Legends of the Rhine & Bavaria: Amsterdam to Vienna by Train & Bus (Self-Launched)
10 days · Rhine & Bavaria (Netherlands, Germany, Austria)
Crucemundo charges £1,745
No-markup version: ~£714 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Crucemundo's 10-day Rhine and Bavaria river cruise — same string of gorgeous riverside towns (Amsterdam, Cologne, Rüdesheim, Miltenberg, Würzburg, Bamberg, Nuremberg, Regensburg, Passau, Vienna), but done independently by train, bus and the odd regional boat. You swap a cabin on a 194-passenger ship for hostels and family-run guesthouses, guided group excursions for free walking tours and self-paced wanders, and cruise-ship breakfast-to-dinner meals for bakery breakfasts, beer-garden lunches and Franconian wine. The trade-off: you carry your own bag and book your own tickets (easy on Trainline / DB Navigator / ÖBB). The payoff: roughly 60% cheaper, and you get real time in each town rather than a three-hour shore window. All costs are approximate per person, based on backpacker/budget rates, excluding flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Amsterdam — canals and a welcome beer
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Land in Amsterdam and check into a hostel or budget hotel near Sloterdijk or the Jordaan fringe. Spend the afternoon doing the free stuff the cruise does on board: a wander along the canal ring (Herengracht, Keizersgracht), the Nine Streets and the Bloemenmarkt. Skip the pricey canal cruise in favour of the free Noordermarkt area and a cheap Indonesian or Surinamese dinner. If you want the welcome-drink vibe, grab a €3-4 beer at a brown café instead of a welcome cocktail on a ship deck.
🚌Schiphol to Centraal by NS train, ~€5.60, 17 mins; walk or GVB tram/day pass (~€9) in town
🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel, Amsterdam (e.g. ClinkNOORD / Stayokay or a Sloterdijk budget hotel)
- →Canal ring walk (Herengracht & Keizersgracht)
- →Nine Streets & Bloemenmarkt browse
- →Free evening walk through the Jordaan
Amsterdam → Cologne: Rhine scenery from the train window, then the cathedral
Cologne, Germany
Take an early ICE/IC train from Amsterdam Centraal to Cologne (approx. €40-60 booked ahead on Trainline or DB, 2h40). If you want the scenic Rhine stretch the cruise does, hop off at Koblenz and ride the regional RE/MRB along the left bank to Boppard or St. Goar — the castles-and-vineyards section — then continue to Cologne (add ~£10). In Cologne, do a free tip-based walking tour of the old town (GetYourGuide, ~£3 in tips), climb or just admire Cologne Cathedral (free entry to the nave; tower €6), and see the Rathausplatz and the Rhine promenade. Overnight in a hostel near the Hauptbahnhof.
🚌ICE Amsterdam–Cologne ~€40-60 booked ahead; optional scenic Rhine regional train Koblenz–Boppard ~€10
🛏Hostel (e.g. near Hauptbahnhof / Eigelstein, Cologne)
- →Scenic Rhine valley rail section (Koblenz–Boppard)
- →Free walking tour of Cologne old town (tip-based)
- →Cologne Cathedral (free nave; tower €6)
- →Rathausplatz and Rhine promenade
Cologne → Rüdesheim: Drosselgasse and Rhine wine
Rüdesheim am Rhein, Germany
Train south along the Rhine to Rüdesheim (change at Koblenz or Bingen, ~€25-30, 2-2.5 hrs). The historic centre is a five-minute walk from the station, so you get the same 'walking access' the cruise advertises — plus more time. Wander the Drosselgasse, take the cable car over the vineyards to the Niederwalddenkmal for the classic Rhine bend view (~€11 return), and do a wine tasting at a local Weingut or in a Drosselgasse cellar (~€12-18 for 4-5 pours). Sleep in Rüdesheim or hop one stop to Bingen for cheaper rooms.
🚌Regional train Cologne–Rüdesheim ~€25-30; cable car €11
🛏Guesthouse or backpacker-friendly pension in Rüdesheim/Bingen
- →Drosselgasse stroll
- →Niederwald cable car & viewpoint
- →Rhine wine tasting at a local Weingut
Rüdesheim → Miltenberg: half-timbered Bavaria
Miltenberg, Germany
A long-ish but easy rail day: Rüdesheim/Bingen to Miltenberg via Aschaffenburg or Würzburg (~€28-35, 3-3.5 hrs with changes). Miltenberg is the postcard stop of the cruise — timber-framed houses, the old market square and the 'Schnatterloch' fountain. It's tiny, so an afternoon covers the market square, the Mildenburg viewpoint and a beer by the Main. Buses are infrequent; walking is the whole point. Settle into a family-run Gasthof (ask for a single room).
🚌Regional trains via Aschaffenburg/Würzburg ~€28-35
🛏Gasthof / small guesthouse in Miltenberg old town
- →Miltenberg half-timbered old town & market square
- →Mildenburg castle viewpoint
- →Main riverside walk
Miltenberg → Würzburg: the Residenz and Franconian wine
Würzburg, Germany
Short hop on the regional train to Würzburg (€9-12, ~1 hr). Würzburg Residence is a UNESCO site and genuinely knockout — entry with the garden is €9, audioguide included. Join a free tip-based old-town walking tour (GetYourGuide, ~£3 tip) or DIY it: the Alte Mainbrücke for a sunset glass of Silvaner (locals buy a bottle and drink on the bridge), the Marienberg fortress above town (bus or 25-min uphill walk, fortress courtyard free), and the cathedral. Overnight in a hostel or budget hotel near the station.
🚌Regional train Miltenberg–Würzburg ~€10; city bus to Marienberg ~€3
🛏Hostel or budget hotel, Würzburg
- →Würzburg Residence (UNESCO) entry €9
- →Free walking tour of old town
- →Alte Mainbrücke wine at sunset
- →Marienberg Fortress viewpoint
Würzburg → Bamberg: smoked beer and cobbles
Bamberg, Germany
Regional train via Schweinfurt or a faster IC via Nuremberg to Bamberg (~€20-28, 1.5-2.5 hrs). Bamberg's Old Town is a UNESCO site and the medieval cobbled streets are best done on a free tip-based walking tour (~£3 tip) that covers the cathedral, the old town hall on the bridge and Klein-Venedig. Then do the optional the cruise charges for free-of-charge: a glass of rauchbier (smoked beer) at Schlenkerla or Spezial, ~€4.50. Sleep in a hostel or pension in the Altstadt.
🚌Regional/IC train Würzburg–Bamberg ~€20-28
🛏Hostel or pension in Bamberg Altstadt
- →Free walking tour of Bamberg Old Town
- →Bamberg Cathedral & old town hall on the bridge
- →Klein-Venedig riverside walk
- →Rauchbier tasting at Schlenkerla (~€4.50)
Bamberg → Nuremberg: castle, walls and the city centre
Nuremberg, Germany
Quick regional train to Nuremberg (€12-16, ~45-60 min). Morning in the historic centre: Hauptmarkt, St. Lorenz and the Heilig-Geist-Spital over the Pegnitz. In the afternoon walk up to Nuremberg Castle and the walled enclosure — the courtyard and Kaiserburg ramparts are a few euros (€7 combined ticket), the walk up through the streets is free. If time allows, the Documentation Centre Nazi Party Rally Grounds is free-to-cheap entry and worth a sober hour (€6). Stay in a hostel near the Altstadt or the station.
🚌Regional train Bamberg–Nuremberg ~€14; U-Bahn day ticket ~€5
🛏Hostel or budget hotel, Nuremberg
- →Nuremberg historic centre walk
- →Nuremberg Castle & city walls (€7 combo ticket)
- →Documentation Centre (optional, €6)
Nuremberg → Regensburg: Stone Bridge and squares
Regensburg, Germany
IC/RE train to Regensburg (~€20-25, 1-1.5 hrs). Regensburg's Altstadt is compact and free to roam: the Stone Bridge (Steinerne Brücke), Regensburg Cathedral (free entry, small fee for the tower), the old town squares and the Roman Porta Praetoria. A tip-based walking tour (~£3) is a good way to get the history without the cruise commentary. Eat a Regensburger sausage at the Historische Wurstkuchl by the bridge (~€6). Overnight in a hostel or pension near the station.
🚌IC/RE train Nuremberg–Regensburg ~€20-25
🛏Hostel or pension, Regensburg
- →Stone Bridge & Historische Wurstkuchl
- →Regensburg Cathedral
- →Free walking tour of the old town squares
- →Porta Praetoria Roman gate
Regensburg → Passau: Italian-style streets on the Danube
Passau, Germany
Train to Passau (~€16-22, 1.5 hrs). Passau feels like the cruise's most charming stop and it rewards slow wandering: the Italianate old town lanes, St. Stephen's Cathedral (free entry; the world's largest cathedral organ — check for a midday organ concert, ~€7), and the confluence viewpoint at Dreiflüsse-Eck where the Inn, Ilz and Danube meet. Climb to Veste Oberhaus if you want the panorama (€6). Sleep in a cheap guesthouse or hostel near the old town.
🚌Regional train Regensburg–Passau ~€18
🛏Guesthouse or hostel, Passau old town
- →Passau old town lanes
- →St. Stephen's Cathedral & organ concert (~€7)
- →Dreiflüsse-Eck confluence viewpoint
- →Veste Oberhaus (optional €6)
Passau → Vienna: finish in the imperial city
Vienna, Austria
Rail to Vienna via Linz (ÖBB Railjet or Westbahn, ~€25-40 booked ahead, 3-3.5 hrs). Drop your bag at a hostel or budget hotel near Westbahnhof or Hauptbahnhof, then do the free loop: Stephansdom, the Graben, Hofburg exterior, the MuseumsQuartier courtyard and the Rathaus square. Finish with a €3.50 Würstel and a Melange at a café — your own version of the cruise's farewell breakfast. Extend in Vienna a night or two if you want, or fly/train home the next morning.
🚌Railjet/Westbahn Passau–Vienna ~€25-40 booked ahead; Vienna U-Bahn day ticket €5.80
🛏Hostel or budget hotel, Vienna (Westbahnhof / Hauptbahnhof area)
- →Stephansdom & Graben walk
- →Hofburg & MuseumsQuartier exterior
- →Rathaus square
- →Coffee house stop
Self-launched vs. Crucemundo
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Crucemundo | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£714 | £1,745 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,031 per person (59%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Crucemundo-style trips? Check them out here.~£714
estimated per person
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Legends of the Rhine & Bavaria: Amsterdam to Vienna by Train & Bus (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £714 per person for 10 days in Rhine & Bavaria (Netherlands, Germany, Austria). This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Crucemundo?+
Yes — Crucemundo charges around £1,745 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £714 — a saving of roughly £1,031 (59%) per person.
How long is the Rhine & Bavaria (Netherlands, Germany, Austria) trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 day-by-day stops through Rhine & Bavaria (Netherlands, Germany, Austria).
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, budget, slow-travel trip through Rhine & Bavaria (Netherlands, Germany, Austria), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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