5 Best River Cruises in Europe

We think it’s safe to say that going to Europe is on everyone’s travel bucket list. But for some reason, river cruising is not. What gives? These two things go together like peanut butter and jelly or like Romeo and Juliet. Hopping aboard a cruise (whether the ocean or river variety) really is one of the greatest ways to explore the continent.

To prove it, we’ve rounded up five of the best river cruises in Europe. Whether you want to sail down the Danube, the Rhine, the Rhône or the Saône, there’s a cruise itinerary for you. 

• Tulip Time with Avalon Waterways 
• Romantic Danube with Viking River Cruises
• Vida Portugal: Vineyards & Villages Along the Douro with Avalon Waterways
• Rhine Castles & Swiss Alps with AmaWaterways
• Burgundy & Provence (Southbound) with Avalon Waterways

Departs from: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Ports of call: Rotterdam, Netherlands – Antwerp, Belgium – Ghent, Belgium – Middelburg and Veere, Netherlands – Willemstad, Netherlands – Amsterdam, Netherlands 

If you love gardening as much as you love cruising, Avalon Waterways’ Tulip Time itinerary is for you. Beginning in the Dutch capital of Amsterdam, this 8-day cruise will take you to some beautiful tulip fields, including the world-famous Keukenhof. Known as the “Garden of Europe”, it spans 70 acres and boasts approximately 7 million flowers (tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and more) across five themed gardens. 

Of course, flowers aren’t the only reason to sail through the Dutch waterways. This river cruise will also take you to Belgium and other historic cities in the Netherlands where there is plenty of unique architecture to discover. Marvel at the 16th-century guildhalls in Antwerp’s central square, Grote Markt; visit the Gothic-style Saint Bavo’s Cathedral in Ghent; and wander the cobblestone streets in Middelburg.

One of the things that puts Avalon Waterways among the best river cruise lines is that its itineraries include both optional and included shore excursions, so you can really tailor your trip to your personal interests.

Departs from: Budapest, Hungary

Ports of call: Vienna, Austria – Krems, Austria – Passau, Germany – Regensburg, Germany

The Danube River flows for approximately 2,850km and passes through 10 countries in Central Europe and Eastern Europe, including Hungary, Austria, Germany, Slovakia and Croatia. As such, pretty much every river cruise line has multiple Danube River cruise itineraries for you to choose from.

This one will take you east along the portion of the river known as the upper Danube. Beginning in Budapest, you’ll make stops in Vienna, Krems and Passau before disembarking in Regensburg (a port which sits just outside the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal that helps connects the North Sea and Atlantic Ocean to the Black Sea). You’ll also get to enjoy two days of scenic cruising — one along the Danube Bend and one along the stunning Wachau Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

What else makes this river cruise experience so special? The fact that it’s hosted by Viking Cruises! This adults-only cruise line has designed its river ships and itineraries to cater to more mature passengers. Think elegant staterooms, a serene and spacious sun deck, and restaurants serving delicious regional cuisine.

Departs from: Porto, Portugal

Ports of call: Entre-os-Rios, Portugal – Peso da Régua, Portugal – Pocinho, Portugal – Barca d’Alva, Portugal – Caldas de Aregos, Portugal – Porto, Portugal 

Calling all wine lovers! For those who enjoy sipping earthy glasses of red and refreshing glasses of white, this is one of the best European river cruises to embark on. Avalon Waterways’ Vida Portugal itinerary travels along the Douro River Valley — the region that produces some of the country’s best wine and port. 

It goes without saying that you’ll get to visit vineyards for wine tastings, but that’s certainly not all there is to do. At each port (an accidental pun, we swear!), you can choose to join Avalon Waterways’ included shore excursions, which fall into three categories:

• Classic shore excursions take you to famous heritage sites and historical landmarks.
• Discovery shore excursions give you the opportunity to immerse yourself in a destination’s art and culture.
• Active shore excursions invite you to explore a place via hiking, kayaking and other adventurous activities.

