Top 9 River Cruises in Europe

Exploring Europe via river cruising offers a wonderfully relaxed and easy way to travel. Imagine being in a cozy floating hotel, smoothly passing by castles, vineyards, and ever-changing landscapes as you navigate serene inland waters.

The river cruise line organizes daily guided walking tours and other excursions, taking you to significant UNESCO World Heritage Sites and the city and village highlights you want to see. Alternatively, you can opt to discover at your own pace, as your ship typically docks right in the heart of town.

Enjoy leisurely afternoons aboard the ship, where you can relax in a lounge chair and observe life on the banks — children swimming, farmers working their fields, and river birds soaring — as you drift towards your next destination.

Which river in Europe should you explore? The options are more extensive than you might realize.

The Danube and Rhine, along with their tributaries, are the primary rivers in Europe. They are undoubtedly the most popular choices, allowing for one-week segments or longer itineraries that connect various regions and occasionally different rivers. Even a week-long cruise can be a wonderful experience, whether you’re drifting down a river in France or the enchanting Douro in Portugal.

Here are the top river cruises in Europe.

Upper Danube

For those new to river cruising in Europe, the Upper Danube offers an ideal seven-night journey. It takes you through centuries of rich history as you visit Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary.

Cruises visit cultural treasures such as Vienna, known for its opera house, art galleries, and grand royal palaces, as well as Budapest, Hungary, famous for its stunning architecture and vibrant atmosphere. If your ship glides past the Hungarian Parliament Building at night, you're in for a visual delight; beautifully illuminated, it stands as one of the most photographed landmarks along the river.

Between Melk and Krems in Austria, you'll sail through the Wachau Valley, a prominent wine-producing region known for its rieslings and grüner veltliners, with plenty of opportunities to indulge. It's also an excellent spot for cycling, which is why cruising with companies like AmaWaterways, that offer onboard bikes for guests, is a great choice.

You may also have the chance to take a side trip to Salzburg, Austria, the birthplace of Mozart and the filming location for several scenes from "The Sound of Music." Many are pleasantly surprised by Old Town Bratislava, Slovakia, which, although it might not be on your priority list, captivates with its beer culture and charming castles.

Lower Danube

For an in-depth exploration of Eastern Europe's rich history and contemporary landscape, the intriguing Lower Danube route from Budapest to Bucharest, Romania, reveals tales from the medieval era and the Victorian age of Dracula to the rise of communism and the Bosnian War.

This seven-night river cruise takes you through Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania. One of the most breathtaking segments of the journey features a 62-mile stretch navigating through a gorge nestled between the Balkan and Carpathian Mountains, which is also among the deepest river sections in the world.

Shore excursions by bus offer access to remarkable sights, including Bulgaria's Belogradchik Rocks, towering red rock formations sculpted by nature into shapes like "Madonna with child," and Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria's stunning medieval capital.

Rhine

Among Europe's premier cruising rivers, the Rhine stands out for its stunning natural beauty and enchanting landscapes. A typical one-week journey along the river from Amsterdam to Basel, Switzerland, showcases picturesque slopes adorned with vineyards, lush forests, towering mountains, historic cities, and charming medieval villages.

This breathtaking experience leads you to the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This 40-mile stretch of river, from Rudesheim am Rhein to Koblenz, is dotted with numerous castles that evoke the tale of Rapunzel, along with Lorelei, the famed slate rock believed to lure sailors with the captivating song of a maiden.

Strasbourg, a French city renowned for its iconic Gothic cathedral and vibrant Alsatian culinary scene, is a popular stop on Rhine cruises. Other notable destinations include Heidelberg, Germany, with its majestic castle.

Seine

While you can spot the Eiffel Tower when boarding a river cruise in Paris, that view can also be enjoyed from a hotel. The true highlights of a Seine cruise include navigating the river beyond the city towards the English Channel and visiting the beaches of Normandy, offering a poignant view of World War II.

