Europe is known for a lot of a things, not least of which is their river cruises. But once you've seen the big names like the Rhine or Danube, you've essentially seen them all, right? Wrong. Europe's lesser known waterways are flying under the radar, but not for very much longer.

Neva and Svir Rivers, Russia

The ship: MS AmaKatarina has staterooms with 70% boasting an outside balcony, exclusive to APT.

The trip: APT’s 16-day Helsinki and Russian Waterways or 13-day Russian Waterways offer a river component not known by most. 

Day eight and day nine of these river cruise itineraries take in the Neva and Svir rivers. Best known for the Volga river, the Neva and Svir rivers are sections of Russia’s waterways that deserve more attention. 

The Neva River is St Petersburg – without it the city would not exist. While this can be said for many cities, what sets the Neva River apart is that conqueror Peter the Great chose to build the ornate marvels of St Petersburg because he wanted a “Venice of the north” which crucially warrants water.

It’s not always free-flowing however. From November to April each year the river is crusted with ice and voyages cease. So the best time to see the river in its seasonal splendour is from Spring to Autumn.

For what the Neva river lacks in length it makes up for in width – up to 700 metres wide and just 74km long. And that’s where the Svir River comes in, connecting the cruise via the Ladoga Canal.

The Svir river travels between Lake Onega to Lake Ladoga and it is here that cruisers can visit the home of a local Russian family for pastries before encountering the massive Ladoga, Europe’s largest lake.

Garonne and Dordogne River, France

The ship: Uniworld vessel River Royale has been remodelled to chart the course through the waterways of Bordeaux. 

The trip: The eight-day Bordeaux, Vineyards and Chateaux cruise begins in Bordeaux and journeys through three rivers you’re unlikely to have heard of: the Garonne, the Gironde and the Dordogne.

The Dordogne begins at the Auvergne mountains and travels 480km to the Gironde near Bordeaux. This region is all about the produce, from wine to cheese to black truffles and cured meats.

Uniworld makes the most of this with its Epicurean Adventurer program that integrates culinary demonstrations, local food traditions, food and wine pairings as well as private wine tastings. The menu is designed by two Michelin-starred French chef Philippe Etchebest and part of the menu is a sample of Arcachon oysters, a local delicacy.

The ship also stops in Bergerac, renowned for its sweet Monbazillac wine. 

When kicking back along France’s more obscure rivers keep an eye out for stone chateaux built into the rock faces that look like they are part of the natural landscape. Meanwhile, when off the ship, day excursions include a Nordic walking tour as well as a picnic lunch on a small estuary island.

Saone River, France

The ship: The Avalon Scenery accommodates just 139 passengers and most rooms come with panorama windows and French balconies.

The trip: Days three to six of Avalon Waterway’s 11-day Burgundy and Provence river cruise takes in the Saone river before entering the Rhone. One of the highlights is the town of Tournus in Burgundy, a monastic centre where passengers visit a 10th century abbey. 

Day four includes Macon, a port crucial to the wine trade. This is good preparation for the next day’s excursion to the Beaujolais region, famous for a red wine so light that wine aficionado Karen MacNeil said it is a “white wine that happens to be red”.

Then there’s Lyon which is considered to be France’s gastronomic capital – which is saying something, for a country so renowned for its food. Lyon’s position in the bread and wine basket of France means that you must visit the fresh produce market and sample the abundance of the region.

A Roman city, Lyon has the historical excursions covered with museums, ruins and time-capsule buildings to visit. 

Avalon Waterways offers a local guide for your time in Lyon and highlights of the tour include the Old Town’s alleyways, squares and al fresco areas. There’s also an optional biking tour that takes in the 100 murals found in Lyon.

The cruise also includes onboard lectures on culture and history to enrich your experience of this region.  

Elbe River, Germany

The ship: Viking Fontane and Viking Schumann have been specially built to allow for the shallow Elbe River and are all the more intimate for it.

The trip: Viking River Cruises has a 10-day Elegant Elbe itinerary from Berlin to Prague. The Elbe River journey begins on day three from Dessau.

Day four passes through Wittenberg, which holds its place in history for being the town where Martin Luther led his Protestant reformation. In the town you can see Luther’s house and the church where he pinned his 95 theses that forever altered the Vatican’s grip on Europe.

The day ends in Torgau, renowned for Renaissance houses and its market square. You have until midnight to soak up the history, as that is when the ship sets sail for Meissen, famous for its porcelain.  

Then it’s onto Dresden, which is known as the Florence of the Elbe for its castle, opera house, palace, crown jewels and domed church. You will be docked until early morning, so the night is yours to explore.

The next stop is a region called Saxon Switzerland but don’t let the name confuse you, it’s still in Germany. The Elbe is pincered by tall rocks, the most famous of which is the bastion forged by water millennia ago.

The last night on the ship is in the Czech Republic with a fitting finale dinner accompanied by local Bohemia beer.