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Rivers and Lakes Cruises by Train from London — 7 days

7 days · From London · Round trip

Luxembourg City
Luxembourg City

Photo by @manu

Heidelberg
Heidelberg

Photo by @jahanzeb-ahsan

Zürich
Zürich

Photo by @aho

Small dots mark connecting stations. Map lines connect the stops, rather than the exact railway.

Your journey, at a glance

Luxembourg City → Heidelberg → Zürich → Linz → Dresden → Mainz → London

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Places along the way

A starting point for your own journey.

London

Your starting point

Journey details
Arriving in London

Day 1 · Brussels

Along the way

Journey details
Arriving in Brussels
Luxembourg City

Photo by @manu

1 day Explore

Luxembourg City

Luxembourg

  • Bock Casemates

    UNESCO-listed underground fortification tunnels carved into the cliff with panoramic views

  • Old Town (Ville Haute)

    Grand Ducal Palace, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and elegant squares on the promontory

UNESCOhistoryarchitecture

More about Luxembourg City

Luxembourg City is a fascinating small capital dramatically set on a promontory above deep river gorges. Luxembourg Gare Centrale connects to Brussels (3h), Paris (2h10 by TGV), Metz (50 min), Trier (50 min), and Koblenz. Remarkably, all public transport in Luxembourg — including trains within the country — is completely free.

Find places to stay in Luxembourg CityOpen accommodation map ↗
Arriving in Luxembourg City

Day 2 · Koblenz

Along the way

Journey details
Arriving in Koblenz
Heidelberg

Photo by @jahanzeb-ahsan

2 day Explore

Heidelberg

Germany

Find places to stay in HeidelbergOpen accommodation map ↗
Arriving in Heidelberg

Day 3 · Heilbronn

Along the way

Journey details
Arriving in Heilbronn

Day 3 · Stuttgart

Along the way

Journey details
Arriving in Stuttgart
Zürich

Photo by @aho

3 day Explore

Zürich

Switzerland

  • Zürich Hauptbahnhof (HB)

    Magnificent 19th-century station and hub of Switzerland's famed rail network

  • Old Town (Altstadt)

    Medieval quarter with guild houses, churches, and riverside cafés along the Limmat

financeculturemuseums

More about Zürich

Zürich, Switzerland's largest city, is a refined metropolis where medieval charm meets contemporary sophistication. Zürich Hauptbahnhof (HB), one of Europe's busiest railway stations, is the beating heart of Switzerland's legendary rail network. From here, SBB trains fan out across the country with clockwork precision—reaching Bern in under an hour, Lucerne in 45 minutes, and connecting to scenic routes like the Glacier Express and Bernina Express.

Find places to stay in ZürichOpen accommodation map ↗
Arriving in Zürich

Linz

Austria

  • Ars Electronica Centre

    Pioneering museum of future technology, AI, and digital art with interactive exhibits

  • Lentos Kunstmuseum

    Modern art museum glowing on the Danube riverbank with Klimt and Schiele works

technologyartculture

More about Linz

Linz, Austria's third-largest city and capital of Upper Austria, straddles the Danube between Vienna and Salzburg. Linz Hauptbahnhof is a key stop on the Vienna–Salzburg corridor, with Railjet trains reaching Vienna (1h15) and Salzburg (1h10) frequently. Connections run south to Graz and north to Prague and Passau.

Find places to stay in LinzOpen accommodation map ↗
Arriving in Linz

Day 5 · Prague

Along the way

Journey details
Arriving in Prague
Dresden

Photo by @andre-beer

5 day Explore

Dresden

Germany

  • Frauenkirche

    Magnificently rebuilt baroque church symbolizing reconciliation and Dresden's rebirth

  • Zwinger & Old Masters Gallery

    Baroque palace complex housing Raphael's Sistine Madonna and world-class art

baroqueartmusic

More about Dresden

Dresden, Saxony's capital, has earned its reputation as 'Florence on the Elbe' through its extraordinary baroque architecture, world-class art collections, and dramatic riverside setting. Dresden Hauptbahnhof and Dresden-Neustadt connect via ICE to Berlin (2h), Leipzig (1h10), Prague (2h10), Frankfurt (4h30), and Munich (4h30). The scenic Elbe Valley line to Prague is one of Germany's most beautiful rail journeys.

Find places to stay in DresdenOpen accommodation map ↗
Arriving in Dresden

Day 7 · Cologne

Along the way

Journey details
Arriving in Cologne

Day 7 · Brussels

Along the way

Journey details
Arriving in Brussels

Day 7 · London

Journey’s end

Journey details
Arriving in London

Tickets for your journey

Choose a section to search. Add your dates and travellers to compare fares, changes and booking conditions.

JourneySamTrainlineOmio
London BrusselsSearch—Search ↗
Brussels Luxembourg CitySearch—Search ↗
Luxembourg City KoblenzSearch—Search ↗
Koblenz HeidelbergSearchSearch ↗Search ↗
Heidelberg HeilbronnSearchSearch ↗—
Heilbronn StuttgartSearchSearch ↗—
Stuttgart ZürichSearchSearch ↗Search ↗
Zürich LinzSearchSearch ↗Search ↗
Linz PragueSearch—Search ↗
Prague DresdenSearch—Search ↗
Dresden MainzSearchSearch ↗Search ↗
Mainz CologneSearch—Search ↗
Cologne BrusselsSearch—Search ↗
Brussels LondonSearch—Search ↗

Links use each city’s main station where matched. Check the stations and any connections before booking. Unmatched sections are omitted; these are route searches, not confirmed direct trains. Partner links may earn us a commission.

Before you book: stations, trains and food

How a rail pass fits this trip

This outline has 7 days with travel or an excursion: day 1, day 2, day 3, day 4, day 5, day 6, day 7. That is a planning count, not a confirmed number of pass days. Optional excursions, uncovered transport and night-train departure times can change it.

A pass travel day can cover several participating trains. Compare the pass plus reservation fees with individual tickets for the dates you actually travel.

When to compare a Global Pass

A multi-country route is a useful starting point for comparing an Interrail or Eurail Global Pass. Check participating operators and your country of residence; Interrail’s home-country use is limited to an outbound and an inbound journey.

When individual tickets can help

Price the shorter hops separately. A cheap ticket can let you save a flexible pass day for a longer journey. Compare Sam’s tickets with Trainline and Omio, including their fees and refund conditions.

Pass guidance checked 19 October 2026. Travel-day rules · Reservation guidance

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