Main
Germany
The Main flows west across Bavaria and Hesse before joining the Rhine at Frankfurt, and the Main-Danube Canal links it all the way to the Danube, making it a key connector for longer cross-Germany river cruises. Along the way it passes through Franconian wine country and a string of well-preserved medieval towns.
On its own, the Main rarely fills an entire itinerary; it's usually one leg of a longer cruise that continues onto the Rhine or, via the Main-Danube Canal, all the way to the Danube, making a Main sailing a good way to see Franconia's vineyards and half-timbered towns like Würzburg and Bamberg without adding extra days to a Rhine or Danube-focused trip.
Ports of Call
Frankfurt, Germany
Where the Main meets the Rhine, Frankfurt pairs a skyline of skyscrapers unusual for Germany with a rebuilt medieval old town, the Römerberg, and its status as the country's banking capital.
Würzburg, Germany
Capital of Franconian wine country, Würzburg is dominated by the Würzburg Residence, a UNESCO-listed Baroque palace, and the Alte Mainbrücke, a stone bridge lined with statues of saints and princes overlooking the vineyards above town.
Bamberg, Germany
A medieval city bisected by the River Regnitz, Bamberg is full of narrow, winding streets and Baroque houses. The town plays host to many well-known breweries and is, in fact, famous for its smoked beer. Bamberg's old town, its 11th-century cathedral, and a statue called the "Bamberg Reiter" (Bamberg Horseman) have been declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco.
Nuremberg, Germany
Reached via the Main-Danube Canal, Nuremberg blends a rebuilt medieval old town and Imperial Castle with its more sobering 20th-century history at the Nazi Party Rally Grounds and the Nuremberg Trials courtroom.
