1/21/2024 0 Comments Euro comparisonAvalon Waterways brings a World War II expert on board to add insight on select sailings. Your visit to the beaches and the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, as well as other memorials and monuments to the fallen, is a poignant experience (one that requires a two-hour bus ride from your ship, however). The real attractions of a Seine river cruise are sailing on the river outside the city toward the English Channel and a visit to the beaches in Normandy for a perspective on World War II. Sure, you can catch sight of the Eiffel Tower when boarding a river ship in Paris, but you can do that while staying in a hotel. Related: 5 cruise lines to try if you just can't stand being around kids on vacation SeineĪ view of the Seine River in Paris. The French city of Strasbourg with its famous Gothic cathedral and robust Alsatian culinary scene is often a favorite stop on Rhine itineraries, with other highlights including Heidelberg, Germany, with its imposing castle. This 40-mile stretch of river, between Rudesheim and Koblenz, Germany, has castles galore (you may imagine Rapunzel letting down her hair) and Lorelei Rock, the legendary cliff said to distract sailors with the mesmerizing song of a maiden. That's even before you get to the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A cruise on the river between Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and Basel, Switzerland - a typical one-week route - takes you past expanses of slope-side vineyards, forests and mountains, historic cities and medieval half-timbered villages. When it comes to top cruising rivers in Europe, the Rhine wins for natural beauty and fairy tale landscapes. Lower Danubeĭrachenburg Castle along Germany's Rhine River. Related: Booking your first river cruise? Here's what you need to know. A surprise for many is Old Town Bratislava, Slovakia, which may not have been on your must-do list, but charms with its beer culture and castles. You may also have the option of a side trip to Salzburg, Austria, the birthplace of Mozart - and also where several scenes for the movie "Sound of Music" were filmed. It's also a great place to bike, which is why I prefer to be on ships with bikes such as those of AmaWaterways. If your ship passes the Hungarian Parliament building at night you are in for a treat magnificently lit, it's one of the most photographed sights on the river.Īlong the route, between Melk and Krems in Austria, you cruise through the Wachau Valley, a key wine-growing region producing rieslings and gruner veltliners, with sipping opportunities available. Ships visit such cultural hubs as Vienna, with its opera and art museums and elaborate royal palaces, and Budapest, Hungary, with its magnificent architecture and modern vibe. Upper Danubeīy signing up, you will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. Here are the nine best river cruises in Europe. Even if your cruise is only a week, don't underestimate the allure of relaxing for seven days on a river in France or on the dreamy Douro in Portugal. These are by far the most popular, doable either on one-week segments or longer itineraries that combine areas and sometimes combine rivers. The main rivers in Europe are the Danube and the Rhine and their tributaries. Which European river should you explore? The choices are broader than you may expect.įor more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter. Lazy afternoons on the ship afford the time to sit in a lounge chair and watch the world go by - kids swimming from the riverbanks, farmers tending their crops, river birds flapping their wings - as you glide to your next destination. Or you can choose to explore on your own, which is easy since your ship often will dock right in town. You're in a small floating hotel, exploring calm inland waters, gliding past castles and vineyards, and scenery that changes by the hour.ĭaily escorted walking tours and other excursions, provided by the river line, get you to key UNESCO World Heritage Sites and other city and village attractions you've come to see. River cruising in Europe is one of those delightfully slow and easy modes of travel.
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