The Rhine is a storied river that begins high in the Swiss
Alps and travels more than 750 miles to the Netherlands and the North Sea. As
one of Europe’s main waterways, it’s a hardworking river that serves historic
port cities like Basel, Strasbourg, Rudesheim and Cologne; but, it’s also a
fairytale river that flows below majestic castles, past charming villages, and
through forests and vineyards.
Here are some highlights of the ports you can visit on a
cruise of the Rhine:
Basel, Switzerland, is located on the border with France and
Germany; a literal crossroads of Europe. The cathedral is beautiful, and the
alleyways of the MarketPlatz are lined with quirky craft shops.
Strasbourg, France, has picture-perfect cobbled streets and
timbered houses. Top sights include the cathedral, one of the tallest medieval
buildings in Europe, and the Rohan Palace, which hosted Marie Antoinette and
now houses multiple museums.
Rudesheim, Germany, is at the southern end of the Rhine
Gorge, the part of the river with the steepest cliffs and the most castles.
Stroll the Drosselgasse, Rudesheim’s most famous street, and sample some local
wine and brandy.
Cologne, Germany, has a beautiful Old Town, Medieval city
gates, stunning churches, and a museum of chocolate. It’s also famous for the
Cologne Carnival, one of Europe’s largest street festivals, which begins
November 11 lasts until Ash Wednesday.
Rhine River cruises range in length from three or four
nights (not nearly long enough, in our opinion) to 21 nights or even a few
more. Longer cruises will combine your sail of the Rhine with other rivers,
such as the Main and Danube or the Moselle.
Summer is peak season on the Rhine, but the weather can be
quite warm, so some cruise passengers prefer the cooler spring or fall. In the
late summer or fall, you might be lucky enough to catch one of the “Rhine in
Flames” fireworks displays, which take place during regional wine festivals. If
a chill in the air doesn’t bother you, November and December cruises of the
Rhine are special because they call on the region’s wonderful Christmas
Markets. Cologne is especially beautiful in the Christmas season; be sure to
take the 10-minute walk from the river to the Christmas Market at the Cologne
Cathedral.
There’s much more to know about cruising the Rhine, so talk
with Anita, your Cruise Holidays personal cruise expert.
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