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From the Duoro to the Danube, these are the 9 best river cruises for a floating city break
Good Housekeeping's cruise expert on the ultimate river cruises to book now
Rolling gently along the twists and turns of one of the world’s iconic waterways is not only inherently relaxing, it also provides a perspective on history and culture that you’d never get to see otherwise.
You can sit on deck and admire a constantly changing panorama of rolling meadows, medieval towns and tiny rustic villages, dramatic rocky gorges, soaring mountains and general day-to-day life along the riverbank.
River ships are tiny in comparison to ocean vessels, taking a maximum of around 200 guests, and while that means they’re not packed with facilities, they don’t need to be, because the focus is more on the destination.
In Europe, river cruises are like floating city breaks because you get to sail into the centre of fascinating capitals such as Budapest, Paris, Vienna and Amsterdam. Further afield, you can be immersed in the spirit of Egypt’s Pharaohs on magical Nile sailings or explore ornate temples and pagodas along the Mekong as it winds its way through Vietnam and Cambodia.
Over the last 15 years, river cruising has been transformed thanks to a new generation of ships, itineraries and new waterways to cruise on.
These voyages are all about getting under the skin of the places you visit and simply going with the flow. Here’s my guide to the 9 best river cruises for a floating city break to book now...
Viking
The Fleet: The biggest of any river cruise line with more than 80 vessels, including its signature Longships that sail Europe’s rivers and make up the lion’s share of the fleet.
The Vibe: Scandi cool.
Food & Drink: Aside from the main restaurant, the Longships have the more casual Aquavit Terrace offering al fresco and indoor dining.
Voyages: A comprehensive choice of sailings across all Europe’s key rivers plus the Mekong in Asia, and the Mississippi. Viking has the largest presence of the main river cruise lines on the Nile with eight river ships and is also due to start sailing India’s Brahmaputra River in Assam in 2027.
Don't Miss: Privileged Access tours with after-hours access to attractions and VIP performances.
Top Tip: For contrasting flavours, try Viking’s River & Ocean voyages that combine sailings on its river and ocean ships.
Cost: ££££
A-Rosa
The Fleet: 15, with the flagship being A-Rosa Sena, its biggest and best, with a wealth of facilities including a pool.
The Vibe: Continental casual.
Food & Drink: An emphasis on buffet dining in keeping with the laidback ambience, and dishes which include German specialities such as sausages, dumplings and sauerkraut. Some ships have an alternative a la carte restaurant that you need to book, while larger ships have more venues such as pizzerias, bistros or you can dine on deck.
Voyages: European rivers with most sailings on the Rhine and Danube, plus the Seine, Rhone and Douro. Good Housekeeping Holidays offers exclusive A-Rosa sailings along the Douro, Danube and Rhine.
Don't Miss: The Rhine in Flames summer firework spectacular in and around the Rhine Gorge.
Top Tip: A family-friendly line where kids up to 15 years old travel free.
Cost: £££
Join GH Holidays for a cruise along the sun-kissed Douro Valley on board the A-Rosa Alva. There'll be plenty of wine tastings and in between stops you can enjoy the sun deck, heated pool and panoramic lounge bar.
Another culture-packed sailing with GH Holidays and A-Rosa is a six-day cruise along Holland's waterways at the height of spring. You'll be joined by special guest Adam Frost on a visit to the spectacular Keukenhof Gardens, home to an incredible seven million flowers at full bloom.
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
The Fleet: 17 vessels, with SS Emilie joining in 2026 plus three new Super Ships in 2027.
The Vibe: Opulent boutique hotel.
Food & Drink: Uniworld ships have a classy main dining restaurant and a secondary one which often reflects the locality. So SS La Venezia, which sails the Venice Lagoon, has a pizzeria and Italian wine cellar, and SS Joie de Vivre on the Seine has a Parisian-style bistro. For something different, try the Progressive Dinner where you dine at off-limits venues around the ship, from the bridge to the laundry room.
Voyages: Europe’s main rivers and further afield in Asia, Egypt, India and Peru – in all 17 rivers in 26 countries. Uniworld has the only ships allowed to sail the Venetian Lagoon, while another highlight are its sailings along India’s Ganges River, combined with Golden Triangle tours to the Taj Mahal (Agra), Delhi and Jaipur. Good Housekeeping Holidays offers exclusive Uniworld sailings to Venice, Bordeaux, India and along the Danube.
Don't Miss: Let’s Go active excursions with hiking, cycling, kayaking etc and Nights Out private evening tours ashore.
Top Tip: Uniworld’s family-friendly Generations sailings are great for kids.
Cost: £££££
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GH Holidays and Uniworld are also offering an unforgettable luxury voyage along the Mekong River through Vietnam and Cambodia, taking you to Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh and the world-famous temple complex of Angkor Wat.
For a luxurious European option, join a special sailing through Venice with GH Holidays and Uniworld, with exclusive access to some of Venice's top attractions including the awe-inspiring St Mark's Basilica.
