WORLDWIDE · TOURS

15 River Boat Tours Worth Flying For

282 river trips  ·  from $7 a head

Anything with a hull, a guide and a timetable attached. The 15 here are the ones that earn a whole afternoon rather than a gap between museums, priced and paced honestly.

From Porto: Douro Valley w/ Boat Tour, Wine Tasting & Lunch - The morning road to 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

Spend 6 to 10 hours exploring the Douro Valley from Porto. Visit a 1959 wine cooperative and another cellar or wine shop, taste Port and olive oil, enjoy a seated regional lunch with wine, cruise for one hour from Pinhão, and follow the scenic N222. Guides may include Igor, Miguel, Ricardo, or Melina, depending on the day.

“Brilliant trip and Miguel was a fantastic guide! It was great fun, we never got to the boat tour which is a shame due to flooding and high river but it got substituted for extra wine! Learnt so much about port and wine and overall just a fantastic trip and the best day of our Porto trip. Only negative was the air con was Leaking on the bus and we got dripped on- luckily that didn’t spoil the trip tho 😄”

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Complete Douro Valley Wine Tour with Lunch, Wine Tastings and River Cruise - Sabrosa and the first winery visit
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

You’ll leave Porto with a local guide for two winery visits, about six tastings, a traditional Portuguese lunch, and a 50-minute Rabelo boat cruise from Pinhão. Guides vary, with Rita, Miguel, Pedro, José, and Bernardo among those assigned. Hotel pickup is available in central Porto, and the tour runs in English.

“It was an amazing experience we had especially with our tour guide Miguel. We had such a wonderful experience because of him. I highly recommend to book with Miguel.”

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Berlin: Boat Tour Along the River Spree - Central Station, ministries, and Berlin’s modern face
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 cruising Berlin’s River Spree from Friedrichstrasse. You’ll pass the Chancellery, Bellevue Palace, Victory Column, Central Station, Charlottenburg Palace, canals, ministries, and Hamburger Bahnhof. German commentary plays onboard, while handheld audio guides cover 12 languages. Food and drinks are available to buy, but bring corded earphones for easier listening.

“The boat ride was smooth and with lots of information. Remember to bring corded earphones with an older round plug or adapter to this so you don’t have to hold the guide machine to your ear. Many languages to choose from. Would highly recommend if you need a nice break to rest your feet while learning about Berlin. The guides were great. Great table side service no matter where you sat.”

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London Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Optional River Cruise - The blue route through Kensington and Notting Hill
Hop-On Hop-Off River Boats, London River Cruises, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours, UK River Cruises

London Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Optional River Cruise

4.London Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Optional River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 10,803 reviews · 3 hours 35 minutes (approx.) · from $39

See London’s main sights from an open-top double-decker bus across three routes, with stops near Buckingham Palace, the Tower, St. Paul’s, Notting Hill, and the British Museum. Choose a 24-hour or 48-hour ticket, add a Thames cruise, and use the 48-hour option for walking tours and an evening ride.

“Great way to see the city and get off at the attractions one wants to see. We recommend this for London!”

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Boston Duck Boat Sightseeing City Tour with Cruise Along Charles River - Choosing among the three departure points
River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours, USA River Cruises

Boston Duck Boat Sightseeing City Tour with Cruise Along Charles River

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

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

You’ll tour Boston by restored World War II amphibious vehicle, with a personal ConDUCKtor covering Beacon Hill, Boston Common, Quincy Market, TD Garden, Copley Square, and more. The 80-minute trip includes a 20-minute Charles River cruise, three departure points, assigned seating, and a GPS audio app in several languages.

“Fine view of historical sites either good narrator. The part going on the Charles river is very very nice.”

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Paris Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Optional River Cruise - Audio commentary, WiFi, and the app
France River Cruises, Hop-On Hop-Off River Boats, Paris River Cruises, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours

Paris Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Optional River Cruise

6.Paris Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Optional River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 6,534 reviews · 2 hours 15 minutes (approx.) · from $46

Use the Big Bus Red Route to see Paris from an open-top double-decker, with stops near the Louvre, Notre Dame, Musée d’Orsay, Champs-Élysées, Eiffel Tower, and Palais Garnier. Audio commentary comes in nine languages, with WiFi and real-time bus tracking through the app. Add a one-hour Seine cruise or Arc de Triomphe entry if useful.

“This was my first time in Paris and it was a great way of getting around and seeing the different tourist attractions.”

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Douro Valley: Wine Tour with Lunch, Tastings & River Cruise - Leaving Porto for 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

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

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

Travel from Porto to Amarante, Sabrosa, and Pinhão with guides such as Rui, Mariana, Luis, or Slimmy. Tour two wine estates, taste six wines, enjoy a vineyard lunch, and cruise the Douro for an hour. Expect a social group of 8 to 27 people, changing estate visits, and a long but well-filled day.

“Tanya and Bruno were excellent hosts, always looking after our needs. I would highly recommend this tour. The Douro valley is a must see if travelling to Porto. Best part of our trip so far.”

