The best river cruise companies and itineraries to choose from in Europe
If you've been on a cruise on the ocean you're likely curious about what it's like to go on a river cruise
Small river ships can access places mammoth ocean ships can't, allowing you to take in some of the most unique parts of the world.
Europe is the biggest place for river cruising, with multiple waterways providing a stunning backdrop to a holiday.
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Viking was recently voted the best for river cruises. Supplied
These are the basics you need to know about river cruising.
Best river cruise companies in Europe
Just like with ocean cruises this comes down to personal choice as well as budget.
Some river cruise lines are all inclusive, and some you have to pay for things such as drinks, excursions, and tipping.
The recent winner in the Conde Nast Traveller awards for best river cruise company was Viking.
Other companies which sail in Europe, including Scenic, Avalon Waterways, and AmaWaterways also made the prestigious list.
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Enjoy the charms of Switzerland on a river cruise. Getty
Meanwhile Cruise Passenger readers voted Avalon Waterways the best last year, narrowly overtaking Viking.
Travellers on Reddit threads on the topic favoured Avalon Waterways, UniWorld, Scenic and Emerald.
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Scenic Cruises are a popular way to sail. Nine
Gate 1 Travel is also hailed as a more affordable option for river cruises.
Ocean favourite, Celebrity Cruises is also launching river cruises. Celebrity Compass and Celebrity Seeker debut in 2027 on the Rhine and Danube rivers.
What month is the best time to take a river cruise in Europe?
If you want the best of the summer weather, June, July and August are the best times to cruise in much of Europe where days will usually be hot and sunny.
If you're going towards Scandinavia, it'll stay a little cooler. But of course it'll also be a lot more crowded in Euro summer.
Historical Passau Old Town, Germany. Getty Images/iStockphoto
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Try shoulder season such as April and May or September and October for cooler days and slightly fewer crowds.
Christmas markets are also a big pull and you can book river cruises specifically to visit some of the best in late November, December and January.
Heidelberg in Germany is one of the popular river cruise stops along the Rhine. Getty
Best European river cruise itinerary
The Rhine is one of the most popular and famous rivers to sail down.
You can tick off destinations in Netherlands, Germany, France and Switzerland on a Rhine river cruise.
The Middle Rhine in Germany is even a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with castles, historic towns, and vineyards lining the river.
Then there's the Danube, which criss crosses no fewer than 10 nations.
The Hungarian Parliament Building and Danube river in Budapest, Hungary. Getty Images/iStockphoto
Destinations you can see include Budapest, Salzburg, Vienna and Bucharest.
Other rivers in Europe you can cruise include the Elbe, Seine, Rhone, Garonne and Douro.
The Douro is a popular cruise to take in the stunning sights of Portugal and Spain.
