viking douro river cruise excursions

Traveling Canucks

Canada Family Travel Blog

Here’s what we did on our Portugal River Cruise with Viking

04/02/2024 By Traveling Canucks 29 Comments Categories: Europe Portugal Top Lists Travel Stories Travel Tips Trip Ideas World Heritage Site

Portugal River Cruise in the Douro Valley

We’ve returned from a fun Portugal river cruise and have so many wonderful experiences and photos to share. A European river cruise has been on our travel wish list for years now, so we jumped at the opportunity to partner with Viking River Cruises for this Portugal river cruise .

There are so many European river cruises – why did we choose Portugal?

Well, the simple answer is that we had not visited Portugal before. This is a new country for us. We also want to do something special to celebrate Cameron’s 40th birthday.

After learning about the Douro Valley and it’s famous wine region , a luxurious river cruise in Portugal sounds like the perfect adult-only vacation.

The cruise is called Portugal’s River of Gold . It’s a 10 day river cruise that begins in Lisbon and ends in Porto (learn more here ).

This post shares our experience on the Portugal river cruise, including land excursions.

We break down each day of the tour and provide information about what we did. We took this cruise in May 2018. Times and details may will change for future cruises. Therefore, use this information as a guideline (when in doubt, contact Viking directly).

Watch this short video about our river cruise here .

Day 1 – Lisbon, Portugal

The River of Gold cruise itinerary begins in Lisbon, Portugal’s vibrant coastal capital.

Our flight from Vancouver arrives at Lisbon International Airport at 12:00 PM on Sunday. A representative from Viking waits for us at the airport. She is holding a red Viking sign so we easily identify her.

A private transfer transports us from the airport to our hotel, the Tivoli Avenida Liberdade Lisboa . This transfer is included. No additional payment required.

Although we arrived at the hotel before the standard 3:00 PM check-in time, our room was ready and waiting for us. We were thankful for this because it was a long travel day.

The first day is a free day on the cruise itinerary. This means guests have the opportunity to explore Lisbon at their own pace.

The only organized activity was an optional talk at 6:00 PM that reviewed basic details about the Portugal river cruise itinerary. The hotel has a table in the lobby specifically for Viking River Cruise guests, so there’s someone available to answer your trip related questions.

After a quick nap, we went to the rooftop bar at the hotel. The views from this bar are spectacular. We could have easily spent the entire evening there. However, we only have two nights in Lisbon, so we want to get our and explore the city.

Find out what we did in Lisbon Portugal .

Views from Sky Bar, the rooftop bar at the  Tivoli Avenida Liberdade Lisboa .

Read this post to see more photos of Lisbon .

Day 2 – Lisbon, Portugal

A complimentary breakfast is provided at the hotel. The morning begins with an excursion to see Lisbon’s top tourist attractions.

We depart the hotel at 9:00 AM sharp. We quickly learn that the wheels on the bus start moving at the specified time. Punctuality is very important.

The Lisbon city tour is a guided tour.

Guests on the Portugal river cruise are split into 3 separate coaches. There are about 25-30 people per coach. 

Guests are provided a  QuietVox  audio system so that you can hear what the guide is saying. Our guide was very knowledgeable and shared interesting stories about Portugal’s history and culture.

First stop is the magnificent Belém Tower (above photo).

We spent about 30 minutes at Belém. We did not go inside the tower, we took photos of the outside only.

Belém Tower is arguably the most important tourist attraction in Lisbon. We did not actually go inside this 16th century tower but we were able to marvel at its unique  Manueline architecture .

Navy Museum and Jerónimos Monastery

After Belém Tower we visited the nearby Navy Museum and Jerónimos Monastery, a  UNESCO World Heritage Site . It’s quite an impressive building (see above photo).

The Portuguese are very proud of their maritime history and achievements. The  Portuguese Empire  was one of the largest and longest-lived empires in world history, existing for almost six centuries.

The exhibits in the museum include historical paintings, archaeological items and several models of ships used in Portugal since the 15th century. This museum has over 17,000 items!

We spent about an hour at the maritime museum. The first 30 minutes was with our tour guide, the remaining 30 minutes was for us to explore on our own. Give yourself some time to walk down to the impressive Monastery (the domed tower at the far right of the above photo).

The bus departed the museum at 11:30 AM and passed the beautiful Praça do Comércio  (Commerce Square) before arriving at our next destination – the Alfama District.

The Alfama is is the oldest district of Lisbon.

It’s the only part of Lisbon to survive the great 1755 earthquake, so it retains some of its old world charm. Today, this historical district is famous for its labyrinth of narrow medieval streets, small squares and quaint cafes and restaurants.

We toured the Alfama for about 45 minutes. The tour concludes at 1:00 PM.

We have the option to take the coach back to the hotel or get dropped off in the city center.  We opted to stay in the city and spend the afternoon exploring on our own. Find out what we did here .

Related – Lisbon exceeded our expectations. Here’s what we did.

Optional Tour – A Taste of Lisbon

Viking offers optional tours at some of the locations. We decided to join the A Taste of Lisbon tour. The additional cost for this 3.5 hour tour is $69 USD per person.

The coach departed the Tivoli Avenida Liberdade Lisboa at 3:30 PM. We had 12 people on the tour with us.

The food tour stopped at 3 locations and included small samples of local dishes.

The first stop had us sampling Portugal’s most popular pasty – pastel de nada (see photo below). The second stop included steak sandwiches and beer. The final stop included charcuterie with wine pairings. This was the highlight of the Taste of Lisbon tour.

We also visited the  Miradouro de Nossa Senhora do Monte  to check out the amazing views of Lisbon (see photo below).

We arrived back at our hotel at 7:00 PM.

The iconic pastel de nata. An essential food item for first time visitors to Portugal. Very delicious!

Day 3 – Coimbra & Porto

We departed the hotel in Lisbon at 8:00 AM. Guests are required to be packed and ready by 7:00 AM because the luggage needs to be picked up from your room and taken to the coach.

Complimentary breakfast at the hotel is included (buffet style – typical European spread).

We drove for 3 hours before arriving at Coimbra, the country’s former capital and home to the historic University of Coimbra . The coach stopped for a bathroom and coffee break about half way between Lisbon and Coimbra. The coaches are equipped with wifi and bottled water is provided.

University of Coimbra

We arrived in Coimbra at 11:30 AM. We explored the medieval town for about 30 minutes before making our way to the University of Coimbra, one of the  oldest universities in continuous operation  in the world.

A highlight of the university tour is Joanina Library, an 18th century Baroque library that is home to 300,000 ancient books. We could not take photos inside the library.

That said, the photos we did see do not properly capture how incredible this library is. You have to experience it firsthand (there’s good reason why this university is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site).

The tour at the University of Coimbra is about 1.5 hours.

After the tour we had lunch at a nearby restaurant and were treated to a delicious 3-course meal with live traditional music (guitar and singing). The food was very good and the atmosphere was quite festive. We spent about 2 hours at this restaurant.

We got back on the coaches and made our way north to Porto. The final drive was about 2 hours. Most people had a siesta to sleep off the wine from lunch.

We arrived at the Viking river cruise ship in Vila Nova de Gaia (Porto) at 5:00 PM.

Above – street scene in the city of Coimbra.

Joanina Library at the University of Coimbra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site ( see listing ).

Do you  follow us on Instagram ? If not, let’s connect!

The courtyard inside the historical University of Coimbra. Quite the place!

Vila Nova de Gaia, Porto

Our river cruise vessel, the Viking Osfrid , awaited our arrival at Vila Nova de Gaia, which is the south side of the Douro River (Porto is the on north side). The above photo was captured close to where the Viking ship docks. It’s technically not Porto but it’s close enough.

We boarded the ship and checked into our room. The process was fast and easy. Our luggage was delivered from the coach to our room. We had welcome cocktails at 5:30 PM and at 6:15 PM we were required to participate in a short safety drill. Basically, learn where your life jacket is located and how to use it in the unlikely event of an emergency.

Dinner was served shortly after the safety drill, around 7:00 PM. The captain took us up and down the Douro River on a sunset sail of Porto. After the sunset sail the ship docked at Vila Nova de Gaia for the evening.

We decided to get off the ship and explore Porto for a few hours.

Porto is such a photogenic city!

Related –  30 Photos of Porto that will inspire you to visit

Day 4 – Full day in Porto

The included excursion on Day 4 is called Panoramic Porto . Breakfast is served between 7:00 AM and 9:00 AM. The excursion departs at 8:30 AM sharp.

Similar to the Lisbon city tour , guests on the Portugal river cruise are split into 3 different coaches (the same groups as before).

The  QuietVox  audio system is provided so that we can learn about the places we visit (the devices are located in your stateroom – make sure you charge them every evening because you will use them every day).

First stop on the tour is the  Porto Cathedral , one of the city’s oldest monuments.

It’s located on a hilltop and showcases incredible views of the old red roofed city.

After the cathedral, our group walked to the nearby São Bento Railway Station , famous for its detailed tile murals. There are approximately 20,000 azulejo tiles on the walls that date as far back as 1905.

After the train station we visited Porto’s most popular shopping district and had about an hour of free time. We enjoyed another delicious round of  pastel de nata and coffee (Europeans know how to make great coffee!).

We visited Igreja de Santo Ildefonso (Church of Saint Ildefonso), an eighteenth-century church located near  Batalha Square , before re-joining our group and making our way back to Vila Nova de Gaia.

The last stop on the tour was probably our favorite – we visited Sandeman’s port wine cellar to learn about the region’s famous port wine and sample the goods. The Sandeman location is a short walk from where the ship is docked in Vila Nova de Gaia.

See more photos of Porto, Portugal

Above – monument in front of Porto Cathedral.

Beautiful tile mural inside São Bento Railway Station, Porto.

The Church of Saint Ildefonso. Notice the detailed tile art on the outside of the church.

Inside the Sandeman cave, home to hundreds of barrels of port wine. It smells so good in here!

Exploring Porto, Portugal

We arrived back to the Viking Osfrid for lunch. Guests can join a few different optional tours at this time. Or, you can take a shuttle back to Porto’s main shopping district.

We chose the shuttle back to Porto and spent the afternoon exploring Porto at our own pace.

Our self-guided walking tour began at the infamous Dom Luís I Bridge, where we took hundreds of photos of this incredible city (more on that here ).

We wandered around the city for about 3 hours and made our way back to the ship by 6:00 PM. The city is quite hilly, so we definitely got our exercise. We enjoyed dinner on the boat at 7:00 PM.

Views of Porto from the top of the Dom Luís I Bridge, an iron bridge built in 1886. One of the key people involved in its design was  Gustave Eiffel , the same man who designed the world-famous  Eiffel Tower .

Day 5 – Régua, Mateus Palace and Pinhão

We began the Portugal river cruise up the Douro River on Day 5, passing several towns and villages along the way. The ship departed from Porto at 7:00 AM. We woke up slowly that morning and watched the world slowly pass us by from the comfort of our bed.

We made our way to breakfast around 8:30 AM and finished just in time to witness the ship pass through the first river lock on the Douro River. It’s a very interesting procedure.

These river boats were built for the tight locks on the Douro River. Our captain carefully guided the Viking Osfrid into the narrow lock with only a few inches to spare on each side.

