9 Best River Cruises In Europe 2025, According To Experts

Forbes

3 days ago

Mosel valley vineyards, Germany. getty
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ailing across Europe's most scenic waterways, from emerald valleys of the Douro to tulip-strewn fields of Holland, is a fairytale quest where mighty castles meet vine-draped cliffs and majestic baroque palaces. From the Rhine's romantic bends past half-timbered villages and Gothic cathedrals to the Danube's imperial sweep through Vienna , Budapest , and Bratislava —each voyage is a sensory mosaic of medieval history, fine European cuisine, and enchanting culture.
In France, the Rhône and Saône wind past lavender fields and Roman ruins, while the Seine carries you from Paris's glittering boulevards to Monet's dreamy garden in Giverny. Spring sailings unveil pretty tulip carpets along Dutch canals while autumn offers spectacular wine festivals amid the golden vineyards of Germany's Moselle Valley . But where to start? To help narrow your search, we spoke to the experts at rivercruising.co.uk to pin down the best river cruises in Europe for your 2026 planning.
Snaking 620 miles from Porto to the Spanish town of Duruelo de la Sierra—the UNESCO-listed Douro Valley offers graceful gliding through Portugal's most poetic landscapes of the 'River of Gold'—where terraced vineyards tumble down emerald hillsides and rabelo boats drift past sleepy villages. Passing through five dramatic locks, you'll embark on a mighty Portuguese odyssey ticking off sights from the glorious Mateus Palace to the hilltop Castelo Rodrigo, slipping under the soaring iron arches of the iconic Dom Luís I Bridge, and sampling some of Portugal's finest Port wines in their birthplace, at storied vineyards—or 'quintas'—like Sandeman-owned Quinta do Seixo .
Join Scenic's eight-day Delightful Douro sailing from $4,495 per person, including airport transfers, Freechoice and Enrich excursions, butler service, WiFi, gratuities, all meals, and premium beverages. To book, visit scenicusa.com. Read More: Forbes The World's Best River Cruises 2025, According To Experts By Lewis Nunn 2. The Seine
Winding through the romantic heart of northern France, the Seine— from its crystalline source in Burgundy—glides past sun-dappled apple orchards, dramatic chalk cliffs, and storybook half-timbered villages. Most Seine cruises begin in Paris, offering front-row access to world-famous landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Notre-Dame Cathedral . Meanwhile, downstream, you'll meander through Normandy's rolling countryside with stops at Monet's dreamy gardens in Giverny, the cobbled medieval streets of Rouen, and the haunting D-Day beaches near Caen . You'll also pass Château Gaillard —Richard the Lionheart's craggy hilltop fortress and arrive in Honfleur, a harbor town beloved by Impressionist painters like Monet . How To Do It
Join Uniworld Boutique River Cruises' Paris & Normandy voyage, from $2,939 per person, including all meals, unlimited beverages (including fine wines & spirits), daily excursions, airport transfers, and Wi-Fi. To book, visit uniworld.com . 3. The Moselle
Winding through Germany, France, and Luxembourg—the Moselle meanders past vine-laced hills and fairytale villages—each bend revealing half-timbered houses, glorious vineyards, and medieval squares. River cruises start in Koblenz, before winding past picturesque towns like Cochem, watched over by the turreted Reichsburg Castle. Meanwhile in Trier, Germany's oldest city, Roman ruins, such as the Porta Nigra and imperial baths, blend seamlessly with baroque palaces and centuries-old scholarly libraries. The Moselle Valley is also one of Europe's most celebrated Riesling regions—with slate-slathered vineyards where you can sip crisp, golden-hued Riesling in candlelit cellars. How To Do It
Join Riverside Luxury Cruises' 13-day Moselle Mosaic with Middle & Upper Rhine , from $9,600 per person onboard Riverside Debussy in a Symphony Suite—including all meals and soft drinks. Alcoholic drinks packages, excursions, and transfers are not included. To book, visit riverside-cruises.com. Read More: Forbes The World's Best River Cruise Lines, According To Globe Travel Awards By Lewis Nunn 4. The Rhine
Flowing from the glacial peaks of the Swiss Alps to the North Sea, the Rhine threads its way through storied medieval fortresses, vineyard-cloaked slopes, and majestic cathedral cities. Between Strasbourg and Koblenz, the Upper Middle Rhine Valley , a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers one of Europe's most cinematic stretches—where gothic castles perch above vine-streaked cliffs like stone crowns and the river curls beneath the fabled Lorelei Rock— home to age-old legends of treacherous sirens and shipwrecks. Opt for a river cruise here and you'll drift past Bacharach's turreted skyline, Rüdesheim's cobbled alleyways, and sweeping vineyards that birth Germany's most elegant Rieslings. How To Do It
Join APT's 8-day highlights of the Rhine and Main voyages from $2,542 per person, including all meals, an unlimited selection of cocktails, premium spirits, champagne, wine, beer, and soft drinks; experiences, transfers, and gratuities. For more information, visit aptouring.com. 5. The Rhône
