Canoeing on the Lahn River

Paddle on Germany’s most popular canoeing river

The Lahn is the most popular canoeing and hiking river in Germany according to a nationwide survey. It is, without doubt, the most beautiful river for canoeing and hiking, too. Its 160 km route, which stretches from Roth in Marburg to its estuary in the Rhine at Lahnstein, is accessible for canoeing all year round.

Beautiful scenic surroundings, unspoiled nature far away from industry, urban areas and street noise, cultural attractions and the constantly changing course of the river with gentle rapids and some hand-operated water locks guarantee an interesting canoe trip.

The Lahn flows past the university towns of Marburg and Gießen, Wetzlar, the Weilburg residence town with Germany’s only shipping tunnel, the small town of Runkel with its fortress, the cathedral city of Limburg, Diez and the spa town of Bad Ems vorbei, until it finally reaches the Rhine at Lahnstein.

Two tour examples

Big tour: about 4 hours

Drive from Weyer to Villmar’s train station. Take the train to Weilburg.
Arrival in Weilburg (train station about 100m away from the embarkation point).
- Upon arrival, you will be given a brief safety and technique talk with all you need to know to familiarize yourself with the Lahn. You will then receive your canoes along with the necessary equipment such as paddles, life jackets, transport drums, etc.
- Next, it’s time to head onto the Lahn and straight to Germany’s only used shipping tunnel. The course will then take you through a double lock which the tour participants help to operate.
- You will now paddle gently with the current through a beautiful river landscape, pass two more water locks and after around 3 – 4 hours of canoeing will reach Villmar. The mooring is about 300m from the train station where your car is parked.

Small tour: about 2.5 hours

Drive from Weyer to Villmar’s train station. Take the train to Gräveneck.
Arrival in Gräveneck
- Upon arrival in Gräveneck, you will be given a brief safety and technique talk with all you need to know to familiarise yourself with the Lahn. You will then receive your canoe along with the necessary equipment such as paddles, life jackets, transport drums, etc.
- The canoe trip from Gräveneck to Aumenau takes around 1.5 – 2 hours during which you will pass a single water lock.Your destination is the dock in Villmar. The mooring is about 300m from the train station where your car is parked.

Canoeing on the Lahn River

Paddle on Germany’s most popular canoeing river

Two tour examples

You can find a good overview of all canoe rentals here: