Top river cruise port excursions

Vienna's river cruise piers line the Danube northeast of the center, a quick subway ride from imperial palaces and baroque cafes. This capital city in Eastern Austria is known for its cafe culture, decadent desserts, and festive events, especially balls.

• Starting or ending here? Vienna Airport is 11 mi (18 km) away
• A very international city where English is widely understood
• 2 hrs: St. Stephen's Cathedral and coffee at a classic cafe
• Half day: Hofburg Palace, the Ringstrasse and the State Opera
• Full day: day trip to Salzburg- home of Mozart and The Sound of Music

Budapest's river cruise docks line the Danube in the city center, with Parliament, Buda Castle and thermal baths nearby. This grand capital, right in the middle of Hungary, dazzles at night and charms during the day.

• Port: Ships moor on the Pest bank, a short walk to the city center
• Starting or ending here? Budapest Airport is 12 mi (20 km) away
• 2 hrs: Parliament, the Shoes on the Danube Bank and the Chain Bridge
• Half day: Buda Castle, Fisherman's Bastion and Matthias Church
• Full day: Stay in town for the ruin bars or head to Balaton Lake

What can be said about this city of glamor and fashion that hasn’t already been said? Paris river cruises dock on the Seine, often near the Eiffel Tower, with world-class museums a short ride away.

• Port: Most ships moor at Port de Grenelle, near the Eiffel Tower
• Starting or ending here? CDG Airport is a 1-hour drive away
• 2 hrs: Eiffel Tower and a stroll to the Trocadéro for views
• Half day: Louvre Museum, Tuileries Garden and Notre-Dame
• Full day: do a day trip to Reims, known for Champagne and royalty

Amsterdam's cruise berths sit near Central Station, close to canals, museums, and 17th-century merchant houses. This bustling, charming city in Northern Holland welcomes millions of river cruise goers every year.

• Port: Ships moor along the IJ, a short walk from Central Station
• Starting or ending here? Schiphol Airport is 11 mi away from the port
• 2 hrs: Dam Square, some lunch, and a stroll along the canals
• Half day: Anne Frank House (book ahead) and the Jordaan district
• Full day: A day trip to Haarlem for tulips (in season) and windmills

Bratislava's compact old town is a short walk from its Danube docks, crowned by a hilltop castle above the river. It is the capital of Slovakia, and very close to Vienna and the Hungarian border.

• Port: Ships moor on the embankment, a 5–10 min walk to the Old Town
• Starting or ending here? Bratislava Airport is a 20-minute drive away
• 2 hrs: Old Town Hall, Michael's Gate and the Čumil statue
• Half day: Bratislava Castle and St. Martin's Cathedral
• Full day: Make a day trip to Melk Castle and regional wine villages

Nuremberg is a classic Northern Bavarian city on the Main-Danube Canal. Its medieval walled old town is a short bus or car ride from the river cruise dock.

• Port: The dock is 3 mi (5 km) south of the old town, by bus or taxi
• Start or end here? Nuremberg Airport is 4 mi (7 km) from the old town
• 2 hrs: Hauptmarkt, the Beautiful Fountain and St. Sebald Church
• Half day: Imperial Castle and the half-timbered Albrecht Dürer House
• Full day: a day trip to the Medieval town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber