Three of the Best River Cruises in Europe

Despite living in Europe for so long I still feel that there are lots of fabulous cities and towns that I haven´t seen. Thinking about how to cover several in one trip, I found myself looking at the best river cruises in Europe.

Rather than travelling to coastal destinations and ports, the benefit of great river cruises is that they meander inland and reach major cities and inland attractions. Of course these routes have smaller ships than the huge ocean bound cruise liners, creating a more curated experience.

Here are some of the best hand picked itineraries:

Best River Cruises in Europe

I am particularly motivated by great food, amazing architecture and historical sites. So when choosing European river cruises that´s what I take into consideration. As well as places that I haven´t visited before that get my attention. Having the inclusions of the tours, meals and transfers just seems like such a seamless way of travelling.

Imagine floating along great rivers in Europe and coming to UNESCO World Heritage sites and lesser known destinations such as Salamanca (seen below) It just sounds like an ideal getaway to me.

Douro Delights River Cruise

This itinerary really stood out to me, as it sets out from Spain´s Capital: Madrid. Super easy to get to from most international airports and a great destination especially for art lovers and its high end shopping.

The cruise then moves along the Manzanares river onto Salamanca which has the oldest University in Spain, founded in 1218, and a medieval storybook feel to it. Not to mention its amazing local food and wine scene.

After crossing the Spanish/Portuguese borders, further stops on this route call at charming Guimaraes which has an historic centre listed on the World heritage list and then onto Porto, home to Port wine and the picturesque Douro Valley. Such a charming place to spend any time and the river is truly the heart and soul of this vibrant city.

In Porto, don´t miss the stunning Cafe Majestic with its charming Art Nouveau Facade, trading since the 1920s

The final stops in Sintra and Lisbon, Portugal´s Capital won´t disappoint either. These are ideal stops to enjoy the local pastry Pasteis de Belem and take in the beautiful Palaces and Gardens.

Starts: Madrid, Spain
Best time of year to go: Spring/Autumn
Countries: Spain + Portugal

UNESCO World Heritage in Sintra, Portugal

European Gems River Cruise

Starting in Amsterdam and ending in Budapest or Prague, this 15 day itinerary covers destinations in six different countries. That in itself is a great incentive, no worries about border control, missed connections or finding your way, as the ship just takes you to all these locations.

In Nuremberg don´t miss the delicious Lebkuchen, sweet baked hearts that I love, the city has made them since 1395.

Highlights includes stops in Vienna, the Austrian capital city, Salzburg, the stunning setting for The Sound of Music film and the stunning German towns of Nuremberg and Wurzberg. With storybook castles, Bavarian landscapes and Medieval towns to explore, this central European itinerary covers the highlights of three rivers: The Rhine, Main and Danube.

Starts: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Best time of year to go: Spring/Autumn
Countries: Germany, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria and Slovakia.

Vitava River in Prague, Czech Republic

Christmas Markets Cruise

From Basel (Switzerland) to Amsterdam (Netherlands) pictured in the header photo. This 8 day itinerary really caught my imagination, leaving in the first week of December, it sails along the Rhine and Moselle Rivers, taking in the stunning landscapes and stopping to enjoy the festive Christmassy atmosphere of this region of Central Europe.

Did you know that the Rudesheim region produces 27 million bottles of wine per year?

The itinerary includes stops at the Black Forest, Stunning Cologne (Germany) and the Rhine Valley, well known for its famous Rheingau wine region. It also stops in Strasbourg, on the French/German border which is where the route concludes. The Cathedral of Our Lady of Strasbourg is the most iconic monument in this city, built in 1439. Also of note is Le Petit France a stunning district, well worth seeing when you visit. Timber framed houses along the and weeping willows prettily dipping into the water.

Starts: Basel, Switzerland.
Best time of year to go: December
Countries: Germany, France, Switzerland, Netherlands.

Bonus: Islands of the Mediterranean

Although not a river cruise I noticed this Island Coastal Cruise that stops at Barcelona, Menorca and Islands of France and Italy, ending in beautiful Valletta, Malta. For anyone who hasn´t visited these destinations yet, this is a perfect introduction to the Mediterranean. Its basically a highlights version by sea of the best European Islands. You get to visit six different locations and tours and meals are included along the itinerary.