For the best way to see medieval Europe, travel on the continent’s newest waterway. Completing a project of Charlemagne, King of the Franks, from 768-814 AD, the 326-mile-long Main river was linked to the Danube in 1992, and it wasn’t long before operators began offering itineraries on the river.
Many combine the Main with other rivers, and the Main-Danube canal is the focal point of some epic Black Sea to North Sea river voyages – two seas connected by the Danube, Rhine and Main.
My cruise on the Main began in Frankfurt, where the ship was moored a 10-minute walk from the old town. We sailed between vineyard-clad hills and past half-timbered villages and towns, such as Miltenberg and castle-topped Wertheim, before stopping to explore the medieval city of Würzburg and the Bavarian town of Bamberg.
Here, the Main joins the 106-mile-long Main-Danube Canal and continues to the walled city of Nuremberg, where you can visit the site of the infamous rallies. These left me – and evidently the authorities – unsure of whether such monuments should be left to crumble or preserved.
Don’t leave it too late to book. Many of these river cruises (and especially festive cruises) sell out months or even a year in advance. Prices tend to be a little cheaper in the autumn and early spring.
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Best for an overview of the Main
Medieval Germany: Bavaria and the Romantic Road
Riviera Travel
Key stops: Miltenberg, Wertheim, Würzburg, Rothenburg, Ochsenfurt and Bamberg (Germany)
Departure port: Mainz (Germany)
Duration: Seven nights
Ship: MS George Eliot
Riviera Travel begins its cruise in Mainz, at the confluence of the Rhine and the Main, where guides explain how the invention of the Gutenberg printing press ushered in the Renaissance. After that, the focus is on smaller medieval towns and villages, including Ochsenfurt and Rothenburg, whose pretty cobbled centre feels like it’s straight from a film set.
Bamberg is known for its town hall, built on an island in the river in the early 14th century (reputedly, the bishop didn’t grant land for its construction). There are 34 large locks on the Main, but on the plus side, this means that sailings are unlikely to be disrupted by seasonal low or high water.
The ship, MS George Eliot, with its wrought-iron staircases and marble floors, is highly rated for its food and cabins and offers good value for money. Bear in mind that on-board amenities and entertainment aren’t what you’d find on some of the more luxurious vessels. Riviera Travel caters well to solo travellers who want their own cabin on its ships.
Insider tip
Although flights are the default option on the website, you can also book to travel by Eurostar and onward trains to Riviera’s German ships if this is preferable.
How to do it
A seven-night Medieval Germany: Bavaria and the Romantic Road cruise, departing on September 23, 2026, costs from £2,799pp for a standard suite. Includes 10 excursions, flights and a drinks package.
Best for affordability
Majestic Main and Rhine
TUI River Cruises
Key stops: Bamberg, Würzburg, Miltenberg, Rüdesheim and Cologne (Germany), Amsterdam (The Netherlands)
Departure port: Nuremberg (Germany)
Duration: Seven nights
Ship: TUI Skyla
TUI River Cruises packs a lot into its Main and Rhine itinerary, including Wurzburg, with its array of Rococo façades that were reconstructed after the war. What did survive despite the heavy British bombing is the Würzburg Residence, the Baroque palace that locals have continued to restore since 1945. Its many trompe l’oeil are so intricate that even after studying the ceiling, I couldn’t tell the statues from the frescoes.
Nuremberg is another brilliantly rebuilt medieval city. An intellectual hub of the Renaissance, as guides will explain, it was here that artist Albrecht Dürer revolutionised painting and Copernicus published his revolutionary sun-centred model of the solar system.
Skyla’s standard offering cabins might not have the marble bathrooms of more upmarket operators, and the food is often “good hotel” quality rather than upmarket restaurant fare; however, the ship’s elegant décor – from the foyer’s spiral staircase to the fireside lounge – matches that of high-end rivals. Nightly entertainment is nicely varied, ranging from violinists to piano music.
Insider tip
Pack a swimsuit. While several ships have whirlpools on the sundeck, Skyla’s indoor spa, including a sauna and hot tub, is a rare treat.
How to do it
A seven-night Majestic Main and Rhine cruise, departing on November 3, 2026, costs from £1,189pp for a deck one standard cabin. Includes tips, a gala dinner, wine or beer with meals, flights and transfers.
Best for festive celebrations
Christmas time from Nuremberg to Basel
Avalon Waterways
Key stops: Bamberg, Würzburg, Miltenberg, Frankfurt for Rüdesheim, Speyer for Heidelberg and Breisach for the Black Forest (Germany), Strasbourg (France), Basel (Switzerland)
Departure port: Nuremberg (Germany)
Duration: Nine nights
Ship: Avalon Imagery II
Avalon Waterways is known for its special-interest cruises, so if you’re looking to combine the Main with the festive delights of the Rhine, such as Breisach in the Black Forest, historic Strasbourg, and Germany’s Christmas markets, then this sailing is for you.
Nuremberg has 100-foot-deep, rock-hewn cellars, and during a visit here, you will learn how the caves were also used to protect the city’s art treasures during the war.
Tucking into Bavarian fare – bratwurst, gingerbread, mulled blueberry wine and countless other culinary delights – is a highlight of the Christkindlesmarkt, while in Bamberg, nativity scenes built by residents will be on display throughout the town.
On board Avalon Imagery II, passengers can try their hand at making festive gingerbread cookies and enjoy watching the world go by from the comfort of the cabin – all of which feature floor-to-ceiling windows.
