River trips · WORLDWIDE

Where to Book River Tours & Day Trips: the 15 Best Worldwide

222 sailings  ·  boarding from $7 a head

Good sailings fill up days ahead and the best ones first. Below: the 15 river tours & day trips to book early, what each includes and how they differ.

From Porto: Douro Valley w/ Boat Tour, Wine Tasting & Lunch - Leaving Porto for Peso da Régua
Douro River Cruises, Lunch Experiences, Porto River Cruises, Portugal River Cruises, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours

From Porto: Douro Valley w/ Boat Tour, Wine Tasting & Lunch

1.Douro Valley w/ Boat Tour, Wine Tasting & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 19,061 reviews · 6 - 10 hours · from $82Our pick

Travel from Porto into the Douro Valley for two winery visits, Port and olive oil tastings, a traditional lunch with wine, scenic viewpoints, and a one-hour river cruise from Pinhão. Guides such as Igor, Miguel, Ricardo, and Melina bring local stories and good humor to a full day among terraced vineyards.

“The guide (Igor, handsome Jesus) peppered the relaxed vibe with excellent banter and enthusiasm. The driver (“Mario”) navigated the terrain with impeccable skill and gusto. Many fine beverages were consumed and a vast fountain of knowledge was obtained which will live long in the memory! The mashed potato was a pleasurable, culinary delight to behold!”

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Complete Douro Valley Wine Tour with Lunch, Wine Tastings and River Cruise - Leaving Porto and stopping for coffee
Douro River Cruises, Lunch Experiences, Porto River Cruises, Portugal River Cruises, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours

Complete Douro Valley Wine Tour with Lunch, Wine Tastings and River Cruise

2.Complete Douro Valley Wine Tour with Lunch, Wine Tastings and River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 12,920 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $101Top rated

Leave Porto for a full day in the Douro Valley, stopping at two wine estates in Sabrosa and Folgosa. Taste about six wines and ports, enjoy a traditional Portuguese lunch, pause at a viewpoint, and cruise from Pinhão on a traditional Rabelo boat. Pickup is available from central Porto hotels, and guides such as Rita, Miguel, Pedro, and José add local stories along the way.

“Well planned and executed day trip in beautiful Douro valley! And a lots of wine to go with it. Jose was awesome. Very knowledgeable and friendly.”

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Berlin: Boat Tour Along the River Spree - Starting at Friedrichstrasse 140
Berlin River Cruises, Germany River Cruises, Rhine and Spree River Cruises, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours

Berlin: Boat Tour Along the River Spree

3.Boat Tour Along the River Spree

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 11,252 reviews · 2h 15m · from $34

Spend 135 minutes on a round-trip cruise from Friedrichstrasse, passing the Federal Chancellery, Bellevue Palace, Victory Column, Berlin Central Station, Charlottenburg Palace, and several canals. German commentary plays onboard, while handheld audio guides are available in 11 additional languages. Bring wired headphones if you have them.

“Yeah the 2.25 hours was really relaxing, so glad we chose this than the 1 hour option offered by other providers. Weather was brilliant so we were quite lucky”

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Boston Duck Boat Sightseeing City Tour with Cruise Along Charles River - Choosing between the three departure points
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Boston Duck Boat Sightseeing City Tour with Cruise Along Charles River

4.Boston Duck Boat Sightseeing City Tour with Cruise Along Charles River

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 9,378 reviews · from $59

See Boston by road and water in about 80 minutes aboard a restored World War II amphibious vehicle. Your ConDUCKtor points out Boston Common, the State House, Quincy Market, TD Garden, Newbury Street, Bunker Hill Bridge, and more before a 20-minute Charles River cruise. Choose departures near the Museum of Science, New England Aquarium, or Prudential Center.

“Long enough to keep you attention. Well narated. Fun, comfortable and you can bring your coffee. The helpers are really knowegable.”

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Douro Valley: Wine Tour with Lunch, Tastings & River Cruise - The drive from Porto to Amarante
Douro River Cruises, Lunch Experiences, Porto River Cruises, Portugal River Cruises, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours

Douro Valley: Wine Tour with Lunch, Tastings & River Cruise

5.Wine Tour with Lunch, Tastings & River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 6,081 reviews · from $113

Travel from Porto to Amarante, Sabrosa, and Pinhão with a guide such as Mariana, Luis, or Slimmy. Visit two wine estates, taste six wines, enjoy a Douro wine-paired lunch, and cruise for one hour on the Douro River. Hotel pickup is available in central Porto, and groups range from 8 to 27 people.

“I had an excellent experience with Marthin as the guide, very informative and knowledgeable about the wine as well as our stops at two different vineyards, and a very tasty filling lunch. Totally worth the money!! Can’t wait to come back with a loved one’s on my next visit.”

