What is the best river to cruise in Europe?

The Danube and Rhine are the most popular rivers for first-time river cruisers to Europe. Either cruising the Rhine on its own or combined to form the ever-popular 15 Day Amsterdam to Budapest itinerary (and its reverse) which are popular for travellers that have the time to spend or with Aussies and Kiwis that look to maximise their experience when travelling all the way to Europe. Both the Danube and Rhine include all you'd expect to experience on a river cruise - cities, castles, wine, food, history and stunning scenery.

If you've previously cruised on either river and are looking for something new, then that is where the regional rivers come into their own.

Cruising France's Normandy region on the Seine is a great option. The weather in that region can be temperamental, but it's an easy cruise to link up with European flights, as the itineraries always start and end in Paris. Think picturesque towns, the D-Day Landing Beaches, French food and wine and meandering through the unique coastal port town of Honfleur.

Another increasingly popular choice is Portugal's Douro River. Known for its relaxed atmosphere, spectacular vineyard scenery and reliable sunshine from May to October, we recommend the Douro for travellers seeking a slower-paced alternative to the Rhine or Danube. Ships on the Douro are smaller, carrying around 100 guests compared to the 130–190 passengers found on ships sailing Europe's main rivers. Most ships are modern, purpose-built and designed specifically for the river, giving the region one of the newest fleets in Europe.

Every European river has its own character and highlights. Choosing the right one depends on how much time you have available, what inspires you most - whether that's history, culture, food and wine, or scenery - and which bucket-list destinations you'd like to experience along the way. Once you have a river in mind, Global Journeys makes it easy to compare live departures, current pricing, special offers, cabin availability and leading river cruise lines - all in one place. You can browse by river, operator, month, duration or travel style, then shortlist your preferred cruises or speak with one of our river cruise specialists.

Europe's wine regions and river cruising go hand in hand, so you'll find plenty of opportunities to sample local and regional wines both onboard and during your shore excursions. The best choice of river depends on the wine style and experience you're looking for, but the Douro, Bordeaux, Rhône and Saône and Moselle are the standout options for wine lovers.

The Douro River in Portugal is one of the most immersive wine-focused river cruises in Europe. Cruises sail from Porto through the terraced Douro Valley, with visits to port wine estates, family-run quintas and vineyard towns such as Régua and Pinhão. It is a wonderful choice if you want a slower-paced cruise where the scenery, wine and regional hospitality are the main event.

For travellers who want the classic “wine country” experience, Bordeaux is hard to beat. These river cruises explore the Garonne, Dordogne and Gironde waterways, with excursions to celebrated wine areas such as the Médoc and Saint-Émilion. Bordeaux is less about ticking off big cities and more about châteaux, vineyard visits, tastings, regional cuisine and the prestige of one of the world’s great wine capitals.

In France, the Rhône and Saône are ideal if you want wine with a broader food-and-culture experience. These cruises often combine Burgundy and Provence, with time in places such as Lyon, Beaune, Avignon and Arles. Expect a strong focus on regional dining, local food markets, vineyard landscapes and wines from areas such as Burgundy, Beaujolais, Côtes du Rhône and Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

The Moselle, often combined with the Rhine, winds past steep vineyard slopes, small German wine towns and castle-topped hillsides. It is especially appealing for lovers of Riesling and for repeat river cruisers looking for something quieter than the busier “classic” routes.

The Rhine also deserves a mention, particularly if your itinerary includes the Rhine Gorge, Alsace, Rüdesheim or a Rhine & Moselle combination. It may not be as wine-led as Bordeaux or the Douro, but it offers a great mix of castles, vineyards, historic towns, making it a strong choice if you want wine to be part of a broader “classic” Europe river cruise.

The Rhine Gorge, Moselle Valley, Douro Valley and the Danube’s Wachau Valley are all strong contenders for the “best scenery” on Europe's rivers. The Rhine Gorge is the classic choice for castles lining its riverbanks, along with vineyards and historic towns, especially through the UNESCO-listed Middle Rhine. The Moselle feels more intimate as you wind past steep Riesling vineyards, storybook villages and hilltop castles. Portugal’s Douro Valley is more dramatic and sun-baked, with terraced vineyards carved into its hillsides, while the Wachau Valley on the Danube combines abbeys, wine villages, orchards and beautiful Austrian countryside.

The Danube and Rhine are the best-known rivers for Christmas market cruises, with the Main river also featuring on many festive itineraries through Germany. On Danube Christmas market cruises you'll often visit cities such as Vienna, Budapest, Bratislava, Passau and Nuremberg - with their grand squares, classical music, festive lights and traditional Austrian and German markets.

Rhine Christmas cruises are ideal if you like cathedral cities, riverside old towns and markets in places such as Cologne, Strasbourg, Rüdesheim and Basel. The Main is often included on longer Rhine–Main–Danube routes and this allows you to visit historic Franconian towns such as Würzburg, Bamberg and Nuremberg.

For your first Christmas market river cruise, the Danube is hard to beat for the festive atmosphere and variety of markets, while the Rhine is an excellent choice for classic German and Alsace-style festive scenery.

The Rhine, Moselle, Danube and Holland & Belgium waterways are all good choices for active travellers.

Look closely at the cruise line's itinerary and the excursions they have on offer too, with Avalon, AmaWaterways and Emerald Cruises being good choices for travellers who want more active excursion options. Some river cruise companies do not have bikes available on board, but may still offer cycling excursions through local operators.

Once you've narrowed down which European river you'd like to explore, the next step is choosing the right itinerary and river cruise line. Our experienced travel advisors can help you compare your options, or you can browse reviews from past Global Journeys travellers to see how different cruises, ships and operators have delivered in real life. You can also compare European river cruise companies, or view all Europe river cruise itineraries to weigh up inclusions, shore excursions, cabin styles, live pricing, availability and reviews.