Speyer River Cruises

About Speyer

Speyer lies within the Rhineland-Palatinate region located in south western Germany. The city resides on the banks of the Rhine River as it converges with the mouth of the Speyer River, south of Ludwigshafen. Speyer is one of Germany’s oldest cities and is dominated by impressive architecture and historic buildings dating back to the 6th and 7th century. The city has a long and remarkable history involving the Romans, the Alemanni and the Frankish Empire, all of which have left traces of their conquests throughout the region. Speyer is also home to a fantastic range of shops, bars, restaurants and museums to keep visitors occupied when they are not taking in the region’s captivating sights and indeed, the rich culture and heritage is on display throughout the city, from the colossal and inspiring cathedral to the fun and informative aquarium, Speyer has something to offer all of its visitors.

Exploring Speyer

The city of Speyer boasts many notable structures of historical significance, which are integral to the region's distinctive character and charm. Speyer's Cathedral is the biggest and most impressive of the three Imperial Cathedrals found across Germany and was sanctified as a Cathedral nearly 1,000 years ago in 1061. Since then, it has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List during the modern era. The Altpörtel (or Old Gate) is another landmark of historical importance within the city of Speyer. Constructed during medieval times, the Old Gate was one of 68 gates and towers erected throughout the city; it is now one of the largest remaining historic gates in Germany.

Visitors can learn more about both the historic and present day Speyer at the excellent museums found all over the city. The Historical Museum of Palatinate, known locally as the Historisches Museum der Pfalz, has a collection of around a million fascinating artefacts and focuses on the history of the Palatinate region. Particularly enthralling exhibits include the Golden Hat of Schifferstadt which dates back to the Bronze Age and the world’s oldest bottle of unopened wine, believed to been produced in the third century. Another engrossing museum in the area is the Technology and Transport Museum, which houses a huge selection of vehicles ranging from submarines to space shuttles.

Alternative interesting excursion possibilities include a trip to Sealife Speyer, an aquarium displaying the marine life found in the Rhine River and North Sea, as well as the impressive IMAX Dome Film Theatre located in the centre of the city.

Speyer tips

Speyer is a fantastic place to sample authentic local cuisine and with hundreds of restaurants to choose from, there's something to suit all tastes, from Mediterannean and Mexican to Thai and Italian.