European River Cruises

Sail down the Danube, explore the Rhine, relax on the Main. Discover quaint towns, hidden gems and castles galore – all on a European River Cruise!

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Cruise Offers for European Rivers

4 nights with the MS Lafayette

Rhine River, Europe,European River,Moselle River, Europe

08/2021 - 10/2021

-4%

from$1,498

4 nights with the France

Rhine River, Europe,European River,Moselle River, Europe

10/2022

-4%

from$1,375

Spectacular sail from Cologne with A-ROSA Cruises

6 nights with the A-ROSA SILVA

European River, Rhine River, Europe,Benelux, Europe (River)

12/2021 - 01/2022

-8%

from$2,155

Journey with the L'Europe from Strasbourg

4 nights with the L'Europe

Rhine River, Europe,European River

10/2022

from$996

5 nights with the A-ROSA SILVA

Rhine River, Europe,European River,Benelux, Europe (River)

12/2022

from$1,305

Travelling from Strasbourg via Rüdesheim

4 nights with the La Bohème

Rhine River, Europe,European River,Moselle River, Europe

09/2021 - 10/2022

-4%

from$1,174

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European River Cruises

The incredible Danube, Dnieper, Don, Elbe, Loire, and Oder being only a mere but stunning handful of the hundreds of rivers and their tributaries across Europe. The perfect balance between ancient and modern, the best way to discover Europe is by river. European river cruises along the Rhine, the Main, the Danube and the Seine are bound to feed your appetite for the wonders of Europe. A river cruise will take you to the doorstep of the historical and architectural marvels that Europe has to offer. Journey to Amsterdam, Cologne, Vienna and more to learn of the prominence of the contemporary versus ancient features that permeate Europe. Visit all the highlights of the legendary Rhine River including charming castles and witness the lush landscape of the Black Forest region. Discover grand cities and quaint villages along the Danube and experience the natural beauty of Germany along the elegant Elbe.

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Expert Tips for cruising the European Rivers

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Cruising European rivers in summer allows for long days and warmer weather perfect for sightseeing - but winter cruises offer their own charm with snow covered buildings and enchanting Christmas markets. It's a perfect all year round cruising option.

For sophisticated river cruises with their own programme and refined atmosphere try cruise lines like Uniworld or Tauck. For an authentic European river cruising experience book an APT cruise, a home-grown Australian company.

Harbours for European River

Mantes la Jolie, France

from$1,920

Mantes la Jolie Cruises

Wolfsburg, Germany

Wolfsburg is a county-level city in Lower Saxony. It is internationally known as the corporate headquarters of Volkswagen AG. The places most worth visiting are the Wolfsburg palace, which was built in the 13th century in the architectual style of Weser Renaissance and the Neuhaus castle. Alternatively visit one of the many museums, churches, cultural centers or the Volkswagen Arena.

Melun, France Cruises

Stuttgart, Germany

The capital of Baden-Württemberg lies between the "forest and vines" in the so-called "boiler Stuttgart", which was formed by the Neckar River and its tributaries. With about 600,000 inhabitants, Stuttgart is the sixth largest city in Germany. Stuttgart is famous for ballet, theater and opera. Do not miss the old castle, which is located at Schlossplatz in Stuttgart's city center.

Belleville is located north of Lyon in the Rhone region. Belleville offers historic views, national monuments and heritage sights to any who visit.

Bleckede is a small and picturesque town located in the north of Germany. This charming harbour town situated on the Elbe River offers a relaxing getaway to both young and old and is filled with history. The Biosphaerium Elbtalaue contains exhibitions and information about the Elbe valley, perfect for leisure activities and getting children engaged. This village is a perfect destination for nature-lovers and those wanting to unwind.

