Top European River Cruises Historic Sightseeing Trips & Packages In 2025/2026

Our 59 most popular European River Cruises Historic Sightseeing Trips & Packages trips. Compare tour itineraries from 13 tour companies. 7 reviews.

59 Trips match your criteria (45 - 59 shown)

Magnificent Moselle & Rhine
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5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Themes

Cultural, 50 Plus, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"Personnel were all very polite and happy to serve. Service was timely and professional. Most remembered your preferences and were prepared to assist."

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Danube 7 Country Cruise
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5/5 Excellent
61 reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • Vienna, Austria, City tour including Belvedere Palace
  • Bratislava, Slovakia, City tour including Primate Palace
  • Budapest, Hungary, City tour including Fisherman’s Bastion
  • Pesc, Hungary City tour with organ concert
  • Vukovar, Croatia, Walking tour
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Themes

Cultural, Culinary & Wine

What travelers are saying

"I just got in the office this morning. Egypt was the best. I mean the best. All went well. The people were very nice. But I want to say thank you personally for this chance in a life time. This will be something I will sell, and hope to go again next year.Thank you Thank you Thank you Camel Hugs, Tina”"

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Beloved Europe
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4.6/5 Excellent
66 reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • Visit Grutas Park, known as "Stalin’s world", a park with 86 statues from Soviet times
  • Sightseeing of Vilnius
  • Discover Spain
  • Visit the Baroque Palace Of Rundale, built by the same architect who designed Saint Petersburg’s Hermitage Museum
  • Sightseeing of Riga
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Themes

Cultural, Nature & Wildlife, Local Immersion & Homestays, National Parks

What travelers are saying

"No travel with then completely desaster First and last Hotel accommodations really cheap, they mix you with 40 people in the same bus"

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Danube Delights River Cruise
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4.8/5 Excellent
24 reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • Enjoy the Cruise along the Danube River by Emerald Star-Ships
  • Visit St. Stephen’s Cathedral
  • Visit to Hofburg Imperial Palace
  • Discover Budapest

Themes

Cultural, 50 Plus, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"We booked an Emerald Waterways river cruise a year ago and paid in full to get a discount. A river cruise was on our bucket list and our travel agent raved on and on about Emerald Waterways. Fast forward to 2020 and the pandemic hit the world hard. We fully expected the cruise to be cancelled and just yesterday it was. I knew that per the terms and conditions that if Emerald cancelled the cruise we were to be offered an alternate sailing date or a FULL refund. BUT, the letter I received said they were "suspending" (not cancelling) all sailings and if I didn't want the future cruise credit I could cancel under their standard terms and conditions. If I cancelled then I would lose a $1,000 deposit! This is a bad faith offer in my opinion. I am so upset with the way this was handled. I understand we are all suffering from the pandemic but Emerald Waterways needs to step up and do the right thing. Rest assured I will not be a future customer of Emerald Waterways."

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Rhine-Main Discovery
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4.8/5 Excellent
24 reviews
Small Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • Enjoy the Cruise of luxury Emerald Star-Ship
  • Discover Cologne which is famous for its magnificent World–Heritage listed Gothic Cathedral
  • Enjoy cruise through the spectacular Rhine Gorge
  • Visit the Bishops’ Residenz
  • Explore this UNESCO World Heritage city Bamberg

Themes

Cultural, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"We booked an Emerald Waterways river cruise a year ago and paid in full to get a discount. A river cruise was on our bucket list and our travel agent raved on and on about Emerald Waterways. Fast forward to 2020 and the pandemic hit the world hard. We fully expected the cruise to be cancelled and just yesterday it was. I knew that per the terms and conditions that if Emerald cancelled the cruise we were to be offered an alternate sailing date or a FULL refund. BUT, the letter I received said they were "suspending" (not cancelling) all sailings and if I didn't want the future cruise credit I could cancel under their standard terms and conditions. If I cancelled then I would lose a $1,000 deposit! This is a bad faith offer in my opinion. I am so upset with the way this was handled. I understand we are all suffering from the pandemic but Emerald Waterways needs to step up and do the right thing. Rest assured I will not be a future customer of Emerald Waterways."

