Switzerland river cruises provide a new vantage point for admiring the country's beautiful scenery, everything from the peaks of the Swiss Alps to the spires of cathedrals and castles, and modern cityscapes. Whether you add a quick sightseeing excursion to your plans or you spend several days cruising, time spent aboard will be relaxing and memorable.

Not far from the German border, the Rhine River runs through the country's second largest city, Basel. One of Europe's great rivers sets the backdrop for a scenic Rhine River cruise in Switzerland. Local tour companies offer a variety of cruises, including a sightseeing jaunt, dinner cruises, and trips between Basel and Rheinfelden, a charming city on the right bank of the Rhine founded in the late nineteenth century.

To hear more about this fascinating place, consider a narrated Rhine River cruise in Switzerland. In two interesting hours, you can listen to the captain talk about the major sights in Basel, including the historic city center, the remains of the fortified city, the Kleinbasler Rheinufer retail district, and the harbor, a center of freight and commerce.

Switzerland Map

Several tour companies offer European holidays and vacation packages designed around a Rhine River Cruise in Switzerland, Germany, France, and the Netherlands. With a leisurely jaunt from Basel to Amsterdam, you'll have to chance to enjoy some of Europe's grandest cities all on one scenic vacation along with all the benefits that come with luxury cruises.

While Basel is the beginning of options for Switzerland river cruises, it's hardly the only choice. While exploring the world-class city of Zurich, visitors have the chance to see the scenery from the vantage point of the Limmat River. After climbing aboard a well-equipped vessel, passengers are in for a relaxing addition to their Swiss vacations. On a sunny day, you'll have the chance to see the Alpine scenery in the distance. One package combines a cruise with a stop at one of the Zurich hotels for cocktails.

In the Schweizer Mittelland region, Switzerland river cruises take passengers to heart of Solothurn, a lovely Baroque city known for its historic sites, including a castle, arbors, and old wood bridge. Heading down the River Aare, you can see the stork nests of Altreu, the Haftli Nature Reserve, the charming little town of Büren, and the Jura Mountains. If you choose to take a one-way cruise, you can return to Solothurn aboard one of the trains.

A Switzerland cruise isn't limited to the rivers. In nearly all of the cantons, you'll find a lovely lake that can be explored on an excursion. The longest navigable waterway in the country is made up of the connected lakes Neuchâtel, Bienne/Biel, and Murten and the canals of La Broye and La Thielle. Several cruises ply these waters, including sightseeing excursions, dinner cruises, and romantic sails where you dance under the stars and listen to live music.

On Lake Lucerne, a Switzerland cruise is a fine way to enjoy the scenery and the picturesque skyline of charming villages rimming the shore. Options are plentiful, including short jaunts from one village to the next, half-day luncheon cruises, and rides on historic steamers.

You can turn a Switzerland cruise into a two-nation vacation on Lake Maggiore, which stretches into the Italian regions of Lombardy and the Piedmont. Known for its mild climate and Mediterranean feel, the lake is beautiful to explore in any season. From Locarno and Stresa, passengers enjoy a quick cruise to Italian markets. The Swiss islands of Brissago and the Italian Borromean are accessible by boat from the mainland.