Passage to Eastern Europe

Check out of your hotel in Budapest and transfer to Vienna. Upon arrival, you will check in to your hotel and  settle in, relax and prepare for tomorrow’s discoveries. A Viking Host is available to help you plan your time in Vienna so you can make the most of your visit.

This morning, take a panoramic drive and walking tour through Vienna and see the magnificent architectural highlights of one of Europe’s most elegant capitals. This afternoon, you may join an optional excursion for a taste of Vienna as you sample a selection of Viennese delicacies. This evening, you can choose to attend a performance that celebrates the music of Mozart and Strauss in a historic venue, followed by a scenic drive through an illuminated Vienna as you return to your hotel. (B)

Spend the day at your leisure or join an optional excursion to Schönbrunn Palace, the magnificent home of the Hapsburg Dynasty built to rival the sprawling Château de Versailles. Tour the imperial apartments and grandly furnished rooms where Empress Maria Theresa resided and learn about her extraordinary reign. Tonight, you may choose to participate in a high-spirited Heurigen Evening at a local vineyard to celebrate a successful wine harvest. (B)

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

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.

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, you may join an optional tour to 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 transfer to the airport for your flight to Bucharest. (B)

Welcome to Bucharest. Transfer to your hotel in the heart of the city, with the former Royal Palace and great shopping at your doorstep. The rest of the day is yours to relax or begin exploring the city’s wide boulevards and captivating architecture on your own. Your Viking Tour Director is available to help you plan your time in Bucharest so you can make the most of your visit.

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, where you will join your fellow guests. (B)

After the final breakfast of your cruisetour, continue your exploration of Budapest. Enjoy a full day at your leisure, perhaps visiting one of the city’s many museums or strolling along the banks of the Danube. A Viking Host is available to help you plan your time in Budapest so you can make the most of your visit.

You have a full day to enjoy some of the sights and attractions of this beautiful city. Cross the Danube via the famous Chain Bridge and walk through Pest, perhaps pausing to do some shopping along Váci Street. Or enjoy the hillier Buda neighborhoods, tour the Hungarian National Gallery or relax at one of the city’s elegant thermal spas. (B)

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

After breakfast, set off for Vienna. En route, stop in Bratislava, where you will meet a local guide and embark on a panoramic drive through the city to its castle. Admire the scenic view offered by the castle’s vantage point before descending into the Old Town to walk past impressive ornate buildings and remnants of the city’s medieval past. After, enjoy lunch before continuing to Vienna where you will check into your hotel and spend the evening at leisure. (L)

This morning, enjoy a panoramic drive and stroll through Vienna to see the magnificent architectural highlights of one of Europe’s most elegant capitals. This afternoon, you may join an optional excursion for a taste of Vienna as you sample a selection of Viennese delicacies. This evening, you can choose to attend a performance that celebrates the music of Mozart and Strauss in a historic venue, followed by a scenic drive through an illuminated Vienna as you return to your hotel. (B)

Enjoy breakfast, check out of your hotel and begin your journey to Prague. Along the way, venture into the Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that hosts two magnificent castles. Marvel at the neo-Gothic exterior of the Lednice Castle before enjoying lunch. Next, explore the opulent interior and picturesque gardens of Valtice, a baroque masterpiece. After, drive through the Moravian countryside to arrive in Prague, where you will check into your hotel. (B, L)

Drive to Prague’s Castle District and walk through the impressive complex as you take in views over the Vltava River. Cross the Charles Bridge on foot to the city’s Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Admire the architecture and the famous Astronomical Clock, which comes to life hourly with its “Walk of Apostles.” This afternoon, enjoy free time to explore more of Prague on your own. Later, join an optional tour and savor a delicious feast in a rustic court setting. (B)

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