01 Dec 2026
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£2,749pp
Flights from UK airports
Escorted tour
Rhine Christmas Markets River Cruise with Travel – 5 Days
Cologne, the Rhine Gorge, Rüdesheim and Bonn at Christmas, on a five-star ship with travel, full board and drinks.
5 days
From £1,199 incl. flights
Tour overview
This 5-day river cruise is a festive short break on the Rhine, combining the romantic scenery of the Rhine Gorge with some of Germany's most charming Christmas markets. The price includes return flights, or Eurostar from London, with transfers to and from the ship. You spend four nights aboard a five-star river ship moored in Cologne, with spacious cabins, a welcoming lounge and an excellent restaurant. Full board is included from dinner on arrival to breakfast on the last day, along with a free drinks package, tea, coffee and Wi-Fi, and all visits and excursions. A cruise director and English-speaking crew look after you throughout.
Your ship is moored in historic Cologne, whose skyline is dominated by the twin spires of its great Gothic cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city's Christmas markets are among the most famous in Germany, with the largest set beneath the cathedral itself.
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To get into the Christmas mood, you wake on board to find yourself already cruising upstream through the winter scenery of the Rhine Gorge, past vine-clad slopes and hilltop castles, to the wine town of Rüdesheim. Its Christmas Market of Nations fills the narrow lanes of the old town, and the famous Drosselgasse is lit up for the season, with plenty of chances to try the local coffee with Asbach brandy.
Next morning, during breakfast, the ship glides back through the Rhine Gorge in daylight, one of the highlights of the cruise, past the Lorelei rock and castles such as Marksburg, before reaching Bonn, Beethoven's birthplace, with its own festive market. You return to Cologne during breakfast the following day, with free time to explore the cathedral and markets before your journey home.
The physical rating is low. This cruise suits travellers who want a short, festive break with spectacular river scenery, all-inclusive comfort and the ease of travel arranged from the UK. Evenings on board are relaxed and sociable, and with the ship moored in the heart of each town you can step straight off to the markets, returning for dinner without having to plan a thing. Departures run through December.
Trip highlights
-
Cologne Cathedral and its Christmas market (Days 1 and 4)
-
Cruising the Rhine Gorge (Days 2–3)
-
Rüdesheim's Christmas Market of Nations (Day 2)
-
Bonn's festive market (Day 3)
-
Full board and a free drinks package
-
Flights or Eurostar included
Your route
3 stops from Cologne to Bonn
- Cologne Days 1 & 4–5
- Rüdesheim Day 2
- Bonn Day 3
Why choose this tour
A festive short break with travel, meals, drinks and excursions included. The Rhine Gorge by daylight, with castles and vineyards at every bend.
Best suited to
- Travellers wanting a short festive break
- First-time river cruisers
- Couples and friends
- Travellers who prefer the train via Eurostar
Day-by-day itinerary
5 days from Cologne, Germany to Cologne, Germany
-
Day 1 · Cologne Arrive in Cologne
Board your ship moored in Cologne.
- Hotel
- Five-star river cruise ship, full board
- Meals
- Dinner
-
Day 2 · Rhine Gorge, Rüdesheim Rhine Gorge and Rüdesheim
Cruise the Rhine Gorge to Rüdesheim's Christmas market.
- Hotel
- Five-star river cruise ship, full board
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 3 · Rhine Gorge, Bonn Rhine Gorge and Bonn
A morning's scenic cruising, then Bonn's market.
- Hotel
- Five-star river cruise ship, full board
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 4 · Cologne Cathedral Cologne
Return to Cologne for its cathedral and markets.
- Hotel
- Five-star river cruise ship, full board
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 5 · Cologne Return home
Transfer for your journey home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you stay
- Rhine (4 nights) Five-star river cruise ship, full board
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Return flights, or Eurostar from London, with transfers to the ship
- Accommodation 4 nights on a five-star river ship
- Full board with a free drinks package
- Tea, coffee and Wi-Fi on board
- All listed visits and excursions
- Cruise director throughout
Not included
- Tips, travel insurance and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You want a longer holiday — this is a short break
- You want an active trip — this is a relaxed cruise
- You want to arrange your own travel — travel is part of the price
- You want an ocean cruise — this is a river ship
Good to know
FCDO advice
UK FCDO travel advice for Germany
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £1,199 per person, including flights. 26 upcoming departures.
Flights from UK airports.
02 Dec 2026
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£1,449pp
Flights from UK airports
04 Dec 2026
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£1,449pp
Flights from UK airports
05 Dec 2026
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£1,499pp
Flights from UK airports
06 Dec 2026
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£1,349pp
Flights from UK airports
08 Dec 2026
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£1,349pp
Flights from UK airports
09 Dec 2026
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£1,449pp
Flights from UK airports
10 Dec 2026
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£1,699pp
Flights from UK airports
12 Dec 2026
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£1,549pp
Flights from UK airports
13 Dec 2026
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£1,749pp
Flights from UK airports
14 Dec 2026
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£1,349pp
Flights from UK airports
16 Dec 2026
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£1,499pp
Flights from UK airports
17 Dec 2026
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£1,549pp
Flights from UK airports
20 Dec 2026
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£1,299pp
Flights from UK airports
02 Dec 2027
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£1,299pp
Flights from UK airports
03 Dec 2027
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£1,249pp
Flights from UK airports
05 Dec 2027
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£1,249pp
Flights from UK airports
06 Dec 2027
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£1,299pp
Flights from UK airports
07 Dec 2027
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£1,249pp
Flights from UK airports
09 Dec 2027
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£1,249pp
Flights from UK airports
11 Dec 2027
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£1,199pp
Flights from UK airports
13 Dec 2027
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£1,199pp
Flights from UK airports
14 Dec 2027
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£1,299pp
Flights from UK airports
15 Dec 2027
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£1,199pp
Flights from UK airports
17 Dec 2027
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£1,199pp
Flights from UK airports
18 Dec 2027
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£1,249pp
Flights from UK airports
Frequently asked questions
How do I book this tour?
Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.
What financial protection do I get?
Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.
Is travel from the UK included?
Yes, return flights or Eurostar from London, with transfers to and from the ship.
Are drinks included?
Yes, a free drinks package, plus tea, coffee and Wi-Fi.
When does the cruise run?
In December, during the Christmas market season.
Which meals are included?
Full board from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 5.
What is the minimum age?
The minimum age is 18.
How much walking is there?
Gentle walking in town centres and markets.
Can you tailor the trip?
Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.
What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.
ATOL protected
100% financially protected in a Trust bank account
PTS 6035
4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option
Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.
If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.
Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary