01904 521 936
Tour Search



River CruiseRiver Cruise

Top of Europe & The Majestic Rhine

Save
You are viewing the 2025 itinerary. Select your departure year
20252026
11 days From £3,499 per person
4.5 stars(24 reviews)
Gallery
Map
Tour & Cruise

Experience the breathtaking ‘Top of Europe’ on the Jungfrau Express before a luxurious seven-night cruise along the magical Rhine river.

Save £500

Save £500 on Upper Deck cabin upgrades on River Cruise 2025 holidays, when you book by 16th December 2024. Call only offer quoting code CABIN.

View terms and conditions

2025 Tour code: MER25

About the tour

A holiday which combines an iconic rail trip to the 'Top of Europe' and a stay in beautiful Interlaken with the stunning landscapes of a luxurious Rhine Cruise.

Starting from our base in the picturesque town of Interlaken, nestled between two serene Alpine lakes, enjoy the breathtaking views of the Bernese Oberland as we take a scenic journey on the Jungfrau Express to the 'Top of Europe'.

Then, we set sail to the captivating towns of Heidelberg and Rüdesheim, before cruising through the beautiful Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage site adorned with stunning castles, lush forests, and sprawling vineyards.

For the perfect ending, we journey on the Drachenfelsbahn railway, explore the vibrant city of Cologne, and tour the lively streets of Amsterdam.

Interested in this tour but haven't found a date that works for you?
You might also like our similar tour Jungfrau Express & Treasures of the Rhine!

Unforgettable experiences

Jungfrau Express
Jungfrau Express
Travel on the spectacular Jungfrau Express to Jungfraujoch, the ‘Top of Europe’, enjoying jaw-dropping 360 views of snow-capped peaks.
Interlaken
Interlaken
Stay in beautiful Interlaken, surrounded by Swiss mountains and Alpine meadows. This idyllic town offers endless scenic wonders and friendly Swiss hospitality as you wake up to snow-kissed peaks in breathtaking alpine landscapes. 
The Rhine Gorge
The Rhine Gorge
Sail through the lush scenery of the Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Europe defined by fairytale castles, green forests and the legendary Lorelei Rock.
Wonderful cities
Wonderful cities
See the highlights of fantastic cities from our luxurious cruise ship, visiting the historic charm of Heidelberg and Speyer, wandering the enchanting streets of Rüdesheim and Koblenz and standing in awe of Cologne’s stunning cathedral.
Drachenfels Railway
Drachenfels Railway
Enjoy a fabulous rail excursion on the Drachenfels Railway to the summit of the Drachenfels mountain with wonderful views across the shimmering river and beyond.

What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 - To delightful Basel

Our holiday begins this morning as we meet at London St Pancras before travelling on the Eurostar service to Paris. From here, we continue by rail to the enchanting city of Basel where we spend the first night of our holiday.

Includes
  • Dinner
Day 2 - Stunning Interlaken

We're bound for the stunning setting of Interlaken today. We make our way by rail to this picturesque town, set between two idyllic Alpine lakes, in Switzerland.

Our hotel is well located, allowing for a leisurely stroll through the charming historic streets. When the skies are clear, the view of the valley is simply incredible, offering a panoramic vista of the stunning Bernese Oberland.

As we settle into our hotel for the next two nights, you can explore the town at your leisure or simply relax and soak up our new incredible surroundings before dinner this evening.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 - The sensational Jungfrau Express

We enjoy a highlight of our holiday today, a journey to Jungfraujoch - Europe's highest station. Boarding the sensational Jungfrau Express at Kleine Scheidegg, the train winds its way up the mountain and we soak up the breathtaking views of the surrounding alpine landscape and pause at the halfway station.

As we keep climbing, the views get more spectacular the higher we go. When we reach Jungfraujoch, the vistas from the Sphinx viewing platform are truly awe-inspiring. At the top, we're close to the stunning Aletsch Glacier - a World Heritage wonder - which stretches as far as the eye can see.

