Rhine River Cruises

Embark on a river cruise along the Rhine - stretching from the Swiss Alps to the North Sea you'll cruise through France, Germany and the Netherlands. Choose from 3,622 river cruises along the Rhine travelling with the world's leading river cruise lines.

Popular River Cruises View all

Featured

15 Days Amsterdam to Basel

Operator: Tauck

From 12,010

8 Days Amsterdam to Basel

Operator: Avalon River Cruises

From 4,314
Save 1,941

8 Days Amsterdam to Basel

Operator: Uniworld River Cruises

From 4,160
Save 2,563

8 Days Basel to Amsterdam

Operator: Avalon River Cruises

From 4,440
Save 1,939

The Rhine River

Map of the Rhine River

Where does the Rhine start & finish?

The Rhine River originates in the Swiss Alps and flows through six countries including Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, France, and the Netherlands. The river ultimately empties into the North Sea at Rotterdam after covering a distance of approximately 1,230 kms (760 miles), making it one of Europe's major rivers.

Castle-Studded Journey

The Rhine boasts the highest concentration of castles in the world along its Middle Rhine section, particularly between Koblenz and Bingen. This stretch is known as the "Romantic Rhine" and offers a fairy-tale backdrop.

The Lorelei Rock

This steep rock on the eastern bank of the Rhine near St. Goarshausen, Germany, has inspired myths and legends for centuries. According to folklore, a siren named Lorelei bewitches sailors from atop the rock, causing them to crash — adding a dash of intrigue to your journey.

Culinary Cruising

The Rhine valley is not just rich in scenic beauty but also in gastronomy. It's a wine lover's paradise, with regions like Alsace in France and the Rheingau in Germany producing some of the world's finest Rieslings.

Popular starting ports for cruising the Rhine

Amsterdam, Basel, Cologne and Zurich are the most common logistical starting ports for your Rhine river cruise.

Rhine in Flames

If you time it right, you could experience the "Rhine in Flames," an annual event where spectacular firework displays are set off from castles and boats, illuminating the river. It's a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle that adds magic to your river cruise.

FEATURED RIVER CRUISE OPERATORSFeatured Operators View all

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.
Rhine Rivers171
Budget:Premium & Luxury
Known For:Aussie Specialist
Fleet Size:10
Amadeus
Why pay for other people’s drinks? Why pay for shore excursions that don’t interest you? Family-owned Amadeus has spent 40-years' perfecting the balance...more without compromising quality. Beer, wine and soft drinks at lunch and dinner, but not during the day. Only pay for the shore excursions you want. Book an excursion package in advance for a discount or book individual excursions as you go. Gourmet dining, wi-fi, bottled water in cabins and of course one of the most luxurious five-star fleets on the European waterways. To quote a regular repeat guest “Amadeus are fantastic. A really great product and the crew are all so beautiful”. We look forward to welcoming you aboard.
Rhine Rivers56
Budget:Premium
Known For:Austrian Heritage
Fleet Size:10
Travelmarvel
Make the most of Europe’s waterways on Travelmarvel’s three new European river ships: Polaris, Capella and Vega. Combining state-of-the-art design with...more more dining options and social spaces, the contemporary-class ships will offer a relaxed new standard of cruise. Or perhaps a river cruise on the life-giving Ganges or Mekong to get to the heart of these colourful and spiritual nations. Experience life in their small villages, whose communities have much to teach us about their local culture and customs.
Rhine Rivers212
Budget:Premium
Known For:Contemporary Cruises
Fleet Size:9

Discover Must Do Experiences and Highlights

Amsterdam

Amsterdam

Cycle the streets and explore the winding canals. Or dive into the arts with a visit to the Van Gogh Museum and explore the Rijksmuseum, with works dating back to the Middle Ages.

Cologne

Cologne

Discover medieval treasures and vibrant galleries in Old Town, visit the Dom, Germany's largest cathedral, or just sit back and enjoy a crisp Kölsch beer - only brewed in Cologne - Prost!

