One of the best parts about the holiday season are the Christmas markets. Mulled wine, roasted chestnuts, and lots and lots of sweet treats… what’s not to love?
There are plenty to choose in Europe, from the classics to lesser-known gems. But there’s no reason you have to limit yourself to just one.
We’ve previously covered the best ones you can reach by train, and now we’re taking a look at the ones you can visit via river cruise.
There are three popular options in Europe: Rivers cruise voyages along the Main, the Danube, and the Rhine.
Here’s what you need to know about each.
On the Main
Christmas markets, or Christkindlmarket, were first started in Germany, so if you’re looking for a classic experience it makes sense to book a trip along the Main.
Uniworld operates cruises between Nuremberg and Frankfurt. You’ll start at Germany’s largest Christmas market in Nuremberg before sampling Bamberg, Rothenburg and Würzburg’s festivities as well as Wiesbaden’s “twinkling star” market, finishing up in Frankfurt.
On the Danube
If you want to tick off a German Christmas market but don’t want to limit yourself to one country, you could book a river cruise along the Danube, taking in Austria and Hungary as well.
AmaWaterways has a river cruise package that takes in five Christmas markets: Nuremberg, Regensburg and Passau in Germany, plus Vienna and Budapest, the capitals of Austria and Hungary.
Scenic Cruises has a similar option, although you’ll start in Prague and transfer to Budapest by coach before stopping in Slovakia’s capital Bratislava, Vienna, Dürnstein, Melk and Passau, ending in Regensburg.
On the Rhine
For a four-country Christmas market river cruise, book yourself a sailing along the Rhine.
Avalon Waterways’ offering starts in the Dutch capital Amsterdam, passes by Cologne, Rüdesheim, Mainz and Heidelberg in Germany, Strasbourg in France, then Breisach in the Black Forest, before finally ending in Basel in Switzerland.
Viking River Cruises also has a Christmas on the Rhine cruise from Amsterdam to Basel, but stops include Dordrecht, Cologne, Koblenz, Rüdesheim, Mannheim, Speyer, Strasbourg and Breisach.