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Discover the rivers of Europe 2026 - 29 Days (from Budapest to Nice)

29 days
From Budapest to Nice
4.1
31 traveler reviews

No departure dates available

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Plan your adventure:
River Cruise
Scenic waterways and effortless exploration
Fully Guided
An experienced guide will be with you for the entire tour
Low Intensity
Travelers can expect some light physical activities
Guided in English
Group Size 30 - 182
Ages 12+
Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Itinerary

  1. Day 1

    Budapest

    Included Activities

    • Traditional Hungarian folklore show
    Itinerary Image 1
  2. Day 2

    Budapest

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Guided coach tour of Budapest

    Optional Activities

    • Hike to Gellert Hill
    Landmarks
    Chain Bridge
    Gellert Hill
  3. Day 3

    Bratislava

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Walking tour of Bratislava
    • Home-hosted coffee and cake with a Slovakian family

    Optional Activities

    • Guided hike to Bratislava Castle
    • Skoda tour of post-Communist Bratislava (extra expense)
    • Carpathian wine route (extra expense)
    Landmarks
    Bratislava Castle
    Old Town Hall
    Episcopal Summer Palace
  4. Day 4

    Vienna

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Guided tour of Vienna

    Optional Activities

    • Guided bike tour of Vienna
    • Visit to Schönbrunn Palace (extra expense)
    • Viennese evening concert (extra expense)
    Landmarks
    Vienna State Opera
    Ringstrasse
    Schönbrunn Palace
    Prater
  5. Day 5

    Durnstein - Melk

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Tour of Melk Abbey

    Optional Activities

    • Guided hike to Dürnstein Castle
    • Guided bike tour along the Danube
    Landmarks
    Dürnstein Castle
    Melk Abbey
    Wachau Valley
    Itinerary Image 1
  6. Day 6

    Passau

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Guided tour of Passau

    Optional Activities

    • Excursion to Salzburg (extra expense)
    • Excursion to Český Krumlov (extra expense)
    Landmarks
    Oberhaus Fortress
    St. Stephen's Cathedral
    Itinerary Image 1
  7. Day 7

    Regensburg

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Guided tour of Regensburg
    • Bavarian band performance on board
    Landmarks
    Regensburg Old Town
  8. Day 8

    Nuremberg

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Guided tour of Nuremberg

    Optional Activities

    • World War II tour (extra expense)
  9. Day 9

    Bamberg

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Guided tour of Bamberg
    Landmarks
    New Residence
    Altenburg Castle
    Itinerary Image 1
  10. Day 10

    Wurzburg

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Walking tour of Würzburg and a visit to the Bishops Residence

    Optional Activities

    • Excursion to Rothenburg (extra expense)
    Landmarks
    Würzburg Residence
    Marienkapelle
    Town Hall
  11. Day 11

    Wertheim - Miltenberg

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Guided tour of Miltenberg
    • Visit to Bronnbach Abbey

    Optional Activities

    • Guided Active Walk to Mildenburg Castle
    Landmarks
    Bronnbach Abbey
    Mildenburg Castle
  12. Day 12

    Rüdesheim - Koblenz

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Visit to Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum

    Optional Activities

    • Active Walk to Niederwalddenkmal
    Landmarks
    Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum
    Niederwalddenkmal
    Rhine Gorge
    Itinerary Image 1
  13. Day 13

    Cologne

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Quest for Cologne's treasures
    Landmarks
    Cologne Cathedral
  14. Day 14

    Amsterdam

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Canal cruise

    Optional Activities

    • Guided bike tour to Waterland
    • Private hidden Gems Tour of Amsterdam (extra expense)
    Itinerary Image 1
  15. Day 15

    Amsterdam

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  16. Day 16

    Amsterdam - Alkmaar

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Excursion to Alkmaar

    Optional Activities

    • Guided bike tour to Waterland
    • Dutch Delights (extra expense)
    Landmarks
    Alkmaar Cheese Market
  17. Day 17

    Düsseldorf - Cologne

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Walking tour of Düsseldorf
    • Guided tour of Cologne's Old Town

    Optional Activities

    • German Beer Experience (extra expense)
    Landmarks
    Rhine River
  18. Day 18

    Koblenz

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Walking tour of Koblenz

    Optional Activities

    • Moselle Valley & Cochem Castle visit (extra expense, please note: this will be replaced with Eltz Castle when not available)
    Landmarks
    Church of Our Lady
    German Corner
  19. Day 19

    Mannheim - Heidelberg

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Guided tour of Heidelberg
    • Private Evening Concert on the Rhine

    Optional Activities

    • Active hike from Mount Königstuhl to Heidelberg
    Landmarks
    Heidelberg Castle
    Mount Königstuhl
  20. Day 20

    Kehl - Strasbourg

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Flavours of Alsace

    Optional Activities

    • Baden Baden Spa experience (extra expense)
    Landmarks
    Strasbourg Old Town
    Itinerary Image 1
  21. Day 21

