As Europe’s second-longest river, the Rhine takes in a lot along its 1,230km, including six countries. This variety means there’s plenty of scope for river cruise excursions on the Rhine, with every port of call offering passengers something different to experience and enjoy.
But what are the must-sees along this mighty river Rhine? And which are the best river cruise excursions as you glide (up or down) it? All the answers are in this article!
>>> Get some background information on Rhine River cruises
Best river cruise excursions on the Rhine to experience its cities
As it flows from Switzerland to the Netherlands via Austria, Germany and France, the Rhine stops at several of Europe’s most picturesque cities. Be sure to join a river cruise excursion to tour the following urban gems:
Amsterdam
The Venice of the North needs no introduction, and a Rhine cruise gives you the chance to discover the delights of Amsterdam’s 100km or so of canals as well as the Rijksmuseum and all the other attractions in this lively city.
Basel
One of Switzerland’s most cosmopolitan cities is home to boutique museums, medieval old quarters and, of course, lots of fine chocolate and clocks.
Cochem
This stunning town near Koblenz could easily be the backdrop to a fairytale. It offers quintessential Rhineland scenery, topped with the fine Reichsburg Castle.
Cologne
This German city is most famous for its Gothic cathedral, whose twin towers are among the loveliest in Europe. Don’t miss the old town and the backstory of Eau de Cologne, one of the world’s oldest perfumes.
Heidelberg
Take one look at this pretty city and you immediately understand why it inspired the German Romantic Movement. The Renaissance castle is also a must-see.
>>> Find your perfect Rhine River cruise
Koblenz
This city straddles two great rivers: the Rhine and the Moselle. Both offer spectacular scenery. The old quarter of the city makes for interesting sightseeing too.
Strasbourg
The capital of Europe combines new with old, although its absolute highlights include the famous sandstone cathedral and astronomical clock. Strasbourg also has its own canal network, perfect for continuing your waterway theme.
>>> See more river cruise excursions in Alsace
Best active Rhine river cruise excursions
We’re not suggesting a full workout or anything too strenuous, rather some gentle exercise that allows you to move your body and see some glorious scenery. Why not try the following:
Cycling along the rivers and canals
The flat Rhine and Moselle valleys offer excellent opportunities for easy cycling. Join a guided excursion with a fixed itinerary – for example, to visit a vineyard on the Moselle – or hire your own two wheels and cycle where you fancy.
>>> Find out more about biking and barging
Hiking in the hills and mountains
Rolling hills and lofty mountains flank the Rhine along much of its way, and hiking is one of the best ways to explore them. Check out river cruise excursions to the Black Forest (between Basel and Strasbourg) or walk up to one of the castles, such as Hohenbaden near Baden Baden.
>>> Ask us about Avalon’s Active & Discovery cruises
Best Rhine river cruise sight-seeing excursions
Unsurprisingly, this river houses several UNESCO World Heritage sites, all well worth seeking out on your cruise. Below, we list some of them you can see on an excursion.
Grande-Île
Strasbourg lays claim to several UNESCO jewels, but perhaps the most attractive is this island, joined to the city by 21 bridges. Expect picture-perfect canals, lanes and gardens, with the city’s famous half-timbered houses taking centre stage.
Ida and Grube Messel
A must for anthropologists and lovers of fossils, this site boasts one of the largest fossil deposits in Europe. It’s also home to ‘Ida’, the world’s most complete primate fossil, unearthed in 1983.
Kinderdijk windmills
With 19 windmills dotting the landscape, scenery doesn’t get more Dutch than this. The complex dates back to the mid-18th century and includes dykes and pumping stations responsible for keeping the Netherlands out of water.
Porta Nigra
This fine Roman gate ranks among the best in Europe and dominates the town centre at Trier. The Black Gate is the only survivor of four in the town and offers excellent views from its three-storey towers.
Speyer Cathedral
One of several UNESCO cathedrals on the Rhine, this one ranks among the best examples of Romanesque architecture in Europe. Its elegant red sandstone façade is particularly stunning at sundown.
Upper Middle Rhine Valley
This entire 65km stretch of the Rhine ranks as a World Heritage site, awarded the accolade because of its scenery, history and architecture. Some 40 castles line the route that also includes several famous gorges, such as the Loreley, where the river is only 130m wide.
Best food and wine river cruise excursions on the Rhine
No river cruise would be complete without trying the local gastronomy, and a Rhine cruise combines delicious regional dishes and some of the finest wine in Europe.
Food excursions
Central Europe is famous for its cheese and cold cuts, best seen and sampled at a fresh food market. Excursions from Rhine river cruises include visits to local markets where you can taste and buy this deliciousness for yourself.
The best river Rhine markets include:
- The Marché de Broglie in Strasbourg where foodie treats accompany local arts and crafts in a covered market next to the cathedral and opera house.
- The once-weekly Tanzbrunnen market in Cologne specialises in fish and seafood between April and November.
- In Basel, the Marktplatz has a daily food market with lots of local specialities, including plenty of Swiss cheese.
- Lindengracht Market in Amsterdam is supposedly the city’s best food market and also a good spot to pick up a spare part for your bike!
Wine excursions
A full Rhine river cruise takes you through two of Europe’s most renowned wine-growing regions, Alsace and the Moselle. It therefore goes without saying that some of the most popular excursions are those involving vineyard tours.
>>> Read our guide to Alsace wines
Alsace Wine Route
This 160km route takes you around the vineyards making up the 13 terroirs in Alsace and allows you to discover its best wines. It also passes through more than 100 villages, each as pretty as the next and quintessentially Alsatian.
You won’t get time for the whole route during your river cruise, but try to join an excursion taking in part of it. If you’re cruising in wine-growing season or harvest, check out local festivities themed around le bon vin.
Moselle Wine Route
Considerably shorter than its Alsatian sister, this route covers three wine-producing regions and around a dozen vineyards. The Moselle river accompanies you all the way, making this wine route a perfect combo of grapes and water!
Trying local wines
As well as sampling local wines at the vineyards, you can also sample Alsace and Moselle wines on your cruise. All hotel barges and river cruise ships serve them at mealtime, giving you the chance to see for yourself why these crisp whites are so palatable.
>>> Check out these cruises exploring vineyards on the Rhine and Moselle
Best river cruise excursions on the Rhine at Christmas
And last but not least, Rhine Christmas markets, an essential part of festive celebrations in all the countries along the river. So, if you’re cruising the Rhine in late November or December, don’t miss an excursion to a local Yuletide market.
Every city, large town and a good number of villages have a Christmas market, ranging from a full-blown festive experience to just a few twinkling stalls. But whatever the size, mulled wine, Christmas sweetmeats and themed crafts are staples wherever you are.
Our top picks for Christmas market excursions on the Rhine include the following:
- Basel – lots of festive atmosphere and the local Läckerli gingerbread.
- Colmar – the 180+ stalls at six Christmas markets add extra oomph to the city’s fairytale setting.
- Frankfurt – the Mother of all Weihnachtsmarkts has several markets around the city.
- Koblenz – another biggie covering six locations and providing the chance to try mulled wine made with white Riesling.
>>> Find out more about Christmas markets on Rhine river cruises
Can’t wait to try these Rhine river cruise excursions?
All the holidays we offer on the Rhine offer excursions taking in the very best of this majestic waterway. Find out exactly what’s on offer by contacting our team today.
