The Rhine
The Rhine is Europe’s fairytale river, rising high in the Swiss Alps before wending its way past the dramatic castles and medieval cathedrals of Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, France and the Netherlands.
A heady voyage to be sure, a Rhine river cruise unearths the ancient cultures, architecture and history of this storied region of Europe. From sampling wines at a private estate to taking in the breathtaking vistas of the Rhine Gorge, to going off boat for a riverbank bike ride, a Rhine river cruise is a lifelong favourite for many an enthusiastic traveler.
Central Europe comes to life on a Rhine river cruise, offering up fairytale visions of Germany’s Black Forest, orchestrating delightful moments on Amsterdam’s iconic canals and bringing a touch of magic to the holidays in renowned Christmas markets during December.
Alsatian Strasbourg and its gingerbread houses in La Petite France is a gem, as is Speyer, Germany, with its UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Speyer Cathedral, and its completely stone roof, the first in Europe.
No stop in Cologne is complete without a tour of the Cologne Cathedral, which took six centuries to complete. And Koblenz, dating back to the Middle Ages, brims with peaceful biking routes along the Rheinradweg.
One of the Continent’s most important rivers – and certainly one of its most historic – the Rhine is best experienced by river cruise, the ideal way to sense the history, culture and warmth of Central Europe.
Hidden gems in The Rhine
The Rhine
The Rhine
Cruises along the Rhine boast postcard-perfect views of terraced vineyards and cliff-clinging castles, lending credence to its reputation as one of the world’s most romantic and oft-traveled rivers. From Amsterdam’s charming canals to the fairytale-esque Black Forest, the river delights lovers of history, wine, culture and cuisine. In the course of a week, river cruises in the region are able to showcase the dramatic Rhine Gorge, legendary Lorelei rock, Holland’s famed windmills and tulip fields, university towns and cosmopolitan cities, medieval castle ruins and esteemed museums. Flowing for approximately 820 miles, the Rhine River originates at the Rheinwaldhorn Glacier in the Swiss Alps and culminates in Basel, Switzerland – just before which it tumbles over a 75-foot waterfall, the Rheinfall. The majority of the river’s waters pass through Germany, while river cruises along the Rhine will also introduce travellers to the sights and cultures of Liechtenstein, Austria, France and the Netherlands. Most cruise itineraries focus on the particularly lovely stretch of the Middle Rhine from Bingen to Bonn as it passes through steep gorges (including the Rhine Gorge, at 430 feet deep), along the Rhineland Plateau and in view of the Rhenish Slate Mountains.
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The Rhine
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