Cologne to Cologne
4 night Mini Cruise Main and Loreley Rhine Cruise

Cologne starts you off in one of the country's most iconic cities where old and new rub along side by side and the huge cathedral dominates the skyline. As you journey along the river, you'll find yourself delving deep into its famous wine regions. Charming Rudesheim and sophisticated Mainz are the ideal places to sample a chilled glass of local Riesling or Silvaner wines while soaking up the superb scenery of this area. And talking of great views, you'll find none more so than the Lorelei Valley. As the Rhine twists through beautiful countryside, vineyards, skirting pretty towns with gothic spires and ruined castles atop rolling hills, you'll see the river at its very best.

DAY 1 : COLOGNE (Embarkation)

Cologne, the old Cathedral city, is also one of the most important traffic hubs and commercial centres in Germany, with world famous trade fairs and a busy shipping traffic. Cologne developed out of a Roman colony and looks back on a history of more than 2000 years. In the Middle Ages it was one of the leading towns in Germany. The Second World War destroyed most of the inner city; these parts were rebuilt in a modern style. The landmark and emblem of the city is the Cathedral, a masterpiece of High Gothic architecture and one of the largest cathedrals in Europe. Other tourist attractions are the town hall, the Malakoff Tower, the St Martin Church and the old abbey.

DAY 2: RUDESHEIM

Rüdesheim, an ancient little town, stretches along the Rhine under the hills of the Niederwald. The best vineyards are traditionally said to have been planted with Traminer vines by Charlemagne. The excellent local wines and the charming and varied scenery have enabled Rüdesheim to develop since the end of the 19th century into one of the busiest tourist and holiday centres on the Middle Rhine, with a host of friendly restaurants and wine taverns, particularly along the famous Drosselgasse. Rüdesheim has two castles – the Oberburg and the Vorderburg – both were built in the 12th century.

DAY 3: FRANKFURT

Frankfurt, a central German city on the river Main, is a major financial hub that's home to the European Central Bank. It's the birthplace of famed writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, whose former home is now the Goethe House Museum. Like much of the city, it was damaged during World War II and later rebuilt. The reconstructed Altstadt (Old Town) is the site of Romerberg, a square that hosts an annual Christmas market.

DAY 4: MORNING CRUISE PAST THE LORELEY

Scenic cruising along the castles and vineyards of the Middle Rhine. The Lorelei Valley is Rhine river scenery at its most romantic, so this morning's sailing is sure to be one of the highlights of your cruise. We recommend letting one of our waiters bring you a coffee as you sit on the Sun Deck of your elegant A-ROSA ship and let the views unfurl in front of your eyes. And what views they are. Each gentle bend in the river delivers something new to admire, steeply-terraced vineyards plunging down towards the river, picture-perfect villages replete with half-timbered houses and Gothic church steeples, fairy tale castles perched on hilltops, rugged cliffs and lush green forests. Gliding quietly through the Lorelei Valley is river cruising exactly as you imagined it.

KOBLENZ

Where the mighty Rhine meets the Moselle, Koblenz is the perfect jumping off point for exploring the gorgeous scenic surrounds and rich history of the UNESCO-listed Upper Middle Rhine Valley. Its strategic location has made it the focus of battles over the centuries, with 2,000 years of glorious and bloody history under its belt. The site of an early commandery for the Teutonic Order, sailing past its iconic headland, Deutsches Eck (German Corner) and famous Kaiser Wilhelm statue on your A-Rosa river cruise ship will be one of the unforgettable highlights of this trip.
Now a park and flower-filled city set in this beautiful river valley, we recommend taking in the Baroque town hall, colourful Altstadt and impressive hilltop Ehrenbreitstein Fortress before hitting some of the twisting countryside paths that line the rivers edge delivering stunning vistas and magnificent castles. A trip over the Rhine via cable car is a must too. The birds eye view from this 900-metre journey across the river banks and the surrounding scenery is best from Car 17, complete with a glass floor.

DAY 5: COLOGNE (Disembarkation)

Your cruise comes to an end this morning as you disembark in Cologne after breakfast.