We return to Interlaken via the scenic Swiss mountain village of Grindelwald where you have time to stroll around before dinner back at our hotel this evening.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4 - To Basel where we board our luxurious ship

Waking up in our beautiful alpine surroundings, we enjoy breakfast this morning before travelling the rail route to Basel where our magnificent ship awaits us. As we settle into our home on the river, we're greeted with a welcome cocktail before dinner and set sail on an overnight cruise.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5 - The enchanting Black Forest or striking Strasbourg

Sailing into the enchanting city of Strasbourg after breakfast, there's a choice of two wonderful excursions. The first is a magical trip into the Black Forest, to witness stunning fairytale panoramas. Experience the beauty of Germany's largest nature park filled with rolling hills, picturesque villages, dense forests, and meadows dotted with wildflowers. As you explore this fairytale setting, you'll learn about the enchanting history and folklore of the region.

Alternatively, you could enjoy a city tour of Strasbourg, where you'll discover its fascinating history, admire its grand architecture and experience its unique character. The city sits on the French-German border and blends the best of the two cultures, with colourful half-timbered houses and cobbled streets. On our tour, we visit the cathedral and the quaint La Petite France district.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 - Traditional Heidelberg and Lovely Speyer

During breakfast we pause in the city of Mannheim and from here we journey by coach to charming Heidelberg for a guided tour. The picturesque university town is known for its lovely Old Town and stunning riverfront which is perfect for a relaxing stroll. Our tour includes a visit to the magnificent ruined, red sandstone castle that towers over the city, providing amazing views of the surrounding forests, river, and cityscape.

Alternatively, stay onboard as we take the short cruise to Speyer. Arriving later this afternoon, you can discover the city at your own pace. There's a beautiful Old Town and among the highlights is the city's cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Returning to our ship, we enjoy dinner and a restful overnight sailing upstream.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 – Charming Rüdesheim, the magical Rhine Gorge, and picturesque Koblenz

This morning, we travel through Rüdesheim's steeped vineyards aboard a land train, arriving in the centre of the renowned wine town. Here there's a choice of excursions, each promising a delightful insight into the town. You could experience first-hand Rudesheim's most famous produce - wine, with a fantastic tasting, savouring the finest local varieties. Alternatively, you could visit Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet and discover Europe's largest collection of finely tuned mechanical instruments, from antique music boxes to miniature pianos.

Afterwards, there's some time to explore the town at leisure before we return to our ship. This afternoon we begin sailing and enjoy a highlight of our cruising experience - the romantic Rhine Gorge. This section of the Rhine is renowned for its spectacular views. The riverbanks plunge deeper here, and we wind around bends surrounded by endless miles of lush green vineyards, ancient castles, and picturesque riverside towns. It's also one of the narrowest points of the river with one of the strongest currents.

As we sail, we hear the fascinating story of the legendary Lorelei Rock which soars almost 500 feet out of the water. This monument has been the inspiration for countless myths and legends, and we hear of them as we sail by.

Our journey through the Rhine Gorge comes to an end and we arrive later this afternoon in the town of Koblenz, located at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers. You have time to explore and we recommend strolling to Deutsches Eck where you'll be surrounded by inspiring vistas including the mighty Ehrenbreitstein Fortress. Later, we make our way back to the ship, where dinner is served onboard.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 - Lovely Cochem – the heart of the Moselle wine trade

We set sail early, navigating the tranquil waters of the Moselle river. After a morning of relaxed cruising through delightful river scenery, our ship pulls into the port of Cochem where the stunning Moselle Valley surrounds us with rolling hills, half-timbered houses and the majestic castle (the Reichsburg) perched on top of a hill. The town itself is a maze of slender alleys adorned with pastel-coloured buildings, quaint boutiques and wine cellars.

After lunch onboard, we embark on our guided afternoon tour where we admire the Reichsburg dramatically located overlooking the Old Town. In the old quarter of Cochem, you'll find well-preserved sections of the ancient town walls and a fascinating arts centre in a former monastery.

Following our tour, there's time to explore the picturesque streets at leisure. The town's central square is a hub of activity, surrounded by cafes, restaurants, and shops. It's a great place to soak up the local atmosphere. Later this evening, we continue our cruise back downstream towards Koblenz, where we leave the Moselle behind and rejoin the Rhine.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9 - The wonderful Drachenfelsbahn and cultural Cologne

This morning we dock in Königswinter and after breakfast, the Drachenfelsbahn railway awaits. This fabulous cog railway rises high into the forests, passing the fairytale Drachenfels castle - whose name translates as 'Dragon's Rock', inspiring many of the dragon-related legends still heard today. We experience wonderful views across the Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany as we climb higher.

