Elbe River Guide & Cruises

The Elbe is one of the major rivers of Central Europe, rising in the Krkonose Mountains of the northwestern Czech Republic before crossing Bohemia then Germany and flowing into the North Sea at Cuxhaven, 110 km northwest of Hamburg. Its total length is 680 miles (1,094 km).

The River Elbe is the gateway to Eastern Europe, taking you on a scenic journey through an exciting mix of medieval cities and towns, from the Bohemian capital Prague, to Hamburg and through the dramatic soaring sandstone mountains of Saxon Switzerland. Along the banks you will find Dresden, the "Florence of the Elbe", the pottery of Meissen, the gardens and palaces of Worlitz, the cradle of the Reformation, Luther's Wittenberg and Magdeberg and its Gothic Cathedral. Cruising the Elbe is one of the best ways to see Prague and perfect for discovering the natural beauty of former East Germany's dramatic landscape.

From majestic palaces and modern architecture to wild mountains and beautifully landscaped gardens, with medieval cities and contemporary culture - no other river in Europe offers such a contrasting array of sights. Interesting fact: During the 1970s, the Soviet Union stated that Adolf Hitler's ashes had been scattered in the Elbe after being exhumed from their original burial site.