A flight-free travel experience that many people don’t think of when they’re planning sustainable holidays is river cruising.  Your initial reaction might be that these kinds of trips are only for retired travellers, but that’s really not the case.

River cruising is a fantastic slow travel option that allows you to see multiple destinations during a trip without having to worry about the logistics of planning how to get around.  Instead, you can relax on a cruise that offers stunning scenery for the entire journey and plenty of chances to explore different towns, cities and sites during excursions to shore.

Europe is a haven for river cruising holidays, with hundreds of exciting and idyllic waterways that have been chosen for trips like this for decades.  Here are five of the best places in Europe for a river cruise with recommendations of some of the most popular rivers and routes you can experience.

Germany

Germany is one of the most popular destinations for a European river cruise, with various waterways offering fantastic routes around the country with plenty of interesting scenery and exciting excursions.  Known for its historic towns and cities and fantastically varied cultural offering, it’s an ideal location for a spring or autumn cruise.

When it comes to where to cruise in Germany, you can choose from various large river routes that take you through some of the country’s most popular cities.  Danube River cruises take place at the start of the huge river and provide trips to Bavaria and the mediaeval city of Nuremberg, whilst Rhine River cruises take you to popular cities like Cologne and Koblenz.

Austria

Austria is a country that has always been best explored at a slow pace.  That’s why river cruising is such a fantastic option if you want to visit this part of Europe, allowing you to properly experience everything that it has to offer.

Cruising the Danube is the most popular way to travel through Austria on the water, and as the country’s most important waterway, it’s a great choice for exploring if it’s your first time in this part of the continent.  If you’re looking for a route that offers the most impressive scenery, the Wachau Valley has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site because of its rich offering.  Home to many of the country’s vineyards, it’s a great spot for wine tasting and cultural sightseeing.

Vienna is another highlight of almost every cruise in Austria, and as the capital city of the country, it’s absolutely worth the visit.  From the architecture and the art, theatre and music, to the spectacular culinary offering, a cruise itinerary isn’t complete without at least a day in the capital.

In addition, try Christmas in Vienna.

France

France has a plethora of experiences on offer for travellers who want to explore the country’s waterways.  Many people stick to either skiing in the mountains, spending summer on the south coast or visiting tourist hotspots like Paris when they plan holidays to France, but choosing a river cruise opens up all kinds of opportunities for something different.

When it comes to the routes available, you’ve got options in many of the best-loved French regions with cruises on the Seine, the Loire, the Dordogne and the Rhône.  You can enjoy gastronomy-themed holidays with excursions that focus on wine tasting and exceptional dining experiences, or opt for historic trips where the sightseeing offering is rich across every town and city you pass through.

France also has an extensive network of canals, so along with river cruising you can also enjoy barge tours of the country along the waterways which used to be used for much of the country’s industrial transportation.  Routes like the Canal du Midi, Canal de Garonne, Canal du Nivernais and Canal du Centre are all traversed by a range of cruise companies and are perfect for relaxing holidays, even if you do choose a self-drive option!

Hungary

Hungary is often a destination included in river cruise itineraries in Europe, offering visitors a chance to see a country that doesn’t often receive the same kind of holiday interest as its neighbours.  But there’s a wealth of lovely scenery and brilliant culture to be enjoyed in Hungary, and a cruise is one of the best ways to enjoy these hand-picked highlights without having to worry about planning the itinerary yourself.

The main attraction on any European river cruise that passes through Hungary is Budapest, a capital city that is famous for its art nouveau architecture and historic thermal baths.  Spend your time visiting iconic buildings and monuments around the city, enjoying the galleries and museums, and even enjoying a trip to a spa if you have the time. You’ll be very glad that you did!

The Netherlands

The last recommendation on our list of the best places in Europe for a river cruise is The Netherlands.  This is another country where you can take your pick from river routes and canal journeys, enjoying waterways that have been traversed by leisure and business vessels for decades.

Amsterdam is a key city on many Netherlands cruise itineraries, although it’s unlikely that your vessel will be small enough to actually navigate the canals that intersect the streets, so you may have to explore these on foot! The photogenic windmills of Kinderdijk are another common highlight, but you’ll also explore less touristy areas like Arnhem and Hoorn and get to enjoy plenty of Dutch architecture and hospitality as you travel.

Summary

Many European river cruises combine multiple countries on their itineraries, so the great news is that you don’t have to choose between these destinations!  Travelling by waterways is an often overlooked way of exploring Europe, but it offers a fantastic opportunity to make travelling between places an important part of the trip itself, as well as helping you to feel more connected to the scenery and history of the countries you visit.