8-Night Rhine Cruise from Basel

1. Day

   1
   • 

     Basel

     A Swiss city on the Rhine where Switzerland, France and Germany meet, and a common starting point for Rhine cruises. Its old town climbs from the river to a red sandstone cathedral and a medieval market square ringed by guild houses.

     • Basel Münster
     • Old town
     • Rhine starting point
2. Day

   2
   • 

     Breisach

     A small town on the Rhine at the edge of Germany's Kaiserstuhl wine country, just across the river from France's Alsace. It is crowned by the St. Stephan minster on its hilltop and serves as the river gateway to Freiburg and the southern Black Forest.

     • St. Stephan minster
     • Kaiserstuhl vineyards
     • Black Forest gateway
3. Day

   3
   • 

     Kehl

     A German town on the right bank of the Rhine, directly across the river from Strasbourg in France. A bridge and garden link the two banks, and the riverside park makes it a crossing point for cruises between Germany and Alsace.

     • Two Banks Garden
     • Rhine bridge
     • Strasbourg nearby
4. Day

   4
   • 

     Rüdesheim am Rhein

     A wine town on the Rhine in Germany's Rheingau, set among steep Riesling vineyards. Its narrow Drosselgasse lane is lined with taverns, and a cable car rises to the Niederwald monument overlooking the river gorge.

     • Drosselgasse lane
     • Niederwald monument
     • Rheingau vineyards
5. Day

   5
   • 

     Frankfurt

     Germany's financial capital on the river Main, a skyline of glass towers that locals nickname Mainhattan. River cruises along the Main and Rhine often begin here, with the reconstructed half-timbered Römer square and a cluster of riverside museums close to the old centre.

     • Römer square
     • Museumsufer
     • Main riverfront
6. Day

   6
   • 

     Wertheim

     A timber-framed town in Baden-Württemberg where the Tauber River joins the Main, a frequent river-cruise stop. Wertheim is known for its half-timbered old town, the ruined hilltop castle above the rivers, and its long glassmaking heritage.

     • Hilltop castle
     • Half-timbered old town
     • Glass museum
7. Day

   7
   • 

     Würzburg

     A Bavarian city on the river Main, at the start of Germany's Romantic Road. The hillside Marienberg fortress overlooks the old town and the vineyards along the river, while the baroque Residenz palace anchors the centre with its grand frescoed staircase.

     • Marienberg Fortress
     • Würzburg Residenz
     • Old Main Bridge
8. Day

   8
   • 

     Bamberg

     A Bavarian town built across seven hills above the river Regnitz, its medieval and baroque core preserved as a whole. A painted town hall stands on an island mid-river, and the town is known for its smoked Rauchbier and many small breweries.

     • Old Town Hall
     • Bamberg Cathedral
     • Smoked beer
9. Day

   9
   • 

     Nuremberg

     A Bavarian city on the Pegnitz with a walled medieval core and an imperial castle above it. River ships call here along the Main–Danube corridor, within reach of the old town's half-timbered houses and the famous grilled Nürnberger sausages.

     • Imperial Castle
     • Old town walls
     • Nürnberger sausages

• 31 Oct 2026
• 11 May 2027
• 30 Oct 2027

Upcoming sailings of this itinerary — a NestCruise advisor confirms current availability and your fare.