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Porto: Guided Tour by Tuk-Tuk & Optional Douro River Cruise - The 50-minute route through Porto’s historic center
Douro River Cruises, Porto River Cruises, Portugal River Cruises, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tuk-Tuks

Porto: Guided Tour by Tuk-Tuk & Optional Douro River Cruise

8.Guided Tour by Tuk-Tuk & Optional Douro River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 5,980 reviews · 50 - 105 minutes · from $20

Explore Porto’s historic center by electric tuk-tuk with a local guide such as Tiago, Miguel, Diogo, or Joana. Pass São Bento Station, Porto Cathedral, Aliados Avenue, Clerigos Tower, Lello Bookshop, and Miragaia. Add an open-ticket Douro cruise to see Porto, Vila Nova de Gaia, and six bridges from a traditional rabelo boat.

“Our guide knew Porto very thoroughly; she brought its history and culture to life. The tuktuk allowed us to see narrow laned neighbourhoods which were very interesting”

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Bangkok Canal Tour: 2-Hour Longtail Boat Ride - The longtail boat ride through Thonburi
2-Hour Experiences, Bangkok River Cruises, Canal Cruises, Canal Cruises in Bangkok, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours

Bangkok Canal Tour: 2-Hour Longtail Boat Ride

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

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

Meet your English-speaking guide near Wat Pho and cross the Chao Phraya River by traditional longtail boat. Over about two hours, you’ll cruise Thonburi’s canals, visit Baan Silapin, and stop for photos of Wat Paknam’s giant Buddha. Morning and afternoon departures are available, with guides such as Joe, Fern, Bella, Yohan, and Neo reported on different departures.

“This was a great tour that I would highly recommend. It’s a great introduction to Bangkok culture especially if you’re a little bit jetlagged and you’re looking to start your adventure but not overdue.”

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London: London Eye, River Cruise, & Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour - Riding the open-top Big Bus
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

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

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

Combine three classic London views in one package: ride an open-top Big Bus past Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, and Tower Bridge, take one rotation on the London Eye, and cruise the Thames between Westminster and Tower Pier. Pre-book your Eye time, use the app to track buses, and choose 48 hours for the walking tours.

“I liked that the Hop on Hop off tour helped with moving around the city. We could explore a lot of stuff and don't feel rushed as long as we showed our ticket. The bus stops were easily marked so we knew where to wait for a bus and the audio was absolutely brilliant. I learned a lot about London in 2 days. I'm also happy about the London eye. While it was just one rotation it was good enough to get a lot of snaps. The river cruise was also great and the commentary was hilarious”

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Authentic Small Group Douro Wine Tour with Lunch & River Cruise - First tasting at a Douro quinta
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

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

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

Spend 9 to 10 hours exploring Portugal’s Douro Valley from Porto 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, cruise the river on a Rabelo-style boat, and stop at scenic viewpoints. Pickup is limited to Porto’s downtown area.

“Our tour guide Brahim was great! Very knowledgeable about Portuguese history and geography. The tour took 7-8 hours, including driving time, and had a stop in Amarante, tours of two wineries, lunch in Pinhao, and a one hour river cruise.”

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Istanbul: Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise Tour with Audio Guide - Eminönü to Dolmabahçe, Istanbul’s grand European shore
Audio Tours, Bosphorus Cruises, Istanbul River Cruises, River Cruises, River Cruises with Audio Guide, River Cruises with Audio Guide in Istanbul, River Sightseeing Cruises, Self-Guided Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Istanbul: Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise Tour with Audio Guide

12.Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise Tour with Audio Guide

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

Meet Sea Land Travel Agency beside Istanbul’s Eminönü pier for a two-hour Bosphorus cruise between Europe and Asia. You’ll pass Dolmabahçe Palace, Ortaköy Mosque, Rumeli Fortress, Beylerbeyi Palace, and Maiden’s Tower while enjoying unlimited Turkish tea and Nescafé. Bring headphones and a charged phone for the 11-language audio guide.

“Everything was perfect, the only thing is boarding the cruise can be more friendly for strollers and handicapped people. Rest all was amazing.”

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Berlin: 3.25-Hour Spree & Landwehrkanal Boat Tour - The Landwehr Canal turns sightseeing into a bridge lesson
Berlin River Cruises, Germany River Cruises, Rhine and Spree River Cruises, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours

Berlin: 3.25-Hour Spree & Landwehrkanal Boat Tour

13.3.25-Hour Spree & Landwehrkanal Boat Tour

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

Set out from Jannowitzbrücke near Alexanderplatz for a 195-minute cruise on 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, with food and drinks sold aboard.

“The tour was very interesting and insightful, and a great way to see Berlin from the water.”

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London Tootbus Hop on Hop off Bus Tour and Thames River Cruise - The blue route covers royal London, parks, and museums
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

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

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

Use a Tootbus pass to tour London by double-decker bus on three routes, then add a Thames sightseeing cruise. Expect recorded adult and children’s commentary, an app for live bus locations, and stops near Buckingham Palace, the Tower, St Paul’s, museums, and Covent Garden.

“Lots of buses, alway seats available. Audio was good, stops are in great locations. The two day option worked well for us.”

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Budapest: Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour & Danube River Cruise - Starting at József Attila Street
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

15.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 Budapest ticket to tour both sides of the Danube, then add a one-hour river cruise and English walking tour. See Parliament, Buda Castle, Heroes’ Square, Gellért Baths, and more. The bus has multilingual audio, seasonal heating and air-conditioning, and wheelchair access is advertised, though boarding may require care.

“The audio guide could not be understood as she spoke very very fast. It also continued when we arrived at a stop so we never new what stop you were at.”

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