This is a journey through the heart of Germany, and it shows off the country at its most appealing. Three rivers, three quite different landscapes, and a string of historic towns, castles and wine villages from start to finish.
The route
Bamberg · Würzburg · Heidelberg · Mainz · Rüdesheim · Cochem · Bernkastel · Trier
About the A Tale of Three Rivers cruise
You begin in Bamberg, in Franconia, a medieval town of half-timbered houses and church spires that is famous for its smoked beer. There are two days here, with a trip into the countryside around the town to meet some Franconian hospitality, before the ship sails west along the Main. Würzburg follows, with its baroque Residenz, one of the great palaces of Europe, and then Heidelberg, the romantic university town with its ruined red sandstone castle above the Neckar. It is a gentle, very German start.
At Mainz the Main joins the Rhine, and the character of the journey changes. Mainz and Rüdesheim are both wine towns, and you have the chance to taste the white wines the region is known for, as well as the cheerful tavern atmosphere of Rüdesheim's Drosselgasse. The next morning the ship sails through the Middle Rhine, the most famous stretch of the river, a gorge of steep vineyards and castles that has drawn poets and painters for two centuries. Look out for the Lorelei rock as you pass.
At Koblenz you turn into the Moselle, a narrower, quieter river where the vines grow on some of the steepest slopes in Europe. The valley twists through tight loops, with wine villages at almost every bend. Cochem, with its hilltop castle and mustard mill, and the half-timbered wine town of Bernkastel are the highlights. Finally you reach Trier, Germany's oldest city, where Roman gates, baths and an amphitheatre still stand among the shops and cafés. It is a fitting end to a journey so full of history.
At eight days, the cruise packs in a lot of variety without feeling rushed. It suits anyone who loves German food, beer and wine, as well as fans of castles and old towns. Because all the stops are in Germany, there is a pleasing sense of travelling through one country's history region by region, from Franconian beer halls to Rhineland wine taverns and Roman ruins on the Moselle. Short sailing distances mean plenty of time ashore, and quiet evenings on board as the scenery slides past.
For more on the river itself, see our The Main and Moselle river cruise guide, The Rhine river cruise guide.
Cruise highlights
Bamberg and its smoked beer
See the Old Town Hall standing in the river in this UNESCO-listed town, and try its distinctive rauchbier.
The Würzburg Residenz
Tour the prince-bishops' baroque palace, with its grand staircase and vast ceiling fresco by Tiepolo.
Romantic Heidelberg
Walk through the Old Town, see the university and visit the great red sandstone ruin of Heidelberg Castle.
Wine in Mainz and Rüdesheim
Taste the white wines of Mainz, then stroll Rüdesheim's lively Drosselgasse and sample local wines.
The Rhine Gorge
Sail past hilltop castles and vineyards in the UNESCO-listed Middle Rhine and look out for the Lorelei.
Cochem, Bernkastel and Trier
Visit Cochem's hilltop Reichsburg, wander Bernkastel's cobbled streets and explore Trier's Roman monuments.
Day by day itinerary
Arrive in Bamberg
Your cruise begins in Bamberg, one of the best preserved medieval towns in Germany. Built on seven hills, like Rome, it escaped serious damage in the Second World War, and its old town is UNESCO-listed. The most famous sight is the Old Town Hall, which stands on a small island in the middle of the Regnitz river, its walls covered with colourful frescoes. Bamberg is also a beer town, and its speciality is rauchbier, a dark beer made with malt dried over a beechwood fire, which gives it a distinctive smoky flavour. You will have the chance to try some.
Franconian countryside and the Main
Today you head out into the countryside around Bamberg to experience Franconian hospitality. Franconia, in the north of Bavaria, has its own traditions, dialect and food, and it is known for its many small breweries, villages and rolling farmland. Expect hearty food, a warm welcome and perhaps a local beer. Later the ship sets off along the Main, a gentle river that winds through Franconia between wooded hills, vineyards and small towns. It is a lovely, relaxing afternoon to spend on deck, watching the villages and church towers pass by.
The Residenz at Würzburg
Würzburg is the centre of Franconian wine country, surrounded by vineyards. Its great sight is the Residenz, the palace of the prince-bishops, built in the 18th century and designed by Balthasar Neumann. It is one of the finest baroque palaces in Europe and is UNESCO-listed. The grand staircase is crowned by a vast ceiling fresco by the Venetian painter Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, showing the four continents then known to Europeans. Afterwards, walk to the Old Main Bridge, lined with statues of saints, and try a glass of Franconian wine, served in its distinctive round, flat bottle.
