The 10 Best River Cruises in Europe

There are almost an overwhelming number of river cruises in Europe that vacationers have to choose from when planning a trip. All the best cruise lines offer itineraries along picturesque rivers in Europe, with castles, wineries, historic sites and much more, just minutes away from your ship.

Here’s an overview of what would-be cruisers can expect to experience when traveling on a river cruise in Europe. Once you narrow down which region is most appealing to you, researching the best cruise line for you is the next step. Which river would you like to travel on first?

Let a AAA travel advisor help you plan your European river cruise.

Rhone

Sailing through Provence and Burgundy along the Rhone River is one of the best European cruises for food lovers and oenophiles, as every river cruise highlights the region’s rich wine heritage with plenty of tastings and visits to vineyards. A typical itinerary takes passengers between Lyon to Arles or Avignon.

Highlights include visits to Avignon; Beaune, the wine capital of Burgundy; Vienne, home to the remains of a 14,000-seat amphitheater and a temple built in 25 B.C.; and an excursion to Arles, where Vincent van Gogh lived and painted.

Seine

The busy Seine, running north through Paris into Normandy into the English Channel at Le Havre, offers a wealth of fascinating places to visit, including the Normandy D-Day beaches; Rouen, where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake; and Giverny, where Claude Monet lived for almost four decades.

The itinerary for most cruise lines is the same, sailing from Paris between Rouen or Caudebec. In Rouen, the capital of the Normandy region, tours to its historic cathedral, built between the 13th and 16th centuries and landmarks relating to Joan of Arc, are a must. All Seine cruises offer full-day excursions to the Normandy Landing Beaches, including Omaha Beach, plus visits to the Point du Hoc monument and the American Cemetery.

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Rhine

The 776-mile Rhine River, which runs through Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, France and the Netherlands, is known for being one of the best European cruises, famous for its castles and stunning scenery.

On a typical seven-night cruise from Amsterdam, ports and excursions include Basel, Cologne, Koblenz, the Rhine Gorge, Rudesheim, Mannheim and Strasbourg. There are a lot of variations, of course, with different starting points and stops, which offers cruisers plenty of interesting options.

Danube

The Danube, Europe’s second longest river, flows through 10 different countries and is, of course, famously named in Austrian composer Johann Strauss’ famous waltz, “On the Beautiful Blue Danube.” All cruisers on the Danube will hear it played at least once on a trip!

Common itineraries are sailings between Budapest, Hungary and Passau, Germany. Highlights include Vienna, once the center of the Habsburg Empire, with visits to the Hofburg Palace, the Vienna Opera House, and Ring Boulevard; Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart; and Melk home to the stunning Benedictine Abbey.

Elbe

Running from the Czech Republic through Germany, most river cruises on the Elbe River run between Prague and Hamburg. Cities on an Elbe cruise include Dresden, Meissen, Worlitz, Wittenberg and Magdeburg. In Dresden, nicknamed “Florence on the Elbe,” passengers will visit Zwinger Palace, the Semper Opera House and the Frauenkirche (Cathedral of Our Lady) with its unique bell-shaped dome that survived World War II bombings, but collapsed the following day, and then was rebuilt.

Meissen is famous for its fine porcelain and Wittenberg is where Martin Luther nailed his thesis to the door of Castle Church and triggered the Protestant Reformation.

Christmas Markets

While virtually all river cruises in Europe operate in the warmer months, the one exception is Christmas market cruises, which most river cruise lines offer. Christmas markets are a centuries-old tradition in European cities and cruising is a novel way to enjoy more than one.

Feel the enchantment of the holidays at markets in Germany, Austria, Hungary, France and Switzerland while you sip warm mulled wine and browse stalls of homemade toys and decorations, surrounded by twinkling lights and the smell of gingerbread and roasted chestnuts.

Main

Running across Central Germany, the Main River is formed by the joining of the Red Main and the White Main, meeting the Rhine River at the town of Mainz. Cruises on the Main are usually combined with Danube River cruises; since1992, the Main-Danube canal connected the two rivers with a total of 16 locks. On a Main cruise, running between Frankfurt and Nuremberg, ships stop in Heidelberg, Wertheim, Wurzburg and Bamberg.

Highlights include a visit to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s home in Frankfurt, and the town of Bamberg, a UNESCO site, which dates from 902 A.D., making it one the most impressive river cruises in Europe.

Moselle

Flowing through France, Luxembourg and Germany, the Moselle River is known for its medieval architecture and excellent white wines. The climate, soil and topography along the Moselle create an ideal environment for the cultivation of grapes. On any cruise, the region’s celebrated wines will be a highlight.

Stops along the picturesque river include Metz, France; Remich, Luxembourg; and several places in Germany, including Trier, the oldest settlement in Germany.

Douro

Lisbon to Porto (or the reverse) is a common itinerary on the Douro River in Portugal. The Douro River Valley is the world’s oldest demarcated wine region and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Most cruises begin or end with an overnight stay in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Porto, with ample time to explore.

Highlights along the route include seeing the world’s deepest lock, Carrapatelo, with its 115-foot-tall walls; excursions to Lamego to visit the 18th-century Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies pilgrimage church; and a full-day excursion to Salamanca in Spain. All along the way, passengers will get the chance to enjoy Portugal’s national beverage, port.

Tulip cruises

Another immensely popular themed river cruise in Europe is a voyage to take in the Netherlands and Belgium’s famous tulips. These are often called “Dutch Waterways” cruises, since ships go through a network of small rivers, inland seas and canals which are referred to as the Dutch Waterways. These mid-spring trips typically start and end in Amsterdam, and travel to Antwerp, Arnhem, Ghent, Rotterdam.

A visit to the Keukenhof Gardens, the world’s largest floral park, is of course, a highlight. Almost all cruise lines offer some version of a tulip tour.

What are the river cruises in Europe that you would like to explore? Tell us in the comments.

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