APT
The Fleet: Eight, including APT Solara and APT Ostara which sail the Rhine and Danube and MS Estrela based on Portugal’s Douro which launched earlier this year. APT also offers coastal and ocean cruises on a mix of boutique ships.
The Vibe: Relaxed Aussie flair.
Food & Drink: APT Solara and APT Ostara boast more dining choices than any other river ships (six restaurants plus in-suite dining).
Voyages: Rhine, Danube and Douro in Europe, plus the Peruvian Amazon and the Mekong.
Dont't Miss: Gruner Bar & Dining - the ‘floating wine bar’ on APT Solara and APT Ostara - with its state-of-the-art hydraulic system raising it to the sundeck for panoramic views.
Top Tip: On Danube cruises guests are whisked to the City Palace in Vienna for cocktails, followed by a private classical concert.
Cost: ££££
Avalon Waterways
Good Housekeeping Reader Recommended for Panoramic View Suites.
The Fleet: Avalon owns 15 river ships in Europe, plus one in Asia. It also charters or sells cabins on two riverboats in Egypt, one on the Peruvian Amazon and two small ships that cruise the Galapagos Islands.
The Vibe: Active and friendly.
Food & Drink: Farm to fork fare and an Avalon Fresh menu of healthy options, including vegan and vegetarian dishes, served in the main dining room or the Panorama Bistro. There’s the al fresco Sky Grill or you can grab a picnic basket to go ashore.
Voyages: Across Europe, including the Douro in Portugal and the Garonne and Dordogne, plus the Mekong, Nile, Peruvian Amazon and Galapagos Islands.
Don't Miss: Special-interest sailings including wine appreciation, culinary, music and jazz.
Top Tip: If you’re fit and sporty, don’t miss the Active & Discovery sailings with a choice of activities and excursions at each stop.
Cost: ££££
Tui River Cruises
The Fleet: Six with TUI Skyla, Maya and Isla all virtual carbon copies. TUI Aria stands out for its pool, which comes with a retractable roof.
The Vibe: Sociable adult-only.
Food & Drink: Aside from the main restaurant, there’s a second dining venue on some ships, and TUI Maya has an outdoor barbecue area.
Voyages: Across central Europe’s main rivers, led by the Rhine and Danube, as well as the Nile.
Don't Miss: Cruise-and-stay itineraries in Egypt and Hungary because the strength of the TUI brand gives you a bigger choice of hotels.
Top Tip: With flights, tips and drinks with meals included, TUI River Cruises feels like a good-value package holiday.
Cost: £££
AmaWaterways
The Fleet: 29, with two more ships, AmaSofia and AmaMaya, joining in 2026.
The Vibe: Sleek and elegant.
Food & Drink: Award-winning farm-to-table cuisine using locally-sourced ingredients and, in addition to the main restaurant, a Chef’s Table restaurant at the back of the ship with gorgeous views.
Voyages: Across Europe’s main rivers, including the Dordogne and Garonne in France, plus the Mekong and the Nile. Unusually, AmaWaterways also offers Africa sailings on the Chobe River and has just introduced cruises along Colombia’s Magdalena River.
Don't Miss: AmaWaterways’ twin balcony staterooms that have both a regular balcony and a French balcony.
Top Tip: Many ships have swimming pools, along with spas, fitness activities and wellness hosts.
Cost: ££££
Scenic
The Fleet: 13, led by Scenic’s 12 Space-Ships, their catchy nickname reflecting their spacious, upmarket surroundings.
The Vibe: Sophisticated and exclusive.
Food & Drink: Choose from up to five Space-Ship dining experiences including fine dining feasts in the main Crystal restaurant, casual bites in River Café, speciality venues serving regional dishes or dining in your suite.
Voyages: Across Central Europe’s main rivers, France, Portugal and the Mekong through Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.
Don't Miss: Scenic Enrich cultural events encompassing gourmet feasts, private concerts and exclusive access to historic treasures along the rivers they sail.
Top Tip: Remember your cossie because some ships have pools, while a few Space-Ships are the only river ships to have a Salt Therapy Lounge as part of their spa and fitness facilities.
Cost: £££££
Riviera Travel
The Fleet: 12, including newest ships Riviera Radiance and Riviera Rose. New ship Riviera Resplendence joins in 2026.
The Vibe: Convivial and comfortable.
Food & Drink: Local flavours in the main restaurant, where four-course dinners are served, and a more relaxed vibe in the alternative restaurants; on the Jane Austen and Lord Byron in France these are the Gallic La Brasserie serving charcuterie and cheese platters paired with French wines.
Voyages: Across Central Europe’s main rivers plus France and Portugal, and further afield, the Nile and the Mekong.
Don't Miss: Themed sailings that have been bolstered this year with new focuses including gastronomy, gardens, music and art.
Top Tip: The sociable ambience of river cruises makes them ideal for single travellers and Riviera has solo cabins available on all departures, plus dedicated solo traveller sailings.
Cost: ££££
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