Think about crusing down one in every of Europe’s iconic rivers as picturesque villages, castles and landscapes go you by, all whereas twinkling lights from close by Christmas markets dance on the water. Whereas this may sound like a fairy story, it may be a actuality on a Christmas market river cruise.
From late November by December yearly, most river cruise corporations with Europe-based ships take excited passengers to idyllic cities to study Christmas traditions, store at native Christmas markets and take a look at tasty seasonal treats.
These river cruises solely run seasonally whereas the markets are open, so they have a tendency to e-book up rapidly with passengers starting from older adults to all varieties of households searching for a winter vacation stuffed with festive enjoyable.
Right here, we listing the eight greatest Christmas markets river cruises to absorb 2025 and 2026, together with tricks to get essentially the most out of every crusing and highlights to not miss.
Finest for brief cruises: Riverside Luxurious Cruises’ Christmas Ambiance alongside the Danube
When you’re searching for a brief crusing to tack onto the start or finish of a visit, Riverside Luxurious Cruises provides a number of four-night Danube River itineraries from Vienna to Passau, Germany. The road’s four-night Christmas Ambiance alongside the Danube sailings embrace port days in Vienna, Krems and Linz, Austria, earlier than a remaining day in Passau.
In Vienna, you possibly can go to one of many metropolis’s 100-plus museums or the enduring Opera Home earlier than heading to the Christmas marketplace for a glass of mulled wine and procuring. For these keen on wine, Krems is a must-see vacation spot providing a number of the greatest wines within the nation. Linz is thought for its historic outdated city and essential sq., in addition to its jammy deal with, the Linzer torte.
In Passau, remember to discover the Christmas market, however do not miss St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Its spectacular organ, with nearly 18,000 pipes, is the largest cathedral organ on the earth.
Every Riverside Luxurious Cruises ship is all-suite and comes with butler service. Vessels additionally function an indoor pool and a Jacuzzi to be used earlier than or after journeys ashore.
Associated: Finest river cruises in Europe
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Riverside Luxurious Cruises’ Christmas Ambiance cruises depart in late November and December in 2025 and 2026. Fares begin at $1,732 per individual, based mostly on double occupancy.
Your cruise fare contains all meals, one tour per vacation spot, gratuities, Wi-Fi, butler service and transfers. Alcoholic drinks are solely included with the Premium All-Inclusive Package deal, which you’ll be able to choose at reserving.
Finest for Francophiles: CroisiEurope’s Christmas within the Seine Valley
France is thought for a number of the most photogenic Christmas markets in Europe, and you’ve got the prospect to see a few of them on a four-night Christmas within the Seine Valley river cruise with CroisiEurope Cruises. These shorter cruises are nice if you would like to spend a couple of days in Paris earlier than stepping onto the cruise ship and crusing to a few different lovely cities.
The river cruise begins in Paris, the place you possibly can spend the day exploring the town, seeing the Christmas markets in Montmartre or Saint-Germain, or purchasing for high-end presents alongside the Champs-Elysees earlier than the 5 p.m. all-aboard time.
Day two will convey you to Rouen, the place you might be invited to hitch Christmas Eve dinner and midnight Mass. You may additionally get to see extra of Rouen on day 4 with a guided tour. You probably have free time, remember to cease in at La Couronne, the oldest working restaurant in France and the place that impressed Julia Little one to start out cooking.
Spend Christmas Day in Honfleur, one of many cutest cities on the voyage. You’ll want to get the city’s specialty, a steaming bowl of moules frites (mussels with fries), for Christmas lunch. After three days of touring smaller cities, you will return to Paris, the place the Eiffel Tower is seen from the banks of the Seine.
CroisiEurope’s Christmas within the Seine Valley cruise departs Dec. 23 in 2025 and 2026. Fares begin at $1,560 per individual, based mostly on double occupancy.
Your whole meals and most drinks, free Wi-Fi, all onboard actions and port charges are included in the price of the cruise. Headsets are additionally included for excursions for those who select to go along with the group for excursions quite than venturing off by yourself.
