Best Rhine River Cruise Routes in Europe

The Rhine River winds through Germany and the Netherlands passing historic cities, medieval castles and rural villages. Choosing an itinerary can be a challenge, especially since the length of the Rhine River (also spelled Rhein, Rhin, and Rijn) is over 800 miles. It has long been one of Europe’s most important commercial waterways and today it is a popular route for a river cruise.

Rhine River Cruise Routes

All the major European river cruise lines such as Uniworld, AMA Waterways and Viking River Cruises offer a selection of Rhine River cruise routes. Geographically, the origin of the Rhine River is close to the town of Basel, Switzerland in the Swiss Alps. This is also the starting point of many Rhine River cruises. From Basel, the Rhine winds up the French-German border and through western Germany before flowing into the Netherlands on its way to the North Sea.

Cruise passengers can extend their trip by adding a number of different tributaries. The Moselle River in France joins the Rhine River at the city of Koblenz, Germany. The Main River joins the Rhine at the cruise port of Mainz in Germany. Cruises along Main River may also join the Danube River. The Main River is connected to the Danube River by the 16 locks in the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal.

Rhine River Cruise Ports

Basel – Basel is one of the largest cities in Switzerland. Features include the Munster Cathedral and the 16th century Basel City Hall. Cruise passengers starting or ending their cruise here may use the EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (Airport Codes: BSL, MLH, EAP).

Breisach – This German town is the gateway to the Black Forest featuring thick-forested, mountainous landscapes. Shore excursions may include a cuckoo clock-making demonstration at a local workshop or a tour to the enchanting town of Colmar.

Strasbourg – To visit Strasbourg, France the cruise ship may dock in Kehl, Germany just on the opposite side of the river. Strasbourg features a medieval cityscape that blends French and German cultures. See a Gothic cathedral, medieval covered bridges and the fairytale-like district of Petite France.

Speyer – Speyer, Germany is home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site that includes a historic center dominated by a 11th century Romanesque cathedral. An excursion from Speyer may include a short bus ride to the preserved medieval city Heidelberg about 12 miles away. This is also where Germany’s oldest university was founded in 1386.

Mainz – This German town features the Cathedral of St. Martin which is over 1,000 years old. The town is also the home of a maritime museum that houses Roman boats from the 4th century.

Rudesheim – Visitors can walk down the pedestrian-only avenue called the Drosselgasse. It features numerous shops and wine bars. Additionally, passengers can take an excursion by gondola up to Niederwalddenkmal. At the top, a war monument stands 34 feet tall.

Bingen – The Middle Rhine is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site that spans between Bingen to the south and Bonn, near Koln in the north. The Middle Rhine, also known as the Romantic Rhine flows through the Rhine Gorge. This section features more than 40 medieval castles and fortresses as well as the famous Lorelei Rock.

Koblenz – Koblenz, Germany is another historic city featuring narrow streets and fountains in its old quarter. Shore excursions usually include a visit to Braubach to visit the 700-year-old Marksburg Castle.

Cologne (Koln) – Cologne, Germany has around one million residents and features around 30 museums and hundreds of galleries. The Old Town features medieval city gates and a Gothic cathedral. Many cruises consider Cologne as the last stop before arriving in the Netherlands.

Netherlands – After cruising past Dusseldorf and Duisburg, the Rhine River crosses the border from Germany into the Netherlands close to the town of Arnhem. Many Rhine River cruises start or end in either Amsterdam or Rotterdam.

Although Rhine River cruises are offered mostly in spring, summer and fall, there are some cruise lines that offer holiday and Christmas river cruises as well. Typically, the companies include many shore excursions as part of the cost of the cruise. But, a river cruise experience can depend on the river cruise line as well as the ship or boat offered.