Aboard · RIVER CRUISES

The 15 Best River Cruises in the World

98 tours  ·  from $8 a head

In most river cities the boat is the cheapest hour you will spend and the only one sitting down. These 15 cover the Seine, the Danube, the Douro, the Vltava and the Thames, priced by length, with a note on which run after dark.

Paris: 1-Hour Seine Cruise departing from the Eiffel Tower - Finding Pontoon 3 beneath the Eiffel Tower
1-Hour Experiences, Boat Tours, France Boat Tours, Paris Boat Tours, River Cruises, River Cruises in France, River Cruises in Paris, Tour Reviews

Paris: 1-Hour Seine Cruise departing from the Eiffel Tower

1.1-Hour Seine Cruise departing from the Eiffel Tower

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 77,472 reviews · 1 hour · from $20Our pick

Board a modern Bateaux Parisiens boat at Pontoon 3 beneath the Eiffel Tower for a one-hour Seine cruise. See Notre Dame, the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, and Grand Palais from the water. Use the onboard audio guide or multilingual web app, then move between the warm cabin and open top deck for photos.

“Excellent way to see some Paris landmarks. Commentary was good in English French Italian and Spanish. Wheelchair friendly.”

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Paris: Evening River Cruise with Music - Finding the dock below the Eiffel Tower
Boat Tours, Evening Experiences, France Boat Tours, Paris Boat Tours, River Cruises, River Cruises in France, River Cruises in Paris, Tour Reviews

Paris: Evening River Cruise with Music

2.Evening River Cruise with Music

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 22,721 reviews · 1 hour · from $27

Board a quiet electric boat near the Eiffel Tower for a one-hour evening ride along the Seine. You’ll pass the Louvre, Notre-Dame, Musée d’Orsay, and Grand Palais with music onboard. There is no live guide, but the Vedettes de Paris app offers commentary in 10 languages.

“Very cold in November, in Paris at night. Get worm clothings and try to be on the roof (upper open level). The view is amazing so don’t stay inside the boat.”

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From Porto: Douro Valley w/ Boat Tour, Wine Tasting & Lunch - Inside the 1959 wine cooperative
Boat Tours, Food & Drink, Lunch Experiences, Porto Boat Tours, Portugal Boat Tours, River Cruises, River Cruises in Porto, River Cruises in Portugal, Tour Reviews, Tours, Wine Tours

From Porto: Douro Valley w/ Boat Tour, Wine Tasting & Lunch

3.Douro Valley w/ Boat Tour, Wine Tasting & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 19,061 reviews · 6 - 10 hours · from $82

Travel from Porto to Peso da Régua and Pinhão with an English, French, or Portuguese guide. Visit a 1959 wine cooperative and another cellar, taste Port and olive oil, eat lunch with wine, and take a one-hour Douro cruise. Pickup, private, and small-group options vary.

“The guide (Igor, handsome Jesus) peppered the relaxed vibe with excellent banter and enthusiasm. The driver (“Mario”) navigated the terrain with impeccable skill and gusto. Many fine beverages were consumed and a vast fountain of knowledge was obtained which will live long in the memory! The mashed potato was a pleasurable, culinary delight to behold!”

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Chicago Architecture River Cruise - Boarding at Navy Pier or Michigan Avenue
Boat Tours, Chicago Boat Tours, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, USA Boat Tours

Chicago Architecture River Cruise

4.Chicago Architecture River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 15,756 reviews · 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $39Top rated

Cruise the Chicago River for about 60 to 90 minutes with an architecture guide, passing the Wrigley Building, Willis Tower, John Hancock Center, Marina City, and more. Choose a Navy Pier or Michigan Avenue departure, enjoy onboard drinks and restrooms, and bring your dog along.

“The tour guide was very knowledgeable and the views are amazing. They covered a lot of history and explain the architecture very well.”

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Paris: Tootbus Hop-on Hop-off (Optional River Cruise) - Stop 1: Opéra and the grands magasins
Boat Tours, France Boat Tours, Paris Boat Tours, River Cruises, River Cruises in France, River Cruises in Paris, Tour Reviews

Paris: Tootbus Hop-on Hop-off (Optional River Cruise)

5.Tootbus Hop-on Hop-off (Optional River Cruise)

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 15,279 reviews · 1 - 3 days · from $43

See Paris from an open-top Tootbus with 24, 48, or 72-hour access, multilingual audio, child-friendly commentary, real-time bus tracking, and five themed walks. Add a one-hour Vedettes de Paris cruise from the Eiffel Tower for another view of the city.

