Rhine River Cruises
Did you know that there are more than 40 medieval castles and fortresses along the Rhine Gorge?. Sail down the mighty Rhine in total comfort, enjoying some of the best locations as you go. Head to Cologne and visit the iconic cathedral, try local wines in Rüdesheim, and simply gaze in awe at the sights around you. This river is legendary, and your trip will be, too.
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Anyone that books this tour will already realise that it is fitting a lot in a short space of time. Is it tiring? Yes. Do you get to see and experience a lot ? Yes. Sam our driver and Myra our tour guide were absolute stars. Both went out of their way to make our experience the best it could possibly be. If you have limited time and want a great taste of 7 countries in 8 days, then do this tour. Accomodation varied but was great some nights and average on others. The included meals were great and pleasantly surprised me. Overall, a very good tour at a great price, made even more special by Sam and Myra taking amazing care of us.
European VistasThis was our first cruise, so our expectations were based only on what we imagined. The booking process with TourRadar was clear and easy. We very much enjoyed our A-ROSA Rhine Experience Netherlands & Belgium 2026 cruise! The entire crew was very friendly and accommodating. The food and bevvies were really good. The destinations were interesting and fun to explore. We liked this cruise so much that another A-ROSA is likely in our future.
Rhine Experience Netherlands & Belgium 2026I enjoy this trip, I'm happy..
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Table of contents
- The best Rhine cruises
- Travel Rhine your way
- Best tour companies
- Popular Rhine Cruise Ships
- Best places to start your adventure
- Discover Rhine tours for every budget
- Rhine tours for every type of group
- Top Rhine travel itineraries to fit your plans
- Demographics
- Best time to visit
- Contact our Rhine travel experts
The best Rhine cruises
Compiled by
MelissaRhine travel expert at TourRadar
European Vistas
“Great experience. Wake up early and go to bed late.”
Vionnette, traveled in September
Duration 8 days Destinations Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, France, Belgium Age Range Ages 10+ River RhineSeine Operator Travel Chasers formerly Expat Explore From $2,010
19% off- US$1,635
Europe Explorer
“he let us do our own thing and even helped us where he could”
Richard, traveled in July
Duration 18 days Destinations Netherlands, Belgium, France, Andorra, Spain, Monaco, Italy, Vatican City (Holy See), Switzerland, Germany Age Range Ages 10+ River RhineSeine Operator Travel Chasers formerly Expat Explore From $4,565
23% off- US$3,505
Rhine Experience Netherlands & Belgium 2026
“very comfortable room, pleasant staff, excellent food.”
Paula, traveled in September
A-ROSA AQUA navigates past Cologne Cathedral and Emmerich's iconic bridge. Dutch fortress town Willemstad and historic Gorinchem offer cultural highlights, complemented by luxury amenities and regional cuisine during the 8-day voyage.
Duration 8 days Destinations Germany, Netherlands, Belgium Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, German Ship A-ROSA AQUA River Rhine Operator A-ROSA From
23% off- US$1,695
The luxurious A-ROSA AQUA, complete with balcony cabins and spa access, takes you to Cologne's Cathedral, Frankfurt's banking district, and Rüdesheim's famous Drosselgasse. The route includes Christmas markets in 5 historic German towns, featuring evening entertainment by local performers and traditional Rüdesheim coffee tasting.
Duration 5 days Destinations Cologne, Rudesheim am Rhein, Mainz, Frankfurt-am-Main, Koblenz Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, German Ships A-ROSA SILVAA-ROSA AQUAA-ROSA BRAVA River RhineMain Operator A-ROSA From
23% off- US$576
Classical Rhine Cruise (Amsterdam - Basel, 12 destinations)
“The cabin and food very very good and every day we received a written program for the activities of the next day.”
Renee, traveled in July
Duration 8 days Destinations Netherlands, Germany, France, Switzerland Age Range Ages 8+ Operated in English, German Ship Amadeus Riva River Rhine Operator Lueftner Cruises From
23% off- US$2,769
Rhine Highlights 2026 - 8 Days (15 destinations)
“Excursions were very good with varied options and terrific guides.”
