I sailed the Rhine on Avalon in March so naturally, people have inquired upon my return which one I prefer. Unfortunately, I don’t have a clear answer. Like with many things in travel, the answer is … it depends.
Here is what I liked better about sailing The Danube:
– I like the cities we visited along the Danube
– We got to spend more time at each destination
– The views were more scenic when sailing on The Danube while The Rhine had more industrial areas that we saw while sailing
Here is what I liked better about sailing The Rhine:
– I like the little villages along the Rhine, smaller and quaint
– More sailing during the day to relax and take it all in (even though views tended to be more industrial)
– We were able to experience more locks along The Rhine (I find them fascinating), we only experienced one lock during the day on The Danube because we passed through most of them at night when I was sleeping
If you asked me which river I would pick if I had to sail one again, it would depend on when. Being that I desperately want to do a Christmas market river cruise and I enjoyed the villages along the Rhine more, I guess I would pick the Rhine, although I have been told that the markets along The Danube are also some of the best. As far as which one would be best for you, let’s talk through it and figure that out!