Carving a path through France's most evocative landscapes—the Rhône is where lavender becomes a brushstroke across undulating fields and Roman ruins rise from charming riverside towns. It's a journey through Provence's soul—sailing between Lyon and Avignon—as you pass medieval villages, Gothic cathedrals, and world-renowned wine regions like Châteauneuf-du-Pape . Heading south, Arles dazzles with its Roman amphitheatre—the same city where Van Gogh produced some of his most famous works, including Starry Night Over the Rhône . Wildlife lovers? You'll be pleased to hear the Rhône also spills into the wild Camargue delta—where white horses gallop through salt marshes, flamingos strike poses in pink lagoons, and black bulls roam freely beneath the vast Provençal sky. How To Do It
Join CroisiEurope's 6-night Lyon to the Tip of Provence cruise, from $1,749 per person, including all meals, drinks, and excursions. To book, visit croisieuroperivercruises.com. Forbes Why A Douro River Cruise Is The Best Way To See Portugal By Lewis Nunn 6. The Danube
Weissenkirchen Wachau Austria in autumn colored leaves and vineyards on a sunny day getty
Flowing 1,770 miles from Germany's Black Forest to the Black Sea—the Danube is Central Europe's cultural spine—threading through four historic capitals: Vienna , Bratislava , Budapest , and Belgrade . River cruises often start in Budapest —offering postcard-perfect views of the iconic Hungarian Parliament and turreted Buda Castle. In Austria, however, the river glides through the Wachau Valley —a utopia of terraced vineyards, romantic hilltop castles, and blooming apricot orchards, where you can sip crisp Grüner Veltliner in candlelit cellars. Highlights? In Germany, medieval towns like Regensburg and Passau brim with Gothic spires, storybook townhouses, and charming cobbled squares—while the lavish Melk Abbey dazzles with its golden frescoes. How To Do It
Join AmaWaterways' 7-night Best of the Danube voyage, from $2,741 per person, including all meals, wine and beer (with lunch and dinner), a daily complimentary cocktail hour, and small group excursions. To book, visit amawaterways.com. 7. The Garonne and Dordogne
In the heart of southwestern France, the Garonne and Dordogne form the majestic Gironde Estuary—dotted with fairytale châteaux aplenty, where UNESCO-listed towns unfold in slow, elegant succession. River cruises typically begin in Bordeaux , a city of neoclassical grandeur, with café-lined boulevards, leafy promenades, and 347 protected buildings, where the opulent Place de la Bourse shimmers and the Cité du Vin offers a deep dive into wine heritage. On the way, you'll glide past Blaye's formidable Vauban citadel and the vineyard-laced slopes of Pauillac—home to legendary wine estates like Château Lafite Rothschild . Highlights? Think Sauternes for golden dessert wines, Arcachon Bay for oysters, and Saint-Émilion 's limestone catacombs. How To Do It
Join Avalon Waterways' 8-day Bonjour Bordeaux: Chateaux Wineries and Charming Villages voyage, from $4209 per person, including all meals, regional wines and beers (at meal times—plus a daily 'happy hour'), and excursions. To book, visit avalonwaterways.com. Forbes The World's Best Luxury Cruise Lines, According To Globe Travel Awards By Lewis Nunn 8. Dutch Waterways
Threading through the emerald lowlands of Holland and Belgium , the serene Dutch Waterways glide past tulip-strewn fields, centuries-old windmills, and canal-laced cities steeped in 'Golden Age' charm. Begin in Amsterdam and you'll sail past gabled townhouses—before reaching the vibrant port city of Rotterdam . Further south, however, Ghent and Bruges unfold with medieval bell towers, lace shops, and chocolate boutiques tucked beside mirror-like canals. Spring sailings offer front-row views of Keukenhof's kaleidoscopic gardens—while autumn brings misty mornings and twinkling festive markets. Along the way, you'll sip crisp Dutch gin and sample creamy golden Gouda in cozy riverside villages—where vintage bicycles outnumber cars and needle-thin church spires pierce the watercolor sky. How To Do It
Join Riviera Travel's 5-day Amsterdam, Kinderdijk and the Dutch Bulbfields Cruise , from $1650 per person, including direct flights and transfers, excursions, all meals, and a complimentary drinks package. To book, head to rivieratravel.co.uk. 9. The Elbe
Stretching nearly 700 miles from the Czech Republic's mist-shrouded Krkonoše Mountains to the North Sea, the Elbe is less trafficked than its European siblings—offering a quieter journey through baroque cities, vineyard-cloaked hills, and fairytale fortresses. Designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve , it is home to white-tailed eagles, beavers, and migrating cranes, with floodplain meadows and wetlands in abundance. Cruising between Prague and Hamburg, you'll pass through the Elbe Sandstone Mountains—known as Saxon Switzerland —where jagged rock spires rise above pine forests and misty gorges. While stops include Dresden , once dubbed the 'Florence of the Elbe', with its rococo palaces and ornate domes, and Wittenberg , where you'll walk in the footsteps of Martin Luther. How To Do It
Join Viking's 9-night Elegant Elbe voyage, from $3,499 per person including hotel stays in Berlin and Prague, all meals, Wi-Fi, 7 guided tours; and wine, beer and soft drinks (with lunch and dinner). To book, head to viking.com . For UK enquiries and fares please call 0800 319 66 60. Read More: Forbes The World's Best River Cruises 2025, According To Experts By Lewis Nunn Forbes The World's Best River Cruise Lines, According To Globe Travel Awards By Lewis Nunn Forbes Why A Douro River Cruise Is The Best Way To See Portugal By Lewis Nunn Forbes The World's Most Visited Countries, According To Research By Lewis Nunn Forbes 3 Epic Hotels In The Netherlands For 2025 By Lewis Nunn