If you’re thinking of booking a river cruise with RiverVoyages.com, there’s certainly a lot of choice when it comes to destinations. Europe is always popular because of its relatively close proximity to the UK but even then, there’s a large selection of rivers you can explore. With that in mind, here’s a quick guide to what sort of cities and sites you can expect to see on some of Europe’s top rivers.
Dutch-Belgian Waterways
Perfect for anyone in search of an authentic taste of the Netherlands. You’ll typically begin and end your voyage in legendary capital Amsterdam, which will give you plenty of time to experience such historic landmarks as the Anne Frank House. Excursions to the famous tulip fields are also popular and many voyages involve a visit to Kinderdijk, where you’ll be able to see for yourself those iconic white Dutch windmills. Key cities like Rotterdam and Utrecht are also commonly on the agenda.
Rhine
One of the world’s most famous rivers, the Rhine’s perfect if you like to experience both city culture and natural beauty. City highlights on a Rhine cruise include Cologne – home to the stunning World Heritage Site Cathedral The Dom and Strasbourg, which offers a blend of French and German cultures. Then of course there’s the wine-rich Rhine Valley – an area of stunning natural scenery, and the famous Black Forest region.
The Elbe
One of central Europe’s largest rivers, The Elbe is famous for the stunning scenery on offer in eastern Germany, the beautiful Elbe Basin and the breath-taking Saxon Switzerland region. Elbe cruises typically begin in Berlin, giving you the opportunity to explore one of Germany’s most fascinating cities and take in a number of picturesque and history-rich towns en-route to the Czech Republic’s must-see capital Prague.
Danube
The Danube is the perfect river cruise for history, art and culture lovers alike. It’s got its fair share of scenery – Strauss didn’t name his most famous work after it for nothing – but the cities you’ll explore are the biggest draw. Vienna is home to one of the world’s most celebrated opera houses and the magnificent St Stephan’s Cathedral, while Budapest boasts the truly magnificent Parliament Building as well as a host of other architectural treasures.
The Seine
France’s most famous river and one of Europe’s most historic, the Seine is perfect for all those who want to taste the country’s many cultural flavours. They start or end in the Paris, offering you the opportunity to explore one of the world’s most celebrated cities and take you through the beautiful Normandy region, past picturesque chateaux and medieval towns – some with strong historical links to such major figures as Joan of Arc and Monet.
The Rhone
The Rhone is the perfect choice for wine-lovers, as it takes cruisers on a journey through some of France’s most renowned wine-growing regions, such as Burgundy and the beautiful Provence. The Rhone Valley opens cruisers up to a wealth of history dating back to Greek and Roman times and also often include a section of the Saone River, giving cruisers the opportunity to visit one of France’s most beautiful and historic cities – Lyon.
The Douro
Offering a river cruise with a distinctly Mediterranean feel, the Douro runs from Northern Spain to Portugal and ends its journey in the Atlantic. Perfect for lovers of fine scenery and fine vintages, Douro voyages showcases rural Portugal and Spain at their finest as cruisers pass through revered wine-growing regions. You’ll also have the chance to visit Porto in Portugal – home to the country’s celebrated port wine and take a trip to the ancient World Heritage Site city of Salamanca.