Associated: Reserving your first river cruise? This is what you want to know
Finest for households: Adventures by Disney’s Rhine River Christmas Markets
Households trying to discover Christmas markets by Switzerland, France, Germany and the Netherlands will get pleasure from Adventures by Disney‘s Rhine River Cruise: Christmas Markets crusing. The seven-night cruise permits children as younger as 5 to hitch, although Disney’s instructed age is 8 or older.
What actually makes Adventures by Disney stand out is the Journey Guides, Disney-trained leaders who’re specialists in every vacation spot. Every Journey Information travels with the group all through the cruise, so your loved ones actually will get to know them and so they get to know you. This enables them to make personalised suggestions about actions and meals. As you stroll by every city, they share the historical past, tradition and legends of the vacation spot.
The weeklong journey begins in Basel, Switzerland. You may then go to Breisach, Germany, the house port from which you’ll be able to select to go to Europa Park in Rust, Germany, or head to Colmar, France, which is legendary for its Christmas markets and the Cheese Museum. You may have the following day to get pleasure from Strasbourg, France, by way of boat and vacationer practice rides.
Day 4 brings the group to Mannheim, Germany, the place you possibly can get pleasure from a funicular journey to Heidelberg Citadel or go ice skating at Heidelberg’s Christmas market.
In Rudesheim, you possibly can participate in a espresso and scorching chocolate tasting, marvel at one of many largest mechanical music field collections on the earth, get pleasure from a wine tasting or discover the town by yourself. You may spend the night crusing by the Rhine Gorge, passing 30 castles alongside the shore.
The final day in Germany is spent in Cologne, the place you possibly can go to the gorgeous Christmas markets that dot the town panorama, in addition to lace up some skates to glide round an open-air ice rink.
The cruise ends in Amsterdam, the place you possibly can go to the Rijksmuseum, the Rembrandt Home Museum or the Van Gogh Museum, and take a scenic canal cruise by the town.
Adventures by Disney’s Rhine River Cruise: Christmas Markets cruise departs Dec. 18, 2025. Fares begin at $6,599 per grownup and $5,899 per youngster below 11, based mostly on double occupancy. The 2026 itinerary isn’t but out there.
Fares for the once-a-year cruise embrace most meals, drinks at lunch and dinner (plus a nightly cocktail hour, throughout which a spread of blended drinks are complimentary), excursions in every port of name, porter service, transportation in port, Wi-Fi, gratuities for onboard employees and Journey Guides, and onboard leisure.
Associated: Are European river cruises proper for households?
Finest for {couples}: Viking’s Danube Christmas Delights
{Couples} trying to get away for the vacations ought to think about Viking‘s Danube Christmas Delights river cruise. The seven-night cruise takes passengers to 4 international locations: Hungary, Slovakia, Austria and Germany. The journey combines alternatives to discover the ports of name with lectures and cultural performances on board the ship.
In Budapest, you will spend two days exploring the town at locations like Citadel Hill and the Grand Market Corridor earlier than procuring and eating on the Christmas market in entrance of St. Stephen’s Basilica. Then, in Bratislava, Slovakia, the group will attend an organ live performance and store on the Outdated City Christmas market.
In Vienna, the entire metropolis comes alive with lights and a festive spirit. One factor to not miss right here is the extra-charge tour to an area vineyard, the place you’ll have fun the yr’s harvest and classic.
One other spotlight of the cruise is Krems, the place the group will go to Gottweig Abbey and get unique entry to the chapel within the interior courtyard to see the Nativity scene. (The chapel is often closed to guests.)
Lastly, in Passau, you possibly can watch an Creation wreath demonstration or go to a Bavarian farm and pattern do-it-yourself merchandise.
Viking provides Danube Christmas Delights river cruises from late November by mid-December in 2025 and 2026. Fares begin at $2,799 per individual, based mostly on double occupancy.
Fares embrace shore excursions in each port; free Wi-Fi; all meals; beer, wine and tender drinks with lunch and dinner; port taxes and charges; and visits to UNESCO World Heritage Websites. In choose ports, passengers can join non-obligatory excursions which can be an added value. These could possibly be definitely worth the upcharge, relying on the kind of expertise you need to have.
