Explore with Viking—Europe

Day 1 - Barcelona

Today, arrive at the airport and transfer to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, you may choose to relax or begin exploring the city on your own. Your Viking Tour Director is available to help you plan your time in Barcelona so you can make the most of your visit.

Day 2 - Barcelona

This morning, journey outside the city to explore the elevated heights of picturesque Monserrat, nestled in its namesake mountain range. Take in the majestic mountain landscape while admiring sweeping views over the Catalan countryside to Barcelona and the Mediterranean Sea. You will also visit the Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey, a significant religious site that houses the revered Black Madonna statue. After lunch, return to your hotel and enjoy the remainder of your day at leisure. (B, L)

Day 3 - Barcelona

Set out early this morning to beat the crowds and enjoy a visit to the iconic La Sagrada Família, the crowning achievement of architectural genius Antoni Gaudí. Admire views of its towering, distinctive exterior, then step inside to marvel at its breathtaking sanctuary. Later today, partake in a Catalan cooking class before enjoying a glass of cava at one of Barcelona’s stunning viewpoints. (B)

Day 4 - Barcelona

This morning, check out of your hotel and transfer to your ship to begin your cruise. Along the way, you will stop for a guided tour through the labyrinthine streets of the charming Gothic Quarter; steeped in history, its narrow warrens are home to the remains of the city’s ancient Roman wall and notable medieval landmarks, including its impressive Gothic cathedral. Afterward, continue to your awaiting ship. (B)

Day 1 - Istanbul

Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met by a Viking Representative who will accompany you to your hotel. After check in, relax and spend the rest of your day exploring the city on your own. Your Viking Tour Director is available to help you plan your time in Istanbul so you can make the most of your visit.

Day 2 - Istanbul

After breakfast, set out to explore Istanbul’s cultural treasures. Visit the Topkapi Palace and hear intriguing stories of those who resided within these walls. Continue to the Blue Mosque, a revered architectural masterpiece, and the Hagia Sophia, a landmark that has witnessed the rise and fall of several empires. Savor authentic Ottoman cuisine at a Michelin Star restaurant, then continue to the Grand Bazaar, the world’s largest marketplace. This evening, enjoy dinner at your leisure. (B, L)

Day 3 - Istanbul

After a light breakfast at the hotel, set out into the countryside to enjoy a farm-to-table brunch experience in an idyllic setting. Indulge in a feast of Turkish specialties of fresh, organic produce and artisanal delights, then journey to the Beylerbeyi Palace on the shores of the Bosphorus Strait; a summer retreat enjoyed by royals and sultans for centuries. After, browse the stalls of a local spice market—a kaleidoscope of colors and aromas. This evening, dine at your leisure. (B, L)

Day 4 - Istanbul

This morning, check out of your hotel and transfer to your ship to begin your cruise. (B)

Day 1 - London

Fly to London, meet your Viking Representative and transfer to your hotel. After check in, take the rest of the day to explore England’s magnificent capital city on your own. Your Viking Tour Director is available to help you plan your time in London so you can make the most of your visit. This evening, enjoy dinner at your leisure.

Day 2 - London

After breakfast, head to Borough Market to explore its array of vendors and food stalls. Meet Celia Brooks (or a member of her talented team), TV chef and renowned culinary author, who will offer you insider knowledge on the variety of delicious dishes available. After free time for lunch, visit the National Gallery, home to one of the greatest collections of European paintings in the world. Return to your hotel this evening and enjoy dinner at your leisure. (B)

Day 3 - London

Visit the British Museum for a Privileged Access visit away from the crowds. After, you will head to the borough of Westminster, home to many of the capital’s most iconic landmarks, including Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. After time to explore on your own, enjoy a Privileged Access visit to the Imperial War Museum London for a guided tour after hours, followed by a private dinner behind closed doors. After, return to your hotel. (B, D)

Day 4 - London

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and head to St. Paul’s Cathedral for a guided tour to admire the masterwork of Sir Christopher Wren at one of London’s iconic landmarks. Afterward, transfer to your ship to begin your cruise. (B)

Day 1 - Oslo

A Viking Representative will meet you at the airport and take care of your baggage before you transfer to the city. This evening, check in to your hotel and get settled in. You may choose to dine in the hotel restaurant or one of the city’s many fine eateries, or take a short “jet-lag-busting” stroll to the Akershus Pier—considered one of the world’s first and most successful wharf conversions—for dinner on your own.

