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Rhine River cruise in Europe

Best Things to Do in Rhine River

Iconic Attractions & Hidden Gem Travel Experiences

Rhine River

The romantic Rhine, which flows more than 700 miles from Switzerland to the North Sea, is home to fairy-tale medieval castles, riverside villages, terraced vineyards, and spooky legends. Having inspired travelers and artists for hundreds of years, it’s now one of the most popular cruising rivers in Europe – with many options available. Let Stride help you sort them all out, and soon you can be humming your own version of “Castle on the Rhine.”

Top Rhine River Experiences

Sailing through the 40-mile-long Rhine Gorge in Germany, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where more than 40 castles and fortresses stand guard on hilltops.

Gazing up at the Lorelei Rock, where a lovelorn siren who plunged to her death is said to haunt the area, luring sailors to their doom in the swirling waters below.

Sipping a fragrant German white wine on deck as you glide past terraced vineyards clinging to steep hillsides.

Watching the world go by from your own balcony as you travel in comfort from Amsterdam to Basel, Switzerland, via Germany and France – by far the most common itinerary.

Spending time before or after the cruise in Amsterdam – with canals for streets, bicycles galore and world-class art museums, it’s one of Europe’s most alluring cities.

Exploring the German city of Cologne, home to one of Europe’s most splendid Gothic cathedrals, known for its signature twin steeples.

Wandering Koblenz, a 2,000-year-old city where the Rhine and Moselle rivers join -- and perhaps taking a scenic side-cruise up the Moselle.

Discovering Heidelberg, the old German university town that showcases stunning medieval architecture and a Gothic castle.

Enjoying an excursion to France’s Strasbourg in Alsace-Lorraine, where French and German customs mix to add flavor to the cultural stew.

Strolling wine-country towns like Kaysersberg in Alsace-Lorraine and Germany’s Rudesheim – their names may be unfamiliar, but you won’t soon forget the storybook settings, or the local vintages.

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Things to do in Rhine River - Expert’s guide

1. Amsterdam

Amsterdam street and canals

Many Rhine River Cruises begin or end in Amsterdam. This city is popular among multiple age groups and types of traveler for it’s laid back atmosphere, canals, and quintessentially European vibe. Grab a bicycle and enjoy an afternoon of cafes, art, and historical sites. The Anne Frank House is a popular attraction in Amsterdam, though be sure to check if your river cruise can help with advance tickets as the lines are consistently long.

2. Neuschwanstein Castle

Neuschwanstein Castle along the Rhine

This fairytale castle in the heart of Bavaria, Germany, is an extremely popular tourist attraction. If your Rhine River cruise includes a stop in Munich, there’s a good chance excursions to Neuschwanstein will be available. Situated in the Black Forest, and conjuring up visions of princesses and fairy tales, Neuschwanstein castle was in fact one of the inspirations for Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty castle.

3. Heidelberg

Heidelberg castle in Germany

Much of the Rhine River flows through Germany, so many classic and beautiful German town will be on your itinerary. Heidelberg showcases classic German charm, and is a great destination architecture buffs. The city is famous for the “Old Bridge” spanning the river toward Heidelberg Castle - a great opportunity for photos.

4. Strasbourg

Strasbourg village in France

If you’re looking for a classic European country town, this is the stop for you. Strasbourg has a quintessentially French feel, with cobblestoned streets, small shops, and of course a cathedral. Be sure to visit picturesque Petite France, the historic quarter of town, and Rohan Palace to walk in the footsteps of Marie Antoinette. Strasbourg is also a delightful place for visit for Christmas markets.

5. Basel

Basel along the Rhine River

Sharing three international borders: Switzerland, Germany, and France, Basel presents a fascinating convergence of cultures, cuisines, and languages. You can enjoy several wonderful historic sights in Basel, within a short distance from each other, and don’t miss a stroll through the Botanical Gardens.

6. Mainz

Mainz cathedral

Museum goers and history lovers take note - this one’s for you! Mainz is a German city, with several art and history museums guaranteed to keep you satisfied during this port of call. On the banks of the Rhine, it is also near the Main River. Mainz is a very old city, founded by the Romans during the 1st century. One of the most popular museums is the Gutenberg - celebrating the inventor of the metal type printing technique, a game changer during the industrial revolution.

7. Palatinate Forest

Forest views on a Rhine River cruise

This enormous expanse of green forest in Germany could only hide fairy tales creatures and castles. Seeing the forest come up on the banks from the viewing deck of your river cruise is a highlight of any itinerary along the Rhine. Many hiking and cycling paths can be found through the forest, though not all Rhine River cruises will stop for this opportunity.