Rüdesheim

Rüdesheim

Delight in picturesque Rüdesheim with a stroll through Drosselgasse lane, sample wines from the surrounding Rhine Valley vineyards or marvel at the Mechanical Music Museum.

Strasbourg

Strasbourg

A cultural fusion of France and Germany, Strasbourg's UNESCO World Heritage Grande Île does not disappoint, showcasing the Strasbourg Cathedral as well as the charming la Petite France.

Freiburg

Freiburg

Set in Germany's Black Forest Region, take in the expansive views of this vibrant and eco-friendly town from Schlossberg, or quietly wander down cobblestone streets in Münster market.

Latest Reviews What our clients are saying about their journeys along the Rhine

Amsterdam to Budapest 5th May 2024   , NSW, Australia, May 2024
It was the most wonderful, well organised trip. The luxury on the Avalon Passion was beyond our expectations.. the staff were all welcoming and helpful.. and the food always reflected the region you were passing through. The excursions gave you many options or you could just choose to relax with a coffee, hot chocolate, on board.
Emerald European River Cruise   , NSW, Australia, May 2024
Have just returned from an European river cruise Amsterdam to Budapest with Emerald booked with Hannah. Communication was fast and efficient. Flights, transfers, hotel accommodation and cruise all ran smoothly. The cruise itself was amazing! We will definitely book our next holiday will Global Journeys…..thank you.
Wonderful river cruise Budapest to Amsterdam   , QLD, Australia, Apr 2024
We really enjoyed our river cruise with Travelmarvel from Budapest to Amsterdam in April 2024. We stayed a couple of nights before the cruise at Hotel Vision which was across the road from the Danube River and the dock where we met our cruise. We booked this accommodation ourselves. The hotel was excellent. The map that Travelmarvel provide which shows ...read more where to meet the ship in Budapest is not that accurate. The ship docks the day before the new cruise starts, so it was easy to check out where to go by walking along the river and finding the ship. There are lots of river ships docked in Budapest so be aware the ship might move a little overnight but it will be in the same general area. Budapest is a beautiful city and well worth having a few extra days there. The night cruise to see Budapest all lit up was amazing on the first night that we were on the ship. Amsterdam however was overwhelming. It was incredibly busy - bikes, trams, buses, people all crowded together. We were glad to leave as soon as the cruise was over.

We travelled on the Vega. It was a beautiful ship. It just glides through the water, you hardly know you are moving. The cruise director, Janos, was fabulous. Nothing was too much trouble, and he was very organised. There are a few optional excursions that you can choose to go on, which are an additional cost. We did 3 of them and found them worthwhile. There is no pressure to participate, the alternate option is to stay on the ship which is no hardship.

The food was great. Beer, wine and softdrink was included at lunch and dinner and glasses were really filled up for as long as you are dining. It was great to unpack and just enjoy the cruise. Most days you woke up you were in a new town or heading towards one.

We are around 64 years of age and I think we would have been in the youngest third of the passengers. There were some quite fit 70+ year olds on the cruise. Age doesn't define the ability to be active. There were also some less active older people who were very adequately catered for. When we left the ship to go on bus or walking tours there was nearly always a buss or tour for the gentle walkers who were less mobile. There was exercise, stretch sessions on the ship every morning for those that wanted to participate.

Travelmarvel did their best to cater for all the guests and ensure everyone had as good a holiday as possible.
Travelmarvel cruise   , QLD, Australia, Mar 2024
We enjoyed our cruise very much. The service provided by the crew was excellent, without exception. The meals provided were fabulous. Special mention for the Cruise Director who ensured all activities and excursions were very well organised. We enjoyed good company, good wine and plenty of opportunity for relaxation between excursions. Our cabin ...read more was very comfortable as was the bed. We would be very happy to travel with Travelmarvel again. Booking with Global Journeys was very straightforward, and Maisie was very responsive to my emails.