We spent the rest of the morning enjoying coffee on the sundeck of the ship, soaking up the unique landscapes as we sailed up the Douro. Lunch was served at 12:30 PM.

We arrived at the town of Régua at 2:30 PM. The included excursion departed shortly after we arrived, at 2:45 PM. We were a little behind schedule because there was a delay at one of the river locks.

WATCH – Video from our Douro Valley River Cruise

Mateus Palace in Vila Real, Portugal

First stop on the excursion is to Mateus Palace , a beautiful baroque palace located in Vila Real. The drive from Régua to the palace took about an hour. We had a 30 minute guided tour followed by 30 minutes of free time to explore the beautiful gardens and chapel.

After Mateus Palace we boarded the coach and made our way to Quinta do Seixo , located in the Upper-Corgo in the heart of the Douro Demarcated Region . This region is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (read the listing here ) because wine has been produced in the Alto Douro region for 2,000 years.

If you’ve been counting, that’s 4 different UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 4 straight days! 

The drive up the hill to the Sandeman winery is a little harrowing. The tight switchbacks put our driver to the test, but he was up for the challenge. If you don’t like heights, you may not want to look out the window during this part of the tour.

The views from the Sandeman at Quinta do Seixo are spectacular – see photos below. We’ve been to wine regions in Europe before (read about our trip to the Mosel Valley in Germany ), but we haven’t see vineyards quite like these. The rows of grape vines stretch up the side of the river valley for miles.

The terraces reminded us of the ancient terraces of Banaue in the Philippines .

Régua to Pinhão

For those who decided to skip the excursion to Mateus Palace and Quinta do Seixo, they stayed on the ship as it sailed from  Régua  to Pinhão . The coaches met up with the ship in Pinhão at around 6:45 PM.

Our coach actually passed the ship while it sailed up river. The above photo was captured from the window seat of the coach. That is our ship, the Viking Osfrid.

Dinner was served at 7:30 PM. That evening, we enjoyed local dishes and the ship’s staff were dressed in traditional Portuguese outfits. Performers came aboard the ship and played live music while we ate. It was a very festive evening.

The ship docks in Pinhão for the night. We had the opportunity to explore the town in the evening but we were too full from dinner. We decided to enjoy some local wine on the sundeck instead. It was a fun day.

Above – ship docked in the town of Pinhão, located in the district of  Vila Real .

Sailing up the calm Douro River. Views from the sundeck of the Viking Osfrid.

The variety of landscapes was unexpected. One minute we’re surround by wineries, the next minute we are sailing within a few meters of jagged rocks and steep canyons.

Panoramic views from Quinta do Seixo, home to the Sandeman brand of port.

Our big coach carefully made its way up these steep, windy roads.

Day 6 – Barca d’Alva and Castelo Rodrigo

The ship casts off from Pinhão at 7:15 AM. Like the previous morning, we take our time and enjoy the passing countryside from the window of our upper level stateroom.

We ate breakfast at 8:00 AM and made our way to the sundeck. The weather did not cooperate that day. It rained for most of the morning.

We arrived at Barca d’Alva at 2:15 PM and joined the included excursion that departed at 2:30 PM. We boarded the coach and made our way to the historical village of Castelo Rodrigo , a tiny medieval fortress town that retains its old world charm. The hilltop village is still home to about 60 people.

We had about 1.5 hours to explore the village, palace ruin and church of Castelo Rodrigo. The guided walking tour takes about 30 minutes. It’s not very big, so you can explore the village on your own.

We arrived back at the ship at around 5:00 PM. That evening we were treated to a cocktail party with a variety of colourful drinks to choose from. We ate dinner at 7:30 PM and went for a walk around Barca d’Alva afterwards. The town is quite small and there’s not a lot to do.

The ship docked at Barca d’Alva for two consecutive nights.

Admiring the palace ruins at Castelo Rodrigo.

Do you  follow us on Facebook ? If not, let’s connect!

Steep slope in the medieval village of Castelo Rodrigo.

Sampling a glass sparkling white wine that’s manufactured in the region. It tasted like sweet almonds. We’re not sure if the white wine was mixed with the almond flavour? It was an interesting combination. We’ve never tasted anything like it before. It was a little too sweet for our liking.

Our coach stopped at this lookout point so that we could capture photos of these beautiful landscapes. You can see the Douro River in the far distance. That’s where the ship was docked while we toured the region.

Day 7 – Salamanca, Spain

This was the longest and one of the most memorable days on the cruise itinerary..

After an early breakfast on the ship, we boarded our coach at 8:45 AM and began a two hour drive to Salamanca, known for its ornate sandstone architecture and the Universidad de Salamanca  (founded in 1134). 

The Old City of Salamanca has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We arrived in Salamanca at 11:00 AM. We stopped for a coffee break about half way on the drive from Barca d’Alva to Salamanca.

The guided tour begins at Salamanca Central Market. We sample a variety of cured meats fresh cheese, olives and wine. It’s a nice start to the afternoon.

We then walk to the magnificent Plaza Mayor, considered the heart of Salamanca. It’s said to be one of the most beautiful plazas in Spain . We agree with this recognition.

Guests are given free time to explore Salamanca.

You may re-join the group for a guided walking tour at 2:00 PM or choose to discover Salamanca at your own pace.

We decide to enjoy a bottle of red wine and tapas at Plaza Mayor. It’s the perfect place to people watch and soak up the atmosphere.

We visited Salamanca during graduation season and there seemed to be a lot of bachelor and bachelorette parties (we counted at least 10 different groups that were dressed up and ready to party).

If you travel to Salamanca, you must visit the incredible New Cathedral of Salamanca , built between the 16th and 18th centuries in both Gothic and Baroque styles. It’s one of the most impressive Cathedral’s we’ve visited. It is joined together with the  Old Cathedral  that dates back to the 12th century.

The coach departs Salamanca at 4:00 PM and arrives back at the ship at 6:00 PM. The ship remains docked in the town of Barca d’Alva for a second night.

Related – Why you should add Salamanca to your travel list

Outside Salamanca Cathedral. It’s so big that we couldn’t fit it all in the frame!

Inside Salamanca Cathedral. Nicole is dwarfed by the towering columns. This church is huge!

The stunning architecture and detailed ceiling in Salamanca Cathedral.

Random sighting at Plaza Mayor. This girl was dressed up in a fat suit for her bachelorette party – we believe. Salamanca is clearly a university party town.

See more photos of Salamanca here .

Can you spot Nicole in the above photo? Hint – she’s looking left.

Enjoying tapas and red wine in Plaza Mayor.

Above – endless rows of Jamón Ibérico, Spain’s celebrated cured ham. 

Day 8 – Favaios and the Douro Valley

The Viking Osfrid departs Barca d’Alva early, around 6:15 AM.

We arrived at Pocinho  at 9:00 AM and disembarked the ship to join the included excursion to the historical town of  Favaios , a village with a population of about 1,500 people that is known for one thing – its wine, Moscatel de Favaios .

The drive from Pocinho to Favaios took about an hour and passed through the region that was heavily impacted by the forest fires of 2017.

The first activity in Favaios was a visit to one of the last traditional bakeries in the Douro Valley. We sampled some fresh bread and learned how it’s made. Nicole tried kneading the dough but her bread did not make the cut. The baker was not impressed with her bread making abilities.

VIDEO: 15 Reasons you should visit Portugal’s River of Gold

After the bakery, we visited the local museum and learned about the region’s wine making process. The region is famous for its Moscatel de Favaios.

We then made our way to the Favaios co-operative, where the region’s wine makers work together to produce Moscatel de Favaios .

Of course, we also had a wine tasting.

We left Favaios and traveled 30 minutes to Quinta da Avessada , an ancient site that has long produced one of the richest wines in the Douro wine region. We enjoyed a welcome glass of Moscatel before sitting down for a memorable 3 course meal.

The owner is quite a character. He kept everyone laughing throughout lunch. We spent about 2 hours at Quinta da Avessada .

The coach travels through the Douro Valley on its way back to the ship.

The landscapes in the demarcated wine region are stunning. The never-ending terraces stretch for miles and miles – see the above photo.

We arrived at Folgosa at 3:30 PM and boarded the cruise ship.

It sails for about two hours before arriving at Regua, our final destination for the day.

We attended the Captain’s Cocktail Party at 6:00 PM before dinner was served at 7:00 PM. Because the ship is docked in Régua for the night, we decided to disembark the ship after dinner to explore the town.

When we return, we are treated to a special performance of Portuguese Folk Music by a local group called the Tuna Folk Show .

Nicole learning to make traditional Portugese bread in Favaios.

Church in the town of Favaios, Portugal.

Felicidades!

Inside the impressive Favaios   Adega Cooperativa  wine making facility.

Enjoying the region’s famous Moscatel de Favaios, similar to port wine.

Our host at Quinta da Avessada gave us a warm welcome and kept us entertained.

Day 9 – Régua and Lamego

We disembarked the ship in Régua at 9:00 AM and joined the included excursion to Lamego . The drive is 30 minutes. The tour is only 3 hours.

The clear highlight in Lamego is the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies , a stunning 18th-century Baroque and Rococo sanctuary that sits on a hilltop with 686 stairs in front of it (see above photo).

You can walk up the stairs, as many pilgrims will do, or you can take the bus to the top of the church and walk down. That’s what we did.

After walking down the stairs in front of the Sanctuary of Our Lake of Remedies, we visited Lamego Cathedral  (also known as Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral) and Museu de Lamego . Viking guests are given free admission to the museum. We spent about 30 minutes inside the museum.

We returned to the ship at 12:00 PM for lunch. The cruise ship departs from Regua and makes its way down the Douro River to Porto, the final stop on this Portugal river cruise.

We arrived at Vila Nova de Gaia at 8:00 PM on the Monday.

The 686 stairs in front of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies.

The beautiful Lamego Cathedral (Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral).

Admiring the exquisite rugs hanging on the wall inside Museu de Lamego .

Douro River Locks

The Viking Osfrid went through five different river locks while on this Portugal river cruise. This was the first time we passed through locks of this size. They are huge!

The lock at Carrapatelo Dam rises up 115 feet (35 meters) and the lock at Valeira Dam rises 109 feet (33 meters).

We were told that these are some of the tallest river locks in Europe.

We have a few time lapse videos that we will post on our Facebook page soon. It’s a very interesting experience. We made sure to be on the sundeck every time we passed though one of these impressive river locks on the Douro River.

Approaching the Valeira Dam

The river lock is located on the right side of Valeira Dam, in that big concrete box with the black door that resembles a garage door.

The ship approaches the lock and the door opens. It then enters the lock compartment and the doors close. The lock fills with water and this lifts the ship. Once it reaches the top, the opposite side door opens and the ship departs at the higher level (or lower lever if the ship is going down).

Above – inside the river lock. Views from the sundeck of the Viking Osfrid.

View of the Douro River from the top of Valeira Dam. It’s a long way up (and down)!

Day 10 – Porto and Disembarkation

The portugal river cruise concludes in the city of porto..

Most of the guests disembarked the ship early in the morning and went straight to the airport. You can enjoy breakfast one last time on the ship. Viking asks guests to vacate the room by 9:00 AM so they can prepare the ship for the next cruise.

