Upper Middle Rhine Valley — Germany

Recognized by UNESCO: 2002

Did you know that Germany is home to 52 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, tied with France as the country with the third-highest number of UNESCO sites in the world? While stunning castles, museums, and historic centers dominate the list, the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, or Rhine Gorge, is a favorite because it includes a little bit of everything (no surprise, then, that it’s one of Europe’s biggest tourist attractions). Spanning around 40 miles between Bingen and Koblenz, it’s sprinkled with castles, palaces, historic villages, and vineyards, with incredible views at every turn. It was added as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its one-of-a-kind combination of history, culture, and natural beauty.

Good to know: Explore the area on the last remaining paddle steamer on the Rhine, the Goethe, or by walking or biking along trails like the Rheinsteig and the Rhine Cycle Path. There’s also a cable car that will take you across the Deutsches Eck (German Corner) in Koblenz where the Moselle meets the Rhine and the valley ends.