Day 2 - Oslo

After breakfast, join your guide for a tour of Oslo. You will see the Akershus Fortress, which has guarded the harbor for centuries; the Royal Palace, home to the beloved Norwegian royal family; the Parliament; and the National Theater. You will also visit the Norwegian Maritime Museum and learn about Norway’s seafaring history that spans over centuries. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure; dinner is on your own. (B)

Day 3 - Bergen

Board the Bergen Railway for your journey to Bergen, often described as the most beautiful train ride in the world. Your ascension to over 4,000 feet above sea level as you cross the Hardangervidda plateau features breathtaking views and will be accompanied by an informative narration. Arrive in Bergen and transfer to your hotel, where you can enjoy your evening at leisure. A Viking Host is available to help you plan your time in Bergen so you can make the most of your visit. (B, L)

Day 4 - Bergen

Contrast the Bergen of old with the elegant modern-day city on an enlightening tour, highlighted by insights from your local guide. Step behind the walls of the medieval Bergen Fortress and visit the well-preserved 13th-century Håkons Hall. Pass the Bryggen wharf, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the more modern section of the city, view two beloved musical theaters: the National Stage and Grieg Hall, named for the famed Norwegian composer. After your tour, enjoy the evening at your leisure. (B)

Day 5 - Bergen

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and transfer to your ship to begin your cruise. (B)

Day 1 - Rome

Fly to Rome, meet your Viking Representative and transfer to your hotel. After check in, take the rest of the day to explore the “Eternal City” on your own. Your Viking Tour Director is available to help you plan your time in Rome so you can make the most of your visit. This evening, enjoy dinner at your leisure.

Day 2 - Rome

This morning, enjoy time to explore your surroundings on your own, or join an optional excursion. After lunch, set off to Vatican City for a guided tour of the world-renowned Vatican Museums. Stroll through the galleries to admire pieces from Raphael and Caravaggio, and view Michelangelo’s spectacular ceiling in the Sistine Chapel. This evening, learn how to make pasta during a culinary workshop. (B, D)

Day 3 - Rome

After breakfast, set out to discover Rome during a morning excursion. This historic city is home to many of the great sights of ancient Rome. By small motorized vehicle and on foot, view the mighty Colosseum—the most important amphitheater in the Roman world—and the Circus Maximus; you will also see Venice Square and Capitoline Hill. Enjoy an afternoon at your leisure before joining your fellow guests for a traditional dinner. (B, D)

Day 4 - Rome

Check out of your hotel and head to one of Rome’s exquisite Renaissance gardens. The Italian Renaissance style began during the 15th century and its trademark look expressed symmetry through orderly and manicured landscaping. Learn more about this style during a guided walk around the grounds of one of Rome’s best-kept examples. Afterward, you will transfer to your ship to begin your cruise. (B)

Day 1 - Stockholm

Today, arrive at the airport and transfer to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, you may choose to relax or begin exploring the city on your own. Your Viking Tour Director is available to help you plan your time in Stockholm so you can make the most of your visit. Perhaps partake in an optional excursion, enjoying a delicious three-course meal accompanied by drinks, while cruising through the scenic archipelago of Stockholm.

Day 2 - Stockholm

After breakfast, descend into the subway to discover the world’s longest art exhibition. As you navigate between stations, admire the colorful artwork that brightens residents’ daily commute, then return to the street and continue to Östermalmshallen for a taste of local favorites. Later, embark on a sightseeing cruise on the Baltic Sea. This evening, you may choose to partake in an optional excursion, savoring a delicious meal at the rooftop restaurant Tak. (B, L)

Day 3 - Stockholm

Set out early for a guided tour of Stockholm’s storied City Hall, looking behind its magnificent facades for a glimpse at its unique interior artworks. This afternoon, you may choose to partake in an optional panoramic bike ride around Djurgården Island. This evening, enjoy a hands-on course on how to make traditional Swedish meatballs from scratch, followed by dinner and drinks. (B, D)

Day 4 - Stockholm

This morning, check out of your hotel and transfer to your ship to begin your cruise. (B)

Day 1 - Venice

Today, arrive at the airport and transfer to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, you may choose to relax or begin exploring the city on your own. Your Viking Tour Director is available to help you plan your time in Venice so you can make the most of your visit.

Day 2 - Venice

After breakfast, set out for a guided stroll through the historic city center. At the bustling Rialto Market, browse stalls displaying the day’s catch and observe locals as they shop, followed by a cicchetti lunch at a typical bacaro, or tavern. This afternoon, you may choose to partake in an optional excursion with your fellow travelers. This evening, take a cruise on the Grand Canal, admiring the impressive palaces that line its banks and overarching bridges along this famous waterway. (B, L)

Day 3 - Venice

This morning, you may choose to partake in an optional excursion with your fellow travelers. Later today, follow your guide on a walk through the city, stopping to visit St. Mark’s Square. Admire its famous Campanile and the grand interior of the basilica, then continue to view the 14th-century Doge’s Palace, once the seat of government for the Venetian Republic and Courts of Justice. Tonight, head out to enjoy an evening of bellinis and Italian cuisine. (B, D)

Day 4 - Venice

This morning, check out of your hotel, then set out on an early stroll through Venice. Your excursion will include a walk along the winding cobblestone lanes of the vibrant Cannaregio neighborhood, once home to the city’s Jewish population. Afterward, you will transfer to your ship to begin your cruise. (B)

Day 1 - Athens

Immerse yourself in the legends of ancient Greece as you tour its most enriching archaeological sites. Arrive and transfer to your hotel, where you can relax or start getting acquainted with the city on your own. A Viking Host is available to help you plan your time in Athens so you can make the most of your visit.

Day 2 - Mycenae & Epidaurus

Set out today to discover the Peloponnese peninsula, home of some of Greece’s most breathtaking ruins. At Mycenae, a millennia-old military stronghold, pass through the Lion Gate to begin exploring this amazing site, including the foundations of King Agamemnon’s palace and the Tomb of Agamemnon. Lunch is included. In Epidaurus, marvel at the massive ancient amphitheater. Locals still stage shows here and take advantage of its exceptional acoustics. (B, L)

Day 3 - Delphi

Today, visit Delphi, where an ancient oracle once influenced the fate of emperors and empires. Here, you will discover one of the most important museums in Greece, the Archaeological Museum of Delphi. Surrounded by the splendid beauty of Mt. Parnassus, you will marvel at the Temple of Apollo, the circular Tholos and more. After time to explore this magnificent site, stop in the picturesque mountain town of Arachova for lunch, then return to your hotel and enjoy an evening at leisure. (B, L)

Day 4 - Athens

Enjoy a free day to explore Athens on your own. A simple stroll reveals a vast range of architectural styles, from Greco-Roman to neoclassical. Behind the Hellenic Parliament, you can idle away the afternoon in the National Garden—38 acres of lush beauty in the heart of the city. This evening, you may sample the flavors and rhythms of Greece during a dinner outing if you wish. (B)

Day 5 - Athens

Discover the main sights of Athens with your Viking Tour Director. Head to the Acropolis to view the Parthenon, one of the largest structures built in ancient Greece. Admire its stately Doric columns and majestic setting before continuing to the new Acropolis Museum, a repository of priceless artifacts. Enjoy a leisurely lunch on your own and a stroll around the Plaka District, a bustling area near the ruins of the city’s ancient marketplace. Then, transfer to your ship to begin your cruise. (B)

