Top Europe On the Water

Experience the breathtaking beauty of Portugal's stunning coastline on this 2.5-hour Benagil Cave kayak tour. Your paddleboarding journey begins at Carvalho Beach, which is tucked away in a hidden oasis protected by limestone cliffs and only accessible through an enchanting tunnel. Guides will lead you around gorgeous caves, altars, and natural formations while keeping everyone safe along with any fun that comes your way.

The Bay of Kotor—also called Boka—offers up islets, caves, and more. This boat tour lets you experience its highlights more easily and scenically than traveling by hire car or public transport. Prebook to secure your seat, and visit the Our Lady on the Rocks island church, a Soviet-era submarine base, and the Blue Grotto, to swim in its neon-blue waters. A choice of departures provides important flexibility.

If you’ve spent enough time lying on Lagos’ beautiful beaches, get out and explore the coastline on a kayak tour of Ponta da Piedade from Lagos Marina. Get closer to the caves, cliffs, and grottoes of the Algarve coastline than you could in a larger boat. Plus, enjoy time to swim, relax, or use the onboard slide to dive into the sea and keep your eyes peeled for local wildlife such as dolphins.

View Budapest’s floodlit landmarks by boat on a Danube River evening cruise. Settle on the glass-enclosed vessel, and admire the cityscapes as you cruise by the UNESCO-listed riverbanks, glass in hand. Admire the Hungarian Parliament and Buda Castle district twinkling with lights, and sail under the illuminated Chain Bridge and other bridges. Your choice of Champagne, wine, beer, soda, or mineral water, Wi-Fi, and commentary included.

Give your feet a break and take in the sights of Capri from the sea. After choosing a departure time that works with your schedule, climb on board the boat and let the adventure begin. Over 1–2 hours, see the Villa Malaparte, pass the famed Faraglioni Rocks, and, weather permitting, head inside the Blue Grotto (own expense). Listen as the skipper gives background information on each point of interest, giving you a deeper understanding of the island.

Look for pods of dolphins around the coast of Albufeira, where marine life and caves abound. Aboard a semi-rigid inflatable boat, you will have access to isolated coastal areas that are difficult to reach by larger boats or by land. A stop for a swim is included, along with a visit to the famous Benagil Cave, provided the sea is calm.

Bask in the sun and sea of Madeira, one of the world’s tallest oceanside cliffs, on this catamaran excursion from the Funchal Marina. After boarding, find a nice spot on the deck or one of the four trampoline nets for spotting whales and dolphins. Your crew highlights landmarks and wildlife plus you have a choice of a morning or afternoon departure time.

Skip your usual land-lubber evening drink with this River Seine sunset cruise with an aperitif. Meet near Pont Neuf just before sunset and hop aboard a river boat with a terrace—take a seat and cruise past Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, and the Eiffel Tower with a glass of organic wine, local beer, or champagne, accompanied by background music for a relaxed atmosphere.

Search for whales and dolphins along the southern coast of the Azores on this wildlife watching trip from Ponta Delgada. Traveling in a nimble, open boat with an experienced captain, you’ll have the best chance of spotting the bottlenose dolphins, sperm whales, sei whales, bearded whales, and blue whales that flock to the islands. This whale and dolphin tour is a fun, family-friendly way to see the coast, and both morning and afternoon departures are available.

View Dubrovnik from the sea and learn how to kayak on this half-day tour. Accompanied by a guide, paddle around the offshore island of Lokrum and hear stories about Dubrovnik’s history. Visit Betina Cave and pause for leisurely swimming and snorkeling with provided equipment. Opt to go cliff diving and take a break for snacks.

Get acquainted with Denmark’s capital from the water on a 1-hour Copenhagen boat tour. Glide along the city’s picturesque canals and soak up stellar views of top Copenhagen attractions. Pass landmarks such as the Amalienborg Palace, the Little Mermaid Statue, and the Copenhagen Opera House, and drift past colorful townhouses, cobbled lanes, and houseboats in the Christianshavn neighborhood. An easy way to see a lot in a short time.