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Bangkok Canal Tour: 2-Hour Longtail Boat Ride - Meeting near Wat Pho and crossing the Chao Phraya
2-Hour Experiences, Bangkok River Cruises, Canal Cruises, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours

Bangkok Canal Tour: 2-Hour Longtail Boat Ride

6.Bangkok Canal Tour: 2-Hour Longtail Boat Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 5,909 reviews · from $37

Meet your English-speaking guide near Wat Pho, then cross the Chao Phraya River by longtail boat into Thonburi’s canals. You’ll visit Baan Silapin, pass Wat Paknam’s giant Buddha, and return after about two hours. Guides may include Joe, Bella, Yohan, Fern, or Neo. Expect local homes, canal locks, and variable commentary.

“Easy to book and the tour itself was great. Saw some really interesting sights from both the river and the canal. Seeing the giant buddha then the stop off at Thon Buri were highlights for me. The only issue I had was that the initial organisation was rather chaotic with several different trips all congregating at the same place. The various tour guides found it hard to separate who was in which group and because I'd only booked a couple of hours earlier, I didn't seem to be on anyone's list. I had to be really firm with the guides to ensure I was included on one of the tours…”

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London: London Eye, River Cruise, & Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour - The bus routes cover the famous London postcard views
Hop-On Hop-Off River Boats, London River Cruises, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours, UK River Cruises

London: London Eye, River Cruise, & Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour

7.London Eye, River Cruise, & Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 5,332 reviews · 1 - 2 days · from $74

Use one ticket for a 24 or 48-hour Big Bus pass, a timed London Eye ride, and a one-way Thames cruise between Westminster and Tower Pier. You can explore three bus routes, hear multilingual commentary, track buses in the app, and add guided walking tours with the 48-hour option.

“We used the hop-on hop-off during the Underground strike. Although the drivers couldn’t get you from point A to point B quickly they were incredible in assisting you and worked well past the scheduled end time of 18:00.”

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Authentic Small Group Douro Wine Tour with Lunch & River Cruise - Leaving Porto in a small group
Douro River Cruises, Lunch Experiences, Porto River Cruises, Portugal River Cruises, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours

Authentic Small Group Douro Wine Tour with Lunch & River Cruise

8.Authentic Small Group Douro Wine Tour with Lunch & River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4,775 reviews · 9 to 10 hours (approx.) · from $133

Travel from central Porto to the Douro Valley in a small van with a local guide such as Luís, Pedro, Ivo, or Cheila. Visit two wineries, taste Port and Douro wines, eat a traditional lunch in Pinhão, and cruise the river aboard a typical Rabelo boat. Winery choices can change.

“Luis our guide was fantastic. Proficient in English, friendly, very knowledgeable, and kept us engaged at the appropriate times. The 2 quintas we visited were superb. Great experience. Highly recommended.”

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Istanbul: Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise Tour with Audio Guide - Starting beside Eminönü and Galata Bridge
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Istanbul: Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise Tour with Audio Guide

9.Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise Tour with Audio Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 4,704 reviews · 1 - 2 hours · from $7Best value

Cruise from Eminönü past palaces, mosques, bridges, fortresses, and waterfront mansions on a relaxed Bosphorus tour. You get unlimited Turkish tea and Nescafé, Wi-Fi, restrooms, live commentary in five languages, and a phone-based audio guide in 11 languages. Bring headphones and a charged phone.

“Very nice boat trip, food and also Salep were so good. You can see every important buildings near Bospor. So nice people on the boat. We can only recommed.”

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Berlin: 3.25-Hour Spree & Landwehrkanal Boat Tour - The Spree gives you Berlin’s big picture
Berlin River Cruises, Germany River Cruises, Rhine and Spree River Cruises, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours

Berlin: 3.25-Hour Spree & Landwehrkanal Boat Tour

10.3.25-Hour Spree & Landwehrkanal Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 4,311 reviews · 3h 15m · from $38

Start at Jannowitzbrücke near Alexanderplatz for a 195-minute cruise along Berlin’s Spree and Landwehr Canal. You’ll pass more than 40 bridges, Museum Island, Potsdamer Platz, the German Museum of Technology, and the government district. English and German audio commentary is available, though bring headphones with a standard audio jack.

“Amazing tour around Berlin. Out guide Martin were lively, funny and entertaining during The whole tour. We really recommend this trip..”

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London Tootbus Hop on Hop off Bus Tour and Thames River Cruise - Use the Buckingham Palace and Kensington route for royal London
Hop-On Hop-Off River Boats, London River Cruises, River Cruises, Thames River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours, UK River Cruises

London Tootbus Hop on Hop off Bus Tour and Thames River Cruise

11.London Tootbus Hop on Hop off Bus Tour and Thames River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 3,834 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $53

See London by open-top double-decker bus on three routes linking Buckingham Palace, Westminster, the Tower of London, St Paul’s, museums, and Notting Hill. Use the 1, 2, or 3-day pass with audio commentary, real-time bus tracking, and a Thames cruise valid for the same period. The cruise adds strong live commentary and fine river views.

