Lakes and Rivers Collection

Charming lakeside towns, river paths and mountain backdrops

Europe is full of inviting water-based wonders from its crystal-clear freshwater lakes to its countless free-flowing rivers and canals. On the fringe of these beautiful lakes and rivers lie enchanting towns, villages and sometimes striking mountain views. Our Lakes and Rivers collection showcases the most spectacular water landscapes on the continent, with each trip offering easy-to-access hiking and cycling trails around the water and into the surrounding hills and forests. After exploring, you may also enjoy opportunities to swim and kayak in some of Europe's clearest waters or taste their town's delicious local cuisine by the river as you watch the sunset.

If you're looking to explore the glittering lakes and quaint riverside towns close to home, our Literary walking in the Lake District takes you on an enchanting journey past some of the nation's most famous glacial ribbon lakes that have inspired English poets and painters for centuries including Grasmere, Windermere and Coniston Water. For a different adventure in the area, our Walking from coast to coast west takes you towards some of the Lake District's most remote fells, lakeside paths and traditional Cumbrian stone villages following the route from St Bees to Kirkby Stephen in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

For those wanting to explore the beautiful lakeside towns and rivers in Europe, why not explore the hilltop towns, mediaeval villages and fortified strongholds on our Dordogne River Walk or visit museums, fairy-tale palaces and ancient monasteries, with opportunities of swimming in shimmering alpine lakes on our Cycling Bavaria's Lake Chiemsee trip in Bavaria. If you're wanting to book a country-spanning holiday, Cycling along the Danube from Vienna to Budapest allows you to follow key parts of the Danube River along the way towards the castle of Visegrád and the spectacular Hungarian Parliament Building in Budapest.

For more inspiration on lakeside getaways and river trails browse our collection of trips below, or visit our blog for more information.