Paddle around historic Dubrovnik in the company of a kayaking guide, and discover views of the city many other visitors miss, on this active and immersive tour. View the Old Town as you cross the Adriatic Sea to the island of Lokrum, then stop at Betina Cave for some snorkeling. No prior experience is necessary, and the use of all kayaking and snorkeling equipment is included.

Discover the highlights and hidden gems of Vis and the Pakleni Islands on this full-day speedboat tour from Hvar. Benefit from the personalized insights of your small-group skipper as you soak up coastal views, then tick off Adriatic must-sees Blue Cave and Green Cave before taking time to swim, snorkel and sunbathe on amazing beaches of Budikovac, Stiniva and Palmizana.

The Benagil caves are not to be missed when visiting the Algarve. This unique seaside cave is a popular spot for photos because of the hole in its roof as well as its expansiveness. Depart Lagos on a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) and sail past Alvor, Portimao, and Carvoeiro on your way to the caves, while you admire the Portuguese coastline.

Get an intimate look at the stunning Amalfi Coast on this day cruise from Positano. Led by an expert skipper, glide past the Emerald Grotto sea cave in Conca dei Marini (entry additional expense), marveling at the UNESCO-listed seashore as you go. Hop off the boat for a dip at your leisure, or sunbathe and relax on board. Numbers are limited to 12 people on this small-group tour to ensure a more personal experience.

The City of Light is magical by night. Experience it from the serenity of a planet-kind electric boat when you book this evening cruise, with music to set the mood. See icons like the Eiffel Tower and Notre-Dame Cathedral from the water, and admire the Louvre’s pyramid lit up for the night. Your voyage includes a downloadable audio guide: Upgrade to add a drinks package, featuring either wine or Champagne.

The gorgeous coastline of Costa Brava is best experienced from the water. This swimmer's only tour is the perfect way to discover the crystal-clear Mediterranean Sea while kayaking to coves and small caves, and snorkeling for a better glimpse of marine life. This day trip takes you by coach from central Barcelona to a picturesque beach, where kayak guides share their expertise. A deli-style lunch and all gear are provided, so there’s nothing to do but relax.

Iconic Paris landmarks including Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Eiffel Tower line the Seine River, but trying to see them all takes time—and leads to sore feet. Admire the city’s world-famous monuments while resting your legs during this one-hour Bateaux Parisiens river cruise. Ride during the day, or choose an evening departure time to float through the enchanting city at night.

Take in the top waterfront sights in Berlin's historic and new areas without getting footsore on this 1-hour river cruise along the Spree River. Set off on open-top, glass-sided boats that offer unobstructed views and admire landmarks like the Berlin Cathedral and the Reichstag while learning about the city's history and cityscape from on-board guides. Take advantage of the bar (extra charge) to sip a beer or coffee while cruising and enjoy the unique perspective from the water.

Visit Benagil Cave the fun way — by kayak — and leave the tourist boats behind. You’ll follow the scenic route from Marinha Beach to the wind-carved Benagil Cave, enjoying stops to swim at secluded coves along the way. The small-group kayak experience is led by a local guide, meaning assistance on the water is always close by.

Glide through Amsterdam’s canals in style and comfort aboard a 100% electric luxury boat. Enjoy a relaxed cruise past top landmarks such as the Anne Frank House and the Jordaan district, while your live guide and skipper share stories about the city’s history and culture and pour you drinks from the onboard bar (if option selected). In summer, cruise on an open boat and take in the views with a drink from the onboard bar. On colder or rainy days, stay warm and comfortable on a covered saloon boat, with blankets provided.

Head out to see some of the prettiest islands, caves, and beaches in the Adriatic with this small-group speedboat tour from Split. Suitable for participants who do not know how to swim, you'll visit the famous Bisevo Cave, AKA Blue Cave, stop for swims at beautiful beaches, and have time left over to check out the stylish island of Hvar, all in just one day.

Float down the River Liffey in the heart of Dublin with this scenic cruise. Learn about Irish history from a local guide, covering topics from the Vikings to recent political history. See city landmarks including the Ha’penny Bridge and the Custom House from a new perspective and check out the recent redevelopment of Dublin’s Docklands neighborhood.