Cities of Antiquity

Discover the ancient history of Greece, where great thinkers gave shape to modern-day civilization in the hallowed halls perched upon the gleaming white Acropolis. Disembark your ship and transfer to your hotel, located in the heart of the city. After checking in, explore on your own or perhaps join an optional excursion to Cape Sounion to view the Temple of Poseidon. A Viking Host is available to help you plan your time in Athens so you can make the most of your visit.

Take time to explore the main sites of Athens on your own. Visit the Parthenon, one of the largest structures built in ancient Greece, or browse the priceless collection of the new Acropolis Museum in the archaeological park. You may also choose to join an optional excursion to the Agora, once the political and social center of Athens, or to enjoy a guided walk in the historic Plaka District, built around the ruins of the city’s ancient marketplace and home to an array of cafés and shops. (B)

On your final day, you will transfer by motor coach to the airport for your return flight. (B)

Disembark your ship and depart toward Nafplio, stopping along the way to visit an olive oil factory, where you will learn about the production of the oil and partake in a tasting. After a tasty lunch at the factory, continue toward Nafplio. Upon arrival, check into your hotel and spend the rest of the day at your leisure. You may also choose to join an optional excursion to the Palamidi Fortress or to learn about Nafplio’s traditional crafts. Later, enjoy dinner at your hotel. (L, D)

After breakfast, call at Nemea, home of the fabled Nemean Lion, to explore its archaeological site. Learn about the Panhellenic Games of Nemea and see an array of ruins, including the bathhouse, homes and a temple honoring Zeus. After, return to Nafplio for a cooking class, where you will discover the secrets of Greek cuisine. Following a lunch of traditional dishes, set out on foot with your guide to see notable sights, including Kapodistrias Square and the old Catholic church. (B, L)

After breakfast, head to an apiary to learn about the honey harvesting process. Witness a demonstration of this fascinating process before enjoying a sampling of the honey. Continue to Semeli Estate, a leading Greek winery, to savor a tasting of expertly crafted wines. This evening, return to your hotel and enjoy a farewell dinner with your fellow guests. (B, D)

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

Disembark your ship and meet your guide, who will accompany you to Meteora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to 24 monasteries founded by Greek Orthodox monks during the 14th century. Soak up the spectacular views and explore the halls and artifacts of two of these monasteries during your visit. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant, then head to Thessaloníki to check in to your hotel. You will have the rest of the day at your leisure. (L)

Set out to explore Thessaloníki on foot. Call at the Archaeological Museum and trace Thessaloníki’s Byzantine heritage at the UNESCO-designated Arch of Galerius and Church of St. Demetrius. Though the church was restored after a fire in 1917, it still boasts original features such as the 7th-century Byzantine mosaics decorating the pillars. After lunch, you may explore further on your own or join an optional excursion to the Royal Tombs of Vergina or the Archaelogical Park of Dion. (B, L)

Today, head out to discover Thessaloníki’s Jewish heritage. You will pass by Liberty Square, where Nazis ordered the deportation of the city’s adult Jewish men, and a variety of villas built by Jewish merchant families. See the Hippocrates Hospital, built by the Jewish community during the early 20th century and featuring a memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. After, spend the rest of your day at your leisure or join an optional excursion to discover Thessaloníki’s local cuisine. (B)

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

Discover Athens’s main sights 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 around the ruins of the city’s ancient marketplace. Then, transfer to your hotel for your four-night stay.

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)

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)

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)

On your final day, you will transfer by motor coach to the airport for your return flight home. (B)