Mosel Valley Self Drive - which road is best?

We plan to self drive at Mosel Valley from Trier to Koblenz. If I simply get directions from maps.google.com, it provides the route via a highway. If possible, we want to use a road which has nice views which goes through small towns. We would like to see Eltz Castle on the way too.

Can anyone recommend the best road from Trier to Koblenz for self driving?

There is only one highway that follows the river, Hwy 53 out of Trier which will become Hwy 49. If you get tired of driving along it you can always cut over to the autobahn A48.

You haven't indicated the time of year you'll be going, so note that Eltz castle reopens Good Friday. As it's well hidden in a side valley, you cannot see it from passing by, most recommended is hiking from Moselkern , yet it will take a little time.

If you want to add some variety to your trip, consider some short detours into some of the side valleys, e.g. from Treis+ southwards to the monastery +Maria Engelport , it's easy cutting back to the Mosel valley from there.

Vocab question: Do people call a Bundesstraße a highway? I always thought a highway was what we call Autobahn?

kathrin, according to my dictionary, Autobahn+ would rather be +freeway+ or +motorway+ , whereas +highway+ gets translated with +Fernstraße+ , so that should include the +Bundesstraße+ as well - or you have to fall back on 'constructs' like +federal highway . Helps?

Tell my English teacher!

Thanks for the answer, Nautiker!

in the US 'Autobahn" would be an interstate - however many people (at least in Denver) also refer to the interstate as highway - it's not that clearcut