We decided to stay one extra night in Porto.

This was the right call for us. Otherwise, we would have had to disembark the ship at 4:00 AM to catch our 7:30 AM flight home.

Porto is such a cool city. We could have easily spent a few more nights there.

We disembarked the ship at 9:30 AM and took a taxi to the hotel. Our accommodations were booked separately. Because we were early, we left our luggage at the hotel and spend the afternoon exploring the city.

On our final evening in Porto, we dined at a restaurant on the riverfront promenade. The Viking Osfrid was docked across the river at Vila Nova de Gaia. We watched guests taking photos on the sundeck, just as we did 7 days earlier. It was a moment of envy and nostalgia as the ship set off for its sunset sail up the river (see photo below).

We knew exactly what those guests were about to experience as they began their unforgettable Portugal river cruise up the Douro Valley.

Above – the Viking Osfrid sets sail up the Douro River.

What did we think of this Portugal River Cruise?

We thoroughly enjoyed our Viking River Cruise. In our opinion, we believe everyone should experience the luxury and simplicity of a European river cruise, at least once in their life.

We look forward to discovering new destinations with Viking River Cruises. Their service and attention to detail is top notch. We would recommend the Portugal’s River of Gold  cruise. It exceeded our expectations.

With that said, we must disclose that we teamed up with Viking River Cruises in order to make this trip possible. Our cruise was complimentary. We agreed to share our honest, firsthand experience on this blog and social media channels. 

Are you considering a Portugal river cruise?

Leave us a comment if you have any questions about this Portugal river cruise.

Related:  Lisbon totally exceeded our expectations! Find out why.

Related posts:.

06/21/2018 at 6:20 am

Portugal is one of the best places to check out in Europe.

08/16/2018 at 8:17 am

We agree! Would love to explore the south too.

06/25/2018 at 10:52 am

This all looks so amazing. Portugal has been #1 on my wish list for quite some time, and as a wine lover here in California, I’d love to spend some time getting to know Portugal’s wine country. It seems like Viking River Cruises are the perfect way to experience it! I’m sure that it was a nice, relaxed way to travel as a couple, too.

08/16/2018 at 8:19 am

It was so nice and a really great way to experience the countryside. We would highly recommend doing it on a river cruise we Viking.

08/23/2018 at 10:42 am

I have been dithering about taking this cruise, but since I’ve read your fabulous article, I’m ready to pick up the phone and book it! We loved our first Viking cruise – the Grand European Tour — so I’m sure we’ll love this one too! Thanks so much for your photos and excellent reports!

08/23/2018 at 11:25 am

Thank you for this review, we do this cruise on the Hemming in October 2018. Reading such a detailed review is like getting spoilers for TV shows. Some folk don’t want to know till it happens. But to know, in such detail, means a lot to my wife and I because it means we have the information to plan our trips. We know what’s what everywhere. So valuable.

We were spoilt with our first Viking Cruise on the Rhine, and still consider this the best one. But, who knows, maybe the Douro will outshine it! Viking deservedly regularly gets Best River Cruise company awards and their service makes a cruise as much as the cruising!

08/26/2018 at 2:19 pm

since you spent the extra night in Porto, how did you transfer to the airport which I assume was Lisbon?

08/27/2018 at 7:44 am

We departed from Porto Airport. We caught a taxi the following morning from our hotel. It’s about a 30 minute drive from Porto to the airport.

02/02/2019 at 11:08 am

Am I correct that the “Taste of Lisbon” was the only Optional Tour that you took?

If not, what others did you take and did you like them?

Or what reports of other optional tours did you hear from other passengers?

02/03/2019 at 11:18 am

Hi John – we did the Taste of Lisbon tour, but we did not enjoy it. When we did the tour, we visited 3 locations and the food was disappointing. We shared our feedback with the tour guide, so maybe it will be different in the future. We did not take any of the other optional tours. The included tours were very good, so we did not feel the need to do the optional ones.

02/15/2019 at 12:51 pm

Thank you for an amazing day by day experience with Vikings Duoro river cruise. We are taking the cruise with Vikings late November 2020 – it’s going to be sweater wrather, but hope for Mother Nature’s good weather mood. We are taking the post trip on the road to Santiago and hope someone can also share this experience with us. Thank you.

03/03/2019 at 1:36 pm

You’ll have a great time! Unfortunately we didn’t do the post trip, but we have no doubt that you’ll love it! Come back and tell us what you think.

06/27/2019 at 10:26 am

Any tips for traveling with fractured ankle? I fractured my ankle 10 days ago and our Portugal cruise is in 10 days?

02/17/2019 at 7:25 am

Thank you for this exceedingly helpful guide. We went with Viking last year on a Danube cruise and thoroughly enjoyed it. Our only niggle was the we would have liked the boat’s itinerary to have been more easily found – ie if we sign up on an excursion will the boat be repositioning. We wanted to be able to make an informed decision on whether to coach or stick with the river. Of course, the movement of the boat does depend very much on the river levels (especially on the Rhine and Danube) but a little more transparency would be good.

We have already booked this Portugal cruise for later in the year so I was starting a little pre-tour googling and happened on your site. Wonderful!

03/03/2019 at 1:38 pm

Hi Caroline,

Thanks for your comment. We found this too! We weren’t sure how long we would be cruising etc. So, we hope this post helped you. Come back and let us know what you thought of Portugal!

02/24/2019 at 5:33 pm

Did you find the long bus rides from the ship interesting in themselves or did you feel the bus rides were too long? We took Rhine cruise Basel to amsterdam an enjoyed. How would you compare Yangtze river cruise to portugal with regard to time on buses?

03/03/2019 at 1:51 pm

We hope to do the Yangtze sometime soon, but unfortunately we can’t compare it. A few of the bus rides were longer, especially to Salamanca where it was 2 hours there and 2 hours back. But, that was the longest day. The ride was nice and the buses are comfortable so we sat back and enjoyed the countryside.

04/26/2019 at 9:33 am

Hi. Thank you for this wonderful information. Looking forward to our Viking Douro cruise this coming July, 2019. We have cruised with Viking at least 8 times prior to this one. Booked a few extra excursions, but am thinking of cancelling the one to Historic Guimaraes. Any thoughts? Maybe not so much there as one blogger put it. We are doing the extra Olive Oil grove excursion. Generally, on most of our cruises, we have only procured the included tours. I have made some notes from your post. Thanks again for your input.

04/26/2019 at 1:10 pm

Hi Barbara,

Thanks for reading. We did the included tour in Porto, Panoramic Porto. It was great, and we did enjoy it. Porto is now one of our favourite cities!

You will have time to explore Porto on your own, so there is enough time to visit Historic Guimaraes.

It’s a tough call because we enjoyed our time in Porto so much, that I’m not sure we would have wanted to spend a lot of time elsewhere. However, the places we did go on the included tour could easily be visited by yourself after you get back. And you do have a fair bit of time in Porto.

It’s hard because we didn’t see Historic Guimaraes, so we don’t know what we are missing. If you do decide to go, make sure you visit the places that were on the included tour because they are really impressive.

I hope this helps, a bit at least!

05/18/2019 at 12:43 pm

Hi! So happy I found your description of the Portugal tour. This will be our second cruise with Viking, we did the Grand European in May 2018. The Portugal cruise is a close to my grandparents homeland as I will get. They are both from the Azores. Thank you for all your insight on this beautiful area.

05/28/2019 at 10:32 am

We would love to take the Portugal pot of gold cruise however I am concerned that I might not be able to keep up on the tours as I have MS and it affects my talking. I can walk but not continuously for more than 30 minutes at a stretch before I would need to rest. Also a lot of stairs and hills are very challenging. Appreciate your thoughts on whether this cruise would be okay for someone who has mobility challenges.

06/18/2019 at 2:21 pm

I am interested in knowing the name of the hotel you booked in Porto at the end of the cruise. Also any comments on the Road to Santiago tour offered by Viking would be helpful. Loved your blog.

06/19/2019 at 8:51 am

I don’t recall the name of the hotel – I would not recommend it. The front desk was very rude and unhelpful. The room was fine, but nothing special.

We did not take the Road to Santiago tour, so I can’t help you with that.

09/13/2019 at 7:27 am

Wow, what a fabulous trip review! We just booked the Portugal cruise yesterday for Christmas week. No sure if the scenery will be as gorgeous as your photos show, but each day sounds really exciting. We have done several river and a couple ocean cruises on Viking and this time will be celebrating our 55th wedding anniversary. Thank the Lord we are still going strong.

11/12/2019 at 12:02 pm

It was interesting and informative to read your travelogue. Thanks for sharing. We are booked in the May 2020 Douro cruise with Viking. We have taken three other Viking cruises in Europe and Asia. We thoroughly enjoyed their hospitality. The River of Gold cruise will involve more coach touring. We hope the rides are picturesque and worth the journeys.

04/29/2022 at 1:58 pm

This is exactly the blog I’ve been looking for – Thank You! My friend and I booked this cruise with our young adult daughters in June 2022. None of us have done a river cruise, and I’m a girl who wants to know what’s coming and be able to plan for our free time. Your review with specifics as to timing and locations is exactly what I needed. We are going to skip a couple city tours and do it on our own so we can prioritize locations and likely visit quite a few more in Lisbon & Porto. We also picked a few optional excursions, but this really helped me to know what to expect. Your pictures are lovely and we are so excited to travel and bond with our favorite people.

10/29/2022 at 10:11 am

I’ve just returned from the Viking Portugal trip. I was on the Torgil. Your post is spot-on! I enjoyed the river cruise and time in Lisbon so much. Just curious, do you use a fancy camera or just an iphone? Your photos and blog are terrific!

10/31/2022 at 11:35 am

I’m glad you enjoyed the trip and found the blog post helpful. Thanks for the kind words about our photos. We use a mirrorless camera and phones, plus a gopro at times.

02/28/2023 at 3:45 am

4 of us are taking the Duro river cruise. Is the Silver Drinking package worth the price given that it is a Port Wine heavy trip. ?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Yes - Subscribe me to your monthly newsletter!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

• Expeditions
• Complimentary Brochures
• Special Offers
• Porto to Porto

Douro’s Valleys & Vineyards

• From £4,745
• 6 Guided Tours
• 2 Countries
• Dates & Pricing

Douro’s Valleys & Vineyards Map

Enjoy rich beauty & history

Journey through the Douro River valley and into the history of fine Portuguese wine. Surrounded by terraced hills, spot some of the area’s quintas, clinging to the slopes. Experience Porto, where you can roam the port warehouses and take in the town’s cultural heritage. Visit Régua, Barca d’Alva and Favaios, home to one of the last traditional bakeries in the Douro Valley. Explore Salamanca, Spain, a UNESCO Site and one of Iberia’s oldest university towns.

FLY FROM LONDON

Viking Inclusive Value

All you need included, with no surprises or hidden fees

To learn more about each port of call and our included as well as optional excursions, click on the individual days below.

Itinerary and shore excursions are subject to change and may vary by departure.

