8-Night Europe Cruise from Basel

• History & Culture
• Food & Drink

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
   • 

     Strasbourg

     The capital of France's Alsace, set on the Rhine close to the German border. Its Grande Île old town centres on a soaring pink-sandstone cathedral and the canal-laced lanes of Petite France, while the modern European Parliament sits across the city.

     • Strasbourg Cathedral
     • Petite France
     • European Parliament
4. Day

   4
   • 

     Rüdesheim

     A small wine town on the Rhine, set where the river enters its dramatic gorge. River ships call here for the half-timbered lanes of the Drosselgasse, the vineyards of the Rheingau and the cable car up to the Niederwald monument above.

     • Drosselgasse
     • Rheingau vineyards
     • Niederwald monument
   • R

     Rhine Gorge, Germany

     A scenic stretch of the Rhine in western Germany, where the river cuts a steep gorge between vine-clad slopes. Castle after castle crowns the heights above the water, including the legendary Lorelei rock on a sharp bend.

     • Clifftop castles
     • Lorelei rock
     • Riverside vineyards
   • 

     Boppard

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
• 30 Oct 2027

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