Aegean & Mediterranean Explorer

Fly to Thessaloníki, where you will be met by a Viking Representative and escorted to your hotel. After checking in, you can spend the rest of your day exploring the city at your leisure. Perhaps take a stroll along the waterfront or rest and enjoy dinner at one of the many local restaurants. Your Viking Tour Director is available to help you make the most of your visit.

Set out to discover Thessaloníki during a guided walk of the city. Immerse yourself in history at the Archaeological Museum and call at UNESCO-designated monuments, including the Arch of Galerius (known today as “Kamara”) and the Church of St. Demetrius, built on the site of his martyrdom. Following lunch at a local restaurant, you will have the rest of the day to spend at your leisure. Or, join an optional excursion to the Royal Tombs of Vergina or the Archaeological Park of Dion. (B, L)

After breakfast, meet your guide and embark on an exploration of Thessaloníki’s Jewish heritage. Pass by historic Liberty Square, where the deportation of all adult Jewish men in the city was ordered, and continue along the coast to admire villas built by Jewish merchant families. Then, visit the Jewish Quarter, the Synagogue and the Jewish Museum, built to honor the city’s Sephardic heritage. Enjoy the rest of the day on your own or join an optional excursion to discover local cuisine. (B)

After breakfast, head to Meteora with your guide. This UNESCO World Heritage Site, once one of the most important monastic sites in Greece, is a surreal blend of spectacular natural landscapes and human ingenuity. Climb the steps to visit two monasteries and admire the sweeping views. Inside, you will marvel at the beautiful frescoes on the walls, as well as the intricate mosaics and manuscripts on display. Savor lunch at a local eatery before continuing to Athens to begin your cruise. (B, L)

Disembark your ship in Barcelona and transfer to the train station for a high-speed train to Zaragoza, Spain’s fifth-most populous city. Upon arrival, you will enjoy a walking tour of its notable landmarks, including the Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar, one of Spain’s most important pilgrimage sites. After free time for lunch on your own, board your motor coach and transfer to San Sebastián to check in to your hotel. The evening is yours to spend at your leisure.

Following breakfast at your hotel, enjoy a panoramic drive to the hilltop setting of Monte Igueldo for views over the city. After time for photos, head to the old town for a leisurely walking tour to sample a selection of typical pintxos, the Basque region’s distinct version of tapas. The charismatic old town is a maze of medieval streets featuring shops, bars and hidden squares. Enjoy free time here to explore on your own before returning to your hotel for an evening at your leisure. (B, L)

Today, visit Guernica, famously razed to the ground by German aircraft during the Spanish Civil War in 1937; the atrocity inspired Pablo Picasso’s painting. Next, head to Bermeo, a colorful town with a strong fishing heritage, for a guided tour and time to explore on your own. Continue to the San Juan de Gaztelugatxe viewpoint and a nearby restaurant for lunch, after which you may join a hike to the top of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe before heading to Bilbao and your hotel. (B, L)

See the sights of Bilbao’s old quarter and head to La Ribera to meet a local chef who will introduce you to the region’s cuisine, including its famous pintxos—small appetizers topped on a slice of baguette. At a local txoko, a traditional Basque restaurant, attend a cooking demonstration and sample the prepared dishes for lunch. Continue to the iconic Guggenheim Museum, designed by Frank Gehry, to explore its repository of modern art. Return to your hotel for an evening at your leisure. (B, L)

Journey to Laguardia, the capital of the La Rioja Alavesa region, and take a guided walk around its medieval center. Continue to the Marques de Riscal City of Wine vineyard, one of Rioja’s most beloved winemakers, for a wine tasting and lunch. Considered the Spanish château of the 21st century, the vast complex combines historic cellars, award-winning dining and an avant-garde hotel designed by Frank Gehry. Enjoy a lunch of local dishes paired with wine before returning to your hotel. (B, L)

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight home. (B)