Day 1 - Lake Maggiore

Arrive in Milan and transfer to your hotel on Lake Maggiore. After check in, spend the rest of the day at your leisure before enjoying dinner this evening with your fellow guests. Your Viking Tour Director is available to help you plan your time so you can make the most of your visit. (D)

Day 2 - Lake Maggiore

Take a private boat ride across the lake to the Borromean Islands, owned by the Borromeo family for centuries. On Isola Bella, visit the Palazzo Borromeo to admire its collection of period furniture and decor, then stroll through the botanical garden full of rare plants from across the world. Enjoy free time for lunch on Isola dei Pescatori and visit the baroque-style summer palace on Isola Madre. Walk its grand halls and view exquisite collections of paintings, armor and silk tapestries. (B)

Day 3 - Lake Como

Transfer to Como, long a draw for poets, artists and actors; George Clooney has a summer residence, Villa Oleandra, on its shores. Admire the beauty of your surroundings during a scenic cruise on the city’s eponymous lake. Disembark at the village of Bellagio, the “Pearl of Lake Como,” and enjoy free time to independently explore its stone lanes and cobblestone stairways lined with graceful, century-old buildings and inviting shops. Return to Lake Maggiore for dinner. (B, D)

Day 4 - Venice

This morning, check out of your hotel and board your motor coach for a scenic drive to Venice, where your Viking ship awaits you. (B)

*Note: The order of visits and/or tours may vary.

Day 1 - Oxford

Arrive in London, where you will be met by your Viking Representative and transfer to Oxford, a city deeply steeped in history and learning. After check-in at your hotel, join an optional walking excursion around the city, or explore on your own. Later this afternoon, enjoy a welcome sloe gin with your fellow travelers during a gathering at your hotel. Your Viking Tour Director is available to help you plan your time in Oxford so you can make the most of your visit.

Day 2 - Highclere Castle & Oxford

Journey through the rolling countryside to explore the house and gardens of Highclere Castle, for a Privileged Access tour of the “real Downton Abbey.” Built in the Victorian Gothic style by Sir Charles Barry, this is the country seat of the distinguished Earls of Carnarvon, renowned for their influence in Britain and abroad. While at the castle, taste the estate’s own Highclere Castle Gin, a super-premium London Dry Gin inspired by botanicals from the castle’s gardens. After lunch, visit the Bombay Sapphire Distillery to learn more about the history and production of gin. Enjoy a sample of this famous spirit, then return to Oxford for an evening at leisure. (B, L)

Day 3 - Broughton Castle & Oxford

This morning, take a panoramic drive to medieval Broughton Castle, home to the influential Fiennes family whose members include renowned British explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes and actors Ralph Fiennes and Joseph Fiennes. The castle also served as the setting for the award-winning MASTERPIECE series Wolf Hall. Learn more about this influential family’s colorful past as you admire the estate’s eclectic blend of architectural styles, elegant interiors and manicured gardens during your private viewing. After lunch, return to Oxford to spend the rest of your day at leisure. (B, L)

Day 4 - Chavenage House & Highgrove; Oxford

Drive to Chavenage House, known for its appearance in the MASTERPIECE series Poldark. You will be welcomed by one of the owners, who will guide you through the family’s home while regaling you with tales of its storied past. Admire sweeping views over lunch in the Great Hall, then continue to Highgrove—the private home of Their Majesties King Charles III and The Queen Consort. Stroll the beautiful gardens, a haven created by The King over several decades, before returning to Oxford. *Highgrove Gardens is subject to availability. Alternatively, Buscot Park will be visited. (B, L)

Day 5 - London

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and transfer to your ship to begin your cruise. (B)

Day 1 - Reykjavík

Upon your arrival, a Viking Representative will accompany you to your hotel. After time to relax and have lunch on your own, you will meet your local guide for a tour of the city. See its famous landmarks, including the steel and mirrored-glass dome of the Perlan, the imposing Hallgrímskirkja church and the Höfði House, site of the 1986 summit between US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. This evening, enjoy dinner on your own.

