River cruising in Europe is one of the fun, slow and easy ways to travel. You are on a small floating hotel, floating in calm inland waters passing castles, vineyards and scenery that changes by the hour.
Daily guided walking tours and other excursions offered by River Line take you to major UNESCO World Heritage sites and other town and village attractions. Or, you can explore on your own, which is easy since your ship will often stop in town.
Lazy afternoons onboard offer time to sit in a lounge chair and watch the world go by – children swimming down the riverbank, farmers tending their crops, river birds flapping their wings – as you sail towards your next destination.
Which European river should you explore? The options are wider than you might expect.
The main rivers in Europe for cruisers are the Danube and the Rhine and their tributaries. They are, by far, the most popular, possible either on one-week sections or longer itineraries that link regions and rivers. However, there are more options for week-long trips and beyond. Don’t underestimate the allure of relaxing for seven days on a river in France or on the dreamy Douro in Portugal.
Here are the best river cruises in Europe.
upper danube
When it comes to river cruises in Europe, the Upper Danube is perfect for seven-night sailings. It takes you through centuries of history as you visit Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary.
The ships visit cultural centers such as Vienna with its opera houses, art museums and elaborate royal palaces, and Budapest with its magnificent architecture and modern atmosphere. If your ship passes the Hungarian Parliament building at night, you are in for a treat; Brilliantly illuminated, it is one of the most photographed scenes on the river.
Along the route between Melk and Krems in Austria, you travel through the Wachau Valley, a major wine-growing region producing Riesling and Grüner Veltliner, with sipping opportunities available. It’s also a great place to ride a bike, which is why sailing along such lines is great. Ama Waterway Who carry bikes for the use of passengers.
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You may also have the option of a side trip to Salzburg, Austria, famous as the birthplace of Mozart and the location where several scenes from the movie “The Sound of Music” were filmed. A surprise for many is Old Town Bratislava, Slovakia, which might not have been on your list but charms with its beer culture and castles.
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lower danube
For a deeper dive into the past and present of Eastern Europe, the fascinating Lower Danube route between Budapest and Bucharest, Romania, explores history from the medieval period and the Victorian era of Dracula to the rise of communism and the Bosnian War.
The seven-night river cruise takes you to Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania. The most scenic stretch of the river is its 62-mile course through a valley between the Balkan and Carpathian mountains. It is one of the deepest stretches of river in the world.
Other sights to see during a shore excursion via bus include Bulgaria’s Belogradchik Rocks, naturally carved red rock pinnacles that seem to take the form of a “Madonna with Child,” and Bulgaria’s stunning medieval capital, Veliko Tarnovo.
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rhine
When it comes to the top cruising rivers in Europe, the Rhine wins for natural beauty and fairy-tale landscapes. A cruise on the river between Amsterdam and Basel, Switzerland – a typical one-week route – takes you past slope-side vineyards; forests and mountains; Historic city; and medieval half-timbered villages.
This was even before reaching the UNESCO World Heritage Site Upper Middle Rhine Valley. This 40-mile stretch of river between Rudesheim am Rhine and Koblenz, Germany, has castles galore – you can imagine Rapunzel letting her hair down – and the Lorelei, the famous slate rock that distracts sailors with a maiden’s spellbinding song.
The French city of Strasbourg, with its famous Gothic cathedral and strong Alsatian culinary scene, is often a favorite stop on Rhine itineraries. Other main attractions include Heidelberg, Germany and its grand castle.
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scene
Sure, you can see the Eiffel Tower while boarding a river boat in Paris, but you can also do so while staying in a hotel. The real highlight of the Seine Cruise is sailing on the river out of the city towards the English Channel and visiting the beaches in Normandy, France for a World War II perspective.
Your visit there and to the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, as well as other monuments and memorials to the fallen, is a touching experience (although it does require a two-hour bus ride from your ship). Avalon Waterway Brings a World War II expert on board to add information on select sailings.
There are other treasures along the Seine, including Giverny, France, the home and garden of Impressionist artist Claude Monet. If you’re a fan of his art, much of the property may look familiar.
In historic Rouen, France, where Joan of Arc was martyred in the Middle Ages, stop at Rouen Cathedral (another subject of Monet) before losing yourself on cobblestone streets with wonderful cafés.
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Bordeaux
Bordeaux river cruises differ from other waterways as you explore two smaller waterways – the Dordogne and Garonne rivers – and the Gironde estuary in southwest France.
You’ll spend more time ashore than paddling on this itinerary when your ship stops for two nights in the French city of Bordeaux, a miniature Paris with grand 18th-century buildings. Who cares when you’re in the heart of French culture in one of the world’s most famous wine regions?
Bordeaux offers the opportunity to drink Medoc, Margaux, St. Emilion, Pomerol and Sauternes wines as you expand your wine education. You will visit vineyards and grand palaces. Your cruise line may also organize a dinner at a wine estate one evening. If you plan your visit for September or October, you will be able to admire the grape harvest.
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Rhone and Saône
It is a must for wine lovers to discover the interior of France and enjoy the Côtes du Rhône in famous wine-growing regions such as Hermitage and Châteauneuf-du-Pape in Provence and Beaune in Burgundy.
Rhone and Saône river cruises typically run between Lyon and Arles or Avignon, and they’re packed with non-wine attractions like the Roman aqueduct Pont du Gard and the Roman Arles Amphitheater, as well as the huge Palais des Papes (Papal Palace) in Avignon. You’ll also be able to see lavender fields, haystacks, and other scenes that inspired painters like Paul Cézanne and Vincent Van Gogh.
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be afraid
For a lazy, dreamy, wonderful river cruise experience, there’s nothing better than exploring the wine regions of Portugal on the Douro, one of the major rivers through the Iberian Peninsula. Home base for these river cruises is Porto, Portugal, with its historic city center, spectacular bridges and port houses.
On a one-week cruise, you’ll follow the river 130 miles past green hillside vineyards in the Douro River Valley, a UNESCO-recognized destination, before swinging over the Spanish border. River cruises usually include a visit to the university city of Salamanca in northern Spain. Viticulture is a great lesson along the way, as you learn about port production on the “River of Gold”.
elbe
Due to fluctuating water levels and narrow passages, the Elbe is a challenging river that runs for 680 miles between the Czech Republic and Germany. Historically, it was part of the border between East Germany and West Germany.
River cruising here is a rare experience. viking One of the few lines that makes the trip (the other is French line CroixEurope) offers 10-day itineraries that combine hotel stays in the cities of Berlin and Prague with a stretch of river between Prague and Wittenberg, Germany.
Cruises are on ships built specifically for the Elbe route. They stop at places like the revitalized Dresden, which was heavily bombed during World War II but expertly rebuilt; the Saxon Switzerland region of Germany with its striking sandstone cliffs; and the spa town of Bad Schandau.
drink
The Po in northern Italy is tidal, making it a more challenging waterway. But where else can you easily combine a trip to Venice, Italy with a river cruise? Uniworld Boutique River Cruises sails the Po in high style with its 126-passenger SS La Venezia, which is fully furnished with a sense of place, from the Fortunati fabric and Murano glass to its gold-colored accents.
The one-week route doesn’t take you very far, but it includes visits to the walled city of Padua, the charming fishing village of Chioggia, and Murano, home of famous glassblowing artisans.
For those looking for a longer experience, Uniworld cleverly combines Po cruises with luxury rail journeys in countries like Türkiye and Switzerland.
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