    Breisach - Freiburg

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Guided tour of Freiburg with tasting

    Optional Activities

    • Guided bike tour in Breisach
    • Guided tour of Colmar (extra expense)
    Landmarks
    Freiburg
  22. Day 22

    Basel - Lyon

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Optional Activities

    • Lyon by Night (extra expense)
  23. Day 23

    Lyon

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Guided tour of Lyon

    Optional Activities

    • Guided bike tour of Lyon
    • Excursion to Pérouges (extra expense)
    Landmarks
    Basilica Notre-Dame de Fourvière
  24. Day 24

    Mâcon

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Beaujolais wine tasting
    Landmarks
    Beaujolais wine region
  25. Day 25

    Tournon

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Guided tour of Tournon

    Optional Activities

    • Guided hike through the vineyards
    Landmarks
    Tournon Castle
    Itinerary Image 1
  26. Day 26

    Viviers

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Guided tour of Viviers

    Optional Activities

    • Visit to Chauvet Pont D'Arc (extra expense)
    Landmarks
    Viviers Cathedral
    Chauvet Pont D'Arc
  27. Day 27

    Avignon

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Provençal dinner hosted by local chef Fabien Morreale)

    Included Activities

    • Guided tour of Avignon
    • Provençal dinner hosted by local chef Fabien Morreale
    • Classical concert in Avignon

    Optional Activities

    • Canoeing excursion in Avignon
    • Guided tour of the Pont du Gard (extra expense)
    • Visit to Chateauneuf du Pape with wine tasting (extra expense)
    Landmarks
    Palais des Papes
    Pont d'Avignon
    Itinerary Image 1
  28. Day 28

    Arles

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Guided tour of Arles with arena visit

    Optional Activities

    • Excursion to Les Baux de Provence (extra expense)
    • In the footsteps of Van Gogh: painting workshop (extra expense)
    • Provencal Soap Making Workshop (extra expense)
    Landmarks
    Arles Amphitheatre
    Itinerary Image 1
  29. Day 29

    Arles - Nice

    Meals
    Breakfast
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What's Included

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  • Accommodation
  • Guide
  • Meals
  • Additional Services
  • Transport

What's Not Included

  • Flights
  • Insurance
  • Optional
  • Additional Services

Operated by

Emerald Cruises

4.1
(31 reviews)

Number of tours

684

Age Range

12 to 90 years old

Response time

within 2 days

Response rate

92%

There’s nothing quite like an Emerald Waterways river cruise. From Europe to...

Read more

Your Peace of Mind Options

Cancellation Policy

A transparent overview of applicable fees.

Travel Insurance

Be covered for any unforseen circumstances.

Emerald Cruises Ship

Reviews from other tours by Emerald Cruises

  • Lynn
    July 23rd, 2025
    5.0
    This is the best river cruise we have had. The itinerary, staff, and organisation was excellent. The atmosphere was...
    Show more
  • Mark
    April 25th, 2023
    4.0
    It was not excellent but good…entertainment lacked they had a girl singing that was one of the bartenders and some...
    Show more
Can’t find the answer to your question?
Reach out to the experts at Emerald Cruises with your enquiry, they usually respond within 2 days.

No departure dates available

No dates, no problem! Subscribe to our newsletter to receive:

  • Travel inspiration for similar adventures
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By submitting this form, I agree to the TourRadar T&Cs and Privacy policy.

You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter, check your inbox!

It seems you have entered this contest already! Keep an eye on your inbox for the winner.

Plan your adventure:

Good to Know

Tour ID: 301918

  • Currencies
    Euro
    Austria, France, Germany and Netherlands
    Ft
    Forint
    Hungary
    Fr.
    Swiss Franc
    Switzerland
  • Plugs & Adapters

    As a traveler from USA, Canada, England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa you will need an adaptor for types C, E, F, J.

    Type C
    Hungary and Slovakia
    Type E
    Hungary and Slovakia
    Type F
    Hungary and Slovakia
    Type J
    Switzerland
  • Vaccines
    • These are only indications, so please visit your doctor before you travel to be 100% sure.
    • Tick-borne encephalitis - Recommended for Austria.Germany.Hungary.Slovakia.Switzerland. Ideally 6 months before travel.
    • Hepatitis A - Recommended for Hungary.Slovakia. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
    • Hepatitis B - Recommended for Hungary.Slovakia. Ideally 2 months before travel.
  • Visa
    • Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
    • Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
  • Payment information
    • For any tour departing before July 19th, 2026 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after July 19th, 2026, a minimum payment of 100% is required to confirm your booking with Emerald Cruises. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 95 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
    • The following cards are accepted for "Emerald Cruises" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
  • Cancellation Policy
  • Accessibility
    Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveler, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team, who are ready and waiting to help you.

Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

2

ChildrenUnder 18

0

Select departure month

2026

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2027

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2028

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec