Festive Rhône River: Europe Christmas Market Cruises Beyond the Rhine & Danube
One of my favorite ways to travel in recent years has been aboard the beautifully designed 140–160 passenger ships of AmaWaterways. There’s something magical about unpacking once and letting the landscape unfold at a gentle pace just out your window. This past November marked my fourth European river cruise, this time through the sun-drenched Provence region of southern France. Having previously sailed the storied Danube and the Rhine and Seine, I was especially excited to experience the Rhône during the holiday season, a river that tends to fly under the radar for most travelers.
What I’ve come to appreciate after multiple journeys is how each river offers its own distinct culture, delights, and sense of place. The Rhône, in particular, feels more relaxed and deeply regional, weaving through vineyard-covered hills, Roman heritage sites, and towns that seem to hum with everyday French life. It’s a perspective of France that feels both authentic and enriching—exactly the kind of travel that keeps me coming back to small ship cruises year after year.
What to Expect on a European Christmas Market River Cruise
Christmas river cruises in Europe are typically about a week long, and run between mid-November and Christmas. You’ll have plenty of excursion time to explore the towns and historical sites at which the cruise stops, along with the holiday markets—take your time wandering in between artisan vendors at wooden chalets with a cup of warm mulled wine in hand. And you can usually expect on-board festivities, too, like themed dinners or gingerbread decorating.
Having experienced three Christmas market river cruises—one on the Danube, one on the Rhine, and now one on the Rhône—I was absolutely enchanted by the incredible decorations you see covering the ship, from stem to stern! Colorful garland was hung along the deck handrails outside and all along the interior walls and windows. Christmas trees, wreaths, santas, snowglobes, and wooden carved winter scenes adorned the interior of the ship. As we cruised along the river, I noticed that there were no other boats decorated as festively as ours! I love the holidays and all the festivities surrounding the holidays, and a holiday-themed cruise really brings you to the heart of the season.
Best European Christmas Market River Cruises
If you’re planning a European Christmas market cruise, you really can’t go wrong no matter which river you explore, but there are differences. My first Christmas market cruise was on the Danube and I believe it offers the best markets along the river. Germans were the first to create Christmas markets in Bavaria and their villages come alive with all things festive during the holidays. But France is still very festive—towns and stores are decorated with lights and the charm of the upcoming holiday is everywhere. And visiting France is never a bad idea!
Rhône River Cruise
On a Rhône River cruise through Provence you’ll stop at charming medieval villages, discover ancient Roman ruins, and sail past the vineyards of some of Europe’s most legendary wine growing regions. These holiday cruises offer a healthy mix of Christmas festivities and French culture and history. You might explore Arles, where van Gogh lived and worked, and Avignon, full of Roman and papal history. At Lyon you’ll discover a vibrant traditional Christmas market, and on board you can expect festive Christmas decorations and performances.
Rhine River Cruise
If you’re on the Rhine River during the holiday season, it feels like cruising through a living storybook. By day, you explore centuries-old towns including Cologne, where the soaring cathedral towers above one of Germany’s most celebrated Christmas markets (the Cologne Cathedral Christmas Market), and wander the charming squares of Rüdesheim am Rhein, known for its cozy lanes and wine taverns (and yes, there is time for a wine tasting!). The aromas from the markets are divine—think roasted chestnuts, gingerbread, and steaming Glühwein (mulled wine).
By night, you return to the warmth of the ship, where passing views include castles perched above the riverbanks and hillsides dusted in snow. What makes a Rhine Christmas market cruise special is being able to visit Germany’s most storied markets without the usual logistics of winter land-based travel.
Danube River Cruise
A Christmas market journey along the Danube River offers a distinctly different rhythm as you make your way through Central Europe’s grand capitals and intimate towns that were the birthplace of Christmas markets—Germans really know how to “deck the halls” during the holidays. The cruise typically begins or ends in Budapest, where you can shop for unique handmade gifts at Vörösmarty Square. In Vienna, highlights include Maria Theresaplatz Christmas Market, set among the world-renowned sights of Vienna’s majestic Ringstrasse, and the illuminated Rathaus, Vienna’s largest Christmas market.
