While there is an included excursion in every port on Viking’s Rhine River cruise, there are also many optional excursions. Below I share with you a list of all the Rhine River excursions and whether I think each is worth your time and money.
Amsterdam
My Rhine River cruise began in Amsterdam, and headed south towards Basel. One the first day, when you meet the ship, the ship is docked all day, so there is a fair amount of freedom for guests. There is a walking tour of Amsterdam that is optional on this first day. I found it to be fairly interesting, though the route isn’t very long. One can take the tour and then continue exploring, or bypass the tour and explore on your own. I wish I had gone to the Van Gogh Museum. Though if you want to do that, it is recommended to purchase tickets ahead of time online.
Kinderdijk
Kinderdijk Windmills Excursion – Included Tour
The first included tour in Kinderdijk is a tour of the windmills. The windmills are very interesting. You get to go inside one and see how they work and how little space they have for living inside of them. Please note, his is one of two Rhine River excursions to see the windmills. The other is detailed below. Rating – Join
Kinderdijk Windmills & Dutch Cheese Making – Optional Tour
This tour starts on a farm where participants get to experience the process of cheese making. This tour starts pretty early in the morning. It includes a tour of a farm, learning about making cheese, cheese sampling and the opportunity to purchase cheese. If you really like cheese, then this could be a good excursion for you. Following the cheese making, you will meet the rest of the shipmates over at the windmills, and partake in the windmill tour. I opted not to go on this tour as I had experienced cheese making at farms in the past. Those that went found it to be interesting. Rating – Depends on Your Interests
Cologne
Cologne Walking Tour – Included Tour
Take a walking tour of Cologne, viewing the Cathedral, walking down the historic streets and learning about Cologne. This tour is interesting, and at the end you can opt to continue exploring on your own, or head back to the boat. Rating – Join
Bruhl Unesco Palaces – Optional Tour
Tour the lavish 18th-century Augustuburg Castle. You have to see this castle to believe it. The rooms are very extravagantly decorated and there is a staircase that is beyond grand. The grounds outside of the castle are beautiful in their own right. Rating – Join
Cologne’s Beer Culture Dinner Tour – Optional Tour
Experience kolsch (beer) and the lively brew house culture of Cologne. This was my favorite excursion of the whole trip. On this excursion, group size is only 12 individuals with a guide, so it is much more personal than the included excursions. You get the chance to really learn about local life, brauhaus traditions, and get to brews from different breweries. Rating: Must Join
Koblenz
Marksburg Castle – Included Tour
A castle perched high above the Middle Rhine provides amazing views, and an interesting experience. As you tour the Marksburg castle you will step back in time to experience the medieval life. Trying on the masks of knights, viewing the torture chamber and seeing the first bathrooms are all included on this tour. The castle includes narrow, steep walkways, so if that is a concern for you, I would avoid this tour. Rating – Join, if physically able.
Ehrenbreitstein Fortress – Optional Tour
A fortress set high on a hill. I didn’t go on this excursion, but for those whom the Marksburg Castle isn’t a safe choice, this is a good way to see and experience castle life. Rating – Depends, if Marksburg castle isn’t a safe choice for you, then join this tour.
Rudesheim
Wine Tasting & Dinner at Scholss Johannisberg Estate – Optional Tour
Walk amongst the vines, and then experience the magic they create by tasting three different rieslings. Then experience a traditional German dinner on the grounds. If you are a wine lover, then this would be a good excursion for you, particularly if you are a fan of rieslings. Rating – Depends on your taste in wine.
Dine in Rudesheim am Rhein – Optional Tour
Start off on a choo-choo, pulling its way into town. Enjoy a traditional multi-course German dinner, along with the local riesling, and a live band playing oom-pah-pah music. After dinner, feel free to partake in the dancing around the restaurant or shots of schnapps in a shot-ski.
This is a fun excursion, and if you are looking for a lively, good time, then this may be the excursion for you. If you are hoping to taste more of the local beer, this is not the excursion for you, as they only served wine with dinner. If you are traveling with your own large, lively group, then this outing may not be necessary. There are several lively restaurants in town (a few minute walk from the boat), that have music playing and food and alcohol flowing. If you bring your own party, then searching out a spot for drinks (after free dinner on the boat) might be the way for your crew to go. Rating – Depends on the size and liveliness of your group.