More features, services and excursions included

Return flights from London and selected regional airports

One complimentary shore excursion in every port of call

Free Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary)

Beer, wine & soft drinks with onboard lunch & dinner

24-hour specialty coffees, teas  & bottled water

Port taxes & fees

Ground transfers with Viking Air purchase

Visits to UNESCO Sites

Enrichment lectures & Destination Performances

Onboard gratuities

Your Stateroom Includes:

River-view stateroom

Bottled water replenished daily

110/220 volt outlets

Queen-size Viking Explorer Bed (optional twin-bed configuration) with luxury linens & pillows

Private bathroom with shower, heated floor & anti-fog mirror

Premium Freyja® toiletries

Plush robes & slippers (upon request)

40" or 42" flat-screen Sony® TV with infotainment system featuring Movies On Demand, plus CNBC, CNN, FOX & more

Telephone, safe, refrigerator

Individual climate control

*All amenities on board Viking Longships; amenities vary on other ships.

Sign up to receive updates from Viking

Stay current with special offers, news and destination-focused content.

Company Information

• Order a Brochure
• Media Center
• Investor Relations
• Health & Safety Program
• Privacy Notice
• Cookie Policy
• Manage Cookies

Viking River Cruises

• Mississippi

Viking Ocean Cruises

• Scandinavia
• British Isles & Ireland
• North America
• Caribbean & Central America
• South America
• Mediterranean
• Quiet Season Mediterranean
• Australia & New Zealand
• World Cruises
• Grand Journeys

Viking Expeditions

• Great Lakes
• Longitudinal World Cruises

Favorite Experiences in Portugal’s Douro Valley: Viking Cruises

To travel through northern Portugal’s Douro Valley is to immerse yourself in a landscape that has been carved by nature and man for centuries. Steep, rocky terrain is covered in terraced vineyards and orchards, such as cherry and almond trees, as far as the eye can see.

In recent years, the  Douro River Valley has emerged as one of the most desirable destinations in Portugal, in part due to its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Beginning in north-central Spain, the Douro River’s journey takes it through Portugal to the Atlantic Ocean.   

Insider tip: Get up early to walk across the bridge and get some steps in. Or, enjoy some early morning reflections on the Douro River.

Wine production  and wine tastings are the top attractions in the Douro region, especially port wine. Though wine has been produced in the Douro Valley for 2000 years, it wasn’t until 1756 that the industry became organized and internationally known. 

 The further north you go, you leave the cities behind and discover small towns where people still live much as they have for centuries. The landscape becomes more dramatic and the distance between Quintas ( wine estates) grows farther apart. 

In May I experienced the Douro Valley with Viking Cruises on Portugal’s Douro River of Gold trip. 

Viking Cruises Portugal’s River of Gold  

The cruise is a combination of travel by land and on the river. You arrive in Lisbon, Portugal’s capital city and have a couple of days to take tours and explore Lisbon before boarding a bus to Porto, where you embark on the cruise ship. There is one stop along the way to Porto, Coimbra. 

 If you’d like to learn about another popular Viking cruise check out  Danube Rivers itinerary, read this article.

Of course, this itinerary includes many optional shore excursions, but I couldn’t do them all. In this article,  I’ll share some of my favorite places and best experiences on Portugal’s River of Gold . 

Barca de Alva the last Portuguese town on the Douro River and a few hundred yards from the Spanish border.

 Douro Valley and port wine

The Douro River Valley is the oldest demarcated wine region in the world. The heart of this region is Peso da Régua, the largest riverside town in the Douro Valley. In the 18th century, it was a major hub for the area, eventually connecting the railway, road, and river. 

From Régua, traditional wooden cargo ships called rabelos were loaded with barrels of port wine and set out on the rough waters of the Douro to Vila Nova de Gaia; the port was unloaded and left to mature before being exported on larger ships to Britain. 

In 1988, Régua was recognized as the International City of Vineyards and Wine by the International Organization of Vine and Wine, based in Paris. If you’re a true port wine lover, visit the Douro Museum while in Régua.

In a nutshell, port is a fortified wine created when 16th-century British merchants added brandy to the local wine to preserve it during the travel to Britain. Port wine comes in many styles, from dry to sweet, ruby to tawny. Note that the only grapes used to produce authentic port are grown in the Douro Valley. 

Viking Helgrim docked in Régua, Portugal.

Favorite Experiences on Viking’s Portugal River of Gold Cruise

Flavors of lisbon tour.

I enjoyed this tasty food tour of Lisbon’s Campo de Ourique neighborhood as much for the interesting neighborhood as the food. This is not a tour through a food market, nor is it in a neighborhood frequented by tourists. It’s a chance to get a glimpse of local life in a neighborhood with many older buildings, pretty tiles,  lots of trees, and a lovely shady park. By the time the tour was finished, I could imagine myself living there. 

If you’ve never tried Portuguese food, or even if you have, this tour is a nice introduction to some typical fare. It’s fun and educational, and each place is a unique, family-owned restaurant. There are no franchises. We also stopped at the revamped Campo de Ourique Market , a treasure trove of interesting local foods, spices, and gifts.

chorizo empanada, codfish with tomato rice fritter, and olive oil with tomato on housemade bread

Portuguese food is known for its simple yet flavorful approach, using local ingredients, such as cod, cheese, and smoked sausage. We made four or five stops, and in addition to local foods like ham, cheese, and cod cakes, we tried some Portuguese wines, beer, and a special liquor called Ginga . Ginga is a sweet liquor made from sour cherries. It is around 20% alcohol, so don’t let the sweet taste fool you.

The tour is capped by a stop in an atmospheric old cafe for a delicious, sweet treat, Portugal’s famed pastel de nata —an egg custard pastry accompanied by coffee. 

Inside tip:  Tran 28, an iconic image in photos of Lisbon, stops in this neighborhood. This is one of the best places to get a photo.

Food tours are the best way to see a neighborhood and get the overall flavor, pun intended.  As we walked, our guide gave us insights into the residents of the neighborhood, and insider tips, like how much it would cost to rent an apartment.  This tour was an optional excursion offered by Viking.

Music is one of the best ways to share culture. Even if you don’t know the language, music conveys the emotions so that you can understand the story being sung. What I remember most about Coimbra is the Fado music. Fado is sometimes called the music of the Portuguese soul. 

You may have heard about Fado in Lisbon… it is not the same as the Fado of Coimbra . In Lisbon, women sing Fado. In Coimbra, it is sung only by men, usually students of Coimbra’s famous university. The style in Coimbra is taken from the medieval troubadours.

Learn more about FADO, check out Quarteto Coimbra on IG. Or my You Tube channel . 

Coimbra is one of the oldest cities in Portugal and was the birthplace of six Portuguese kings. In 1139, King Alfonso Henriques made Coimbra the capital city. The small historic center is colorful with cobbled narrow streets, many alleyways and steps, and side streets to explore. Everyone I spoke to on the ship said they wished we’d had more time in Coimbra. There are some interesting shops there, too. 

Coimbra is probably best known for its university. It is believed to be the oldest in Portugal and has been hosting students from around the world for 700 years.  A tour of the university includes the Baroque Library, which contains over 300,000 books. 

Fun fact: The university keeps a colony of bats to eat the book lice that attack the books. It is one of two libraries in the world with a bat colony. But don’t worry, you won’t see any bats!

Mateus Palace & Gardens in Portugal’s Douro Valley

Mateus Palace and Gardens

You may recognize the Mateus Palace from the hallmark label on the bottles of Mateus rosé wine. But the wine is not made here. This is a very interesting story, but I’ll leave it for you to discover when you visit on your own!

The Mateus Palace is now a private residence but was formerly the home of the last count of Vila Real . The entrance to this stunning Baroque palace was designed by an Italian architect who wanted to create a dramatic and memorable entrance…he did. 

I enjoyed the tour of the palace and gardens much more than I expected. With such a grand entrance, you’re set up to expect something pretty fantastic inside, and the palace interiors do not disappoint. A tour of Casa de Mateus reveals the incredible architecture and priceless art objects that today would be impossible to produce either due to costs or lack of rare materials.

Details about the furniture and artifacts collected by the family are fascinating, but a walk through the gorgeous gardens and the cedar tree tunnel is equally captivating. There’s even a small vineyard. A tour of the house is with a guide only, but you can wander through the gardens on your own. 

Quinta do Seixo

Quinta do Seixo is the home of Sandeman. Once you reach the winery, you’ll recognize the image of Zoro wearing a black cape and flat-topped black hat called a sombrero cordobés . It’s the branding for Sandeman, an iconic image in port wine country.

The scenic ride to Quinta do Seixo is one that you’ll not soon forget. It includes some hairpin turns and edge-of-the-road views that are hair-raising, but it’s worth it for the spectacular views of the terraced vineyards and Douro River. 

The tour takes you through the winery, explaining the process of making port wine, the grapes used, fermentation, and storage. It’s a very basic tour, but it’s good if you don’t know much about the winemaking process. The tour ends in the tasting room and shop. The wine tasting includes a red and white port wine and an opportunity to purchase wine to go.  

Castelo Rodrigo

Castelo Rodrigo is one of Portugal ’s twelve historic parishes. Sometimes referred to as the original global village, it was a city that provided refuge for Jews, Arabs, and Christians. There is evidence that they all lived here peacefully for over one hundred years. I found this especially interesting in light of current events. 

The parish, located 2,200 feet above sea level, was under constant siege by the Spanish from the 11th to the 14th centuries. The ruins of a castle and the old church are evidence of the town’s bloody past. During the Spanish Inquisition, many Jews fled Spain for Castelo Rodrigo.

The little chapel is especially beautiful, and there are fantastic views over the countryside from the castle. Castelo Rodrigo makes a lovely day trip. There’s time to wander the narrow medieval streets and poke around the few shops that sell local goods made from cork.

This tour is a good way to see a lot of the countryside and learn some history. There’s also a stop on the way back for a scenic overlook of the beautiful landscape, and photo ops.

Salamanca , Spain

F ounded before the rise of the Roman Empire, Salamanca is an ancient city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site . It is known as the Golden City due to the color of the light reflected off the stunning sandstone facades. 

Salamanca is a city, like many in Europe, anchored by an important plaza. In Salamanca, the Plaza Mayor is a meeting place for all occasions. Just as Piazza San Marco in Venice , it has become one of the living museums of Europe. Just being outside, people-watching, and sitting at a table with a ringside seat is a unique experience to savor. 

Aside from enjoying the spectacle in Plaza Mayor, my favorite experience in Salamanca was a visit to Casa Lis Art Nouveau and Art Deco Museum . A former residence, it is an enchanting museum that houses an extensive collection of art nouveau art, stained glass, sculpture, paintings, pottery, and textiles. There’s a gift shop and cafe on site, as well. 

The other thing you must do in Salamanca is  find a seat at a tapas bar and enjoy the delicious Iberian ham Spain is known for, along with a glass of the local wines, perhaps tempranillo from Ribera del Duero or white wine from Rueda.

Fun fact: The port for this full day excursion is Barca d’Alva, the last Portuguese town on the Douro River.

Vineyards at Quinta de Avessada, by Penny Sadler

Quinta da Avessada & Favaois

During an excursion to visit the UNESCO-designated town of Favaios, you’ll visit the Favaois Co-op and taste the famous Moscatel de Favaois . 

Favaois, population 1,500, is also known for its bakery that still makes bread as it has been for centuries. During your visit, you’ll meet the sixth generation to carry on this tradition and you’ll get to taste the bread, fresh from the oven. They even give you butter and jam for it.

