Main River Cruises

The Main river flows through the heart of Germany from modern, densely populated Mainz to more traditional medieval Bavarian towns lined with lovely forests and small towns and dotted with hilltop castles and churches.  Choose from 1,900 river cruises along the Main river travelling with Europe's leading river cruise lines.

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Search 1,900 river cruise departures along the Main

Popular River Cruises

6 Days Frankfurt to Nuremberg

Operator: Avalon River Cruises

From 4,484pp
Save 750pp

6 Days Frankfurt to Nuremberg

Operator: Avalon River Cruises

From 4,853pp
Save 836pp

8 Days Prague to Frankfurt

Operator: Avalon River Cruises

From 5,568pp
Save 783pp

8 Days Nuremberg to Frankfurt

Operator: Uniworld River Cruises

From 6,201pp
Save 1,796pp

The Main River

Map of the Main River

Where does the Main River start & finish?

The Main River originates from two sources: the Red Main and the White Main, which merge near the town of Kulmbach in Germany. The river flows westward, ultimately joining the Rhine River at the city of Mainz. The Main spans a total length of approximately 525 km's (326 miles).

Architectural Timeline

Cruising the Main River offers a journey through architectural history. From the medieval structures in Bamberg to the modern skyscrapers of Frankfurt, you'll witness an evolving skyline as you sail along.

Beer & Smoked Fish

The Main passes through Bamberg, known for its smoked beer (Rauchbier) and smoked fish. Many cruises offer culinary excursions that give you a taste of these local specialities, something some of us might pass on!

Art & Culture in Würzburg

This city along the Main is home to the Würzburg Residenz, a baroque palace with the world's largest ceiling fresco. An excursion here is often a highlight, offering a glimpse into the opulence of 18th-century German nobility.

Popular starting ports for cruising the Main River

Frankfurt and Nuremberg serve as popular points of departure or arrival for a Main River cruise.

From the North Sea to the Black Sea

The Main River is that it is part of the Main-Danube Canal system, which makes it possible to travel by river from the North Sea to the Black Sea. What's surprising is that this ambitious idea dates back to Charlemagne in the early 9th century. The modern canal was only completed in 1992, fulfilling a concept that was over a thousand years in the making.

River Cruise Operators on the Main River Featured Operators

APT
APT
Life-enriching, relaxing and unique – an APT river cruise is the ultimate holiday experience. Discover unforgettable destinations as you travel in total more comfort and style. From Europe to Africa and the mighty Mekong River, APT has a diverse range of river cruises, and you’ll wake up most mornings in a new location, ready to explore fresh and exciting sights. Timeless luxury, exclusive experiences, life enriching moments and true personalisation. APT offers all-inclusive holidays so everything is taken care of. We invite you to join us; you won’t be disappointed.
Main Rivers223
Budget:Premium & Luxury
Known For:Aussie Specialist
Fleet Size:8
Uniworld
Once you step onboard the world’s finest and most awarded river cruise line for the first time, we are quite sure the refined luxury onboard our fleet more will sweep you off your feet.

We draw our inspiration for the design philosophy of every one of the 17 ships in our fleet directly from the destination in which they sail. The craftsmanship, the attention to detail, the art onboard, the handcrafted furniture and intricacy of the fabrics are lovingly assembled to be a masterpiece in and of itself. Stepping onboard is to step into a world of beautiful colours and one-of-a-kind details that truly bring your destination to life.

Crafting experiences you can’t find anywhere else, means continuing to elevate Uniworld to new heights year after year. From the addition of four new Super Ships in Egypt, Vietnam, Portugal and Italy, to the award winning service that comes from the heart, we’re putting even more emphasis on what’s onboard to enhancing several itineraries to accommodate guest’s diverse tastes for the future. We truly look forward to welcoming our Australian guests onboard.
Main Rivers36
Budget:Luxury
Known For:Boutique River Cruising
Fleet Size:20
AmaWaterways
From the moment you step aboard AmaWaterways award-winning ships you'll be welcomed by a dedicated crew committed to making your voyage unforgettable. more Sail through the heart of Europe, Asia, or Africa and explore enchanting destinations while indulging in exquisite, locally inspired cuisine and world-class amenities. AmaWaterways thoughtfully designed excursions immerse you in the rich culture and history of each port with every detail of your itinerary crafted to exceed your expectations and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Main Rivers36
Budget:Premium
Known For:Luxury & Wellness
Fleet Size:29