Associated: Finest river cruise strains around the globe
Finest for old-world attraction: Uniworld’s Belgian Vacation Markets
Vacationers trying to discover all the Outdated World historic attraction of Belgium will need to e-book Uniworld’s Belgian Vacation Markets cruise. The seven-night cruise visits Belgium and the Netherlands, with port days in iconic cities like Ghent, Bruges and Antwerp.
The cruise is a closed loop, beginning and ending in Brussels. On day one, take time to discover the town by yourself after dropping your baggage off on the ship. On day two, you will have to resolve whether or not to go to Ghent or Bruges, each of which have lovely structure and a Christmas market, and provide alternatives to attempt native meals.
The cruise continues to Antwerp, Belgium, the place you possibly can nurture your interior e-book nerd within the Nottebohm Room of the Hendrik Conscience Heritage Library or fulfill your candy tooth at Chocolate Nation, a museum completely devoted to Belgian chocolate.
The next day in Hasselt, you possibly can take a guided strolling tour of the town or head to the French-speaking city of Liege, which hosts the oldest Christmas market in Belgium. Day 5 brings you to Maastricht within the Netherlands, the place you possibly can discover the town and its Christmas market or head to Aachen, Germany, for festive enjoyable. Alternatively, you possibly can go to Valkenburg’s underground Christmas market, situated inside a cave.
After one other cease in Antwerp, it is again to Brussels for a full day within the metropolis, the place you possibly can bask in your favourite vices with metropolis excursions that embrace chocolate tastings or a visit to the Belgian Beer Museum, plus a go to to the Christmas market.
Uniworld provides its Belgian Vacation Markets cruise on three departure dates from early to mid-December 2025 and in 2026. Fares begin from $4,099 per individual in 2025, based mostly on double occupancy, and $3,959 in 2026.
The cruise fare contains premium spirits and wine, entry to bikes and strolling sticks, health lessons, Wi-Fi, enrichment lectures and shore excursions in every port. Onboard gratuities and group transfers to and from the airport are additionally included.
Associated: River cruise packing listing: What to pack when touring by riverboat
Finest for solo vacationers: Tauck’s Yuletide Spirit
Solo vacationers trying to get pleasure from a river cruise with out the effort of a single complement ought to take a look at Tauck’s Christmas market itineraries. On all European river cruises, together with the seven-night Yuletide Spirit: Amsterdam to Brussels cruise, the road waives the only complement on Class 1 river-view cabins.
In case your cruise begins in Amsterdam, you do not have to be on the ship till 4 p.m., so use the morning to stroll round city or get tickets to tour the Anne Frank Home.
In your second day in Amsterdam, go to the Rijksmuseum and take a night canal cruise with the group. Foodies will like it when the cruise heads to Gouda to discover the town’s historical past and delicacies; along with the area’s well-known cheese, remember to style stroopwafels, that are cookie sandwiches invented within the metropolis.
On the midpoint of the cruise, you possibly can select between a guided strolling tour of Rotterdam, with beautiful outside sculptures and a thriving native meals market, or Delft, recognized for its distinctive blue and whereas pottery and medieval structure.
The cruise additionally visits Bruges, often called “The Venice of the North” because of its quite a few canals. Then, a cease in Antwerp supplies an opportunity to discover the assorted Christmas markets which can be unfold all through the town. Your journey ends in Brussels, with an entire day to discover the lovable squares and charming markets, and take a look at native fare.
Tauck provides 4 December departures of its Yuletide Spirit: Amsterdam to Brussels cruise in 2025 and 2026, which means the final cruise units sail after Christmas. The 2025 sailings are both completely offered out or have restricted availability. Whereas fares for 2025 cruises begin at $3,990 for solo vacationers in a Class 1 room, the vast majority of these cabins are booked. On the time of writing, Class 1 cabins are nonetheless out there for the Dec. 27, 2025, crusing.
The 2026 departure dates can be found, and you can also make a deposit to carry your spot. Nevertheless, remaining pricing and itinerary particulars aren’t out there but.
Solo vacationers ought to know that these cabins haven’t got a balcony and are the smallest on the riverboat at 150 sq. toes, however you seemingly will not spend a lot time in your room on this crusing. The cruise fare contains all gratuities; non-public shore excursions; meals; limitless drinks, together with premium spirits; and primary Wi-Fi, plus airport and practice transfers.