8. Koblenz

Koblenz along the Rhine River

Gateway to the Rhine Gorge, Koblenz is one of Germany’s oldest cities, at the confluence of the Moselle and Rhine rivers. Koblenz is known for ancient buildings, wine tasting, gardens, and some pretty funky art installations and museums.

9. Rudesheim

Castle in Rudesheim

A classic Christmas cruise stop, Rudesheim is a charming town located at a bend in the Rhine in the heart of Germany. It’s a great place for walking around, enjoying local treats, shopping, sampling wine, and visiting castles. One of the treats you need to make sure you sample is a “Rudesheimer coffee”. This delicious alcoholic concoction is made with whipped cream and flambe brandy - it is served in a specific type of cup. It was invented in 1957 and is popular among locals and tourists alike.

10. Cologne

Cologne Germany Rhine River Cruise

One of the most popular destinations in Germany, not the least of which for it’s amazing Cathedral, Cologne is a classic stop on any Rhine River cruise. A major trade center for several centuries, the city of Cologne is a cultural wonder to behold. Art museums are a major draw for tourists, but if you’d rather skip being indoors you can simply walk the lovely streets along the river for spectacular views and people watching.

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Rhine River Tours Reviews & Ratings

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Lucia
·
2020-03-13
Written on
Radiant Rhine Cruise by SmarTours
Very well organized
The Cruise was very well organized, personnel were polite and efficient. Cruise Director and Cruise Manager were outstanding. This is our second time having Galia as Cruises manager and as always she was very professional, effective and caring. The ship was excellent as well, well maintained and well managed. All its personnel were well trained and did their job very effectively. The food was excellent with enough variety to satisfy all tastes.The local tour guides were good, some better than others, but all did their job and conveyed the information as needed. Galia and the ship personnel were extremely attentive and helpful upon our disembarkment, they called us a taxi and made sure the driver understood our final destination. Our congratulations to SmarTours for, once again providing a most rewarding experience
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Christina
·
2020-03-13
Written on
Radiant Rhine Cruise by SmarTours
enjoyable
Very good value for the money. Sicilian chef had a varied menu for each meal. We are vegetarians and had something different for each meal which is a rarity! Unlimited beer and wine at lunch and dinner were definitely enjoyable! The ports of call were beautiful although most of the local tour guides were on a mission to tell you what they knew and didn’t want to address our questions. However, Otto in Koblenz was amazing! The tour guide in Rotterdam was actually rude and combative when a fellow traveler informed him that we couldn’t hear him when he turned his head. The guide reprimanded him and told him he should have informed him sooner! We left the group after that. The keyboard player in the evening was good but he needs to expand his repitoire of music because by the third night he was repeating the same songs. The crew was attentive and helpful. The ship very clean and the room size was rather spacious for a river boat. This being a Russian vessel, the only TV channel, RTV was totally right wing.
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Wayne H
·
2017-01-31
Written on
Romance of the Rhine & Mosel by Grand Circle Cruise Line
The most amazing river trip in Europe
Traveling from Belgium through 6 countries to Switzerland is one of the most amazing travel experiences in Europe, especially if traveling with Grand Circle Travel. The ship's crew and staff are the most professional and personable folks that I've ever had the fortune to travel with. Not only have I traveled European rivers with these folks once, but have done so several times. For a single traveler, traveling with Grand Circle is a great bargain, as there is very seldom an extra charge for traveling solo and if their is, the price is very modest. You can't go wrong with these folks.
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Kathy
·
2017-01-11
Written on
i had a wonderful time
In May of 2016 we did the Heart of Europe Grand Tour which started in Amsterdam and ended in London. Both my husband and i had a wonderful time and saw sites we may have never seen before(we have been to Europe before but only to Germany and Amsterdam) Our Tour Guide was Ron Lazet and he was wonderful and very knowledgeable. Would recommend these tours for anyone. I hope to be able to do another tour in the near future
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Kathy
·
2017-01-11
Written on
Our Tour Guide was Ron Lazet and he was wonderful and very knowledgeable
In May of 2016 we did the Heart of Europe Grand Tour which started in Amsterdam and ended in London. Both my husband and i had a wonderful time and saw sites we may have never seen before(we have been to Europe before but only to Germany and Amsterdam) Our Tour Guide was Ron Lazet and he was wonderful and very knowledgeable. Would recommend these tours for anyone. I hope to be able to do another tour in the near future
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Jeanie
·
2016-11-17
Written on
We loved it.
"We loved it. You do a great job. Location was in the most scenic part of the Rhine and shopping and train were very close.
Natalie brought with her lots of local information and train, boat schedules station schedules which were very helpful. as the book did not have that much information."
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