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Barges, for those who don't know, are flat-bottomed, slow-travel vessels that come in all shapes and sizes, typically hosting between six to 12 passengers. And barge cruising just got a lot cooler, as the newest barges on Europe's canals mimic cozy boutique hotel suites, featuring comfy contemporary design, bright sunlit rooms and even hot tubs. In this gallery, we take you on a slow journey to some of Europe's finest cruise destinations.
This canal-meets-river boasts a winning combination of scenic countryside, canalside pubs, feats of engineering, and elegant architecture. Moor at The Barge Inn and cycle up to Avebury stone circle. Bath is an obvious highlight, but don’t miss Bradford-on-Avon, a picture postcard gem of a town.
Colmar was apparently the inspiration for the village in the Disney film 'Beauty and the Beast' (1991), and it’s not hard to see why. No matter how much time you have, La Petite Venise ("Little Venice") is an absolute must-see. This stretch of half-timbered buildings along the canal is certainly one of the most alluring, where you’ll glide under the willows and pass the city’s timber-framed houses on a wooden boat powered by a silent motor.
In Bruges, the Rozenhoedkaai (“Quay of the Rosary”) conceals tales of centuries gone by and reflects the city’s rich heritage and mystery. Indeed, the city’s history dates back to the medieval period, when Bruges was a bustling trading hub.
In the tiny Dutch village of Giethoorn, the tranquility is almost dreamlike, with locals and visitors alike navigating by bike, boat, barge, or on foot. In this hamlet of small peat islands connected by bridges, there's not much to do except slip into solitude among thatched-roof farmhouses and footbridges crossing the maze of canals.
Powys is a dream trip if you want to immerse yourself in nature. The canal is almost entirely in the Brecon Beacons national park, with beautiful views of the mountains. This is also a designated dark sky reserve. As the canal drops into the Usk Valley, there are wild swimming spots to enjoy. To make this trip even more peaceful, it’s possible to rent an electric boat.
Nyhavn ("New Harbour") is a 17th-century waterfront, canal, and entertainment district in Copenhagen, Denmark. Stretching from Kongens Nytorv to the Inner Harbour just south of the Royal Playhouse, it is lined by brightly colored 17th- and early 18th-century townhouses and bars, cafés, and restaurants. The canal harbors many historical wooden ships.
The only barge cruise in Italy between Venice and Mantua runs through diverse landscapes and natural habitats, from the bustling waterfront of Venice through picturesque lagoon islands to wild beach dunes and pine woods with an abundance of bird life.
The Göta Canal is an essential part of the municipality of Töreboda, attracting many visitors every year, both afloat and ashore. The Göta Canal’s beautiful natural setting offers many places for excellent day trips.
From 13th-century structures to medieval fortifications, from iron bridges to a Carthusian monastery, the historic sights of Seville are not to be missed. But for a truly special perspective on the city's must-see sights, the Guadalquivir River cruise is where you can see the city's landmarks while coasting down the river.
Milan’s Navigli neighborhood is famed for the Naviglio Grande and Naviglio Pavese canals. With its great bars and boutiques, the Navigli is one a favorite area in Milan. Not to mention one of the most historic: the neighborhood dates all the way back to 1179, when the waterways were constructed to connect Milan to the nearby lakes.
Started in Dublin in 1790 and completed some 27 years later in 1817, the Royal Canal's primary purpose was to ferry freight and passenger transport from the River Liffey to the Upper Shannon in County Longford. After a 50-year closure, the picturesque Royal Canal reopened in 2010.
The region of Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Vorpommen stretching between Germany’s capital city Berlin and the Baltic Sea is crying out to be explored by boat. Renting a narrow canal boat or motor yacht, you can take your time exploring the lakes, the historic towns such as Potsdam and Furstenberg along the way, mooring alongside lake shores for a coffee, or simply sail in and out of canals and rivers, finding quiet spots to moor and read a book.
The Caledonian Canal connects the Scottish east coast at Inverness with the west coast at Corpach near Fort William in Scotland. Tracing a fault line that splits the region in two, Scotland’s Caledonian Canal passes whiskey distilleries and the exposed dome of Ben Nevis, but it’s still barely known in the barge-cruising world. Only one third of the entire length is man-made, the rest being formed by Loch Dochfour, Loch Ness, Loch Oich, and Loch Lochy.
Located along the Baltic coastline, Gdańsk has some major waterways. Architectural styles were adopted in a similar fashion from Amsterdam to Copenhagen, featuring beautiful red brick buildings as well as colorful gilded houses lining the Gdańsk waterfront. While you won’t find charming gondolas or paddle boats to explore the river or canals, there are river barge cruises along the Motława River.
Discover Paris along the Saint-Martin canal via a series of locks and swing bridges through the Bastille underground vault, cross the nine different locks that will lead you to the Bassin de la Villette, the Arsenal Marina, or along the Notre-Dame Cathedral and the fabulous Orsay Museum.
Lancaster Canal is a lock-free cruise with views of the Silverdale coast and the Forest of Bowland, and overlooked by the foothills of the Pennines. At Hest Bank it’s a few hundred yards to the beach, where you’ll be looking across to Morecambe Bay. Take a tour of the nearly 1,000-year-old castle in Lancaster, where in 1612 some 10 people were convicted of witchcraft; in the 19th century, it held England’s largest debtors imprisoned.
Most of Amsterdam’s world-renowned canals are flanked on either side by over 2,500 houseboats. This unique accommodation became popular after World War II due to an abundance of damaged houses.
The 330-year-old Canal du Midi running through Toulouse is one of France’s best-known waterways, considered one of the greatest construction feats of the 17th century. Today it is famous throughout the world and has achieved UNESCO World Heritage status.
Ghent has a massive ring canal without bridges or locks to navigate. As you turn up the Leie River that snakes charmingly into the middle of this vibrant city, the weekend atmosphere is very much Belgique en fête weekenders, students, and a sprinkling of foreign tourists.
