Miltenberg Germany Bavaria

1057 Cruises availables At departure or passage at this port

AmaWaterways (23 Cruises)

Avalon Waterways (110 Cruises)

Cruise AVA Avalon Waterways Expression ship

Avalon Expression®

166 Passengers
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CroisiEurope (17 Cruises)

Emerald Waterways (274 Cruises)

Emerald Dawn.

Emerald Dawn

227 Passengers
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Emerald Luna .

Emerald Luna

227 Passengers
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Emerald Sky.

Emerald Sky

227 Passengers
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Emerald Star.

Emerald Star

227 Passengers
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Emerald Sun

Emerald Sun

227 Passengers
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Scenic Cruises (467 Cruises)

Scenic Amber.

Scenic Amber

169 Passengers
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Scenic Crystal.

Scenic Crystal

169 Passengers
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Scenic Jade.

Scenic Jade

169 Passengers
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Scenic Jasper.

Scenic Jasper

163 Passengers
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Scenic Jewel.

Scenic Jewel

169 Passengers
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Scenic Opal.

Scenic Opal

169 Passengers
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Scenic Ruby

Scenic Ruby

169 Passengers
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Viking River Cruises (153 Cruises)

Viking Longship Gefjon.

Viking Longship Gefjon

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Viking Longships Ve.

Viking Longships Ve

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Port of Miltenberg, Germany | Cruise Port Guide

The Main makes a tight bend here between two wooded hills, and Miltenberg stretches out entirely within this gap: one long street, a castle above, the forest behind. River ships moor at the edge of the old town, so close that the first half-timbered houses can be made out in detail from the railing. Many regulars of Main River cruises rank this small Bavarian town among their favourite stops, and a few steps along the Hauptstrasse are enough to understand why: the late Middle Ages have rarely come through the centuries in such good condition.

The Square That Climbs Toward the Forest

In the middle of the main street, the market square rises gently toward a slate-roofed gate tower: this is the Schnatterloch, the most photographed image in town. Around the Renaissance fountain, 16th- and 17th-century half-timbered façades huddle against one another, dark beams on coloured plaster, each storey jutting slightly beyond the one below. Past the gate, a path climbs straight up toward the Mildenburg and the forest; few market squares offer such an exit into the trees.

Mildenburg Castle

The climb to the Mildenburg takes about ten minutes of moderate effort, rewarded along the way by glimpses of the rooftops. The fortress, founded in the 12th century by the Archbishops of Mainz to lock down the valley, retains its keep and curtain walls; its rooms now house a museum where contemporary art converses with ancient icons. From the terrace, your gaze follows the bend of the Main, the vines clinging to the slope and the barges slowly negotiating the curve. This is the viewpoint of the stop, and it is earned on foot.

A Street Five Centuries Long

Back down below, the Hauptstrasse runs from one medieval gate to the other, from the Mainzer Tor to the Würzburger Tor, over nearly a kilometre and a half. Wrought-iron signs mark bakeries, wine cellars and workshops; vaulted passages open onto hidden courtyards. Among the remarkable façades, the old Zum Riesen inn, "The Giant," has welcomed travellers for centuries and ranks among the oldest inns in Germany. The local red sandstone, quarried nearby, gives the foundations their warm hue.

Local Beer and Franconian Treats

Miltenberg has been brewing beer for generations, and the family brewery in the centre serves its kegs in the inns along the street; a local lager goes well with a plate of grilled sausages or a board of cold cuts. Bakeries line up glossy pretzels and gingerbread; cafés set their tables out in the sun from spring onward. The town's size spares you any logistics: you eat, stroll and head back on board without ever having consulted a map.

Port Essentials

  • Mooring at the foot of the old town; market square a few minutes away on foot, flat ground along the river.
  • Schnatterloch: gate tower at the top of the Marktplatz, start of the path to the castle.
  • Mildenburg: a climb of about ten minutes, museum and panorama over the bend of the Main.
  • Hauptstrasse: about 1.5 km between the two medieval gates, half-timbering and shops.
  • Cobblestones and the climb to the fortress: closed shoes recommended.

Before Heading Back on Board

At departure time, the half-timbered façades glide slowly past the railing, then the forest closes the bend in the river. Miltenberg takes up little space on maps and a great deal in memories: a sloping square, a slate tower, the cool shade of an inn five centuries old. The towns along the Main follow one another without resembling each other; this one leaves the very clear feeling of having spent a few hours walking through an old engraving that is still inhabited.

Frequently Asked Questions

Right beside the old town, so close that the first half-timbered houses can be picked out from the rail. The market square is a few minutes walk on flat ground along the Main.
Walk the Hauptstrasse from one medieval gate to the other, stop at the market square and the Schnatterloch, then climb to Mildenburg castle for the view. A local beer on a terrace rounds off the day.
The slate-roofed gate tower closing the top of the market square, the most photographed sight in town. Sixteenth and seventeenth-century half-timbered façades crowd around a Renaissance fountain; beyond the gate a path climbs into the forest.
Allow about ten minutes of moderate effort from the market square. Nothing insurmountable for an ordinary walker, but the slope is real and the cobbles uneven: closed shoes are advised.
The bend of the Main, vines clinging to the slope and barges easing round the curve, above an ocean of red roofs. It is the view of the call, and it must be earned on foot.
Nearly one and a half kilometres from one medieval gate to the other, from the Mainzer Tor to the Würzburger Tor. Wrought-iron signs, wine cellars, workshops and vaulted passages opening onto hidden courtyards.
The old Giant inn on the Hauptstrasse, which has taken in travellers for centuries and ranks among the oldest hostelries in Germany. Its façade is one of the finest on the street.
Yes. The family brewery in the centre serves its casks in the inns along the main street; a local lager goes well with grilled sausages or a charcuterie board.
Yes, with one caveat. The riverside route is flat and short and the bakeries delight children, but the castle climb and the cobbles suit pushchairs poorly.
The euro. In a town this size several inns, bakeries and small shops prefer cash: bring notes for the day.