“Loved the frequency of these buses!!! Great stops great commentary”

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Complete Douro Valley Wine Tour with Lunch, Wine Tastings and River Cruise - Leaving Porto with local stories on the road
Boat Tours, Lunch Experiences, Porto Boat Tours, Portugal Boat Tours, River Cruises, River Cruises in Porto, River Cruises in Portugal, Tour Reviews, Tours, Wine Tours

Complete Douro Valley Wine Tour with Lunch, Wine Tastings and River Cruise

6.Complete Douro Valley Wine Tour with Lunch, Wine Tastings and River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 12,920 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $101

Leave Porto for a full day in the Douro Valley with an English-speaking guide, two winery visits, roughly six tastings, a traditional Portuguese lunch, and a 50-minute Rabelo boat cruise from Pinhão. Hotel pickup is available in central Porto, and guides such as Rita, Miguel, Pedro, and José add local color.

“I’m SO glad I booked this trip… Pedro , our guide , was hilarious, entertaining and knowledgeable about the wine valley . The boat ride was relaxing and beautiful, and the wineries and food we had were wonderful experiences. Highly recommend !!”

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Paris: Illuminations River Cruise with Audio Commentary - Boarding beneath the Eiffel Tower at Port de la Bourdonnais
Audio Tours, Boat Tours, France Boat Tours, Paris Boat Tours, River Cruises, River Cruises in France, River Cruises in Paris, Self-Guided Tours, Tour Reviews

Paris: Illuminations River Cruise with Audio Commentary

7.Illuminations River Cruise with Audio Commentary

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 12,340 reviews · 1 hour · from $20

Cruise from the Eiffel Tower past Notre Dame, the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, and Pont Neuf on a spacious trimaran. Choose a 14-language audio guide or smartphone app, then head to the open top deck for wide city views and night photos.

“It was a great experience, there is an audioguide available that you can open on your phone and at the same time one of the guys on the boat does speak on the loudspeaker and gives you a brief description of what we are seeing. I'm not sure how well you can hear it on the top of the boat as we were sitting on the lower level outside. There is plenty of space to sit at the top uncovered, inside or on the sides of the boat.”

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Paris: Seine Cruise & Crepe Tasting near the Eiffel Tower - What you see along the Seine
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Paris: Seine Cruise & Crepe Tasting near the Eiffel Tower

8.Seine Cruise & Crepe Tasting near the Eiffel Tower

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 11,231 reviews · 1 hour · from $23

Spend about an hour on a Seine sightseeing boat with open-air and glass-covered seating, multilingual commentary, and views of the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Notre-Dame, and Paris bridges. Use your flexible ticket within one month, then claim a fresh Nutella or sugar crêpe at Trocadéro.

“Crepe tasting and cruise were amazing! Great value for your money, gorgeous daytime cruise, get to see all of the sights without walking, couldn’t have asked for a better cruise!”

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London Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Optional River Cruise - See Kensington, Harrods, and Notting Hill
Boat Tours, London Boat Tours, River Cruises, River Cruises in London, River Cruises in the UK, Tour Reviews, Tours, UK Boat Tours

London Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Optional River Cruise

9.On Hop-Off Tour with Optional River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 10,803 reviews · 3 hours 35 minutes (approx.) · from $39

Ride Big Bus London across three routes linking Buckingham Palace, the Tower, St. Paul’s, Notting Hill, and the British Museum. Hop off where you like, use onboard commentary and Wi-Fi, and choose a 24- or 48-hour ticket for a one-way Thames cruise. The 48-hour option adds walks and an evening tour.

“Worth every penny saw so much of London drivers so friendly and helpful. The busses were frequent with no waiting”

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Paris: Seine River Panoramic Views Dinner Cruise - What the cocotte dinner is like
Boat Tours, Dining Experiences, Dinner Cruises, Dinner Cruises in France, Dinner Cruises in Paris, France Boat Tours, Paris Boat Tours, River Cruises, River Cruises in France, River Cruises in Paris, Tour Reviews

Paris: Seine River Panoramic Views Dinner Cruise

10.Seine River Panoramic Views Dinner Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 10,611 reviews · 1h 45m · from $64

Settle into an outward-facing club armchair for a 105-minute Seine cruise from Île aux Cygnes to Île Saint-Louis and back. You’ll get three courses of French cocotte cooking, mineral water, illuminated landmarks, and access to an open terrace. The boat holds no more than 10 people.

