Published itinerary
Christmas on the Rhine
Amsterdam → Basel · 7 nights / 8 days · Late Nov–Dec · select 2026–2028 departures
The sailing
Christmas on the Rhine
Viking's dedicated Christmas itinerary connects Amsterdam and Basel in eight days and seven nights. Cologne, Koblenz, Rüdesheim, and Strasbourg are among the route's stops. Compare the selected departure's daily schedule: an embarkation or disembarkation city is not automatically a full market day.
Route reference checked 2026-10-12. Ships, excursions, and direction can vary by departure.
Best for adults who want a classic rhine route with one included excursion per port.
Trip highlights
- Cologne Cathedral market
- Middle Rhine gorge
- Rüdesheim Drosselgasse
- Strasbourg Christkindelsmärik
- Basel Münsterplatz
What's included
- One included excursion per port; optional tours cost extra
- Beer, wine & soft drinks with lunch/dinner
- Onboard meals
- Wi-Fi
Quick facts
- Route
- Amsterdam → Basel
- Length
- 7 nights · 8 days
- Departures
- Late Nov–Dec · select 2026–2028 departures — ask us for current dates & availability
- Cruise line
- Viking River Cruises
- Ship
- Viking Longship
- River
- Rhine
The ports of call
Market cities along the route
These guides cover selected ports, excursion cities, and endpoints—not a guaranteed market visit in every city. Check opening dates, transfers, excursion choices, and time ashore for your departure.
Netherlands
Amsterdam
Amsterdam's Christmas markets and the Winter Festival along the illuminated canals are the western anchor of most Rhine sailings.
Typical season: Early Dec – early Jan
ExploreGermany
Cologne
Several themed Christmas markets fill Cologne's center, anchored by the Cathedral Market and Heinzel's Winter Fairytale in the Old Town.
Typical season: Late Nov – Dec 23
ExploreGermany
Koblenz
Koblenz sits at the Deutsches Eck, where the Moselle meets the Rhine, with a Christmas market and a cable car to the Ehrenbreitstein fortress.
Typical season: Late Nov – Dec 23
ExploreGermany
Rüdesheim
Rüdesheim's Christmas Market of Nations lines the Drosselgasse with stalls from 25+ countries, in a Rhine-gorge wine town famous for Riesling.
Typical season: Late Nov – Dec 23
ExploreGermany
Speyer
Speyer's Christmas market sits before its UNESCO Romanesque cathedral, in a 2,000-year-old imperial city on the Upper Rhine.
Typical season: Late Nov – Dec 23
ExploreFrance
Strasbourg
Strasbourg, the self-proclaimed 'Capital of Christmas,' hosts France's oldest market (since 1570) across its UNESCO old town.
Typical season: Late November to Christmas Eve; check the travel-year calendar
ExploreGermany/France
Breisach & Colmar
Breisach is the river port for Colmar, whose Petite Venise canals host five Christmas markets in a half-timbered Alsatian old town.
Typical season: Late Nov – Dec 30
ExploreSwitzerland
Basel
Basel, the eastern anchor of Rhine sailings, hosts two of Switzerland's grandest Christmas markets in its medieval old town.
Typical season: Late Nov – Dec 23
ExploreMore from this line
Other Viking River Cruises sailings
More on the Rhine
Other Rhine sailings
Same river, different line or different dates — see how the operators compare.
Magical Christmas Markets of Germany
Nuremberg ↔ Frankfurt · 7n · Late Nov – Dec · debuts 2027
Request pricing
quote on request
Christmas Markets on the Rhine
Amsterdam ↔ Basel · 7n · Late Nov – Dec · 2026–2028
Request pricing
quote on request
Christmastime on the Romantic Rhine
Amsterdam ↔ Basel · 7n · Nov 24–Dec 15 · live 2026 options checked Oct 11
$4,430
2026 example · pp
Christmas Markets Along the Rhine
Basel ↔ Düsseldorf · 7n · Late Nov – Dec · 2026 & 2027
Request pricing
quote on request
Ready to plan this voyage?
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