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Cruise region

Europe-River

A European river cruise glides through the heart of the continent, mooring close to the centre of historic towns rather than at busy sea ports. Vienna, Budapest, Paris and the vineyards of Bordeaux and the Douro are all on the map. Short flights, or the Eurostar for Paris, make it easy to start from the UK.

Best time to go

April to October is the main season, with May, June and September often the most comfortable. Late November and December bring Christmas market sailings on the Rhine and Danube.

Season

Mainly March to December, including festive Christmas market cruises.

Typical daytime highs

  • Spring (March to May). Typical daytime highs around 14 to 20°C in spring (March to May). Fresh and green, with spring blossom.
  • Summer (June to August). Typical daytime highs around 24 to 29°C in summer (June to August). Warm and sunny, with occasional thunderstorms.
  • Autumn (September to October). Typical daytime highs around 14 to 21°C in autumn (September to October). Mild, with the grape harvest in the wine regions.
  • Christmas markets (December). Typical daytime highs around 2 to 7°C in December. Cold and crisp, so pack warm layers.

These are typical ranges, not a forecast.

How long

Usually 7 to 10 nights, with some shorter breaks and longer voyages combining two rivers.

Fly-cruise airports

  • Budapest Ferenc Liszt (BUD). about 2 hours 30 minutes
  • Vienna International (VIE). about 2 hours 20 minutes
  • Munich (MUC). about 1 hour 50 minutes
  • Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS). about 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Basel EuroAirport (BSL). about 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Lyon Saint-Exupéry (LYS). about 1 hour 45 minutes
  • Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG). about 1 hour 15 minutes, or about 2 hours 15 minutes by Eurostar from London St Pancras
  • Porto Francisco Sá Carneiro (OPO). about 2 hours 15 minutes
  • Bordeaux-Mérignac (BOD). about 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Prague Václav Havel (PRG). about 1 hour 50 minutes
  • Seville San Pablo (SVQ). about 2 hours 30 minutes

Who it suits

Couples, solo travellers, food and wine lovers, and anyone who enjoys history and gentle sightseeing. A good choice for those who would rather avoid open sea.

Questions

Which rivers do European river cruises sail?

Popular rivers include the Danube, Rhine, Moselle, Rhône, Seine, Loire, Garonne, Dordogne, Douro, Elbe, Vltava and Guadalquivir.

Will I get seasick on a river cruise?

River water is usually calm, so seasickness is rarely an issue.

Can I reach a river cruise by train?

Yes, for cruises starting in Paris, the Eurostar runs from London St Pancras in about 2 hours 15 minutes. Most other starting points are a short flight away.

When are Christmas market river cruises?

Usually from late November to just before Christmas, visiting traditional markets in cities such as Vienna, Budapest, Strasbourg and Cologne.

Ports and places