Part of the tour of Favaois is a visit to the Bread and Wine Museum,  which features both audiovisual and multimedia exhibits. Be sure to experience the exhibit which guides you through the aromatics of muscatel. 

Then, it’s on to the historic vineyards of Quinta da Avessada for a traditional Portuguese meal and more wine tasting. Take some time to enjoy the view over the vineyards and a sip of the sweet Moscatel wine. Made with Galego Muscat grapes and aged for eighteen months, muscat is a typical aperitif that can be drunk either before or after a meal. This was a really interesting excursion, and I wish we’d had a bit more free time in Favaois. 

Porto is one of the oldest cities in Europe…and currently one of the most popular. Located on the banks of the Douro River, Porto has been a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996 and a European Capital of Culture in 2001.

The second largest city in Portugal, it is known as the City of Bridges. Six bridges cross the Douro River; two were designed by the same Eiffel as the famous tower in Paris. The most known is the Luis I Bridge, named for the Portuguese king at the time of the construction.

Like Lisbon, Porto has a rich history and many architectural treasures. A walk along the narrow cobblestone streets and the riverfront provides many opportunities to admire this romantic city.

 Distinctive azulejos (decorative tiles) are a key architectural and cultural feature. The perfect place to study these tiles is the Sáo Bento train station in Porto. If you get the feeling you’ve seen this railway station before, well, maybe you have. A one-way ticket to Hogwarts, anyone?

20,000 tiles tell the story of Portugal at the Sao Bento Train station in Porto.

Excursions in Porto

As with each port, Viking offers multiple options for excursion. In Porto, Viking excursions included Porto on Foot,  Porto City Hike, and a tour of a traditional fish cannery. That last one may give you pause, but one of Portugal’s biggest industries is fish canning.

 I did the City Hike Tour, which included a ride in the funicular. The Porto on Foot tour does not include this. The panoramic views are worth it and honestly, how often do you get to travel by funicular? 

Port wine tasting

Viking offers an excursion with Graham’s Port wine to taste and learn more about Douro wines. I did not do this but I did try the wines on the ship and they are good! Many people who did take this excursion said they enjoyed it.

The ship docks on the Vila Nova de Gaia side of the Douro River, where all the big port houses store the wine before bottling and shipping. You can easily walk to many places for a tasting on your own if you prefer something less formal. I recommend Kopke , the oldest port wine producer in the Douro Valley.   I had a chance to meet one of the winemakers and experience a guided tasting of several vintages. They were all excellent. I’ll write more about that in a future article. 

Fun fact: Porto is the namesake of Portugal, not the other way around.

Ready to take a Douro River cruise?

The best time to take a Douro River Cruise is as soon as possible.  The scenery is spectacular offering unlimited breathtaking views. Due to the increasing number of cruise ships on the river in recent years, things are changing fast in the Douro Valley. And while all that tourism provides funds to keep some of these small historic places alive, it also irreversibly changes them. If you’re considering Viking Cruises Portugal’s River of Gold cruise, I suggest you go now. Go solo, go with someone else, just go.

Leave a comment if you’d like more information about any aspect of this trip.

All photos are copyright Penny Sadler unless otherwise noted. Viking Cruises sponsored my trip. All opinions and words are my own.

Related posts:

How To Have A Solo Adventure In Enchanting Bath, England

Argentina’s #1 organic winery, domaine bousquet, if you liked this article check out another.

How To Make The Most of a Visit To Tintagel Castle, Cornwall

8 Things To Do: First Time Visitors To Seattle, Washington

Create A Mexican Style Happy Hour Inspired by San Antonio

Best Wineries and Day Trips Near Lisbon Portugal

[…] wines have long been recognized by wine enthusiasts, especially port wine from the Douro Valley region. More recently the Lisbon wine region is attracting those who seek wine experiences closer to the […]

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

• [email protected]

Traveling with Sweeney

Inspiration and information for the best in luxury, cultural, and active travel, cruising portugal’s river of gold: our favorite things, highlights of our viking cruise on the douro river.

“Portugal’s River of Gold”, Viking River Cruises’ itinerary from Porto to the Spanish border showcases the Douro region of northern Portugal, capturing the essence of its people, history, culture, and gastronomy. Portugal and Viking River Cruises  also captured my heart. It was the first cruise ever for my husband and I and we feel that we couldn’t have chosen a more ideal cruise because it had so many elements that make a trip special for us. On our cruise, we made our way on the Viking Hemming along the peaceful Douro River enjoying smooth sailing, beautiful vistas, cultural experiences, traditional food and wine, and steps back into history.

View from the top deck of the Hemming on our Viking cruise on the Douro River

Mr. TWS and I have got much more we’ll show and tell in future posts, but here’s a glimpse of what we loved about our Viking cruise on the Douro River.

An itinerary for all seasons

The “ Portugal’s River of Gold ” itinerary really is one for all seasons operating from March through December. Keeping our tradition of ending the year on a European note, we traveled in early December, but this itinerary is not seasonal. Rather, it encompasses attractions and activities to be enjoyed year-round, and this cruise would be a pleasure any time of the year.

Among the vineyards on a hilltop overlooking the winding Douro River

After a wonderful two-day pre-cruise stay in Lisbon (included in the 10-day Viking itinerary), we were transported by coach to Porto to begin our river journey. For the next several days, we took advantage of all land excursion opportunities (both included and optional) while other passengers opted to select just a few or stay on the ship to relax and enjoy on-board amenities and additional cruise time. The flexibility of the daily itinerary is perfect for choosing your own pace and experiences.

The ship and accommodations

Viking Hemming at port in Barca d’Alva, one of our overnight port stops — Photo credit: Joaquim de Sousa

The Viking ships that cruise the Douro — the Hemming and the Torgil — are new members of the Viking fleet, making their first sails in 2014. An even newer ship, the Osfrid, will begin service in 2016. They are somewhat smaller than the lines’ longships that sail other rivers in Europe because of the Douro’s particularities — it’s not as wide or deep as other rivers and there are several impressive and tightly-configured locks through which they need to pass along the waterway. It’s pretty exciting to be on the upper deck to get a real sense of what happens and see the activities of the crew in the process.

From top left: Relaxing in the lounge with a view; our private stateroom veranda; top deck lounge chairs and shuffleboard; dining room

With 53 staterooms accommodating up to 106 guests, the Hemming has a more intimate atmosphere than found on large ocean liners. We found that the size and configuration was perfect for maintaining privacy while still mingling with and meeting other guest over meals and in common areas. As weather permits, there is also a small pool on the upper deck, shuffleboard, and a terrace for dining or enjoying the view.

Our accommodations were in a Veranda Stateroom on the 3 rd level which was very comfortable and nicely-appointed. The room’s 185 sq ft was designed with an excellent use of space with space-enhancing mirrors, a roomy closet, and numerous electrical outlets, both 220V and 110V. The two of us, each with multiple devices, never had a problem recharging. We found the wireless connectivity throughout the ship to be very good, only being without service when there was no carrier availability on the more isolated portions of the cruise. Although we rarely flipped the “on” switch, the room also had a 40-inch flat-panel TV with major channels and movies on demand that might have more appeal for some.

Relishing the comfort of our lovely and well-appointed Veranda Stateroom

I was pleasantly surprised by the bathroom and shower arrangement. In what is a smaller space than found in some hotels, it was so well-designed that there was actually more shelving and counter space than I find in many of them. The water pressure of the dual shower heads was great and I really liked the L’Occitane bath products that were provided.

Housekeeping (provided for us by Lili) kept our room ship-shape and replenished with bottled water each day. Lili also provided a whimsical towel arrangement each day that always made us smile, especially a special cake and candle design for Mr. TWS on his birthday.

Crew, guides, and guests

I’ve often heard praise for the crews on Viking ships in Europe, and my first-hand experience was certainly consistent with that. The Hemming crew was amazing — friendly, helpful, and fun. We also enjoyed the camaraderie of other guests, particularly those like the lovely people in the photo below (photo courtesy of Bill Lui) with whom we often shared great meals and many laughs.

From top left: Maître d’ Claudio Pires (left) and Captain Ribeiro join our group of fellow passengers; Marta at Reception; Mr. TWS and Hotel Manager, Joaquim de Sousa; Antonio, our waiter

It was noteworthy that all the staff and guides were Portuguese and many were from the Douro region. Many of them had spent time abroad attributing to their excellent English skills, but also attesting to their love for their country in choosing to live and work in Portugal. They were great ambassadors for Portugal and the Douro region and we felt this was an important plus for the cruise.

Our guides Élia, Henrique, Carlos with Program Director Jorge Leitão

For guided tours, there were three groups organized to keep the size manageable and comfortable as we explored on shore. Élia  was our friendly guide who in additional to showing considerable knowledge and pride in her country regaled us with entertaining and informative stories.

We were also very impressed with the local guides that Viking arranged to show us around their cities, villages, historic sites, and wine estates. It’s clear that Viking staff are carefully chosen and trained.

On-board activities

There were numerous educational sessions and insider tours offered on the ship. Program Director Jorge Leitão gave interesting presentations about the history of Portugal, Portuguese food, and the topography of the Douro region. We also had a Portuguese lesson by Carlos, one of our Viking guides, which was fun and quite helpful as some of our on-shore interactions were with native Portuguese who did not speak English and were eager to communicate. Mr. TWS and I did quite well with our greetings to locals —  bom dia (good morning/day), boa tarde (good night, also used as a greeting in the evening), obrigada/obrigado (thank you fem/masc), but we definitely need a lot more practice on other phrases.

During a wheelhouse tour, we watch Viking Hemming Captain Afonso Ribeiro at the helm

A guest preparing Pastel de Nata, a favorite Portuguese egg custard pastry, during a demonstration with Executive Chef Carlos Silva. Try his Pastel de Nata recipe .

On a galley tour with Chef Carlos, we developed an even better appreciation for the work performed by the chef and small staff in preparing and serving our meals. In such a small space, this staff works long, hard and as a team to create an excellent dining experience for the passengers.

Heading down the steps into the galley kitchen with Chef Carlos Silva and staff

Delectable meals

To fuel up for the morning activities, we indulged in the full breakfast buffet (with an incredible selection of fruit, cereal, bread, pastries, meats, cheeses, eggs, and more. Made-to-order omelets were hard to resist, too.

Each lunch and dinner prepared by Chef Carlos and staff was eagerly anticipated with high expectations and we were never disappointed. The menu choices included fresh traditional or specialty Portuguese dishes as well as more universal options. Because it was December, some of the dishes were quite hearty — meats (pork and beef) or seafood (often cod, a plentiful and popular fish in Portugal). Desserts were amazing and irresistible.

A selection of beautifully-presented and delicious entrees and desserts aboard the Viking Hemming

The Viking crew is well-prepared to accommodate special diets. As a pescatarian, Mr. TWS had no trouble finding delicious seafood and vegetarian options on board (and throughout Portugal) as seafood is plentiful, especially cod which is traditionally a Portuguese favorite.

Although premium wines were available for purchase, we really enjoyed the variety of house wines that were included with each meal. They were all local Portuguese wines, both whites and reds, and there were special port wine pours at certain meals.

