Personenschifffahrt Gebr. Kolb · Cochem
A Kolb boat sails upriver from the old Moselle bridge in Cochem, rises in the chamber of the Fankel lock and lands in Beilstein, a small wine village of steep lanes below a castle ruin. Pick it because it is the one short trip from Cochem that gives you a lock and a second town, and you can stay ashore and catch a later boat back.
This is the boat trip to book if you only book one. It leaves from the Kolb landing stage by the old Moselle bridge and heads upriver into the Cochemer Krampen, the 24 km of tight bends between Cochem and Bremm, past the Reichsburg, the Brauselay cliff and the wine villages of Valwig and Ernst. Beilstein comes up in a bit under an hour. On the standard round trip you get about half an hour ashore, enough for the market square and the climb to the church, not much more.
The lock is what people remember. At Fankel the boat slides into a concrete chamber, the gates close behind it and the water lifts it; the listing puts the rise at about 7 m. It is slow, and that's the fun: from the top deck you watch the walls sink away. The one-hour loops with KD and Kolb turn round long before any lock, which is why this trip takes 2.5 hours and not one.
Two caveats. Half an hour in Beilstein is short for a village that rewards a slow lunch, so plan on a later boat back; the listing names return sailings from Beilstein at 12:00, 13:30 (not on Mondays), 15:00 and 17:30. And the pier is cheaper than the internet: Kolb's ticket agent lists 20 euros for adults and 10 euros for children aged 4 to 14, against from $28 online. The online ticket buys you a fixed date and free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Kolb boards at its landing stage by the old Moselle bridge, on the town side of the river. In summer, come early: the top deck fills first.
Past the Reichsburg, the Brauselay cliff and Ebernach monastery, then Valwig and Ernst, with vineyards rising straight out of the water.
The boat noses into the chamber, the gates shut and the water rises. Stand at the rail on the top deck to see it happen.
Walk up to the market square and the Zehnthaus of 1537, or climb the Klostertreppe to the Carmelite church of St. Joseph. Stay longer if you like and take a later sailing.
Down through the lock again and a little quicker with the current, with the castle ahead as you round the last bend.
★★★★★The tour on the Moselle was simply beautiful and relaxing in great weather.
★★★★★The boat trip was very pleasant [...]
★★★★★[...] Round-trip boat trip with very nice service.
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A bit under an hour upriver, including the Fankel lock, and a little less coming back. The round trip takes about 2.5 hours with roughly 30 minutes ashore. You can stay longer and arrange a later boat back on board.
From $28 online in 2026. At the pier, Kolb's ticket agent lists 20 euros for adults and 10 euros for children aged 4 to 14. Children under 4 ride free with an adult, and groups of 10 or more get 10% off at Kolb.
Yes, the Fankel lock, on the way out and on the way back. The listing says the boat is raised about 7 m. The one-hour loops from Cochem don't reach it.
Yes. The listing names return sailings from Beilstein at 12:00, 13:30 (not on Mondays), 15:00 and 17:30. Timetables shift with the season, so check the day's last boat at the pier before you sit down for lunch.
Ready to book
Through the Fankel lock to Beilstein and back in about 2.5 hours, with the option of a later boat home. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Boat to Beilstein with Wine & FlammkuchenBoat to Beilstein, three wines with Flammkuchen in an old cellar, liqueurs back in Cochem. Self-guided, 6.5 hours.★ 4.2 · 6.5 hours · from $100
KD Panoramic Cruise on the MoselleOne hour past the castle with KD, commentary in German and English, children up to 6 free. The easy first boat.★ 4.4 · 1 hour · from $16
Kolb Panorama Round Trip with Ernst OptionKolb's one-hour loop from the old bridge, with the option to hop off in Ernst. Sails later in the year than KD.★ 4.4 · 1 hour · from $16