Heidelberg
College Life in Heidelberg – Optional Tour
No one on our boat opted to participate in this excursion.
Heidelberg Excursion – Included Tour
The Heidelberg excursion starts with a tour of the old Heidelberg Castle, a fascinating structure originally built in the 13th century, that sits high above the city. Following the tour, head down into the old town, for a short tour/lay of the land. Then have time on your own to explore the city. Grab a bite to eat or enjoy a beer, visit the cathedral, or go shopping in the many stores, including a large Christmas store, the afternoon is yours to use as you please. Rating – Join
Strasbourg
Strasbourg City Tour & Walk – Included Tour
Board a bus for a drive through the German Imperial District and viewing of some of the European Union offices. The bus leaves you off next to the city center of Strasbourg – a picturesque city. Take a tour through the Petite France area, the Tanners’ District, winding your way to Cathedral Square. After visiting the Strasbourg Cathedral and seeing the astronomical clock, you will have the choice to head back to the boat, or spend time to enjoy the city on your own. Rating – Join
Taste the Best of Alsace – Optional Tour
Take a tour through Strasbourg by visiting local food merchants, sampling food, and collecting ingredients to prepare your own dishes later in the day. If you are a food lover, this can be an excellent way to experience Strasbourg, but be prepared to eat! There is a lot of food on this excursion, and guests come back to the boat thinking they may not eat again for a few days. At the end of the excursion you view the Cathedral and can spend some time exploring on your own. Rating – Depends
This Rhine River excursion happens at the same time as the included (no extra cost) excursion. Personally, I would opt for the included excursion over this one. However, I am a picky eater, and often shy away from excursions built around food.
Mercedes-Benz Factory Tour – Optional Tour
Tour the Mercedes-Benz factory, and see how the cars and trucks are made. I didn’t take this tour, but those that did found it interesting. However, if you hope to get up close and touch the automobiles as they are worked on, that is no longer possible. Also, this excursion is in the afternoon and the factory is about an hour bus ride in each direction. This means equal time is spent on a bus as actually at the factory. Rating – Skip this tour, and spend more time checking out Strasbourg. But if you are really into cars, you may feel differently.
Alsatian Wine Tour & Tasting – Optional Tour
Learn about and sample the white wines of Alsace. Visit a vineyard, meet the winegrower, and learn about growing and harvesting grapes in this region. Rating – Skip this tour. If you are very into wine, this might be a good tour for you. Wine isn’t so much my thing, so I would skip this excursion, and opt for the included excursion instead. With the free time allowed in the included excursion you could try the regional wine out at a restaurant with lunch for less money and more freedom to explore.
Breisach
Colmar World War II Museum & Memorial – Optional Tour
Visit the Colmar Pocket Memorial Museum, the US War Memorial and French National War Cemetery, and the Audie Murphy Memorial. Rating – Skip, unless you are a big World War 2 history buff. Note, there this a fair amount of WWII information included in every excursion on this trip. I suggest the Medieval Village of Colmar excursion instead, as they are both during the same time.
Medieval Village of Colmar – Optional Tour
Visit charming Colmar, a town right out of a storybook with cobblestone streets and half-timber homes. Tour the city with your tour guide and then spend time exploring on your own. This is a fun place to purchase souvenirs to bring back to friends or taste out the goods at the local bakeries. Rating – Join
Black Forest & Colmar – Optional Tour
Visit the Black Forest, visit an authentic restaurant to sample some of the famous Black Forest cuisine for lunch, then head to the charming medieval city of Colmar. If you decide to go on this tour you won’t be able to go on the Colmar World War II Museum excursion, as this is an all day excursion. Rating – Skip. I suggest going on the included tour to the Black Forest and the optional Medieval Village of Colmar, as a way to see both cities but not pay as much.
Black Forest Tour – Included Tour
Take a bus to the Black Forest, with a guide narrating the ride to the Forest and back. The roads are a bit windy, so if you suffer from motion sickness, you might want to skip this tour. However, this excursion departs from the boat after lunch, so I used the bus ride to take a lovely nap. When you arrive at the Black Forest, you can opt to go on a short walk, see how cuckoo clocks are made, watch a glassblowing demonstration, or learn to make Black Forest Cake. This is a great excursion to see some alternative parts of Germany. Rating – Join
There are many great Rhine River excursions to explore, and I hope you enjoy your journey up or down the Rhine as much as I did!