Finest for an prolonged cruise: Avalon Waterways’ Christmastime from Basel to Nuremberg
Vacationers searching for an extended cruise will need to think about Avalon Waterways’ nine-night Christmastime from Basel to Nuremberg river cruise, which incorporates an in a single day in Nuremberg.
Your journey will start in Basel, with time to wander the town heart and pattern conventional treats reminiscent of gingerbread and Swiss raclette (melting cheese) earlier than boarding at 5 p.m.
Your first cease will probably be in Germany to go to the Black Forest, the place you possibly can study native traditions and German winemaking. The following day brings the cruise to Strasbourg, France, the place you possibly can tour the La Petite France District and wander by the nice and cozy glow of the Christmas market.
Again in Germany, vacationers can benefit from the Speyer Christmas markets or journey farther on a bus to Heidelberg to discover Heidelberg Citadel.
Peruse extra Christmas markets in Frankfurt and Rudensheim through the days that comply with. The final cease is Nuremberg. An in a single day keep right here supplies loads of time to benefit from the metropolis’s medieval structure, Christmas markets and historic Kaiserburg Citadel.
Avalon Waterways provides its Christmastime from Basel to Nuremberg cruise Nov. 29 and Dec. 1, 2025. Costs begin at $5,418 per individual, based mostly on double occupancy. In 2026, two departures on Nov. 29 and Dec. 10 provide beginning charges of $5,295 per individual.
Fares embrace meals, drinks throughout meals and completely happy hour, Wi-Fi, a library, excursions, bike leases and a health heart. Gratuity isn’t included for lodge stays and meals through the land portion of your journey.
Finest for distinctive locations: AmaWaterways’ Gems of Southeast Europe
Whereas many river cruises traverse the waters round France, Germany and Austria, AmaWaterways‘ Gems of Southeast Europe itinerary takes friends to Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Serbia and Romania. The seven-night cruise sails between Budapest and Giurgiu alongside the Danube River.
In case your crusing begins in Budapest, you will have to arrive a day early for those who plan to discover the town; the cruise doesn’t provide excursions right here. Your first cease will probably be Mohacs, the place you possibly can benefit from the close by Christmas markets in Pecs or enterprise to Szekszard for a wine tasting.
Day three is spent in Vukovar, the place you possibly can meander by the historic cities or discover the town by way of an energetic bike tour. It’s also possible to get pleasure from a wine tasting and tour of the Outdated Cellars, recognized for Grasevina, Traminac and Frankovka wines.
The cruise continues to Belgrade, the place you possibly can wander across the metropolis by yourself, hike to Belgrade Fortress or pattern native delicacies and Serbian brandy. Day 5 is thrilling for nature fanatics as you sail by The Iron Gates, which is a collection of gorges that mark the border between Serbia and Romania.
The ultimate cease is Rousse, the place you possibly can enterprise farther into Romania to Bucharest, which is called the “Little Paris of the East,” for a metropolis tour and Christmas market.
AmaWaterways’ Gems of Southeast Europe departs on 4 dates between late November and mid-December in 2025 and 2026. For 2025 sailings, fares begin at $2,639 per individual, based mostly on double occupancy. In 2026, fares begin at $3,149.
Fares embrace Wi-Fi, wellness actions, every day leisure and cultural performances, all meals, drinks at lunch and dinner, plus a every day cocktail hour, excursions in every vacation spot and entry to educated guides.
Backside line
When you’ve ever thought-about a Christmas market river cruise, now’s the time to cross the expertise off your bucket listing.
Lots of the greatest river cruise manufacturers and tour corporations provide Christmas markets river cruises all through Europe, whether or not you are searching for a family-friendly choice, solo journey sans single complement or a cruise with distinctive locations.
It is most essential to decide on a cruise based mostly on which locations you want to go to and which journey dates and itinerary lengths work together with your schedule. However do not forget to think about the cruise line.
The inclusions on many of the river cruises are comparable however can range in scope, reminiscent of which drinks are included or value further, and what number of complimentary shore excursions you possibly can take.
You may additionally need to think about the general vibe of your journey and your expectations, whether or not you are searching for a luxurious journey with extra upscale ships and better service ranges, or a extra reasonably priced choice that emphasizes exploring and discovering your individual adventures.
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