Frederick, traveled in April
Duration 8 days Destinations Netherlands, Germany, France, Switzerland Age Range Ages 18+ Ship Scenic Opal River Rhine Operator Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours From
23% off- US$5,965
Duration 15 days Destinations Hungary, Austria, Germany, Netherlands Age Range Ages 18+ Ships Scenic Jewel Scenic Opal Scenic Amber River DanubeRhineMain Operator Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours From
23% off- US$9,195
Explore our featured Rhine tours
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Travel Rhine your way
More travel styles:
Best tour companies
Popular Rhine Cruise Ships
Best places to start your adventure
Discover Rhine tours for every budget
Rhine tours for every type of group
Who are you traveling with?
Top Rhine travel itineraries to fit your plans
Demographics
Solo Travelers600 tours- Couples639 tours
- Seniors (50+)528 tours
Best time to visit
- Fall / Autumn 2026
Fall turns the Rhine Valley golden and red, making it prime time for cruises between Amsterdam and Basel in either direction. The vineyard hillsides change color beautifully, setting up perfect wine-focused trips through the Rhine Gorge. Our guests particularly like autumn cruises with wine tastings in Rudesheim - you can try local Rieslings while watching the grape harvest in nearby vineyards. Cool temperatures make it just right for getting active - you might hike Heidelberg's Philosopher's Path or cycle through Strasbourg's old town without summer crowds. When evening comes, entertainment moves inside, often with local musicians joining while ships dock in riverside towns.
- October 2026 popular 84 tours
- 83 tours
- Winter 2026 / 2027
Winter brings something special to the Rhine, particularly in December when Christmas markets fill the historic squares. The Dusseldorf round-trip route on MS Crucevita takes you to festive markets in Koblenz, Rudesheim and also Mainz. Our guests tell us how much they love wandering from the ship right into these easy-to-find markets, with the boat's seasonal decorations adding just the right touch to the experience. There's also a popular route through Vienna, Budapest and also Bratislava, where traditional markets pop up against beautiful baroque buildings. The crews make winter trips extra welcoming - they're known for adding thoughtful festive details that turn cold-weather sailing into something really memorable.
- December 2026 popular 84 tours
- Spring 2027
Spring sets up perfect conditions for Rhine cruising, especially when Dutch tulip fields burst into color. The Amsterdam-based Tulip Serenade aboard AMADEUS Riva lets you mix city visits with time at Keukenhof Gardens while millions of bulbs bloom. Our travelers particularly enjoy combining cultural stops in medieval Ghent and Bruges with countryside bike rides past windmills and also canals. The Basel to Amsterdam route shows off riverbanks dotted with wildflowers, plus you'll get to explore Strasbourg's cathedral and walk through the Black Forest as it wakes up for spring. The mild temperatures work perfectly for active outings - think guided cycling through Cologne or hiking above Rudesheim's vineyards.
- March 2027 91 tours
- April 2027 136 tours
- May 2027 popular 171 tours
- Summer 2027
Summer along the Rhine means long daylight hours that make scenic cruising through the gorge especially good. The Basel to Amsterdam routes get lots of praise for their outdoor dining spots and open-air viewing areas - just right for watching castles go by on warm evenings. Active options really shine in summer, with cycling tours, vineyard walks and also gondola rides above the river. MS Crucevita's summer sailings earn great feedback, especially for stops in Koblenz, Rudesheim and also Strasbourg. The crews set up fantastic outdoor activities, from deck barbecues to evening shows under the stars while docked in small wine towns.
- June 2027 160 tours
- July 2027 175 tours
- August 2027 popular 178 tours
Contact our Rhine travel experts
Kaitlyn
Expert in Rhine at TourRadar
Kaitlyn is one of our seasoned Rhine Travel Experts. Reach out to us to get all your questions about Rhine tours answered!
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