European Sojourn

Check out of your hotel in Bucharest and transfer to the airport for your flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival, 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.

Embark on a guided tour featuring many of Istanbul’s historic landmarks. See the remains of the legendary Hippodrome of Constantinople, an ancient sports complex that was the center of Byzantine life for centuries. Visit the “Blue Mosque,” renowned for the azure İzniktiles that adorn its inspired interior, and the iconic 6th-century Hagia Sophia, a former cathedral and mosque known as the embodiment of Byzantine architecture. Afterward, enjoy the afternoon and evening at your leisure. (B)

Spend your morning on a guided tour of the 15th-century Topkapi Palace, the former imperial residence of Ottoman sultans and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stroll through the royal harem and treasury, and admire the many artifacts that showcase the rich culture of the Ottomans. This afternoon, visit the Spice Bazaar to browse the many stalls selling exotic spices. Then, take a scenic cruise along the Bosphorus Strait that separates Europe and Asia. Enjoy the evening at your leisure. (B)

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

Fly into Amsterdam, where you will be met by a Viking Representative and transfer to your hotel located along the North Sea coast. After check-in, relax or choose to join an orientation walk around your destination, known for its high dunes, extensive forests and long, sandy beach. Your Viking Tour Director is available to help you plan your time here so you can make the most of your visit. In the evening, join your fellow travelers for a welcome drink before dining at your leisure.

Today, visit the Royal Dutch Delftware Manufactory, the last remaining 17th-century Delftware producer. See hand-painted Blue Delftware and learn about its history. Enjoy a guided walk through Delft, including views of the Nieuwe Kerk. After lunch on your own, journey to Gouda, where you will view historic sites like St. John’s Church and the Gothic town hall. Conclude your day with a delightful stroopwafel workshop learning to make these sweet treats before returning to your hotel. (B)

After breakfast, transfer to The Hague, stopping en route at the Peace Palace, home to the International Court of Justice and the Permanent Court of Arbitration. Take a guided walk through this elegant city, viewing sights such as the Binnenhof, home to the Dutch government, and the King’s Paleis Noordeinde. Explore the Mauritshuis with your guide, home to some of the most famous works from the Dutch Golden Age, including Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring, before returning to your hotel. (B)

This morning, drive to Amsterdam’s picturesque Museumplein, or Museum Square. Visit the galleries of the renowned Rijksmuseum, home of Rembrandt’s famous masterpiece, The Night Watch. After time to explore the museum’s collection and lunch, board a boat for a cruise through the city’s network of canals. Admire some of Amsterdam’s oldest and loveliest buildings, from narrow-fronted gabled houses to gilded manses, and pass by charming houseboats moored canalside, before embarking your ship. (B, L)

After breakfast, take a drive through the Transylvanian countryside. Visit Peleș Castle, a 19th-century fortification in Sinaia that melds numerous European architectural styles and materials into a harmonious and romantic structure. Continue to Brașov and experience a little touch of Saxony during a walking tour. In the Main Square, see the Biserica Neagră, named for the fire damage it suffered, and explore the town’s historic center. Enjoy this evening at your leisure. (B)

Today, you may join an optional full-day excursion exploring Transylvania, including a visit to the medieval town of Sighișoara. Wind your way through narrow alleys between pastel-hued buildings surrounded by fortified walls. Within this UNESCO World Heritage Site lies the history of 15th-century Walachian prince Vlad the Impaler, otherwise known as Dracula. (B)

This morning, check out of your Brașov hotel and take a short ride to Bran Castle, commonly known as Dracula’s Castle. This landmark citadel, built during the 14th century and used by Saxon and Walachian kings, is the best known of several locations linked to the Dracula legend. The castle has Gothic and baroque furnishings and decorative arts on display. After your tour, embark on a scenic drive to Bucharest and check in to your hotel. (B)

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