Insider tip
Avalon’s excursion in Rüdesheim includes a visit to the remarkable Mechanical Music Museum, an eclectic display of self-playing instruments. Not many cruise lines offer this stop, so be sure to sign up for the trip when on board.
How to do it
A nine-night Christmas time from Nuremberg to Basel, departing on December 11, 2026, costs from £4,417pp for a deluxe stateroom. Includes some excursions, wine or beer with meals, flights and transfers.
Best for active excursions
Europe’s Rivers and Castles
AmaWaterways
Key stops: Bernkastel, Cochem, Koblenz, Rüdesheim, Wertheim, Würzburg, Eltmann and Nuremberg (Germany)
Departure port: Luxembourg
Duration: Seven nights
Ship: AmaPrima
The Moselle-Rhine-Main route links most of Germany’s wine regions. Starting in Luxembourg, AmaPrima winds through the vineyards of Bernkastel-Kues and Cochem – both enjoyable towns to explore on the ship’s bikes – before reaching the charming city of Koblenz.
Here, the underrated, sweeter Moselle whites give way to the more classic Rieslings and Silvaners of the Rhine valley, before you join the Main to taste the excellent Frankish reds – sold in its traditional, flask-shaped bottle – in places such as Miltenberg.
AmaWaterways is particularly good at offering active excursions involving cycling and hiking. From a mooring outside Bamberg, we could cycle the 10 minutes to the city centre from the industrial port where all ships stop to “bunker” – fill with water so they can pass under the low bridges of the canal.
When I was on board, the energetic, mostly American crowd was intent on getting out on active excursions and enjoying the culture and evening entertainment on board, which ranged from Bavarian music to piano favourites.
Insider tip
Hit the treadmill in the gym and get the best sunset views from the ship’s rooftop walking track. Feeling lazy? The heated pool features underwater barstools and a swim-up bar.
How to do it
A seven-night Europe’s Rivers and Castles cruise, departing on July 29, 2026, costs from £3,597pp for a Category E cabin. Includes excursions, wine or beer with meals, flights and transfers.
Best for mature travellers
Main, Rhine and Moselle Explorer
Saga Cruises
Key stops: Strasbourg (France), Rüdesheim, Cochem, Koblenz, Frankfurt and Aschaffenburg (Germany)
Departure port: Mainz (Germany)
Duration: 10 nights
Ship: Spirit of the Moselle
Saga starts and ends its cruise in Mainz, with its museums and medieval market squares, half-timbered houses and a Romanesque sandstone cathedral. The classic stops on the Rhine – Strasbourg, Rüdesheim and Koblenz – follow, and then it’s on to the Moselle river before turning back at Cochem.
Back on the Main for another under-served destination, Aschaffenburg, where you’ll moor under the magnificent red Schloss Johannisburg palace. During a walking tour of the city’s main sights, you’ll see the stonemasons’ college that was pivotal in helping to reconstruct so many German cities after the war.
Saga Cruises is exclusively for passengers over the age of 50, and despite this itinerary offering more unusual stops, in general, the line offers limited excursions – which is fine if, like me, you feel happiest just watching the world go by. The elegant and spacious Spirit of the Moselle launched in 2025, with a contemporary palette inspired by the JMW Turner painting, Beilstein and Burg Metternich.
Insider tip
Spirit of the Moselle has a lounge and two restaurants: Panorama, the main restaurant, and the more intimate speciality restaurant Beilstein. Due to its smaller size, it can be tough to get a table at Beilstein, so make reservations as soon as you are on board.
How to do it
A 10-night Main, Rhine and Moselle Explorer river cruise, departing on September 22, 2026, costs from £3,329pp for a Grade F, standard cabin. Includes return flights, private transfers, all-inclusive meals and drinks, excursions at each port and travel insurance.
Best for German culture
Main River Romance
A-Rosa Cruises
Key stops: Miltenberg, Wertheim and Würzburg (Germany)
Departure port: Frankfurt (Germany)
Duration: Five nights
Ship: A-Rosa Clea
One of the joys of river cruising is that attractions come to you. Ships often arrive at the heart of a town or city, which means there are no lengthy transfers on arrival.
Unlike most operators, A-Rosa River Cruises does not include excursions in the cruise fare, which will suit those who prefer to explore under their own steam and not pay upfront for tours they won’t use.
Starting in Frankfurt, alongside the steam trains that chug along the banks of the Main, Arosa Clea sails to Wertheim and Miltenberg. Houses and Wertheim’s mini-basilica, all dating back to the Middle Ages, are in their original state. The ship turns back at Würzburg, avoiding the 16 locks of the Main-Danube canal.
A-Rosa Clea is smart and spacious, with a wide sun deck complete with sunbeds and a heated whirlpool.
Insider tip
Service is no-nonsense continental, and if you want to immerse yourself in German culture, you’ll be at home with A-Rosa’s largely German-speaking clientele.
How to do it
A five-night Main River Romance cruise departing on October 23, 2026, costs from £703pp for an S-tier cabin. Includes a selection of beer and wine. Excludes excursions, flights and transfers.
About our expert
Colin Nicholson
Colin caught the river cruising bug in 2008 and has continued to explore Europe’s fascinating landscape and history – ancient and modern – through its many waterways. He still dreams of doing the “big one”, sailing from the Black Sea to the North Sea.