Between each major city are smaller towns steeped in tradition that you can explore on foot or bike. Some of my favorite memories were enjoying some of Bavaria’s specialties—sausage, pretzels, and local beer—while listening to street performers and taking a walking tour of Salzburg’s UNESCO-designated Old Town.
Why Take a Rhône River Cruise During the Holidays
The Rhône River cruise that I took was a December holiday departure of a standard Provence river cruise that runs year round. It has a great mix of holiday festivities and French cultural explorations, making this a great option if you don’t want your trip to be exclusively about Christmas markets. The Rhône journey included visits to charming riverside villages and tastings of the region’s world-class Beaujolais and Côte du Rhône vintages.
Starting in the town of Arles, a city full of Roman history and architecture, you really get a sense of the ancient heritage in this beautiful part of France. Their Roman structures—the most well-preserved being the Arles Amphitheater—are stunning in how complete they are and how well they have survived all these years. There is also plenty of Vincent van Gogh history all around you. Standing in front of Le Cafe du Nuit, which is exactly as it looks in his painting of the same name, gives you a real feeling of following in his footsteps.
A nice touch on these river cruises is the live entertainment that comes on board. We were treated to a performance by a former member of the progressive flamenco group, Gypsy Kings, as we cruised up the river to Avignon. The original group members are actually from Arles, France! Although they are French, their Spanish and Catalan heritage is quite evident. It was a magnificent performance and by the end of the evening they had passengers dancing to their biggest hit, “Bomboleo.”
Other highlights of the cruise include a stop in Avignon, where we saw the ancient UNESCO-listed Pont du Gard aqueduct, dating from the 1st century, and the former 14th century Papal Palace, where the Catholic Church was headquartered in Avignon for more than 60 years before it moved back to Rome.
Lyon, France Christmas Market
Like many European Christmas markets, the Lyon Christmas market is a charming and distinctly local holiday experience for both locals and visitors, and a wonderful highlight during our journey. The main town square is transformed into a festive village with more than 100 wooden chalets. Enjoy perusing the different stalls, and be on the lookout for the “Fabriqué à Lyon” label, which are locally made gifts from Lyon and the surrounding areas.
Cruising the Rhône with AmaWaterways
This Rhône River cruise visits smaller towns that people may not have heard as much about, but that doesn’t take away from their history, beauty, and charm. One thing I really like about these cruises is they include all excursions in your trip cost. Any excursion, whether walking, hiking, or biking, is included. And they offer excursions for different levels of exertion, which is perfect for travelers who prefer something more active or to take things slow! Many other cruise lines will charge for any and all excursions. Some river cruise lines will include one excursion per port. If you want to take a different one than the designated group excursion that would be an extra cost. AmaWaterways doesn’t do that.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most beautiful Christmas markets in France are the markets of Lyon, Strasbourg, and Colmar. While Strasbourg has a grand market and is known as the “Capital of Christmas,” the Lyon and Colmar markets are festive and more quaint.
The best months for a France river cruise are between June and December. You’ll experience the blooms of late spring, the sunny skies of summer, the foliage of fall, or Christmas festivities if you travel during these months.
If you’re visiting France in December, head to Paris to enjoy the city of lights decked out for the holidays but with fewer tourist crowds than in the summer months, or Provence to enjoy the peaceful landscapes, incredible food and wine, and Lyon’s famous Christmas market. Or, visit Alsace for famous Christmas markets like those at Colmar, Strasbourg, and Kaysersberg.
In France in December, it consistently snows in high-altitude regions like the Alps and the Pyrenees. December snow is occasional in northern and eastern regions like Paris and Lyon, and December snow is rare in the Atlantic and Mediterranean coastal regions.
June 19, 2025
September 18, 2021
