The Drive
We chose to make a trip to Burg Eltz before the Geierlay. This turned out to be a great decision as the drive to Mörsdorf from the castle was stunning. Quaint wine villages lining the Rhine River and mystical forests were just snippets of our drive (watch our vlog at the bottom of this page to see).
The drive was fairly easy from Burg Eltz (it took us ~45 minutes). Once we neared our desired parking destination in the town of Mörsdorf, rolling fields dotted with towering wind turbines greeted us. Driving home during sunset and it added a whole new level of beauty to the landscape.
Tip: Have your camera at the ready. We unexpectedly saw deer foraging in meadows, quaint fairy like cottages and even a few wineries during our drive. I wish we had our cameras ready to capture these moments!
Parking
Parking is fairly easy to locate. The most popular parking location is at the visitor center in Mörsdorf (Google Maps address below). We did not utilize this lot. Instead, we parked just outside of town in a large grassy field. This was the first lot we came across on our drive from Burg Eltz. Parking here tacked on 10 or 15 minutes of walking, but we enjoyed the views it provided (especially on our walk back during sunset). If you are not interested in the extra walking, however, I recommend parking by the visitor center.
Prices vary by the lot. The more distant lots (which we used) start at €2 for 2 hours or €4 for 4 hours. The visitor center lot starts at €4 for 2 hours and tacks on an extra €0.50 every 15 minutes.
The visitor center parking is also equipped with a barrier (more info below). The lot we used, however, is not.
Visitor Center Parking Lot: Zentraler Parkplatz “Geierlay” Hängeseilbrücke (Kastellauner Str. 23, 56290 Mörsdorf, Germany)
Parking Lot We Used: Am Sportplatz, 56290 Mörsdorf, Germany
Tip: Never parked in Germany before? Look for a large grey machine (basically an oversized parking meter). In our lot, we paid in advance before we began our trek. On the other hand, the visitor center lot is paid when you exit. Make sure you do not drive your car to the exit expecting to pay there (trust me, I’ve been that tourist who had to reverse her car). In Germany, you pay at the pay station box not the exit. To do this, you will insert your ticket into the payment box where it will calculate your cost. After you pay, the machine will give your ticket back. To exit the lot, you will insert the paid ticket into the exit box to lift the barrier.
Walk to the Bridge
You can start your walk from the visitor center (where pamphlets are available) or you can just head straight to the bridge. How do you find the correct path? Look down! You will notice the Geierlay Bridge symbol (painted in white) with an arrow directing you in the right direction. Additionally, there are blue and white street signs labeled “Hängeseilbrücke Geierlay” with your current distance from the bridge.
Once you exit the town, you will follow a path bordered by fields. The walk is roughly 20 minutes to the bridge from this point (1.8 km). Along the path, you will see a few billboards that display information about the wind turbines in the area. When we made our walk to the bridge, it was quite rainy. On our walk back, however, a beautiful sunset greeted us. It was truly picturesque.
Tip: The bridge is closed during storms for safety reasons.
COVID-19 Rules
There is a list of rules that have been put in place to protect visitors from COVID-19.
- The bridge is now one way. Every even hour (Example: 10 a.m., Noon & 2 p.m.) the bridge can be crossed starting from Sosberg in the direction of Mörsdorf. Every odd hour (Example: 11 a.m. & 1 p.m.) the bridge can be crossed starting from Mörsdorf in the direction of Sosberg. If you are unsure of which side you are on: Mörsdorf is where the visitor’s center is located.
- Only 30 people are allowed on the bridge at a time.
- Maintain 1.5 meters between parties (on the trails, bridge and rest areas).
- Masks are required on the bridge, in the visitor center and at the rest areas on either side of the bridge.
From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. there is a security team present to ensure these rules upheld.
The Bridge
The Geierlay premiered in 2015 as Germany’s longest suspension bridge. The bridge held this crown for roughly one and a half years before the title was passed to a new bridge in Germany. Weighing in at 62 tons and 360m long, the bridge is massive. Our favorite part was looking down once we reached the middle of the bridge (where you are 100m above the Mörsdorfer Bachtal).
Information for crossing the bridge:
- Free Admission: The bridge has no admission cost.
- Walking only: Although you can bike to the bridge, you are not allowed to bike across the bridge (this is a major safety concern). You can, however, push your bike across.
- Dogs Allowed: Must be on a tight leash. The bridge may be startling for your dog. Jasper had fun, but not every dog will enjoy being suspended in the air. There are no waste bags in the area, but there are trash cans on either side of the bridge. Be sure to bring your own waste bags (Plus a water bowl, water and treats).
- No Bathrooms: There are no bathrooms near the bridge. Stop by the visitor center to use the restroom before you head out.
- Covid-19 Guidelines: There are currently guidelines in place for COVID-19 that must be upheld (Example: The bridge is one way and the direction changes hourly). Check the guidelines above to plan your arrival time.
- Hiking Trails: There are a few hiking trails that cross the Geierlay. Two popular routes that circle back are 3.6km and 5.7km in length. Check the trail maps posted near the bridge or inquire at the visitor center if you are interested in either hike.
Tip: The best time to visit the bridge is early morning or late evening (near sunset). Most tourists will be on their way home by late afternoon and you will have almost the entire bridge to yourself. Be aware that lines can get long during the day due to the COVID-19 bridge capacity rules.
We visited late in the afternoon, just as it started raining. By the time we arrived at the bridge, the storm had passed (taking most of the tourists with it). It was perfect timing. After a short wait, we were able to cross the bridge and relax on the opposing side (until the following hour when we could cross again).
Nearby Attractions
Burg Eltz (~45 minute drive): Beautiful Castle between Koblenz and Trier, Germany. Watch our vlog below. Blog coming soon.
Reichsburg Cochem (~40 minute drive): Stunning Castle in Cochem, Germany. I highly recommend booking seats for a Knight’s Meal. It is too fun! (Blog/vlog coming soon).
Tip: Visit during Fall to try the seasonal wine for the Mosel region (plus the bridge tends to be less busy in the Fall/Winter months).
Watch our Burg Eltz & Geierlay Suspension Bridge Vlog