The Seine is a 776 km long river and an important commercial waterway within the Paris Basin in the north of France. There are 37 bridges within Paris and dozens more spanning the river outside the city. In 1991 UNESCO added the banks of the Seine in Paris—the Rive Gauche and Rive Droite—to its list of World Heritage Sites in Europe.

from$12,999

Seine Cruises

Ludwigsburg, Germany

The city of Ludwigsburg is located about 12 kilometers north of Stuttgart in Baden-Wuerttemberg on a plateau of the Neckar basin. A settlement was first built here in 1709 around the castle of Duke Eberhard Ludwig and it has evolved from over the years to the large city it is today. Worth seeing, besides the baroque castle, is the palace and the park surrounding the Royal Palace (the Blooming Baroque) and the fairy garden.

from$1,303

Ludwigsburg Cruises

Plyos, Russia

Located on the right bank of Europe's longest river - Volga, this small town is a stop on many sails across these waters. It is home to many classical, beautiful pieces of architecture that are characteristic to towns in this region of Russia

On Request

Pljos Cruises

Samara, Russia

Samara is the sixth largest city in Russia. It is located on the Volga River in the European part of Russia. One of the main attractions of the city are the 19th century buildings. However, it is not the only feature that makes the city stand out - its endless promenade along the Volga and beautiful urban areas really bring out the city's charm.

On Request

Samara Cruises

Baume-les-Dames, France

Nizhny Novogorod, Russia

Nizhny Novgorod is the fifth largest city in Russia and an important hub for trade and industry in Russia. Art lovers will be excited to discover the Niznhy Novgorod Art Center of Russia. The old town is where the most interesting architectual buildings are located.

On Request

Nizhny Novogorod Cruises

Travel Tips for European Rivers

European river cruises are an absolutely perfect way to see the majestic cities dotted throughout Europe. Cities such as:

Amsterdam
Cologne
Vienna
Budapest

Witness the enduring splendour and refinement of the Old Europe with river cruises along:

The Main
The Rhine
The Seine
The Danube

Most Popular Routes

The Danube

The Danube is one of the most popular rivers in Europe for cruising, which is no surprise considering the stunning cities which lie upon its shores:

Prague
Vienna
Budapest

The wide range of shore excursions offered by the cruise lines will assure you truly get a sense of these wondrous places.

The Danube also boasts an array of quaint villages which have their roots in small fishing towns. The riparian backdrop of these shoreside destinations holds the essence of a European river cruise, so be sure to do some research to get the most out of your trip!

The Rhine

The shores of the Rhine are studded with castles both impressive and imposing. A cruise along the Rhine allows you to witness the extensive Black Forest region and also cities like:

Amsterdam
Basel
Cologne

Amsterdam, the capital city of the Netherlands offers a great deal:

Numerous museums
Vibrant gardens
Winding canals
Ancient riverside ruins

You can experience all that and more as part of a shore excursion.

On a Rhine cruise you will see a lot in a relatively short space of time, which is ideal for those who want to get a taste of Europe.

Cruise Lines

Some of the most reputable river cruise lines sail along the European waterways, so you will have no trouble finding your perfect European cruise holiday.

- A-Rosa Cruises: the German river cruise line offers some of the most versatile itineraries all over Europe and its waterways. Onboard meals, drinks and many other extras are included in the price of the cruise, so you can relax and enjoy the wonderful scenery around you. A-Rosa will sail you along these spectacular rivers:
- Rhine
- Danube
- Rhone / Saone
- Seine
- Douro
- CroisiEurope: the cruise line is one of the veterans of European river cruising and offers very detailed and off the beaten path itineraries. Their 32 ships are of different categories: standard and premium, meaning you can choose one that suits your budget.
- Viking River Cruises: the small ship experts in European river cruising, Viking River Cruises sail along all the biggest and most popular rivers, also outside of Europe. Their numerous ships are modern and beautifully designed.

The Best Time to Visit

European river cruises sail from March to December due to the region's weather conditions. However, the very best months to go on a river cruise adventure around Europe are:

April and May
September and October

There are a few good reasons for that:

The weather is still comfortable, its mostly warm and sunny - perfect for exploring outside
There are fewer tourists around as its not high season
It is easier to find discounts and special offers on cruises (again, because its not high season)