Shore excursions

Docked in ports such as Pinhão, we walked a short way from the ship to the village center for shopping and sightseeing. For more distant shore excursions, we were driven in new, immaculate, comfortable, roomy coaches for distances ranging from very short (across the bridge to Porto city center) to the longest of a little over an hour (to Salamanca, Spain). Most were about half an hour. Water was readily available on board and our guides provided commentary and history about the sights we were passing. Being so accustomed to driving ourselves, it was nice to sit back and enjoy the ride with complete confidence in the Viking drivers, especially on a few extremely narrow, winding, edge-of-the-cliff kinds of roads. We’ll have further posts about these and other places we visited, but just to give you an idea of the wealth of tour opportunities we had, these are a few of our spots along the Douro and beyond.

• Porto — Porto is one of oldest cities in Europe and the second largest city in Portugal. Although there was some light rain when we visited, the beauty and romantic ambiance was not diminished as we strolled the maze of steep, narrow streets and plazas past tiled churches and houses in Porto’s historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Over the rooftops of the colorful buildings of Porto,  the tower of Clerigos Church is visible from many points in the city and surrounding area

From top left: Porto street scene; ornate altar in Clerigos Church; murals in the São Bento Railway Station depicting the history of Portugal

• Guimarães —  Originally settled in the 9 th  century, Guimarães is known as “the birthplace of the Portuguese nation” and was Portugal’s first capital in the 12 th  century. We visited the 10th-century castle as well as the town’s medieval quarter.

Guimarães medieval quarter, statue of Portugal’s first king, and Guimarães Castle

• Pinhão — Another UNESCO World Heritage Site and the center of the Douro wine region is the or peaceful town of Pinhão. One of the attractions is Pinhão’s railway station with 24 murals made of azulejos (blue and white tiles seen throughout Portugal) depicting life in the Douro region. The village also has many shops including ones where you can find diverse items made of cork (including clothing and accessories).

Murals of azulejos tiles at the railway station; strolling through the village, we found unique items made from cork, such as the dress (bottom center)

• Favaios — This small village has a deep history of producing bread and wine (moscatel, in particular). Halfway up a steep cobblestone street, we stepped into the modest bakery where loaves of four-cornered bread were being made and baked in a wood-fired oven. We sampled some of the right-from-the-oven hot bread with jam and accompanied with a glass of moscatel. We also visited Quinta da Avessada, a century-old winery, and enjoyed a fun and delicious dining experience. Emphasizing Viking’s strong relationships with local businesses and communities, the winery had built a special large dining area for the Viking tours to wine, dine, and entertain the Viking passengers.

A Favaios specialty, Trigo de Quatro Cantos (four-cornered bread) — from loaves to the wood-fired oven and ready to eat

• Lamego — In the bustling city of Lamego, we visited the Santuario de Nossa Senhora dos Remedios (Shrine of Our Lady of Remedies) at the top of a baroque double staircase with nine terraces and 686 steps from the town center. The terraces are adorned with beautiful azulejos.

Gorgeous azulejo tiles adorn the terraced staircase from the city center to the Shrine of Our Lady of Remedies in Lamego — seen here in the morning fog

• Casa de Mateus (Mateus Palace) — You may recognize the ornate Baroque building from the labels of Mateus Rosé, the famous Portuguese wine export very popular in the 1960s and 1970s. The palace was built during the first half of the 18 th century by Antonio Jose Botelho Mourao and is still used as a summer home by his descendants.

Reflections in the pond at Mateus Palace

• Wine estates —  The sweet grapes used to make authentic port wine, Portugal’s most famous export, are only grown in the Douro Valley. There are many styles of port, several of which we sampled at wine estates throughout the Douro region and on board the Hemming.

The view of the Douro Valley and hills in the distance from Quinta do Seixo, a renowned wine-producer and home of the Sandeman brand

• Side trip into Spain: Salamanca —  This was the farthest from a port that we got and it was well worth the trip for the rural Spanish scenery we saw along the way (including a farm with a very large Iberian pig) and the gorgeous university city of Salamanca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On our own and in a guided tour we walked around the historic center getting an architectural feast for the eyes as we visited key attractions, including the new and old cathedrals and Plaza Mayor.

Salamanca, Spain

• Fado — Longing, yearning, regret, and nostalgia…. these are some of the intense emotions that characterize the soulful lyrics and singing of fado music, Portugal’s deep folk music tradition. We were treated to two live fado performances during our Viking River Cruises tour.

Left: Fado singer performing at the 11th-century Alpendurada Monastery near Bitetos, Right: Fado performance in Coimbra

Scenes along the way

Of course, a favorite part of the cruise was the ride itself, enjoying the abundant natural beauty of the region as we watched the topography change passing terraced hillsides, vineyards, rocky cliffs, olive groves, and forests. Since the river itself is actually quite narrow, we were very close to the shoreline and canyon walls on both sides at numerous times along the way. The river was quite peaceful during the entire cruise, with only a bit of waterway traffic in Porto.

Scenes along the way on our Viking Hemming cruise

Rowing crews pass alongside the Viking Hemming on the Douro

Prelude to our Douro River cruise: Lisbon

I fell in love with Lisbon right away. It’s a beautiful city with topographical features similar to San Francisco — hilly landscape, long waterfront, colorful buildings and even an impressive suspension bridge, the 25th of April Bridge that resembles the Golden Gate Bridge. During our free time and on a guided Viking tour, we took in as many of the sights and sounds as we could. The Hotel Tivoli on Avenida da Liberdade was convenient for exploring the neighborhoods and getting to the main squares and waterfront.

Fountain on Rossio Square in Lisbon

After walking miles around Lisbon on our first day and still a little jet-lagged, we stopped at a cafe along the waterfront. It was a special moment to relax with a glass of Portuguese red wine while we watched the sunset over the 25th of April Bridge and looked forward to our upcoming cruise.

Taking a moment to enjoy a glass of wine and the progression of the sunset along the Lisbon waterfront

We were impressed at the number of repeat Viking customers on our cruise. For many, it was the second or third cruise, for others it was more, and for one couple it was their ninth cruise with Viking. Now having had our own Viking River Cruises experience, I completely understand.

Disclosure: Viking River Cruises sponsored our wonderful Portugal’s River of Gold experience, but our opinions and perspectives are totally our own — as always.

Related posts:

No related posts.

• ← Havana, Cuba: An Essay by Jody Hanson
• A Sweet Taste of Portugal: Pastel de Nata →

53 thoughts on “ Cruising Portugal’s River of Gold: Our Favorite Things ”

Pingback: A Sweet Taste of Portugal: Pastel de Nata - Traveling with Sweeney

This just looks so lovely. I’ve never had a desire to be on an open ocean cruise, but I think I’d enjoy a relaxing river cruise. We fell in love with pretty much everything about Porto, such an amazing city, five nights was just not enough for us. While there we took a day trip on the Douro River. We took a train from the city for 2 hours up the river and then enjoyed a wonderful lunch cruise on a gorgeous day. That was just one day on the river, so I image multiple days would be such a treat! A nice way for Mr. TWS to celebrate his birthday!

Please do try a river cruise, Patti. All itineraries are different, of course, but on this one we really had quality port time exploring UNESCO sites, villages, wineries, etc. each day. We enjoyed that aspect. And yes, it was a wonderful way for Mr. TWS to celebrate his birthday –he’s been in Europe for his special day for the past several years.

Pingback: Cruising Portugal’s River of Gold: Our Favorite Things – Traveling with Sweeney | MyLuso.com

This cruise sounds great. I have only been on one cruise -on a much larger ship in the Caribbean. I enjoyed it, but have also wanted to do a European river cruise. I like how this cruise offered sessions on Portuguese history, food, and topography, as well as serving some dishes. So often one gets only a very cursory look at the stops on a cruise.

There was a wonderful mix of activities and opportunities on this cruise and we were very impressed. It was a great way to learn about Portugal and get to know some of its people with a crew that was all Portuguese and the people we met on shore. Oh, and the food — fresh and fanstastic! 🙂

What a wonderful journey you experienced! I am so happy you finally sailed with Viking! Aren’t you in love now? I haven’t done the Douro yet but look forward to the day I sail especially on the ships that differ from the Viking Longships in that they’re smaller and more intimate! I love the wheelhouse tours and the onboard demonstrations as well. Talk about cultural immersion!!!

Yes, I’m in love! In fact, I may be addicted to Viking cruises after just one journey. They do everything first-class. The cultural immersion was a big positive on this cruise. Loved our excursions to both small villages and more populous places like Porto and Salamanca — there was something to learn and enjoy in all of them.

It looks like you had an amazing time on your river cruise. I’m glad to learn that Viking uses local knowledgeable guides for shore excursions. Good guides can make all the difference on a trip. Thanks for sharing!

Yes, I agree. The local guides were super. For example, in Favaois, it was wonderful to see the pride our 3 local guides took in showing us their small off-the-tourist-radar village which is seeing economic benefits of the Viking passengers making visits..

I love Viking Cruises, that company really knows how to hit all the right notes. 🙂

They absolutely do. There was an incredible combination of experiences arranged for us as you read in the post. That’s why I feel that we really got a wonderful introduction to the Douro region’s culture and character.

This looks incredible. SO MANY experiences – what a trip!

Although, as I mentioned, some people opted to relax and enjoy the sailing and dining (which was awesome), we were quite busy every day taking advantage of the tours and excursions. We didn’t wnt to miss anything!

I’m not surprised that this Viking Cruise was as spectacular as you describe it. I’ve been on two and am awed by the quality and consistency of the service and excellent training of the staff. I’d love to travel on this itinerary having dipped my toe in the waters in Lisbon. Great review!

Another repeat Viking passenger! 🙂 On our first night during the welcome briefing, the program director asked how many had cruised with Viking before — I was amazed at how many hands went up. Then to find out how many times they’d cruised really impressed me. But with itineraries like this and a high level of quality, it’s no wonder, I guess.

How wonderful! I shall be spending 5 weeks in Porto in March / April myself and have to research the region for a guidebook update. I shall certainly look into doing one of these trips – thanks for sharing!

Wonderful that you’ll be spending five weeks in Porto — I’d love to do that! Enjoy your stay and I hope you’ll get to sail the Douro, too.

It’s been too long since I’ve visited Portugal, what a wonderful way to explore the rivers there and in style. On my bucket list for 2016

This cruise really gave us a chance to not only travel in style, but be transported to new, interesting places to visit each day without packing/unpacking. Great way to explore.

This is amazing Catherine! I love your summary of the cruise. Such a detailed report with helpful indications. I have never been to Portugal before but this country is definitely worth a visit. While I was thinking about walking the Way of St. James from Portugal the cruise looks like a very interesting alternative. A hundred people is a nice group to stay with. I found the photo of the rooms very nice! And most of all, winter time makes Portugal so much more interesting! With the fog and clouds! I hope to get there someday!

Winter is a fine time to visit Portugal. There were gray days which added a nice dramatic ambiance to the landscape, there were also sunny days (especially pre-cruise in Lisbon and on our final sail day back to Porto), and only a little rain on a couple of days. Weather never diminished the experience for us. So yes, go to Portugal in winter! 🙂

There’s just something about Portugal, isn’t there? We have yet to visit the Douro Valley or take a cruise along the Douro River but it looks like an activity that needs to be taken in a leisurely fashion and Viking Cruises seem to provide an excellent experience. Can’t wait to visit Porto either and I’ll be using many of your suggestions when we go!

