Why a river cruise is the best way to see some destinations

From the top deck of Riviera Rose, sipping a glass of chilled white port, I watched the sun spill across the Douro River's terraced vineyards, turning Portugal’s famed river of gold to molten silver. It was a scene worthy of a postcard — and exactly the kind of moment river cruising delivers so well.

If you’ve ever tried to navigate Portugal’s wine country by car, you know it’s not for the faint-hearted. Narrow switchbacks and steep inclines make for slow and nerve-testing travel. But from the comfort of Riviera Travel’s luxurious 114-passenger vessel, it was smooth sailing. Plus, we only had to unpack once, and no one ever had to worry about being the designated driver.

This experience isn't unique to the Douro. River cruising across Europe, Egypt, America and Southeast Asia is often the best (and simplest) way to explore the landscape.

Here’s a closer look at some of the world’s top river cruising routes and why seeing them from the water just makes sense.

The Douro: Wine tastings and sunshine

My seven-night Riviera Rose voyage looped from Porto, Portugal, to Vega de Terron, which is just over the Spanish border. We were sailing just 124 navigable miles of the Douro’s 550-mile stretch, but it was rich in every way, including everything from port tastings at ancestral quintas to visits to sun-splashed towns like Peso da Regua, Portugal, where the blue-and-white azulejos tiles tell stories on the walls. We weren't just drifting past vine-covered hillsides; we were tracing centuries-old trade routes, once perilous before the river was tamed by locks. With a glass of something locally grown and bottled to enjoy, the journey was pure relaxation.

In Lamego, Portugal, I climbed all 686 steps to the hilltop baroque sanctuary. Then, it was onto Salamanca, Spain, the sun tattooing the hills in gold and green. By the time we curved back to Porto, Portugal, I felt transported. This wasn't just a cruise — it was a journey through time.

Related: My latest river cruise adventure included kayaking, biking and hiking — here's how yours can, too

The Magdalena River: Colorful cities and a lively atmosphere

The Magdalena opened trade between the Andes and the Caribbean. Now, travelers can experience Colombia’s western river in luxury with AmaWaterways.

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The line launched seven-night sailings that link the cities of Cartagena and Barranquilla with lesser-visited ports like Mompox, a UNESCO-protected town where the cobbled streets and historic mansions evoke the literary landscapes of Gabriel García Márquez.

Colombia is nicknamed the "Land of a Thousand Rhythms" for its music, and the AmaWaterways sailings dive into the best of it, with folk performances, cumbia dancing and drumming.

The Rhine: Castles, cathedrals and storybook scenery

The Rhine is pure storybook Europe. Flowing through six countries — Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, France and the Netherlands — a cruise here delivers history, vineyards, medieval towns and vine-clad hills in spades. It’s also a convenient way to see multiple countries in a week without the hassle of planes, trains or hotels.

Scenic Cruises is one of several lines taking in the UNESCO-listed Romantic Rhine between Amsterdam and Basel, Switzerland. This is where you’ll find Cologne, Germany’s towering Gothic cathedral, cobbled towns like Rudesheim in Germany and more castle ruins than you can count — all just a short stroll from the gangway.

Come winter, and the Christmas markets on a Viking cruise are especially magical. Some longer itineraries also dip into the Moselle River, a tranquil tributary lined with charming villages and terraced vineyards.

The Rhone: Vineyards, villages and van Gogh

France’s Rhone River is a feast for the senses. Vineyards spill down sunlit hillsides, and golden light dances across stone villages.

AmaWaterways’ "Colors of Provence" cruise drifts from Arles — where the light inspired famed artist Vincent van Gogh — to Lyon, France’s culinary capital. In between, there are medieval towns, Roman ruins and lavender-scented slopes — no highways or train timetables required. The itinerary is active, too, with activities like sunrise yoga on deck, a hike above Viviers and e-biking through the vines of Vienne. This is travel that feeds the soul and the appetite.

In Lyon, a stroll through the city’s oldest food market serves up a smorgasbord of history and tastings.

Related: 9 best river cruises in Europe

The Mississippi: Steamboats, soul and Southern charm

Cruising the Mississippi is like gliding through the pages of American history. From the jazz-filled streets of New Orleans to the Mark Twain nostalgia of Hannibal, Missouri, the river winds past historic mansions, Civil War battlefields and small towns where time slows to a Southern drawl.