Romantic Heidelberg
Heidelberg is one of Germany's most romantic cities, set on the banks of the Neckar beneath wooded hills. Its university, founded in 1386, is the oldest in Germany, and students still give the Old Town a lively feel. You walk through the Old Town, past the main square and the Church of the Holy Spirit, and see the university buildings. Above the town stands the ruin of Heidelberg Castle, a vast red sandstone palace that was badly damaged in the 17th century and never fully rebuilt. Inside, you can see the Great Tun, one of the largest wine barrels in the world.
Wine in Mainz and Rüdesheim
In the morning you visit Mainz, where the Main flows into the Rhine. It is the birthplace of Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of printing with movable type, and the home of a red sandstone cathedral that has stood for around a thousand years. Mainz is also surrounded by vineyards, and you get a taste of its long winemaking history, with a chance to sample its well regarded white wines. Later the ship sails to Rüdesheim, a wine town at the start of the Rhine Gorge. Stroll the narrow Drosselgasse, lined with taverns, and try the local wines in one of them.
The Rhine Gorge and Cochem
This morning the ship sails through the Middle Rhine, a UNESCO-listed stretch where the river winds through a deep valley lined with vineyards and castles. Look out for the Lorelei, a tall slate rock where, according to legend, a siren lured sailors to their doom. At Koblenz the ship turns into the Moselle, and later you reach Cochem, one of the prettiest towns on the river. You visit the Reichsburg, the castle that sits high on a hill above the town, rebuilt in the 19th century in a romantic style. Cochem is also known for its mustard, which you can try.
Bernkastel and Roman Trier
In the morning you visit Bernkastel, a wine town with a market square of half-timbered houses and cobbled streets. The hills around the town are covered with steep vineyards, and you have the chance to taste some of the region's wines, especially its Riesling. Later you reach Trier, which claims to be Germany's oldest city. It was founded by the Romans and later became one of the capitals of the Western Roman Empire. You explore some of its highlights, including the Porta Nigra, a huge Roman gateway, and the Liebfrauenkirche, one of the oldest Gothic churches in Germany.
Farewell in Trier
Your cruise ends in Trier, where you say goodbye to your fellow guests and head home, or stay on to see more of the city. If you have time, Trier has plenty more to explore, including the amphitheatre, the Roman baths and the vast audience hall built for Emperor Constantine. Karl Marx was born here in 1818, and his birthplace is now a museum. The city also has excellent wine taverns where you can try more Moselle Riesling. Viking offers extensions on some departures, so ask us about the options for your dates.
Itineraries and shore excursions are set by Viking and can change, and may vary by departure.
The places you will visit
Bamberg and Würzburg, the jewels of Franconia
Bamberg was the favourite city of Emperor Henry II, who made it a bishopric in 1007 and is buried, with his wife Kunigunde, in the cathedral he founded. The cathedral also contains the tomb of Pope Clement II, the only pope buried in Germany, and the Bamberg Horseman, a mysterious medieval statue of a king on horseback. Because the town largely escaped bombing in the Second World War, its old streets give a good idea of what a German cathedral city looked like centuries ago. It also has a remarkable number of breweries for its size.
Würzburg was ruled for centuries by prince-bishops, who were both religious leaders and secular rulers. The Residenz they built in the 18th century is one of the finest baroque palaces in Europe, and its staircase and ceiling fresco by Tiepolo are the highlights. The staircase and fresco survived the bombing of 1945, although much of the palace and the city were badly damaged. Würzburg is also the centre of Franconian wine, which is bottled in the round, flat Bocksbeutel, and Silvaner is the classic grape here.
Heidelberg and the Romantic Rhine
Heidelberg became a favourite of the German Romantic movement in the early 19th century, when poets and painters came to admire its castle ruins and its setting on the Neckar. Its castle was destroyed by French troops in the late 17th century, and later struck by lightning, and it was never fully rebuilt. The American writer Mark Twain spent time here and wrote about the city in his book A Tramp Abroad. The Philosophers' Walk, on the hillside across the river, offers the best view of the town and castle.
The Middle Rhine between Rüdesheim and Koblenz inspired the same Romantic spirit. Its castles, many of them ruined, and its steep vineyards made it a must-see stop on the Grand Tour, and the painter J. M. W. Turner sketched it many times. The Lorelei rock became famous through a poem by Heinrich Heine, later set to music, about a siren who lured boatmen to their deaths with her singing. The valley was listed by UNESCO in 2002 as a cultural landscape, and its villages are still surrounded by vineyards.