Yes, there is something about Portugal. From the very start of our trip in Lisbon to the end, we enjoyed the people and the places. I’d like to head south from Lisbon next time and discover that part of the country, too.

What a lovely trip. I’ve been told river cruises are the future of water travel, and I can see why. I like that your ship had only 106 guests — as compared to the 3,000 or so now boarding ocean cruises. Love the four-cornered loaves that look like gigantic dog biscuits.

Ha! That’s a good observation about the four-cornered bread. Let me say that bread was so delicious right out of the oven. A touch of moscatel as an accompaniment was nice, too.

I just did my first Viking River cruise on the Danube and I loved it. I’m a true convert. I’d love to do the one you did as I grew up in Porto. You’ve motivated me even more!

Porto is so beautiful — even in the rain, as we saw it. I’d love to spend more time there. Must have been an interesting place to grow up.

What a fabulous cruise. We went on a coach trip with Expat Explore and saw quite a few of the cruise ships embarking and disembarking at various places and wondered which we’d choose if we ever did one. So thanks for the heads up about Viking Cruises 🙂

We’d been wondering about cruises for a long time and now we know that at least when it comes to Viking cruises — we’re ready for more!

What a wonderful trip and great way to see Portugal. Love your tradition of ending each year in a European destination. When I saw the picture of shuffle boarding on the ship I thought this time of year would be too cold, but your other pictures showed it wouldn’t be so bad. I think doing a river cruise would be so much nicer (and not as hectic—large number of passengers) as on big cruise ships. Something I would consider!

The weather was fine — a mix of sun, overcast skies, a little rain, temps 50s, 60s. I really liked the size of the ship and number of passengers, too. Of course, as you read, we liked a lot about this cruise. 🙂

I’m not into boats, but the Viking River Cruises are getting me to change my thinking. If I do a cruise, it will be on one of their boats. The River of Gold cruise looks wonderful. Not sure which river cruise I’d opt for. So many great options.

I’ve never been a water person myself, but as you can tell this Viking cruise suited me wonderfully. I always felt comfortable on the boat and included many of the things that Mr. TWS and I love about travel as I mentioned in the post. And you’re right — there are so many great Viking cruises to chosse from.

What a stupendous experience! The more I hear about Viking River Cruises, the more I want to take one!

I was the same way — the more I heard about Viking, the more I was convinced that it was a must-do.

Looks like a beautiful region to explore. Also good to hear that the onboard activities sound really interesting, and not cheesy games like Bingo, which I would have expected on a cruise.

Oh my gosh, Bingo wouldn’t have worked for me! From my cruise and the other cruises I’ve heard about, I think Viking cruises are on a whole different level. And Portugal is wonderful. I’ll be sharing more about the places we visited.

The river cruises look like such a lovely way to travel through parts of Europe – I have wanted to take one for so long! I hadn’t considered cruising in Portugal before but now I have added it to my list – your photos are lovely!!

Although I’d be thinking about a river cruise for a while, I didn’t realize that Viking had one in Portugal. It quickly came to the top of my list for this first cruise since we’d never been to Portugal. Of course, now I’m keen to try other itineraries, too.

Pingback: Prelude to a Cruise: 7 Lisbon Highlights - Traveling with Sweeney

Pingback: Picture Portugal Part Two: Instagram Favorites - Traveling with Sweeney

Hiya! Thank you for all this! We head out at the end of April 2017. This will be our first viking cruise and our second cruise period. We are very excited about the vast difference between a massive RC ship holding thousands to this much more intimate cruise. Our big question is these excursions, we tend to like to do stuff on our own. And have traveled Europe a lot, but unlike the RC cruise, we are having an issue figuring out the distance between docking and the sites. I’m not a fan of motor coaches, and or guided tours. So like one you mentioned it took an hour to arrive, was there sites before then? Or was Salamanca the only place to visit. Thank you again for a wonderful post of your trip

Salamanca was the only place visited on that excursion, but we found the scenery along the way very enjoyable. We’ve rarely done coach tours and had a rather negative view of them, but were fine traveling by coach to the land excursion sites with Viking mostly because it was worth getting to the places they took us! Most are not long rides. The only longer ride (a few hours) was from Lisbon to Porto to begin the cruise. Nice journey and we stopped in Coimbra for a tour and lunch. Let me know how you enjoy the cruise.

Pingback: A Sweet Taste of Portugal: Pastel de Nata | Traveling with Sweeney

Pingback: Good Cheer and High Spirits in Vienna | Traveling with Sweeney

Pingback: History and Festivities in Nuremberg, Germany | Traveling with Sweeney

Pingback: Reflections on River Cruising | Traveling with Sweeney

Pingback: Wine on the Rhine: A Taste of Alsace | Traveling with Sweeney

Pingback: Meet the Cruisers: The Nice People You Meet on a River Cruise | Traveling with Sweeney

Pingback: Medieval Guimarães: Portugal's First Capital | Traveling with Sweeney

Pingback: Sailing the Baltic Sea with Viking: Our First-Ever Ocean Cruise | Traveling with Sweeney

Pingback: Viking Cruise Shore Excursions: Should You Take Them? | Traveling with Sweeney

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

• Our Services
• Dining Plan
• Stroller Rental
• Disney Dream
• Disney Fantasy
• Disney Magic
• Disney Wonder
• Adventures by Disney
• Aulani - Hawaii
• Disney's Hilton Head Resort
• Disney's Vero Beach Resort
• Destination Overview
• A Marvelous Guide to Universal Orlando
• Universal Orlando Resort™ Hotels
• Sandals Resorts
• Beaches Resorts
• Virgin Voyages
• Cruise With Norwegian
• Stroller Rentals
• Activities & Tours
• Shore Excursions
• Walt Disney World
• FunJet Vacations

Excursions on Viking River Cruises - Are They Different?

By:   Megan Guinnup , a Marvelous Mouse Travels agent

Excursions on Viking River Cruises are a bit different from most Ocean Cruises. From the way you meet up with your guide to the cost and everything in-between, let's dive deeper into those differences. 

Ticket and Information

While you're at dinner and your stateroom host is taking care of the evening turndown in your stateroom, he or she will leave a copy of the next day's Viking Daily and tickets for your excursions on your bed. The Viking Daily contains the next day's schedule, weather report, information on the destination, and interesting facts. The ticket has the date of your excursion, your name, and the time/place you need to meet your guide. You'll need to bring your ticket to each excursion - some guides collect them and others don't, but you should be prepared either way. 

Meeting your Guide

Disembarking from a River Cruise is far easier than an Ocean Cruise. There's no waiting to clear customs upon docking, you walk straight off the gangway into the town or city. A few times a coach bus took us to the start of the tour, but most of the time we met our guide as soon as we walked off the ship and began our tour almost immediately. Be sure to pack comfortable shoes - many of the towns still have cobblestone sidewalks and roads! 

What is the Cost?

On Viking River Cruises, there is one included excursion at each town or city you visit along the way. This is typically a guided walking tour of the town, which can include visiting historical sites, learning about the significance of that town and its buildings/churches throughout history, and sometimes, going inside a few buildings or churches. The guides that Viking uses for these excursions are local experts in the area you are visiting and all speak English! 

What are Optional Excursions on Viking River Cruises ?

These are additional excursions you can choose to attend, but do have a cost associated with them. The cost varies, based on what you'll be doing on the excursion. For example, a wine tasting is going to cost more than a tour of a palace. Viking has a variety of optional excursions you can choose from, but they don't overwhelm you with choices. Each day of the Rhine Getaway sailing I was on, there were two to four optional excursions to choose from.

What if I don't want to pay for an excursion?

If you choose to forgo any optional excursions, you're free to hang out on the ship or explore the town on your own! The customer service desk provides you with maps of the area as well as a card that has your ship name, phone number, and dock location (in case you get lost). No matter how good you are with directions or how great your map app is on your phone, definitely take a card - you never know when you'll need it! 

Excursions on a Viking River Cruise are a memorable experience and give you a great orientation of the town or city you're visiting. In my opinion, the included excursions are a must-do for everyone! If an option excursion that is offered is something you're interested in, go for it - you won't regret it. Otherwise, explore the town you're docked in on your own - there is so much to do and see! 

Please reach out to  Megan , an agent with Marvelous Mouse Travels to plan your next vacation or you may contact  Marvelous Mouse Travels.

Quick Links

Marvelous mouse travels, connect with us.

8 best river cruises in Europe, from the Douro to the Danube

E urope is a continent built on its rivers, with many having played a vital role in the formation and development of its most important cities . From the Thames to the Tiber , they are an ever-flowing reminder of the continent’s long and varied history.

The opportunity to sail along these rivers, among the world’s most beautiful and peaceful waterways, is a temptation that’s easily given in to. Of course, a river cruise is about more than just spending time floating on the water (although that option is available, should you wish). It’s about the towns, cities and landmarks along the way.

These trips will take you on a relaxing and slow-paced journey to vineyards and valleys, tours and excursions, returning each night to your own floating hotel. Each day offers quick stops to discover some of the continent’s most important cultures at your own pace.

The Independent has rounded up eight of the best Europe river cruise packages, from epic continental crossing and to the finest Christmas markets to explore.

Capitals of Eastern Europe, Viking River Cruises

Viking River Cruises’ Capitals of Eastern Europe itinerary is a 16-night trip covering the main cities on the Danube. It sets sail from Vienna, the elegant and sophisticated Austrian capital, and it finishes in Constanta, Romania, before a quick final journey overland to Bucharest to end your trip with a two-night stay.

Read more on Europe travel :

• The underrated European holiday destination with fabulous forests and brilliant beer
• Beat the heat: The ‘cool’ European destinations to visit in summer 2024
• The lesser-known Croatia destinations you may not have considered

On the way you’ll visit a host of towns in Hungary, Serbia and even Bulgaria, but on this trip the bigger cities are the main attraction. Vienna is followed by Bratislava – where Baroque palaces meet a typically Eastern European Old Town – and then Budapest . The Hungarian capital is a highlight: from festooned “ruin bars” and thermal baths to a spectacular neo-Gothic parliament building, the city has a wide variety of architecture, activities and things to do.

How to book

The tour lasts for 17 days, starting from £5,445pp. This price includes return flights, one excursion in each port of call and all meals. vikingrivercruises.co.uk

North Rhine & The Netherlands, TUI

Alongside the Danube, the Rhine is one of Europe’s main cruise rivers. Many operators have several Rhine packages; TUI’s offering covers a stellar range of cities for a very affordable price. Its ships have two dining options (a bistro and a more formal restaurant) with al fresco seating, as well as a wellness and activity area on the top deck. No excursions are included, but this does give you free rein to choose whatever activities you like.

The first two days are spent in Amsterdam , where you’ll have ample time to wander its canals and green spaces, such as the Vondelpark, or visit attractions such as the Anne Frank Museum, Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum.

