STOPS:
- Hike over “Hohenhonnef“ or “Tretschbachtal“ to “Löwenburg“, back over the “Breiberge“, break at “Löwenburger Hof“.
- Rhöndorf with a visit to the Konrad-Adenauer-Haus, hike to the Drachenfels passing the “Ulanendenkmal”
- Rest on the Drachenfels
- Visit of Drachenburg Castle
- Extensive city tour in Bad Honnef (see flyer “city tour” (“Stadtrundgang”))
- Stroll around the many stores
- Boat trip on the Rhine
To familiarize yourself with the city, it is highly recommended to take a detailed city tour. There is much to discover, as Bad Honnef has to offer some architectural gems. You can get the flyer for a detailed city tour (in German) in our city information at Rathausplatz 1 . Let yourself wander through the streets, go shopping in our many small, owner-operated stores or treat yourself in one of the cafes and restaurants.
Once you discovered the town in detail, “Father Rhine” awaits you. On the peaceful island of Grafenwerth you will find the starting point for your next experience: a relaxing boat trip on the Rhine with the “Köln-Düsseldorfer“ (in 2020, panoramic boat trips from Bonn are also possible with the “Bonner Personen Schiffahrt”). Whether upstream towards the historic Linz am Rhein or downstream in direction of the federal city Bonn: the impressions are diverse and certainly unforgettable. You will pass landmarks of the Rhine Romanticism and historical sites with worldwide acclaim: Rolandsbogen, Drachenfels or even the bridge of Remagen.
Back on solid ground, the first thing you will want to do is to take a break! And where could you do that better than on the shores of the Rhine – for example at “Anleger 640” (“pier 640”). A cool drink in your hand, enjoying the view of Rhine river, the trees rustling above you – this is where the term “Rhine romanticism” reaches new dimensions. (Boat trip and visit of the beer garden only possible from April/May to October). Now that the day is slowly coming to an end, this is just the right place to end the evening if the weather allows it.
On the second day, it is now time to actively discover the Siebengebirge. The possibilities here are numerous and therefore only a selection of the various hiking options is mentioned here. More information is of course also available in our city information.
To the Drachenfels via Rhöndorf with a visit to Drachenburg Castle
The starting point is the small district of Rhöndorf. Little but mighty, one could say about Rhöndorf. Some people may have heard the name before: Konrad Adenauer lived here from 1935 until his death in 1967 and his house was a regular meeting place for historical personalities. Today, his former residence, the picturesque garden and the permanent exhibition of the Stiftung Bundeskanzler-Adenauer-Haus (Federal Chancellor Adenauer House Foundation) on his life and work are definitely worth a visit (the residence cannot be visited at the moment due to the COVID-19 pandemic). Adenauer found his final resting place in the nearby forest cemetery.
If you are already in Rhöndorf, you can also climb the nearest mountain: the Drachenfels. Along the vineyards, past the “Ulanendenkmal”, the hiking trail winds its way around the south side of the mountain, interrupted again and again by beautiful views of the Rhine valley. Once you reach the top, you will know why all the effort was worth it: A wide view over the Rhine valley lying directly below you, the Eifel and all the way to Bonn is the reward for the steady climb. The restaurant on the Drachenfels with its terrace invites you to take a break. For those who prefer to avoid the climb, the historic cogwheel train runs comfortably from Königswinter up to the Drachenfels plateau.
The best way to go down is towards Königswinter. Here you pass the historic castle called Drachenburg. Built in the 19th century in the style of historicism, it is architecturally so impressive that it has now even made its way onto a postage stamp. A visit is a must during your stay in the region!
Hike over Hohenhonnef or the Tretschbachtal to Löwenburg, back over the Breiberge.
This hike is a classic, but not quite as accessible and therefore less crowded than the more easily attainable Drachenfels. Here you can hike alone on forest paths, only interrupted by birds singing. The first destination is the Löwenburg, one of the mountains of the Siebengebirge. From its summit, the view extends wonderfully over the Rhine valley, the Eifel and as far as Bonn and Cologne. Here, too, the possibilities of ascent are numerous. The most idyllic is probably the way via the Tretschbach valley. After you leave the starting point in Rommersdorf behind you, you hike through a typical “Siefental“ along picturesque forest paths and over wooden bridges, towards the summit of the Löwenburg. Another possibility, and perhaps a little more comfortable, is to take the path across the former Hohenhonnef lung sanatorium. You can reach this way from the center of Honnef along the Bergstraße. No matter which way you choose, you will dive right into the middle of the Siebengebirge Nature Park.
On the way to Löwenburg you will pass the restaurant “Löwenburger Hof“, which is a good place to stop for a break.
For the way back, we recommend the walk over the “Breiberge“, which consist of the Großer (Big) and Kleiner (Small) Breiberg. This path is a bit more adventurous, but offers wonderful views of the Drachenfels and the Wolkenburg. On narrow paths along the hillside or over ridges, it slowly leads between beech trees back down into the valley towards Rommersdorf.
