The city was the site of an early Celtic settlement and of the Roman fort of Baudobriga, from which the modern name is derived. Under the Merovingian dynasty it became a royal residence. During the Middle Ages it was a considerable centre of commerce and shipping, and under the Hohenstaufen emperors it became a free imperial city. In 1312, however, Emperor Henry VII pledged the town to his brother Baldwin, archbishop-elector of Trier, and it remained in the possession of the electors for centuries. It was assigned to Prussia by the Congress of Vienna (Vienna, Congress of) in 1815.

Boppard is still partly surrounded by medieval walls, and its picturesque appearance has made it a centre of tourism. There is also a diversified light industrial sector, with products including machinery and pharmaceuticals. Notable buildings include the Romanesque Church of St. Severus (12th–13th century), the Gothic Carmelite Church (14th century), and the archbishop's castle (14th century), which now houses the municipal museum. The city also has a spa with mineral springs. Pop. (2003 est.) 16,346.