The Classic excursion in Entre-os-Rio, for example, will take you to the San Miguel church in Guimarães. On the Discovery excursion in Peso da Régua, you can experience what life is like on one of the oldest farms in the Douro River Valley. And in Porto, you can join an Active excursion that involves biking to the nearby town of Vila Nova de Gaia.

Departs from: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Ports of call: Cologne, Germany – Rhine Gorge and Rüdesheim, Germany – Ludwigshafen, Germany – Strasbourg, France – Basel, Switzerland 

One of the best things about river cruising (and cruising in general) is that you get to visit multiple destinations in a single trip. Take this Rhine Castles & Swiss Alps itinerary from AmaWaterways, for example: after departing from Netherlands, the ship passes through Germany, France and Switzerland. That’s like getting four vacations in one!

Unlike the other European river cruises mentioned in this blog, this one sails down the Rhine — one of the most spectacular European waterways! Every time you glance at the shore from your ship’s deck, you’ll spot charming villages, historic vineyards and castles that look as if they belong in a fairytale. This is especially true on the fourth day of this cruise vacation when you journey through the Rhine Gorge.  

Not only that, but you’ll be able to get up close and personal to all of these things at each port of call, thanks to a wide selection of included tours and daily shore excursions. From a cathedral architecture tour in Cologne and a wine tasting in Rüdesheim to a biking excursion in Basel, AmaWaterways has something for everyone.

Departs from: Chalon-sur-Saône, France

Ports of call: Tournus, France – Lyon, France – Tournon-sur-Rhône and Viviers, France – Avignon, France – Arles, France

Do you love eating and drinking your way through new destinations? Have you always wanted to travel through France? Then hop aboard this European river cruise from Avalon Waterways, which will take you along the Rhône River and Saône River to some of the country’s top wine regions — as well as the gastronomic capital of Lyon. 

Just thinking about all the cheese, bread and wine that can be consumed during this vacation has made us hungry. Not to mention, you’ll get to enjoy some fantastic onboard meals. The main dining room of the Avalon Poetry II serves daily breakfast and lunch buffets featuring regional and seasonal ingredients. And in the evenings, you can indulge in four-course dinners with your choice of appetizers, soups, salads, entrées and desserts. 

That said, this European river cruise itinerary really is a feast for all the senses. In addition to tasting delicious French cuisine, you’ll have the opportunity to take in the sights and sounds of medieval alleyways in Lyon, feel the power of a brushstroke during a painting workshop in Arles and smell the flowers in the exquisite garden at Château de Cormatin in Tournon-sur-Rhône.

Departs from: Kampong Cham, Cambodia

Ports of call: Siem Reap, Cambodia – Ankgor Ban, Cambodia – Oknhatey, Cambodia – Oudong, Cambodia –  Kampong Tralach, Cambodia – Phnom Penh, Cambodia – Tan Chau, Vietnam – Sa Dec, Vietnam – Cai Be, Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

European cruises are great (as you can probably tell from all the options listed above), but we couldn’t possibly write a blog post about river cruising without also mentioning one Asian itinerary. Many river cruise lines also have ships that will take you along the Mekong River, giving you an entirely different but just as incredible river cruise experience.

This Riches of the Mekong cruise will take you on a culturally enriching journey through Cambodia and Vietnam on the AmaDara, the only vessel in AmaWaterways’ fleet of river ships that sails in this part of the world. Rural villages, colourful markets, beautiful monasteries — you’ll get to see all of that and more. 

Asia is so vast that it can be difficult to choose which cities to visit; river cruising allows you to tick a bunch of destinations, landmarks and experiences off your travel bucket list in a single trip.

Whether you’re embarking on your twentieth European river cruise or are just getting started with river cruising, our consultants can help you find itineraries and river cruise ships that you’ll love. Check out our current cruise deals and get in touch with our Cruise Specialist team today!