Instead of taking a cruise to Alaska or the Caribbean this year, why not look at the opportunity to see some of the best scenery in the world with a cruise down a German river? The stunning landscapes have inspired poets, writers and painters over the centuries. The sights you see just might inspire you to show how creative you are. Some of the famous rivers in Germany include the Danube, the Rhine the Elbe and the Moselle. The cruising boats on these rivers do stop at various towns along the way, which adds to your vacation as you explore the attractions of each one.



If you love scenes of nature, then this is one type of cruise that will be the trip of a lifetime. Once you take a cruise on one of the rivers in this country, you will surely return in subsequent years to explore them all. Taking a cruise on the Danube, for example, is like taking a journey back through the pages of history. All the places you learned about in your history classes will come to life before your eyes. This is the second longest river in Europe and has seen peoples as far back as the Stone Age traversing its banks and waters. The cities and towns along its banks display architecture from every period in history.

Along the Elbe River, you can visit towns and cities with exciting history and culture. This river winds its way through a wild and romantic national park called the Saxon Switzerland where the towers of canyons reach into the clouds. You will also pass by the spa resort of Rathen and see the famous cliff bastion and the Konigstein Fortress. When you stop at Dresden, there are so many things to see and do that it is likely you will only get to enjoy a few of them in your short time ashore. You can also take a side trip from Dresden to Leipzig or Bach.

Step back into the world of the Grimm's Fairy Tales with a cruise along the River Weser. Here you will find the romantic villages that you read about in the stories. This route is particularly appealing to families with children. The many castles along the way will excite them and keep them interested in the whole vacation so that you won't have to contend with any boredom. Some of the fairytale characters you will meet include Cinderella in Polle, Hansel and Gretel in Hoxter and the Pied Piper in Hamlin.

If you want something off the beaten track, the rivers of the Muritz-Elde-Waterway have not yet caught on to the tourist trade. You can glides along the river at your own pace in a canoe and stop where you wish and for as long as you wish. You can even hire a houseboat for your vacation and sail from Schwerin to Hamburg. This waterway links three of the largest lakes in the country and starts in the Muritz National Park, which is a delight in itself.