Kiltn' It: Facts, Fiction & Fairytale Settings on the Rhine with Graham McTavish

Basel, which lies in the northwest region of Switzerland, near its French and German borders, is a delightful city with a rich history, intriguing medieval quarter, fabulous art galleries and stunning architecture. It also boasts a lively social scene, much of which focuses on the city's most important asset, the meandering Rhine River. The mighty river first becomes navigable at Basel, which makes the city the nearest thing landlocked Switzerland has to a seaport, and residents really make the most of it. The river banks are lined with restaurants and hotels (which charge extra for a river-view room). Many residents use little tow-lined ferries rather than bridges to travel between Grossbasel (Big Basel, home to the medieval Old Town) on the south bank and Kleinbasel (Little Basel, centre of the city's lively social scene) on the north bank. Basel is an important turnaround port for Rhine riverboats, many of which run between there and Amsterdam on weekly rotations. Because it's an embarkation and debarkation port, many river cruise passengers spend at least a day in Basel , which is no hardship, considering it's not only a fascinating city but also a gateway to Alsace and Germany's Black Forest region.

The capital of Alsace, France's smallest region, is also known as the principal city of Europe because it's the official seat of European Parliament and home to important institutions like the European Court of Human Rights, but there's much more to Strasbourg than politics and officials in gray suits. While the city reigns as a political powerhouse, it also represents a perfect blend of cultures.

Built along the Rhine and located close to trading routes, Strasbourg borders Germany and Switzerland in the northeast of France and possesses a unique cultural and architectural heritage. Even dedicated Francophiles are often surprised how different the city is from the rest of the France. Once part of Germany, it offers the "best of both worlds," a combination that's most deliciously illustrated in its cuisine, which reflects a happy marriage of French flair and German heartiness.

With a history stretching back over 2,000 years, an obvious first stop for cruisers is Grande-Ile, the city's UNESCO-listed Old Town centre. Visitors can admire Strasbourg's landmark lopsided cathedral, the beautiful Petite France neighbourhood and the gateway to river cruises and streets chock-a-block with half-timbered Renaissance buildings. Many churches also went up in the Middle Ages, including Saint-Etienne, dating to the 12th century, and Saint-Thomas, which was built between the 12th and 14th centuries and ranks as the largest in size after the Strasbourg Cathedral.

Strasbourg is a town made for walking, but energetic visitors can also turn to pedal power and hop on a bike like the locals. Even the most haphazard stroll will take you past a wealth of well-preserved buildings, luxury shops and designer boutiques. More affordable buys can be found in Rue des Grandes Arcades, which is Strasbourg's main shopping area and features a variety of clothing stores.

Germany's Mainz -- a 2,000-year-old city of leafy squares, timbered medieval buildings, intriguing cobbled alleys, charming restaurants and offbeat shops -- is a highlight of any cruise along the Rhine River, not least because it's so easily explored. Just a short stroll from the riverside, you'll find two of the city's highlights: the Gutenberg Museum (which celebrates Mainz's role as the home of the world's first printing press and its first product, the world-famous Gutenberg Bible), and the wonderfully atmospheric St. Martin's Cathedral, also known as The Dom. There are also Roman ruins, magnificent Baroque churches and Rococo houses to discover, as well as spectacular stained-glass windows designed by the famous artist Marc Chagall. But if you've had your fill of sightseeing and museums, just take a stroll around Mainz's charming Old Town, where you can browse antique and art shops, and tuck into delicious German coffee and cake at one of its many street cafes. No doubt you'll consider your day there well spent.

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.

The symbol of Düsseldorf is the Radschläger -- a human figure executing a joyful cartwheel -- which embodies its joie de vivre. Residents put its annual Carnival on a par with the famous festivities in New Orleans and say Düsseldorf's main shopping street, Königsallee, gives the Champs-Elysees a run for its money. (Oil-rich Arabs and Russian oligarchs agree, and they jet in for weekend shopping sprees to prove it.) Düsseldorfers are also immensely proud of their MedienHafen (harbour district), an area of the docks transformed into a masterpiece of modern architecture. Dominated by architect Frank Gehry's gorgeously designed Gaudi-esque Neue Zollhof, the MedienHafen also is home to the 768-foot-high Rheinturm (Rhein Tower), which offers panoramic views across the city. Düsseldorf is a delightful mix of ancient and modern, with urban trendiness and back-to-nature tranquillity. Reach the end of Konigsallee, for example, and you'll find yourself in the Hofgarten, Düsseldorf's version of New York's Central Park. The Hofgarten is home to the fabulous Schloss Jägerhof Palace, a magnificent reproduction of 18th century Rococo architecture. You can also enjoy a leafy stroll -- and lovely views of the rolling Rhine -- in the Rheinpark, a glorious tree- and café-lined promenade area. Düsseldorf's perfectly formed Aldstadt (Old Town) might only cover one square kilometre, but it packs a heck of a lot into its cobbled alleys, including offbeat jewellery and craft shops,, high-spired churches and numerous bars (260-plus at last count). The city is rapidly becoming one of Europe's top destinations for weekend and short breaks. You'll be hard-pressed to decide how to spend your time. My tip for river cruise visitors: Keep it simple and don't try to do too much; you can always come back for more.