On board American Cruise Lines' classic paddle wheelers, the experience blends comfort with culture. There's gumbo on deck, blues music in the lounge and expert-led excursions into America’s heartland. While highways and flights crisscross the country, the Mississippi offers a slower, more soulful journey that captures the rhythm, resilience and richness of the regions it flows through.

Related: 7 best Mississippi River cruises

The Garonne and Gironde: Cruising through wine country

River cruising in Bordeaux, France, is a rolling wine tasting with vineyard views to match. Here, the Garonne and Gironde rivers loop through some of France’s most prestigious wine regions.

Avalon Waterways’ seven-night "Active & Discovery" cruise blends indulgence, action and culture. Expect vineyard hikes in the Medoc, oyster tastings in Arcachon, art-filled walking tours with wine in Blaye and biking among the stately chateaux of St. Emilion. There’s also plenty of time in Bordeaux itself, as the city center is a UNESCO World Heritage gem.

The Mekong: Temples, floating markets and stilted villages

The Mekong is Southeast Asia’s lifeline. A cruise here reveals stilted villages, bustling floating markets, temples and saffron-robed monks meditating in silence.

Pandaw Cruises takes the intrepid further, charting off-the-beaten-path routes through Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos aboard teak ships. The pace is unhurried, and the experience is deeply immersive; you'll drift past rice paddies, remote villages and sacred Buddhist monasteries.

Aqua Expeditions adds a luxe edge with October sailings into Tonle Sap, Cambodia, when monsoon waters briefly link the Mekong to Siem Reap, Cambodia, and the extraordinary temple complex of Angkor Wat. It’s a rare, unforgettable voyage into one of Southeast Asia’s most mystical corners.

The Amazon: Jungle immersion and wildlife encounters

Forget roads. In the Amazon, the river is the highway, winding through one of the most biodiverse corners of the planet. It’s vast, untamed and unlike any other place you can cruise.

Delfin Amazon Cruises’ intimate ships carry guests from Iquitos, Peru, deep into the flooded forest, where the line between river and jungle disappears. Each day brings skiff rides into narrow tributaries, where pink dolphins surface beside the boat, howler monkeys echo through the canopy and technicolor birds flash through the trees. You’ll visit remote river communities, learning how daily life flows with the rhythm of the water. This isn’t just a cruise — it’s a full-on immersion into a world few get to see, done in serious comfort.

Related: 4 luxury river cruises on wow-worthy itineraries

The Danube: Imperial cities and timeless landscapes

The Danube, Europe’s second-longest river, is a flowing thread of royal history and charm.

Uniworld’s "Delightful Danube" cruise drifts from the golden-lit bridges of Budapest, Hungary, to the three-river city of Passau, Germany, passing baroque architecture, vine-covered hills and fairy-tale castles along the way. In Austria’s Wachau Valley — between Melk and Krems — the river slows for wine tastings of crisp rieslings and Austria’s beloved gruner veltliner.

Prefer to pedal between sips of wine? Both Avalon and AmaWaterways carry bikes on board, making riverside cycling as easy as pouring another glass.

The Ganges: Sacred rituals and traditions

Cruising the Ganges offers a deeply spiritual journey through the heart of India. Flowing from the Himalayas through bustling cities and peaceful villages, the river is lined with ghats where pilgrims bathe, priests chant and festivals light up the night.

Overland travel can be chaotic and slow, but from the luxury of a Viking river cruise, daily life unfolds in vivid, evocative ways. You can spot boatmen ferrying locals, markets spilling onto the water and ancient temples rising against the horizon. Whether docking in Varanasi — one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities — or exploring lesser-known towns, a Ganges cruise is an intimate window into India’s soul and deeply spiritual way of life.

The Nile: Pharaohs, temples and desert horizons

No river is more steeped in legend than the Nile. Cruising between Luxor and Aswan, Egypt, on AmaWaterways' 11-night "Secrets of Egypt & the Nile" cruise is like leafing through ancient history books. Temples rise from the riverbanks, hieroglyphs whisper stories of gods and pharaohs, and feluccas drift past like scenes from another era.

On board the luxurious AmaLilia, the mayhem of markets and temples fades away, replaced by serene scenes of palm trees, children swimming, riverside villages and the sunburnt desert beyond it all. Daily curated outings with expert Egyptologist guides reveal the mysteries of Karnak, Kom Ombo, Philae and the Valley of the Kings. From the top deck pool, the desert sun casts golden light over palm-fringed villages and the river’s glassy surface. It’s history in motion — and perhaps the one river cruise truly deserving of the bucket-list label.