Enchanting Rhine and Yuletide Markets River Cruise

Cologne, the Rhineland's largest city and Germany's fourth-largest, dates back to 38 B.C., when the Romans first started to settle in the area. By 50 A.D., "Colonia" was a major city, which would later become one of the most important trade and production centres in the Roman Empire. Significant Roman ruins can still be found in Cologne today, especially near the city's wharf area, in addition to 12 Romanesque churches.

Cologne's location on the river Rhine placed it at the intersection of the major trade routes between east and west, which was the basis for its continued growth through the Middle Ages. Construction of the famous Kölner Dom, the city's Gothic cathedral, started in 1248, consolidating its position as a place of great religious significance, as well as a trade hub (despite the fact that work stopped on the cathedral in 1473, leaving it unfinished until the 19th century).

Today, Cologne is the cultural heart of the Rhineland, with a vibrant arts scene, celebrated opera house, more than 30 museums and hundreds of galleries. The city has spread to both sides of the Rhine River, with the cathedral and Altstadt (Old Town) both located on the left bank. The cathedral is the largest Gothic church in Northern Europe and became a poignant symbol of the city's survival of the Allied aerial bombing during World War II. While some 95 percent of the city centre was destroyed during the war, much of its medieval heart and churches were rebuilt according to original plans. Because of this, Cologne retains an authentic feel, with attractive open squares, pretty beer gardens and cosy wine taverns lining narrow, cobbled streets and the attractive riverfront.

Cologne is celebrated for its locally brewed beer, called Kölsch, with about 30 traditional brewing houses creating their own versions and selling them on-site in lively beer gardens and cellars. (Kölsch is also the name for the local dialect, resulting in the joke that Kölsch is the only language one can drink.) Considerable quantities of Kölsch are consumed each November, when carnival season transforms the city into one of Europe's biggest street festivals, with the numerous bars and pubs on Neumarkt Square, Heumarkt and Zülpicher Strasse packed with people in costumes, dancing and drinking.

Whether you visit Cologne during the summer to make the most of the beer gardens and pretty landscaped riverbanks or during winter for the raucous Carnival or magical Christmas markets, you'll discover an intriguing, cosmopolitan city with bags of character. Furthermore, Cologne has a compact heart, which is easily navigated on foot, making it the perfect destination to explore from a cruise ship.

Rüdesheim (pronounced roo-des-hyme) is a town built for tourism. Its omnipresent oompah bands and sprawling hillside vineyards tickle all the right notes of "quaintness" for the river cruise traveller who's looking for a picturesque German village. But the town and its environs -- particularly through the craftsmanship evident in the region's food and wine -- offer more than just a simple stereotype for those who want to peer behind the old-fashioned façade.

It is easy (and worthwhile) to allow yourself to be swept along in the festive currents of music, tempting aromas of grilled meat, free-flowing Rheingau wines and crowds of travellers who seem to find their way to the town's narrow Drosselgasse ("choke alley") year-round. The nice thing about Rüdesheim size and setting is that you can also make a quick exit from the melee. Within minutes, you can find yourself wandering through row upon row of ripening grapes to an uncrowded vista over the Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site -- or relaxing in a beer garden (biergarten).

Rüdesheim is little, but it has a little bit of everything in an easily accessible package. So, indulge yourself. Take a gondola ride, taste some Rhenish wine and enjoy the summer sunshine on the Rhine Valley. Or meander through a winter evening's Christmas market in the warmly lit confines of ancient cobbled streets... and if you fancy a nightcap, top off your coffee with local brandy and set it alight.

Koblenz, Germany, is located at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers, at one end of the UNESCO World Heritage Upper Middle Rhine Valley -- a scenic stretch of river known for its castles and vineyards. The city dates back to Roman times, has been under French and German rule, and has a delightful Old Town to explore.

Around every corner is a bit of whimsy: the face under the clock on the Mittelrhein Museum building that sticks out its tongue on the hour; the boy in the Schängelbrunnen Fountain who spits water across the courtyard at random; and the myriad statues that dot the squares and street corners. Climb the steps up to the statue of Emperor Wilhelm I at the Deutsches Eck, ride a cable car across the river to the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, or sample local vintages at the Wine Village, built for the 1925 German Wines exhibition. Some river cruise lines also offer tours from Koblenz to the medieval town of Cochem.

Whilst often overlooked for its nearby (and larger) neighbour, Cologne, Bonn has many charms. Famous as the birthplace of Beethoven - and of Haribo! - as well as the former capital of West Germany before reunification in 1990.

Whilst often overlooked for its nearby (and larger) neighbour, Cologne, Bonn has many charms. Famous as the birthplace of Beethoven - and of Haribo! - as well as the former capital of West Germany before reunification in 1990.