“Great way to get around and see London. Drivers are courteous and helpful. The metro can get you faster but many things can be missed”

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Budapest: Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour & Danube River Cruise - Starting near the Basilica and Deák Ferenc tér
Budapest River Cruises, Danube River Cruises, Hop-On Hop-Off River Boats, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours

Budapest: Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour & Danube River Cruise

12.Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour & Danube River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 3,794 reviews · from $40

Use a 1, 2, or 3-day Big Bus ticket to see Budapest from the road and river. Ride past Parliament, Buda Castle, Heroes’ Square, and the baths, then join the English walking tour through Pest. The Danube cruise adds fine views of Parliament, Chain Bridge, and the Royal Palace.

“The bus had a plastic window covering which was scratched and dirty which meant pictures were blurry, disappointing experience”

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Prague: Big Bus Hop-on Hop-off, Castle Tour and River Cruise - Green Line: the best route for central Prague
Hop-On Hop-Off River Boats, Prague River Cruises, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours

Prague: Big Bus Hop-on Hop-off, Castle Tour and River Cruise

13.Big Bus Hop-on Hop-off, Castle Tour and River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 3,733 reviews · 1 - 2 days · from $36

Use a 24 or 48-hour Big Bus ticket to connect Prague’s Old Town, Castle, Dancing House, Main Train Station, and other key sights. Add the Vltava cruise for city views from the water, then join the English Castle exterior walk at 2:15 PM from Red Line stop 3. Guides such as Ivo, Peter, and Renee have made the experience especially memorable.

“Loved bring able to navigate the city easily. The boat trip was a lovely extra when it was poor weather! Interesting audio, although you don’t always get told what you need to at the right time of the traffic holds you up or the bus is moving quickly.”

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Douro Valley Tour: 2 Vineyard Visits, River Cruise, Winery Lunch - The drive into the Douro Valley
Douro River Cruises, Lunch Experiences, Porto River Cruises, Portugal River Cruises, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours

Douro Valley Tour: 2 Vineyard Visits, River Cruise, Winery Lunch

14.Douro Valley Tour: 2 Vineyard Visits, River Cruise, Winery Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,542 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $101

Leave Porto at 8:30 a.m. for the Douro Valley in an air-conditioned vehicle with a guide such as Rita, Pedro, Tiago, or Sara. Visit two family-run wineries, taste wine and port, enjoy a four-course lunch, and cruise from Pinhão on a traditional Rabelo boat. Pickup is available on small-group and private options.

“Had an amazing day with eFun Tours: Tiago and Lucas. It was quite rainy, but that didn't stop us from visiting 3 wineries and having a lovely lunch. I booked the 50 person large group tour and it ended up being 8 of us- so it was quite lovely and very enjoyable. The car ride is a bit curvy, so if you have motion sickness, sit by the window and maybe bring medicine to help just in case.”

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Porto Walking Tour, Lello Bookshop, River Cruise and Cable Car - Cable car views over Porto and the Douro
Porto River Cruises, Portugal River Cruises, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours

Porto Walking Tour, Lello Bookshop, River Cruise and Cable Car

15.Porto Walking Tour, Lello Bookshop, River Cruise and Cable Car

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,354 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $72

Spend about four hours exploring Porto with a bilingual guide such as Maria, Santiago, or Francisco. Walk through São Bento and Ribeira, visit Livraria Lello, ride the cable car, and cruise beneath the Dom Luís I Bridge. The tour starts near the Portuguese Centre of Photography and ends at Cais de Gaia.

“Walking is a fun way to explore Porto, Chico was patient with us and made several stops to pace well, he explained things with fun facts and jokes that kept the mood light, overall really nice experience.”

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Newly added: Tours

★ 4.6From Gaia Douro Valley Tour Wine Tasting River Cruise LunchFrom $1397 reviews
★ 3.0Da Nang/Hoi An: Coconut river boat tour & Lantern FestivalFrom $314 reviews
★ 4.25-Day Tour with Nile Cruise, Balloon, & FlightsFrom $1,11927 reviews
★ 4.311-Day Tour, Nile Cruise, Flights, Balloon20 reviews
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★ 4.8Giethoorn Sightseeing Tour and Canal CruiseFrom $33022 reviews
★ 3.7From Alexandria Port: Giza Pyramids & Nile Cruise Day TourFrom $2543 reviews
★ 4.9Fairbanks: Riverboat Cruise and Local Village TourFrom $127309 reviews
★ 4.8Fast and More 60 minute Airboat Tour on the Homosassa RiverFrom $7126 reviews
★ 5.0Miami: Everglades River of Grass Small Airboat Wildlife Tour7 reviews
★ 3.2Eiffel Tower Summit Access Tour and River CruiseFrom $11219 reviews
★ 5.0Eiffel Tower Guided Tour & Seine River CruiseFrom $694 reviews
★ 4.3Egypt: 7-Day Private Tour, Baloon, Flights and Nile CruiseFrom $9005 reviews
★ 4.1Egypt: Private 5-Day Tour, Nile Cruise, Flights & BalloonFrom $1,400248 reviews
★ 4.9Douro Valley Private Tour 2 Vineyards & River Cruise14 reviews

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