern section along the Rhine is mostly flat. In the Middle Rhine Valley, the route becomes significantly more challenging: With nearly 4,800 meters of elevation gain, the trail repeatedly climbs to the heights above the valley and then descends again. The guides classify certain sections as challenging to “alpine”; for these, there are easier alternative routes available. The trail is marked with a yellow scallop shell on a blue background; in Cologne itself, it is not marked because the signs there have been repeatedly removed—in this case, the route description in the pilgrim’s guide is helpful.

Sacred Landscape along the Rhine – The Heart of the Trail

The Way of St. James on the Left Bank of the Rhine is a route from church to church. It begins at the Cologne Cathedral and strings together major churches as if on a string: Bonn Cathedral, the Basilica of St. Castor in Koblenz, the Church of Our Lady in Oberwesel, and the Basilica of St. Martin in Bingen. In between, traces of the cult of St. James can be found everywhere—for example, in the Romanesque churches of Cologne or in the Gothic St. James Chapel in Koblenz, whose door handles are shaped like the pilgrim’s shell. The St. James Chapel in Koblenz is open on Sundays in July and August from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Highlights Along the Way

• Cologne – The cathedral (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and Romanesque basilicas at the start of the trail.
• Coin – Münster and the Rhine Promenade.
• Koblenz – St. Castor Basilica and the confluence of the Moselle and the Rhine.
• Upper Middle Rhine Valley – A UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring castles, vineyards, and cliffs.
• Oberwesel – Church of Our Lady and the medieval city wall.
• Bacharach – A wine-growing town with half-timbered houses and Stahleck Castle.
• Bingen – St. Martin's Basilica at the confluence of the Rhine and the Nahe.

How Pilgrims Find Their Way onto This Path

Cologne is the major hub of Germany's north-south axis: The The Westphalian Way of St. James ends at the cathedral—and anyone all the way up north at Schiermonnikoog – Münster Once it gets going, it runs all the way here in one go, passing through Münster and Westphalia.

At the cathedral, you’ll have to decide which way to go: upstream along the Rhine through the Middle Rhine Valley (this route) — or straight across the Eifel on the Via Coloniensis directly to Trier. Both lines meet again later in the Moselle region.

Continue the pilgrimage?

In Koblenz, the Left Bank Way of St. James meets the Mosel Trail, which runs from here upstream along the Rhine, following the Moselle to Trier and continuing toward France. The Rhine is also a key hub in the German Way of St. James network: In the Koblenz/Andernach area, there are connections to the Eifel Camino and the Lahn Camino, so the Left Bank Rhine Way of St. James can easily be combined with other Rhine routes to create longer tours. And for those who prefer to head west from Cologne right away, instead of the Rhine Valley, they can take the Via Coloniensis– It runs through the Eifel region directly to Trier.

Preparation & Practical Information

The best time to visit is from spring through fall. The outdoor guidebook “Linksrheinischer Jakobsweg” (Conrad Stein Verlag) serves as a pilgrim’s guide, featuring route descriptions, maps, and GPS tracks. The St. Jakobus Society of Rhineland-Palatinate issues a regional pilgrim’s passport. Those who walk at least the last 100 kilometers can receive a pilgrim certificate. Overnight accommodations are available at guesthouses, hotels, and private lodgings along the route. Note: Due to the renovation of the Pfaffendorf Bridge, a section of Stage 7 (Koblenz–Rhens) is expected to be closed to pedestrians until the end of 2027; a signposted detour is available.

What the journey will cost you

Germany is more expensive than Spain. Roughly estimate €45–75 per day (guesthouses, hotels, private accommodations), plus meals (as of June 2026); basic accommodations and self-catering will lower your costs.

Getting There

The starting point is Cologne, and the destination is Bingen—both have excellent rail connections, and many trains stop along the Rhine.

• Train to Cologne: Cologne Central Station is located right next to the cathedral. Deutsche Bahn– Connections and tickets.
• Return trip from Bingen: Deutsche Bahn– Connections from Bingen.