Resplendent Rhine in Autumn: Düsseldorf to Amsterdam

Düsseldorf's Old Town is packed with more than 260 bars, restaurants, cafes, and breweries, adding to the atmosphere of this historic city. Tour the city firstly by coach with short stops at the Königsallee, a popular area of the city with a landscaped canal that runs through its centre, which is unusual for Germany, and the busy Media Harbour area.

Then travel to the Old Town where your guides will be on hand with tips on what to see as you enjoy some time at leisure. Perhaps discover the Burgplatz (square) with the Schlossturm (palace tower) which holds great charm or choose from one of the numerous cafes to sit back, relax and watch the world go by in this bustling city.

Walking Grade 3

Please note: This is a combined coach and walking tour. There is approximately 40 minutes of compulsory walking during the free time in Düsseldorf Old Town. Walking will be at your discretion but to make the most of your visit we recommend that you should expect to walk approximately 1650 yards over terrain which may be cobbled. There is a total walking/standing time of approximately two hours.

4½ hours

Depart your ship by coach for your first stop, the Airborne Museum. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to explore independently and get a closer look at different artillery types including the Sherman tank standing where it was left in battle.

Your next stop is the Airborne Cemetery, the final resting place of 1,748 allied troops which you’ll be able to explore yourself before returning to the ship. On the way back, you’ll pass by the location for Operation Market Garden which hosted the 2nd Battalion led by Lieutenant Colonel Frost in 1944.

Here, with commentary from your local guide, you’ll gain insight into this four-day tragic event which faced overwhelming odds and as a result, lost a lot of lives. Located at the north end is a monument honouring those who fought which you’ll spot as you continue to where the Allies took refuge in the old church in Oosterbeek.

Walking Grade 4

Please note: Walking at the Airborne Museum is at your discretion over flat ground as you explore independently. At the Airborne Cemetery, you should expect to walk approximately one mile over grass. Depending on your chosen walking amount during the museum visit you can expect this excursion to have total standing and/or walking time of approximately two hours. This excursion can also operate in reverse starting with the Airborne Cemetery visit and finishing with the Airborne Museum.

3½ hours

Relax in the comfort of your coach and admire the scenery as you journey through the lowlands north of Amsterdam, passing lakes and windmills and pastureland dotted with farmhouses. Your first stop is a visit to the Cheese Farm, where the various stages of cheesemaking will be explained, and you can sample some of the cheese. Return to the city centre of Amsterdam by coach. During the journey you’ll see some of the city’s sights, including the Concert Hall, Tropen Museum and Java Island.

After a short walk from your coach, you’ll embark a glass-topped boat for a tour along Amsterdam’s historic canals, once the hub of the city’s commercial life, and lined with houses that were originally workshops and stores. As you sail you can learn more about the city’s rich history and its connection to the waterways for which it is famous.

Walking Grade 2

Please note: Expect to walk approximately 550 yards in total over flat ground with the possibility of cobblestones. During this excursion there is a total standing and/or walking time of approximately 15 minutes. There is also a small number of steps to access the pontoon to board the canal cruise boat and several steps on and off the boat itself. This excursion may also run in reverse with the canal cruise before the Cheese Farm visit.

4 hours

Disembarking the ship, you’ll start the day by boarding the Land Train for a relaxing journey through the streets of Rüdesheim. After enjoying the passing vistas of this small wine town, get ready for a musical tour through Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Museum, home to the world's largest collection of immersive self-playing instruments.

Accompanied by a guide, you’ll be shown some of the most beautiful musical pieces spanning three centuries, from music boxes to concert piano orchestrions, all presented to you in a humorous and curious way. Finally, you will experience the "Admiral 2", dating back to 1910 and fully restored, it is now the largest instrument in the collection. Next, you’ll have the chance to sample three regional wines with a guided tasting before your return to the ship via the Land Train.

Walking Grade 2

Please note: Expect to walk approximately 250 yards in total over flat ground with a total standing and/or walking time of approximately 45 minutes.

2½ hours

Resting in the centre of Koblenz city, underneath the main building of the former Deinhard sparkling wine cellar, is the Koblenz Wine and Sparkling Wine Museum founded in 1969. After a refreshing walk from the ship, enjoy a guided tour where you can journey through the historical museum, stepping into the vaults to learn about how the local wine used to be made with the original equipment before being exported. Then, there’s time to look forward to a tasting of three Sekt wines, giving you more of a flavour of Deinhard before heading back to the port.

Walking Grade 3

Please note: Expect to walk approximately 800 yards in total over flat ground with a total standing and/or walking time of approximately one hour. Some steps are required inside the venue leading down to the vaults

1½ hours

Straight from the disembarkation of your ship, the tour begins as you join a knowledgeable guide on foot, to explore some of the town’s main attractions. One of the first sights you’ll see is the Beethoven monument, overlooking the city as a proud reminder of the iconic composer that was born here.

Next, you’ll pass the Romanesque Minster Cathedral and the University of Bonn, which was formerly the Elector’s Palace and the grand baroque City Hall. The tour then takes you to the banks of the Rhine near the Bonn Opera House to see the imposing view of Germany‘s oldest nature park, Siebengebirge, or Seven Hills in English. After enjoying the mountainous greenery, your tour comes to a close with a visit to the Beethoven House Museum. Here, you’ll learn more about the composer himself, along with his work and early life in this charming German city.

A Gentle Walker Group is also available on this tour.

Walking Grade 4

Please note: Expect to walk approximately one-and-a-half miles over mainly flat terrain with the possibility of cobblestones. The Beethoven House Museum, whilst compact, is split across several floors with some steep stairs in between. This tour has a total standing and/or walking time of approximately two-and-a-half hours.

2½ hours