Your journey to Normandy, including a visit to the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial along with other memorials dedicated to the fallen, is an emotional experience, albeit one that necessitates a two-hour bus ride from your ship. On select sailings, Avalon Waterways provides a World War II expert on board for added insights.

The Seine is home to other gems, including Giverny, the enchanting residence and gardens of impressionist painter Claude Monet. If you admire his artwork, much of the estate may look quite familiar.

In the historic town of Rouen, where Joan of Arc was martyred during the Middle Ages, be sure to visit Rouen Cathedral (another Monet inspiration) before wandering the charming cobblestone streets filled with delightful cafes.

Bordeaux

Bordeaux river cruises stand out from other waterway journeys as you navigate two shorter rivers — the Dordogne and Garonne — along with the Gironde estuary in southwest France.

This itinerary allows for more time on land than on the water, with your ship docking for two nights in Bordeaux, a charming city resembling a miniature Paris with its splendid 18th-century architecture. Who wouldn’t relish being in the heart of French culture, one of the world’s premier wine regions?

In Bordeaux, you'll have the chance to savor wines from Medoc, Margaux, Saint Emilion, Pomerol, and Sauternes, enhancing your wine knowledge. Visits to vineyards and stunning chateaus are included, and your cruise line may even arrange a dinner at a wine estate. Timing your cruise for September or October lets you witness the grape harvest.

Rhone and Saone

Wine enthusiasts shouldn't miss the chance to venture into the heart of France, enjoying Cotes du Rhone in renowned wine regions like Hermitage and Chateauneuf-du-Pape in Provence, as well as Beaune in Burgundy.

Rhone and Saone river cruises generally traverse between Lyon and Arles or Avignon, packed with attractions beyond wine, such as the Roman aqueduct Pont du Gard and the ancient Arles Amphitheater, along with the impressive Palais des Papes (Papal Palace) in Avignon. You'll also have the opportunity to admire the lavender fields, haystacks, and other landscapes that inspired artists like Paul Cézanne and Vincent van Gogh.

Douro

For a serene and enchanting river cruise, exploring Portugal's wine regions along the Douro—one of the principal rivers of the Iberian Peninsula—is unmatched. These river cruises are based in Porto, Portugal, known for its historic city center, stunning bridges, and port wine houses.

During one-week cruises, you'll navigate 130 miles along the river, passing lush vineyards in the Douro River Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site, before reaching the Spanish border. These cruises usually feature a stop in the university city of Salamanca in northern Spain. You'll gain insights into viticulture as you discover port production on the "River of Gold."

Elbe

With its variable water levels and narrow channels, the Elbe poses challenges as it stretches 680 miles between the Czech Republic and Germany. Historically, it served as part of the border separating East and West Germany.

River cruising in this region is a unique adventure. Viking is among the few cruise lines that navigate these waters (alongside the French line CroisiEurope), offering 10-day itineraries that blend hotel stays in Berlin and Prague with a scenic journey on the river between Prague and Wittenburg, Germany.

The cruises operate on vessels specifically designed for the Elbe route, making stops at destinations like rejuvenated Dresden, which was heavily bombed during World War II but has been masterfully restored; the stunning Saxon Switzerland region of Germany known for its remarkable sandstone rock formations; and the picturesque spa town of Bad Schandau.

Po

The Po in northern Italy experiences tidal fluctuations, presenting its own set of challenges. However, it's a rare opportunity to effortlessly link a visit to Venice with a river cruise. Uniworld Boutique River Cruises offers an elegant experience on the Po with its 126-passenger S.S. La Venezia, beautifully adorned with local touches, including Fortuny fabrics and Murano glass, complemented by its opulent accents.

The week-long itinerary may not cover extensive distances, but it features highlights such as the fortified city of Padua, the picturesque fishing village of Chioggia, and Murano, famous for its master glassblowers.

For travelers seeking an extended adventure, Uniworld smartly pairs a Po river cruise with luxurious rail journeys to destinations like Turkey and Switzerland.