There is a fairytale quality to the tree-lined canal streets of Amsterdam. Boutiques, cafes, apartments and hotels may hide behind the facades of the gabled townhouses, but the look of this beautiful old city has not changed much since its 17th-century Golden Age. Some 7,000 historic buildings remain, many of them beautiful merchants' mansions, located along canals that are laid out in five concentric circles, connected by bridges and intriguing small streets. No matter how many times you walk along the canals, they are enchanting to see, even when traffic and whizzing bicycles dispel the Old-World illusion. On a silent Sunday morning or on a summer evening when the old facades are floodlit, the city is magical.

Amsterdam is small enough that much of the city can be covered on foot, allowing visitors to savor sights such as the charming no-two-alike gables atop the houses, houseboats bedecked with potted greenery and masses of blooms in the colorful, floating flower market. Shops offering antiques and avant-garde art beckon everywhere. Outdoor markets, selling everything from postage stamps and parakeets to "junk-tiques," are another intriguing facet of the city.

Considered one of Europe's major art capitals, Amsterdam boasts three great Dutch museums as well as a branch of the Hermitage, the famous trove of art treasures in St. Petersburg, Russia. The Anne Frank House and Rembrandt's home are also popular attractions. In the performing arts, the city has two international stars: the National Ballet and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. (A 2008 poll from classical music magazine Gramophone called the latter the world's best.)

The canal streets of the old city are protected by ordinance and will never change, but Amsterdam is expanding outward and architecture buffs will find both modern and historic neighborhoods to explore. Though quite close to the old city, Passenger Terminal Amsterdam (PTA), known as "the wave" for its free-form facade (shaped like a whale), is the part of the Eastern Docklands area where shipping docks have given way to neighborhoods of striking contemporary design that now house more than 20,000 people. Muziekgebouw aan het IJ, a concert hall for jazz and modern music, is adjacent to the terminal, and ongoing construction will bring many more amenities, including hotels.

With so much to see and do, Amsterdam makes for a rewarding stay before or after cruising.

There is a fairytale quality to the tree-lined canal streets of Amsterdam. Boutiques, cafes, apartments and hotels may hide behind the facades of the gabled townhouses, but the look of this beautiful old city has not changed much since its 17th-century Golden Age. Some 7,000 historic buildings remain, many of them beautiful merchants' mansions, located along canals that are laid out in five concentric circles, connected by bridges and intriguing small streets. No matter how many times you walk along the canals, they are enchanting to see, even when traffic and whizzing bicycles dispel the Old-World illusion. On a silent Sunday morning or on a summer evening when the old facades are floodlit, the city is magical.

Amsterdam is small enough that much of the city can be covered on foot, allowing visitors to savor sights such as the charming no-two-alike gables atop the houses, houseboats bedecked with potted greenery and masses of blooms in the colorful, floating flower market. Shops offering antiques and avant-garde art beckon everywhere. Outdoor markets, selling everything from postage stamps and parakeets to "junk-tiques," are another intriguing facet of the city.

Considered one of Europe's major art capitals, Amsterdam boasts three great Dutch museums as well as a branch of the Hermitage, the famous trove of art treasures in St. Petersburg, Russia. The Anne Frank House and Rembrandt's home are also popular attractions. In the performing arts, the city has two international stars: the National Ballet and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. (A 2008 poll from classical music magazine Gramophone called the latter the world's best.)

The canal streets of the old city are protected by ordinance and will never change, but Amsterdam is expanding outward and architecture buffs will find both modern and historic neighborhoods to explore. Though quite close to the old city, Passenger Terminal Amsterdam (PTA), known as "the wave" for its free-form facade (shaped like a whale), is the part of the Eastern Docklands area where shipping docks have given way to neighborhoods of striking contemporary design that now house more than 20,000 people. Muziekgebouw aan het IJ, a concert hall for jazz and modern music, is adjacent to the terminal, and ongoing construction will bring many more amenities, including hotels.

With so much to see and do, Amsterdam makes for a rewarding stay before or after cruising.