“Everything’s just amazing and the food was outstanding. I am glad I booked it and I’ll book it again )”

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Seville: 1-Hour Guadalquivir River Sightseeing Eco Cruise - Triana and the first river views
1-Hour Experiences, Boat Tours, River Cruises, Sightseeing Cruises, Spain Boat Tours, Tour Reviews

Seville: 1-Hour Guadalquivir River Sightseeing Eco Cruise

11.1-Hour Guadalquivir River Sightseeing Eco Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 10,281 reviews · 1 hour · from $19

Sail from Muelle de Nueva York on a one-hour Guadalquivir cruise aboard a quiet eco-friendly boat. You’ll pass Triana, Torre del Oro, La Maestranza, and the Inquisition Castle, with commentary in Spanish, English, or French. Drinks are sold onboard, but the ride itself is the main event.

“It was a very nice cruise with the history of Seville along the trip”

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Paris: Louvre Museum Entry Ticket With Host and River Cruise - Making sense of the Louvre’s enormous size
Boat Tours, France Boat Tours, Museums, Paris Boat Tours, River Cruises, River Cruises in France, River Cruises in Paris, Tickets, Tour Reviews

Paris: Louvre Museum Entry Ticket With Host and River Cruise

12.Louvre Museum Entry Ticket With Host and River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 9,926 reviews · 1 day · from $100

Meet an English-speaking host at Benlux on Rue de Rivoli for timed Louvre entry, then explore the museum independently with a digital audio guide. Later, take a one-hour Seine cruise past the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Musée d’Orsay, and more. The cruise and Louvre visit are self-guided.

“The museum has many great collections. It was an amazing experience.”

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Budapest Danube Cruise and Dinner Options, Live Music and Dance - What the dinner options really include
Boat Tours, Budapest Boat Tours, Concerts, Cruises with Live Music, Dining Experiences, Dinner Cruises, Dinner Cruises in Budapest, Dinner Cruises in Hungary, Hungary Boat Tours, River Cruises, River Cruises in Budapest, River Cruises in Hungary, Tour Reviews

Budapest Danube Cruise and Dinner Options, Live Music and Dance

13.Budapest Danube Cruise and Dinner Options, Live Music and Dance

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 7,428 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $54

Spend an evening on the Danube with views of Parliament, Buda Castle, the Chain Bridge, and Gellért Hill. Choose a buffet dinner, wine-and-food pairing, or gulyás with mini lángos. Live Hungarian music and folklore dancing keep the 90-minute cruise lively.

“The food was good. The entertainment was good with friendly people. The boat was terrible if you wanted to take pictures you had to walk back and forth through the boat to get each side. You also were not allowed to go upstairs to get an overall total view.”

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Kraków: Evening or Night River Cruise - Choosing the right deck and the right seat
Boat Tours, Evening Experiences, Krakow Boat Tours, Poland Boat Tours, River Cruises, Tour Reviews

Kraków: Evening or Night River Cruise

14.Evening or Night River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 7,386 reviews · 1 hour · from $24

Join Kapitan Victor beside the Sheraton Hotel for a one-hour evening cruise from Wawel Castle. Choose the warm lower deck or breezy upper deck, listen to commentary in Polish, English, Spanish, or German, and buy drinks on board as Kraków’s bridges, churches, and riverfront districts glow after dark.

“Exactly as said on the tin. Can’t complain. Just felt sorry for the bartender making all the drinks - she was amazing!”

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Paris: Eiffel Tower Access by Elevator & Seine River Cruise - The Guided Walk to the Eiffel Tower
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Paris: Eiffel Tower Access by Elevator & Seine River Cruise

15.Eiffel Tower Access by Elevator & Seine River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 7,329 reviews · 3 hours · from $79

Meet near the Eiffel Tower for a guided visit to levels one and two, with optional summit access. Guides such as Chloe, Marcella, and Emmanuel add lively history and photo tips. Your one-hour Seine cruise can be used for up to six months after the tower visit.

“Our guide, EKAETTE, was amazing, so engaging and knowledgeable. She really made the tour fantastic because of her personality. I remembered a lot of facts about the Eiffel Tower because of her communication style. The tower was great, had a good time. Only problem is that the cruise was ridiculously busy and the line was way too long but what do you expect, all the different tours were all using this specific boat cruise company, so everyone goes there. We ended up not doing the cruise because it was too over crowded. Other than that it was great.”

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New in River Cruises

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