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 3,848 river cruises along the Rhine travelling with the world's leading river cruise lines.

Popular River Cruises View all

Featured

8 Days Amsterdam to Basel

Operator: Avalon River Cruises

From 4,588
Save 1,941

8 Days Basel to Amsterdam

Operator: Avalon River Cruises

From 4,440
Save 1,939

8 Days Amsterdam to Basel

Operator: Uniworld River Cruises

From 3,269
Save 2,563

8 Days Amsterdam to Basel

Operator: Viking River Cruises

From 2,272
Save 2,837

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

Avalon
One of our favourite sayings that describes Avalon Waterways is ‘the possibilities are as wide open as the views’. From Europe to the Galapagos and Asia,...more you can cruise in relaxed luxury with Avalon Waterways, with choices as unique as you. Avalon offers you a range of choices from excursions, dining options, activities that help you tailor your experience. Just imagine gliding away down the world’s most spectacular rivers, all while enjoying a unique vantage point from your own private oasis. Our floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows in our suites blur the line between where the world ends, and your suite begins; allowing you to experience the world less seen from the comfort of your bed. This is river cruising from a unique point of view.
Rhine Rivers212
Budget:Premium
Known For:Panorama Suites
Fleet Size:16
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 Rivers193
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 Rivers61
Budget:Premium
Known For:Austrian Heritage
Fleet Size:10

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

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.
Winter APT Europe river trip   , Qld, Australia, Mar 2024
From the time we arrived in Amsterdam , the APT Group looked after us like VIPs, our flight was delayed ,however APT team stayed back an hour to transfer us to the APT luxury ship, we where lucky enough to have a cabin upgrade on the ship, this was provided and appreciated and was good. We made new friends and many fond memories from the trip and would ...read more recommend APT. As Diamond Members we will again book with Global Journeys and travel with APT group on our next holiday.
Viking Victorious     , NSW, Australia, Mar 2024
My wife and I did a 15 day Grand European River Tour with Viking. They were fantastic and would highly recommend this river cruise. All the staff were wonderful and the food was fantastic. We travelled from Amsterdam to Budapest and went thru 68 lochs.
The scenery was spectacular. Our highlights were Vienna and Budapest. Will be traveling with Viking ...read more again.
Bucket list trip ticked off! Luxury river cruise met all expectations.     , NSW, Australia, Mar 2024
We had a perfect trip on APT luxury river cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest then on to Prague. From the flight with Singapore airlines, the luxurious accommodation on board the AmaVenita, the delicious food at every meal, the caring service and staff, the meticulous transfers, the amazing signature tours and knowledgeable guides…. And much more, made ...read more this memorable and most enjoyable holiday. Thanks to Global for coordinating our trip as well. Look forward to planning the next one!