Whether the mercury is rising and you feel the need to cool off near the water, or you’re looking for an out-of-season adventure, here’s a guide to some of Europe’s most tempting rivers and waterways.
1. The Soča Valley, Slovenia
The Soča River runs emerald for its entire length thanks to its glacial run off from the Julian Alps. Following the river along its winding path as alpine peaks and rock faces soar above, or seeing it curling below from pretty plateau pastures make for a glorious holiday. Locals use some of the shallow shingles as beaches but you can also overfly them by paragliding. There are gorges to explore at Tolmin, and the entrance to a cave system said to be the inspiration for Dante’s descent into the inferno of hell. There’s no hellish inferno here though, just lush greenery and moss covered rocks. Don’t miss the 15-metre-high Kozjak waterfall too. History lovers will find fascination in the region’s war torn past, marked by poignantly beautiful memorials along the valley.
2. The Garonne, Toulouse, France
The Garonne winds wide through the Ville Rose, a moniker that refers to the city’s glowing terracotta bricks and rooftops. On hot summer days, students and sunseekers in France’s fourth largest city stretch out along the river banks on both sides from the popular Place St Pierre to the tranquil Prairie des Filtres. But did you know you can canoe or kayak in the heart of the city? Head south to the green and airy park and gardens of the so-called Ile du Ramier, which is actually a collection of islands between two branches of the river. There you’ll find Canoe Kayak Toulousain. There is also interesting industrial heritage to explore, and the Alfred Nakache swimming pool, a historic listed building since 1993.
3. The Norfolk Broads, UK
A system of seven navigable rivers and 63 lakes formed by flooding medieval peat workings, the Norfolk Broads are situated in the east of England. The area once was an important trading centre, taking fuel to the region’s growing towns, but became a boating holiday destination in the 1800s and today it is to all intents and purposes a national park, enjoying the same protections. Visitors will be astonished by the almost Dutch landscape of low slung land and windmills, and enjoy the sight of traditional Norfolk “wherry” cargo boats with their distinctive single high-peaked sails. And if you want to get out on the water you won’t have to worry about navigating any locks, since the Broads are lock-free.
4. The Tagus, Portugal
The longest river in the Iberian Peninsula, the Tagus or Tajo (in Spanish) or Tejo (in Portuguese) rises in Spanish Aragon and flows mostly westward over 1007 km to the Atlantic at Lisbon. On the way, it passes through some iconic Spanish and Portuguese cities: Aranjuez, Toledo, and Talavera de la Reina in Spain; and Abrantes, Santarém, and Lisbon in Portugal.
Santarém is the one I want to draw your attention to. The mighty river sweeps past in a giant meander below this history-filled gem perched on a five-fingered rocky plateau. Filled with Gothic churches of breathtaking variety and boasting an exciting food scene led by some of Portugal’s most exciting chefs, Santarém is well worth a visit. The best place to view the river is the Jardim das Portas do Sol park at sunset. Alternatively, arrange a private tour of the home of a former Portuguese Prime Minister, the Casa-Museu Passos Canavarro, which offers a spectacular vista from its lounge. There are plenty of fantastic wineries to visit in the area, taking their goodness from the silty river banks.
5. The Danube, Romania
Surely one of the most romantic rivers on the continent, the Danube is Europe’s second longest, flowing 2,730 km from the Black Forest to the Black Sea and once marking the edge of the Roman Empire. Cruising the Danube could take you to stunning European cities: Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, and Belgrade to name a few. But focusing on its river delta in Romania, you’ll find a protected Unesco biosphere that is one of the most extraordinary wilderness wetlands on the planet – a bird lover’s paradise, where pelicans stalk and flap by and hidden villages only reachable by water await. Try a delta cruise or, for a more peaceful exploration at your own pace, a canoe holiday.
6. The Semois, Belgium
The south of Belgium, known as the Ardennes, is a surprisingly unpopulated and rural escape, difficult to cross due to its steep limestone escarpments and plunging river valleys, carpeted in dense forests where maquis resistance camps once hid from Nazi soldiers. Following the course of the Semois (which becomes the Semoy once it reaches France), you’ll find peaceful campsites on small islands, such as Ile de Fanieul and spectacular vistas across ox-bow meanders from pleasant towns such as Rochehaut. The river is swimmable in many places, as well as offering kayaking pursuits when the water level is high enough. Try the area around Bohan, near the French border, a mostly 18th and 19th century town, where an array of kayak companies will pick you up and drop you off at the banks. You’ll pass picturesque old tobacco fields and drying shacks, and bridges blown up in the war.
7. The Mira, Portugal
Back in Portugal again, because, well it’s worth it. The delightful coastal town of Vila Nova de Milfontes, south of Lisbon, sits on the mouth of the Mira. Only 145 kilometres long, the Mira is one of the shorter rivers in this curation, but it is no less beautiful than the others, and here, at Vila Nova de Milfontes you can walk the Atlantic coast, watching the waves crash into rugged rocks, then swim from sandy beaches in supervised areas in the river mouth near the town, which is small enough to feel intimate while offering a variety of good eateries.
8. The Rhine, various
It would be rude not to include a Rhine cruise in this list. Enabling you to tick off more than one European country, the Rhine begins at Tomasee lake in Switzerland, and passes through Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands. It is the border between Switzerland and Liechtenstein and also the border between Germany and France, as well as Switzerland and Austria. You’ll be spoilt for choice for options taking you to cities from Amsterdam to Strasbourg to Cologne, dozens of awe-inspiring fortresses, such as the impressive Rheinstein Castle, and small village vineyards where white wine is the order of the day.
9. The Ume, Sweden
When you think of kayaking in Sweden, the Stockholm archipelago might be the first thing to come to mind, but venture further northeast to the university town of Umeå (pronounced Umeo), the capital of Vasterbotten county (which shares its name with a delicious cheese), and you’ll find the Ume river ripe for the taking. You can hire a kayak from various outlets in this surprising cultural hub.
I recommend kayaking northward along the waterway. For a flavour of the Swedish “right to roam in nature”, stop at an island along the way and spot the firepits and wild camp opportunities. For people of average fitness, it’s possible to reach an old hydropower station and turn back to the city in one day. If being on the water is not your thing, enjoy the view from the stunning wood-clad University art museum in the city centre instead.
10. The Mincio, Italy
Any list of beautiful waterways in Europe would not be complete without a mention of the Italian lakes. But if you head towards Lake Garda and fancy something other than gazing at its Instagrammable vistas, you could try the River Mincio cycling route, a 42-km trail that could start with bike hire at Peschiera. Shaded by cypresses and poplars and dropping in on picturesque fortified villages such as Valeggio sul Mincio and the old watermills and bridges of Borghetto, the entire route to the Renaissance town of Mantova, is rated easy, with just a 70 m climb and a 120 m descent.