Day 2 - Reykjavík

Discover the majestic beauty of Iceland’s remote coast and visit a family-run working horse farm. Marvel at the thundering Seljalandsfoss and cascading veils of Skógafoss, and learn about southern Iceland’s cultural heritage at the Skógar Museum. Savor a traditional lunch before exploring more of Iceland’s geology and geothermic activity. Admire the towering basalt sea stacks at the black-pebbled Reynisfjara Beach and visit the LAVA Volcano and Earthquake Center for an informative tour. (B, L)

Day 3 - Snaefellsnes

Visit a family-owned greenhouse that specializes in cut flowers and gain insight into local farm life during a private guided tour. Afterward, set out to explore Iceland’s “Golden Circle.” See the majestic Gullfoss waterfall, whose cascading water creates a perpetual rainbow, and stop at the Geysir area for an opportunity to observe its hot springs. After lunch, head to Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO Site, and see the Althing—the oldest surviving parliament in the world. (B, L)

Day 4 - Snaefellsnes

Today, travel north past the Snaefellsjökull glacier to the Freezer Culture Center in the village of Rif. Learn how this refurbished factory became the center of culture and music in western Iceland. In Djúpalónssandur, view interesting rock formations along the beach and enjoy a nature walk in Arnarstapi. After lunch, visit a local shark farm. Here, you will learn the secrets to curing shark meat and taste Brennivín, an Icelandic schnapps. This evening, enjoy dinner in Stykkishólmur. (B, L, D)

Day 5 - Reykjavík

This morning, take a scenic whale watching cruise in Ólafsvík. Keep watch for local wildlife as you navigate the bay’s numerous rugged islands. After lunch in Stykkishólmur, venture to Borgarnes, where you will retrace the footsteps of the Vikings along ancient saga trails. Visit the Settlement Center to learn more about the history of Iceland, then travel back to Reykjavík. This evening, enjoy dinner at your leisure. (B, L, D)

Day 6 - Bergen

After breakfast, check out of your hotel, then transfer to the airport for your flight to your embarkation city, where your ship awaits. (B)

Day 1 - Tuscany

When you arrive at the airport in Florence, you will be greeted by a Viking Representative who will escort you on your journey through Tuscany. Enjoy the views as you travel through the Chianti region’s scenic countryside to your villa. Upon your arrival, check in and enjoy lunch at your historic villa. Your Viking Tour Director is available to help you plan your time in Tuscany so you can make the most of your visit. This evening, dinner will be served at your villa. (L, D)

Day 2 - Florence

This morning, drive to Florence for a walking tour of the city center, a UNESCO Site. See the Duomo as well as Giotto’s Bell Tower and the Baptistery, with its beautiful doors that Michelangelo called the “Gates of Paradise,” and more. After lunch, you will have free time to enjoy a gelato or espresso, shop, or explore the birthplace of the Renaissance. Then, proceed to a Tuscan winery, where you can tour the cellar and taste local wines before sitting down to a typical Tuscan dinner. (B, L, D)

Day 3 - Siena & San Gimignano

After breakfast, travel to the walled city of Siena, located in the heart of the Chianti wine region. On your walking tour, see the exterior of the exquisite marble cathedral, the beautiful Mangia Tower, the Town Hall, the Piazza del Campo and other historic sites. Then you will drive to the charming medieval village of San Gimignano and have lunch at a typical farm. Walk back in time as you explore the village’s ancient squares, narrow streets and elegant cistern built in 1273. (B, L, D)

Day 4 - Rome (Civitavecchia)

Enjoy breakfast at your villa before you check out. Then, board your motor coach and transfer to your embarkation port, where your Viking ship awaits you. (B)