The Moselle and Roman Trier
The Moselle joins the Rhine at Koblenz, at the German Corner, and its valley is quite different in character. The river twists through tight loops between steep hillsides of slate, which hold the warmth of the sun and help the Riesling grapes to ripen. Some of the vineyards here are among the steepest in Europe, and the work is still done largely by hand. Cochem's castle, rebuilt in the 19th century by a Berlin businessman, and the half-timbered wine town of Bernkastel are two of the valley's most attractive stops.
Trier was founded by the Romans around 16 BC, and by the late 3rd century it was one of the capitals of the Western Roman Empire. Emperor Constantine lived here, and his great audience hall still stands. The Porta Nigra, built around AD 170, owes its survival to having been turned into a church in the Middle Ages. Trier Cathedral, with parts dating from Roman times, is said to be the oldest in Germany. Together with the Roman monuments and the Liebfrauenkirche, it is UNESCO-listed, making Trier a fitting end to the journey.
What is included
Viking prices its river cruises to include most of what you need, so there are few extras to budget for once you are on board.
Return flights
Return flights from London and selected regional airports, with ground transfers included when you fly with Viking.
A shore excursion in every port
One included shore excursion in each port of call, usually a guided walking or coach tour, with optional extras to buy.
All meals on board
Breakfast, lunch and dinner every day you are on board, including al fresco dining on the Aquavit Terrace.
Drinks with lunch and dinner
Beer, wine and soft drinks served with lunch and dinner, plus specialty coffee, tea and bottled water at any hour.
Free Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi is included on board at no extra charge, though speeds can vary as the ship moves along the river.
Port taxes and fees
Port taxes and fees are built into the fare, so there are no extra charges waiting at the end.
Onboard gratuities
Gratuities for the crew on board are included in the fare.
Enrichment and performances
Talks on the history and culture of your route, plus local performers who bring the destinations to life on board.
Your stateroom, the ship and its facilities are covered on our Viking Longships page.
Fares
| Cruise | Duration | From, per person |
|---|---|---|
| A Tale of Three Rivers, Bamberg to Trier | 8 days | £2,395 |
Lead-in fare per person, checked in October 2026. Viking's fares change with the date, direction of sailing and stateroom grade, so please email us for live prices and availability on the departure you have in mind.
Interested in the A Tale of Three Rivers? Email us your preferred month and we will send dates and prices.
Email an enquiry- Spring and early autumn are the best times to go; September and October bring the wine harvest along the Main, Rhine and Moselle.
- Arrive in Bamberg a day early if you can, as the town is well worth extra time.
- The pace is relaxed, with short sailing distances and plenty of time ashore each day.
- Heidelberg's castle and Cochem's Reichsburg both sit on hills, so be ready for some uphill walking.
- It pairs well with Rhine & Moselle Discovery, which continues south from Trier to Basel.
A Tale of Three Rivers: your questions answered
Viking's fare includes return flights from London and selected regional airports, one included shore excursion in every port of call, all onboard meals, beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, 24-hour specialty coffee, tea and bottled water, free Wi-Fi, port taxes and fees, enrichment lectures and onboard gratuities. Ground transfers are included with Viking flights. Prices start from £2,395 per person, checked in October 2026, and vary with date and stateroom.
The cruise uses one of Viking's European Longships, the modern river ships that sail the Rhine, Main, Moselle and Danube. Every stateroom has a river view, a Viking Explorer bed and a heated bathroom floor. You stay on the same ship from Bamberg to Trier, so you only need to unpack once.
Late spring and early autumn are ideal, with comfortable weather for walking tours. September and October are particularly good for wine lovers, as this is harvest time in Franconia and along the Rhine and Moselle. Summer is warm and lively, with beer gardens and long evenings on deck.
Most tours involve walking for an hour or two, often on cobbled streets. Heidelberg Castle and Cochem's Reichsburg are on hills, and Bamberg's old town has some slopes. The ship has a lift between the main passenger decks. If you have mobility concerns, speak to us before booking and we will check the details for you.
Viking includes return flights from London and selected regional airports. The cruise begins in Bamberg, usually reached via a nearby airport, and ends in Trier. We can advise on regional airports and transfer times for your chosen departure date when you enquire.
Viking offers extensions on some departures, and the options vary by date, so ask us what is available. Many travellers also like to spend extra time in Bamberg or Trier, both of which reward a slower visit. You could also ask us about pairing it with Rhine & Moselle Discovery for a longer trip.
The cruise visits Bamberg and Würzburg on the Main, Heidelberg, Mainz and Rüdesheim, then sails the Middle Rhine before turning onto the Moselle for Cochem, Bernkastel and Trier. All of the stops are in Germany, and several are UNESCO-listed, including Bamberg, the Würzburg Residenz, the Middle Rhine and Trier.
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