Trip dates & details
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Prague to Paris & Legends of Moselle, Rhine and Main
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4.8/5 Excellent
24 reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • Explore the sights of the Old Town Square
  • Explore Bamberg, a UNESCO World Heritage city
  • Visit to Miltenberg, a picturesque village on the Main River
  • Cruise through the spectacular Rhine Gorge
  • Explore the ruins of the old city, Trier
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Themes

Cultural, Nature & Wildlife, 50 Plus, National Parks

What travelers are saying

"We booked an Emerald Waterways river cruise a year ago and paid in full to get a discount. A river cruise was on our bucket list and our travel agent raved on and on about Emerald Waterways. Fast forward to 2020 and the pandemic hit the world hard. We fully expected the cruise to be cancelled and just yesterday it was. I knew that per the terms and conditions that if Emerald cancelled the cruise we were to be offered an alternate sailing date or a FULL refund. BUT, the letter I received said they were "suspending" (not cancelling) all sailings and if I didn't want the future cruise credit I could cancel under their standard terms and conditions. If I cancelled then I would lose a $1,000 deposit! This is a bad faith offer in my opinion. I am so upset with the way this was handled. I understand we are all suffering from the pandemic but Emerald Waterways needs to step up and do the right thing. Rest assured I will not be a future customer of Emerald Waterways."

Trip dates & details
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Cruise France by River Barge in Burgundy
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5/5 Excellent
5 reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • 7 day/6 night barge trip in France in Southern Burgundy, on the Canal du Centre and River Saône, from St. Leger to Lyon, France.
  • Stay in comfortable accommodations on board our elegant, privately chartered hotel-barge, exploring the “soul” of this region from our “floating country inn.”
  • Enjoy Bike, walk, motor and walking excursions into famous cities and towns of the region (St. Leger, Chagny, Chalon Sur Saône, Tournus, Mâcon, Lyon) full of gardens, renowned art and architecture, and famous vineyards (Messanges, Santenay, Remigny).
  • Feast on superb gourmet regional French cuisine, exquisite 4-course dinners, superb wines and French wine tastings, and experience caring service.
  • Celebrate a French "Toast" with several wine tastings at famous vineyards during the cruise.
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Themes

Cultural, Nature & Wildlife, Culinary & Wine, 50 Plus, Local Immersion & Homestays, National Parks, Women Only, Transformative

What travelers are saying

"I always wanted to meet orangutans in the wild. Going with AW to Indonesia was the way to do it. We had great local guides, delicious food, and magical experiences. Everything was taken care of. The diverse group of women made the time even more enriching. I started as a solo traveler, but within a day I had 14 new friends. I can totally see traveling with AW again."

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Gems of the Seine
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4/5 Great
4 reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Basic - 2 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • Meet your fellow guests at a lavish Captains welcome dinner on board your Scenic ‘Space-Ship’
  • Seize the opportunity to take easy paced bicycle rides at your leisure through spectacular scenery and villages
  • Sail along the majestic Seine River through landscapes that have inspired artists for generations
  • Dock in Rouen, most notable as the location where Joan of Arc was accused of heresy and burnt at the stake at 1431
  • Delight in the gastronomic specialties of northern France on board your Scenic ‘Space-Ship’
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Themes

Nature & Wildlife, 50 Plus, National Parks, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"We just disembarked from the Nuremberg to Budapest cruise and I needed to tell you before writing to Trip Advisor and other sites how disappointed we are with the total lack of hygiene and assistance provided! I have never experienced a situation where servers and food prep workers who were coughing and sneezing and obviously sick were allowed to work and spread germs to passengers or customers! We as well as many others on your ill fated cruise became sick due to your negligence. No one was required to sanitize their hands when entering or leaving the dinning room or ship. the rails were never wiped down or disinfected, and people who were coughing or sneezing then used the rails only made things worse. When we were in Vienna I was too ill to leave the ship, the front desk person Jozeph was going to the post office and I asked him if he could purchase for me some decongestants. He only drew on the map how I could walk there???? Is this the special five star treatment you offer and advertise? Many passengers on board became sick and it is your fault. There were other issues like the quality of food at dinner and the poor service, but the above is outrageous and reportable to prevent others from this situation."

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European River Cruises Historic Sightseeing Trips & Packages Reviews

W

Wayne H

Jan 2017

Written on

The most amazing river trip in Europe

Traveling from Belgium through 6 countries to Switzerland is one of the most amazing travel experiences in Europe, especially if traveling with Grand Circle Travel. ...

R

Rick & Fran

Aug 2015

We enjoyed the entire experience

We enjoyed the entire experience; Normandy and Omaha Beach were especially moving. The food and service deserve praise too. This is our third Viking cruise and we'll...

L

Larry

Oct 2018

Misleading and often just plain dishonest.

We paid for a 3 week luxury river cruise but received a large group bus trip across Europe with many days of packing and unpacking. I called our Viking representativ...

C

Charles

Oct 2022

Good and no so goog

Recently returned from a Viking Rhine trip on 10/14. The good: Rhine water levels were good, no issues. Service on the vessel was A+, excluding one attendant with...

T

Tonya

Aug 2015

Incredible experience

Incredible experience sailing on the Grand European tour from Amsterdam to Budapest! Just wonderful! The tours were interesting, and most allowed for adequate free t...

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