Back onboard this afternoon, we continue our cruise through beautiful scenery toward Cologne. As we approach the striking city, admire the fantastic cityscape of magnificent bridges that span the river and the imposing Cathedral. On arrival, a guided tour of the city introduces us to the joyful atmosphere of its streets and lively squares filled with fantastic beer halls.

We admire the Romanesque townhouses before visiting the city's impressive Gothic cathedral which is the largest in Northern Europe. The intricate spires and magnificent stained glass windows of this UNESCO-listed landmark are captivating as we marvel at the grand architecture. We then head back to our ship and begin an overnight cruise towards The Netherlands.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10 - Touring Amsterdam or uncovering Edam

Spending the early morning sailing through the Lower Rhine, we witness a change in scenery as we approach the Netherlands. Arriving in Amsterdam early this afternoon, you have the choice of two excursions.

The first is a tour of Amsterdam, featuring a canal boat cruise on which we soak up stunning views of the city's picturesque waterways and architecture. Crossed by more than a thousand bridges and lined by gabled mansions, the canals reveal the history and charm of Amsterdam - a city unlike anywhere else. After the tour, there is an optional excursion. You could choose to stay in Amsterdam and continue exploring at leisure or join a visit to Edam and Volendam to uncover their cheese heritage. As well as being famed for the well-known cheese, Edam is a stunning old town, with traditionally Dutch houses lining serene canals.

Back on board our ship this evening, we gather for a gala dinner accompanied by the songs of the Dutch Sea Shanty Choir - the perfect end to our Rhine cruise.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11 - Homeward bound

After breakfast, it's time to disembark and say goodbye to our wonderful crew. We make our way to the railway station and head towards Brussels where we catch the Eurostar to London St Pancras. Here, we say goodbye to new friends and fellow travellers.

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Departure times

Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be found together with our dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices & Availability' button. We write to all booked customers approximately 10 weeks prior to the start of their tour to advise the exact departure and return time for their particular group.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular holiday with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Trains

Drachenfels Railway
Eurostar
Jungfrau Railway
TGV

Ship

MS Amadeus Star

Enhance your holiday

Upgrades

London Hotels
UK rail connections

Reviews

4.5 stars4.5 / 5 · 24 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (15)
  2. 4 stars
    (7)
  3. 3 stars
    (1)
  4. 2 stars
    (0)
  5. 1 star
    (1)

Marie Hammerschmitt

4 stars

Submitted 29/Oct

Trip was very nice. However it was not organized as nice as it should have been. This was my first experience and the instructions given to me for the travel to the hotel for the first night was horrible. Very difficult to travel with out instructions. However the ship tour was very nice.

from Great Rail Journeys
Hello Marie - We're glad to hear that you enjoyed your European rail and cruise vacation! We're disappointed that some of our directions caused an issue for you - we aim to provide clear and helpful information, and we regret that we fell short in this instance. If you have a moment, please consider contacting us at XXX@XXX. All feedback is welcome! We hope to have the opportunity to serve you better in the future.
1 comment

Collected by Trustpilot

Laima Rastikis

5 stars

Submitted 27/Oct

From beginning to end, every detail was managed perfectly.

from Great Rail Journeys
Hi Laima - we really appreciate your positive review! It's always nice to hear that someone enjoyed the full tour experience as much as you did. We hope to travel with you again soon!
1 comment

Collected by Trustpilot

Pierre Jeaurond

5 stars

Submitted 25/Oct

A wonderful trip with dedicated staff throughout. 1st rate ship (food, accommodations and service). Everything was planned and went without a hitch (tours and stays). Would not hesitate to plan a future trip with Vacations by Rail.

Collected by Trustpilot

John Walters

5 stars

Submitted 7/Oct

Rob was excellent - always around and helpful.

Collected by Trustpilot

Donaldson

5 stars

Submitted 1/Oct

We wanted for nothing. Perfect!

Collected by Trustpilot

val horsfall

5 stars

Submitted 1/Oct

It was a very enjoyable and interesting experience GRJ staff work hard to ensure all goes smoothly and you can relax in their care .

Collected by Trustpilot

Show 6 more reviews
River Cruise Holidays 2025

River Cruise Holidays 2025

Experience the magic of cruising along some of Europe’s most picturesque waterways. Glide serenely along the romantic Rhine, explore the blue Danube or meander through the enchanting Douro Valley. With our river cruises, you’ll drift through beautiful landscapes and historic towns.

Download brochure
Related inspiration from our journey blog