Discover

Must Do Experiences and Highlights
Miltenberg Miltenberg
Step into a storybook and journey through rich medieval history with a visit to Gothic St. Jakobus Church, Miltenberg Castle with its panoramic views, or Miltenberg's vibrant Market Square.
Würzburg Würzburg
Marvel at iconic landmarks such as Marienberg Fortress with its sweeping city vistas or UNESCO-listed Würzburg Residence. Perhaps even sample a drop of vintage from the surrounding Franconian wine region.
Rothenburg Rothenburg
With its half-timbered houses and cobblestone streets, Rothenberg is a Bavarian medieval gem. Visit the Crime Museum, or explore the Marktplatz, Gothic town hall and iconic clock tower.
Bamberg Bamberg
Visit Bamberg's Old Town Hall and find yourself in the middle of a bridge! Admire the fusion of architecture at Bamberg Cathedral, or wet your whistle with some 'Rauchbier' - a smoke-flavoured beer.
Nuremberg Nuremberg
Integral to our modern history, Zeppelin Field and the Palace of Justice are some noteworthy WWII sites to visit during your time in Nuremberg. Or choose to explore more medieval marvels at Nuremberg Castle.

Latest Reviews

What our clients are saying about their journeys along the Main
One of our very best holidays   Grand European Tour , VIC, Australia, May 2026
After doing several ocean cruises, we did our first river cruise and it will not be the last. We really enjoyed the 15 days on the Danube and Rhine, sailing from Budapest to Amsterdam. Got to know most of the 180 odd passengers on the cruise and they were very friendly, outgoing and supportive. Cruising along the scenic Wachau Valley and the Mid-Rhine read more wine growing area and castles along the rivers were spectacular. The cruise staff took good care of us and obliged to all our requests.
Jewels of Europe Jewels of Europe , AB, Canada, May 2026
Scenic Jade. Amsterdam to Budapest amazing , spectacular, 5 star service. For our very first ever cruise this five cruise was exceptional. Our tour host Richard was fantastic from organizing tours to entertaining guests answering questions. Fantastic. Everyone was friendly and accommodating with all our needs and want through our whole journey. read more Food was top notch with a different dinner selection every night. Worth every dollar spent. Highly recommend this all inclusive river cruise.
Wonderful river cruise Jewels of Europe , SA, Australia, Apr 2026
Our cruise with Scenic exceeded all expectations. The ship, the food, the staff and the excursions were all excellent. Highly recommend Scenic and we will be travelling with them again. Global Journeys provided excellent service and were always very quick to respond to my questions.
Scenic Jewel European Cruise Jewels of Europe , ACT, Australia, Apr 2026
We thoroughly enjoyed the trip. It was very well plan. Food and excursion are first class. We are very happy with Scenic and also the service of Georgina and Global Journeys.
Happy river cruising Magnificent Europe , Australia, Mar 2026
Thanks APT for supporting us navigate the difficulties caused by the outbreak of war in the middle east.We were able to change our flights and undertake our planned trip from Budapest to Amsterdam. Special thanks to Global Journeys staff for their guidance and patient reassurance. The cruise was all we had hoped for and the ship, staff, meals and organisation read more were excellent. We met a diverse range of fellow travelers whose company we enjoyed. We would have no hesitation in recommending APT to others.
European Gems European Gems , NSW, Australia, Dec 2025
Have travelled with several other cruises lines and whilst Travelmarvel was very nice, we found it at the lower end of the scale. But it was very well priced in comparison so I guess you get what you pay for. We felt the cruise director was was hard to understand whenever she held a microphone and at times tried to give out too much information at once read more which had the guest bored and not listening. The meals were excellent but the tours only basic.