Best river cruise shore experiences

Make the most of your river cruise with our shore experiences. From wine tasting and toasting to good times in the Moselle Valley to tucking into traditional cuisine in Slovakia (potato pancakes, anyone?), our experiences will help you get to the heart of the destinations you visit. 
 

Our River Cruise Collection experiences are handpicked exclusively for TUI River Cruises guests, and you’ll be picked up and dropped off at the ship by your expert local guide. Audio headsets for shore experiences are in your cabin, so don’t forget to grab them before making your way off the ship. Fancy sightseeing in your own time? No problem – that’s where our attractions and tickets come in. Make your own way there and explore at your own pace. Board a hop-on-hop-off bus, whizz around the port on an electric scooter, or mingle with non-TUI River Cruises guests on a guided tour – what you do is up to you. Want to know more? Read on for more inspo… 

Find answers to our most popular shore experience questions, and once you're clued up, check out our river cruise deals.

Fancy soaring high above the city of Koblenz on a scenic cable car ride with wow-worthy views at every turn? Well, that’s exactly what’s up for grabs with our Hilltop Fortress & Scenic Cable Car experience. And that's just the beginning, as once you reach the Ehrenbreitstein hilltop fortress, you’ll see historic exhibits up close and enjoy the view of the UNESCO World Heritage Upper Middle Rhine Valley, the city and the meeting point of the Rhine and Moselle rivers. Why not book this experience on our Danube and Rhine River Cruises?

Find out more about our Rhine River cruises

Get ready to ignite your tastebuds in Bratislava, with the Tales and tastes of Bratislava experience. First up is a stroll around the cobbled streets of Bratislava Old Town, where your guide will fill you in on the area's history. You'll get to tick the Presidential Palace, Philharmonic Hall, the Old Town Hall and St Martin's Cathedral off your sightseeing list. Your final stop will be the historic Monastic Brewery, where you'll get stuck into a cooking class. Try your hand at making pirohy – small dumplings made from potato dough and stuffed with sheep's cheese. Or, make delicious strawberry-filled dumplings instead. Last but not least, you’ll get to taste your creations in the restaurant – along with a nice cold beer, the city’s speciality, before heading back to the ship. Like what you hear? This experience on our Danube River Cruises.

Find out more about our Danube River cruises

Ahoy history buffs and architecture admirers! Why not join a Cochem city tour for a journey back in time? Stroll through the picturesque town, marvel at its long-standing architecture, and make your way to the Reichsburg Castle – the 800-year-old landmark that looks out over the town. Learn about the castle's interesting history with a guided tour, and don't forget to soak up the pretty panoramic views of the Moselle Valley. The Cochem City Tour & Reichsburg Castle experience is available on The Moselle Valley: Vines & Views itinerary.

Find out more about our Moselle River cruises

On a guided tour through the Netherlands' tulip garden at Keukenhof, famously known as the Garden of Europe, you can fill your Insta feed with vibrant tulips, fragrant hyacinths, and dazzling daffodils. Learn about the flower industry on a bulb farm tour and meet a miller in a working windmill. When you’re ready to refuel, take your pick from a choice of park cafés, restaurants, and snack bars. You’ll find The Garden of Europe: Keukenhof experience on most of our Rhine River cruises, including our Rhine Explorer 2 itinerary.

Find out more about our Rhine river cruises

Free your inner explorer as you head to one of the oldest monasteries in Germany. Founded in 617 AD, Weltenburg Abbey is a must-visit. After a 15-minute bus ride from the port, you’ll follow your friendly guide for a stroll around the abbey’s art-filled rooms to check out the marble-and-gold altar and gorgeous fresco-style painted ceilings. It’s on the bank of the Danube River so you can soak up the view of the Danube Gorge and the scenic landscapes beyond. And if you get the chance after your guided tour, fill your stomach with some of the abbey’s signature food, like salted pretzels, Bavarian dumplings and roasted pork knuckle.

Just a quick 45-minute drive from Breisach, the Colmar City Tour whisks you away to a place that's straight out of a fairytale. This four-hour tour lets you explore the old town believed to have inspired Disney's Beauty and the Beast, and you'll quickly see why! As you make your way through the town you’ll see pastel-painted timbered buildings and window boxes overflowing with flowers. Get ready to explore the old merchants' quarter as that’s on the cards too. The colours of the houses here once revealed the type of business – blue for fishermen and white for tanners. Plus, after your tour, you'll have a whole hour of free time to sip local Alsace wine at a cosy cellar or bar. Sound good? The Colmar City Tour Experience is available on our river cruises along the Rhine.

Find out more about our Rhine river cruises