Days three and four bring you to Rotterdam and Dusseldorf. You can enjoy the port area in the Netherlands ’ second city or simply marvel at its dramatically different modern architecture, while Dusseldorf provides a variety of museums and concerts alongside a lively Old Town. On days five to seven, you’ll visit four picturesque riverside cities and towns: Bonn, Koblenz, Boppard and Oberwesel. There are waterfront bars and restaurants galore, and each has its own slice of history (think of a Beethoven museum in Bonn and a memorial to the ruler who united Germany in Koblenz).

From £1,639pp for this seven-night trip, including three meals per day (you can add coffee, alcohol and other drinks on an all-inclusive basis for an extra £20 per night) and return flights. tui.co.uk

The Douro, Riviera Travel

A trip along the northern Douro River can offer views to rival even the most idyllic of Algarve beaches. This trip starts in Porto , where bars and restaurants line the banks in the Ribeira (Riverside) district, but it is worth climbing the various hills to see other areas and sites, such as the cathedral and Dom Luis I Bridge.

After setting off along the Douro, your first two stops are Pinhao – a picturesque wine town, famous for being at the heart of the Port-producing region of the country – and Castelo Rodrigo, a 12th-century walled village located in the highlands. Day four will see you visit Salamanca, the Spanish sandstone city famous for its cathedrals and university.

The next two days are spent in Peso da Régua and Lamego – two small hillside towns – before returning to Porto on day seven. The cruise ends here, but the holiday doesn’t; this package also contains a three-night stay in Lisbon . After travelling to the capital by coach, you’ll visit the nearby towns of Coimbra (day eight) and Sintra (day 10), while you’ll have a day in the capital sandwiched in between; while in Lisbon, take in the city’s unique Manueline and Pombaline architecture while wandering through its grand squares, and visit Sao Jorge castle or the city’s famous Time Out Market.

This 11-day cruise is priced from £1,599pp, including all meals on board, excursions, airport transfers and coach travel where necessary.  rivieratravel.co.uk

Idyllic Rhône, Scenic Cruises

Scenic Cruises’ luxury Rhone sailing takes you through some of the best sections of southern France , starting in Lyon . The regional capital has 2,000 years of history, so it’s blessed with a Roman amphitheatre right through to a Renaissance Old Town. Your first trip will take you north along the Saone River to Macon, a famous wine region in Burgundy.

The next two towns, Vienne and Viviers, offer spectacular views of the Rhone before you arrive in Avignon. You can enjoy a private concert at the Palais des Papes – once a Papal residence – as well as a cooking class onboard, but a visit to the city itself is worth it to wander its narrow streets and charming squares, starting with the Place de l’Horloge. Your final day takes you to Arles, at the mouth of the Rhone – from here, you can travel home, stay in the city or carry on towards Marseille .

Prices start at £2,999pp for the eight-day cruise. The package includes 20 meals, the premium concert experience, cooking lessons and 19 shore activities, ranging from walking tours to wine tastings. scenic.co.uk

Holland & Belgium, Avalon Waterways

Avalon’s eight-day cruise of the Low Countries is an excellent way to experience some of the region’s best cities in a relaxing way. It starts and ends in Amsterdam , where you’ll have a number of nights to wander its scenic network of canals lined with beautiful 17th-century buildings.

When you move on to Belgium, you’ll visit Ghent , Brussels and Antwerp on consecutive days. More tranquil canals await you in Ghent, and those who enjoy being by the water can continue this in Antwerp’s waterfront area. Brussels has more than its fair share of landmarks and museums (all centred around Grand Place, the main square and Unesco Heritage Site), but the Royal Museum of Fine Arts (Antwerp) and St Bavo’s Cathedral (Ghent) are definitely places to visit during the other stops. Day six will take you to Rotterdam before you head back to the Dutch capital.

From £2,453pp. Meals and some activities are included; there are additional excursions in each destination that can be purchased. avalonwaterways.co.uk

Danube Delights, Emerald Cruises

This trip from Emerald Cruises takes you along the famous river to Regensburg. It starts with two nights in Budapest , with a traditional Hungarian folklore show and tour of Buda Hill on offer, along with any solo sightseeing you’d like to do. Days three and four take you to Bratislava and Vienna, where you can enjoy cycling tours and hikes.

Krems and Durnstein are the last two stops in Austria before you head to Passau, the German “City of Three Rivers”. At the confluence of the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers, the city is home to an impressive cathedral and Old Town. After disembarking at Regensburg, you make your way to Munich , where a good plan is to spend time exploring the Bavarian capital before you fly home.

From £1,849pp for this eight-day cruise, which includes five guided tours, 20 meals and complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks served with lunch and dinner on board. emeraldcruises.co.uk

Christmas Markets on the Rhine, Ama Waterways

There’s something quite special about experiencing Christmas celebrations on a river cruise through Europe. On this AmaWaterways voyage, you sail the Rhine, boarding in Amsterdam and with a first stop in Cologne. The Gothic cathedral provides the backdrop for one of the country’s best Christmas markets, where you’ll find dozens of stalls selling festive items, many of them handmade. Other markets include the more elaborate Heinzels Wintermärchen in the Old Town and the Markt der Engel (a more rustic affair in the city’s Neumarkt square). For those who want to mix in a bit of sightseeing, the Museum Ludwig and Roman-Germanic Museum can give you a taste of arts and history.

Next on the itinerary, you’ll visit the German towns of Heidelberg and Speyer, where more markets await, before arriving in Strasbourg, France. Here you’ll find an eclectic mix of French and German culture, a warm festive spirit and plenty of opportunities to wander the markets that are spread throughout the town. Wander further afield and you’ll find Petite France, a pretty district known for cobblestone streets and canals. Holidaymakers return to Germany for the penultimate stop in Breisach, before disembarking in Basel (though you can always stay in Switzerland for a taste of Swiss Christmas markets).

From £3.149, including meals and some activities; flights and airport transfer not included. amawaterways.co.uk

European Sojourn, Viking River Cruises

This ultimate itinerary bisects Europe to take passengers from Amsterdam to Bucharest, via sections of the Rhine, Main and Danube among other European rivers. Along the way, passengers will visit some of Europe’s principal cities – think Budapest, Amsterdam and Vienna – smaller (but just as beautiful) riverside settlements such as Passau and Bamberg, and lesser-known towns including Vidin and Kolocsa.

Hidden gems range from Melk, an Austrian town in the underrated   Wachau Valley wine-making region, Osijek, the fourth-largest city in Croatia, and Kinderdijk, a Dutch village famous for its set of 19 windmills. With 23 days, eight countries, 20 towns and cities, and at least 10 Unesco World Heritage Sites, there’ll be plenty to see as you traverse the length of central Europe.

From £8,045pp, including flights, 19 guided tours, all meals, transfers and amenities. vikingrivercruises.co.uk

Read more: Best hotels in Europe 2024: Where to stay for a city, beach or retreat break

The Independent is the world’s most free-thinking news brand, providing global news, commentary and analysis for the independently-minded. We have grown a huge, global readership of independently minded individuals, who value our trusted voice and commitment to positive change. Our mission, making change happen, has never been as important as it is today.

10 hot river cruises to book this year

There are classic river itineraries — the Danube, the Rhine, the Rhone and the Nile — that anyone who appreciates the ease and camaraderie of river cruising can book with most of the top cruise lines. But those aren't your only options.

The most exciting river cruises to book this year are the new offerings that go off the beaten path, explore an unsung river or combine a standard seven-night sailing with a novel land tour.

For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Here are 10 new itineraries for 2024 and 2025 that are taking river cruising beyond the familiar, including several on recently launched or soon-to-debut river ships.

AmaWaterways' 7-night Wonders of Colombia and Magic of Colombia

Love South America but have already cruised the Amazon? Consider AmaWaterways ' newest ship, AmaMagdalena. Debuting in January 2025, the 60-passenger ship will sail two alternating seven-night itineraries year-round on Colombia's Magdalena River, traveling from Cartagena to Barranquilla and vice versa.

With the Wonders of Colombia itinerary , you'll board AmaMagdalena in coastal Cartagena, a popular Caribbean port on Panama Canal transits that you can now also enjoy on a river cruise. Arrive a day early or book a two-night precruise add-on to see sights such as the historic Walled City, San Felipe de Barajas Castle and the Gold Museum.

Following a sunset sail away, immerse yourself in the sights, sounds and tastes of Colombia via a local music experience in Palenque, the first "free town" in the Americas after a 1713 decree from the Spanish crown freed residents from slavery. You can also check out 19th-century Calamar on a paola (a two-person bicycle taxi) and the jazz music and local handicrafts available in Santa Barbara de Pinto and Mompox.

El Banco and Magangue round out the list of port calls before the cruise ends with a tour of the floating village of Nueva Venecia and an evening Carnival celebration in the seaside port of Barranquilla.

Choose the Magic of Colombia itinerary , from Barranquilla to Cartagena, and you'll visit the same ports, just in a different order. Rather than end your cruise with the Carnival celebration, you'll experience it on your first day. You can also book several precruise and postcruise land tours, including three nights precruise in Medellin, three nights postcruise in Panama or both.

AmaMagdalena will be joined in June 2025 by 64-passenger AmaMelodia. Both vessels will offer spacious (237- to 516-square-foot) staterooms and suites, as well as a heated pool on the sun deck and two dining options: the main restaurant, serving Latin American cuisine and Western favorites, and an intimate alfresco dining experience.

Related: Best river cruise lines around the world

American Cruise Lines' 15-night National Parks & Legendary Rivers

American Cruise Lines ' itineraries on the Columbia and Snake rivers in Oregon and Washington already attract travelers who appreciate the stunning landscapes of the Pacific Northwest, but now the cruise line has a 15-night National Parks & Legendary Rivers itinerary that takes scenic appreciation to another level.

The trip combines an eight-night cruise on the Columbia and Snake rivers with a seven-night land tour to three national parks: Glacier, Yellowstone and Grand Teton. The itinerary visits five states and begins or ends in either Portland, Oregon, or Jackson, Wyoming, depending on whether you do the land or cruise portion first.

What will you see on this cruise? If you start in Portland, you'll overnight before boarding one of the company's modern, 180-passenger river ships: American Jazz, American Harmony or American Song. Your first day will be spent enjoying scenic cruising along the Columbia River, with Mount Hood and Mount St. Helens as a backdrop, as you head to Astoria, Oregon. The historic seaside city is known for its beautiful Victorian houses and red trolleys.

Geology enthusiasts and anyone who remembers the devastating May 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens will be fascinated by the port call in Kalama, Washington, where you can take an included guided excursion to the National Volcanic Monument. The following day will be spent cruising the Columbia River Gorge before you arrive in Stevenson, Washington, where a visit to 620-foot Multnomah Falls is a highlight. The final two days feature views of the dramatic landscapes of the Snake River in eastern Washington as you call on Richland before disembarking in Clarkston.

The guided national parks tour begins with a drive to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, for a lake cruise followed by an overnight in Kalispell, Montana. Once in Glacier National Park, you'll navigate Going-to-the-Sun Road and dine at the historic Lake McDonald Lodge.

The tour continues on to Yellowstone National Park, where your adventure guides will offer insight as you explore Mammoth Hot Springs, Norris Geyser Basin, Tower Fall and Old Faithful, among other highlights. A visit to Grand Teton National Park and its Jackson Lake Lodge follows, with your final day spent admiring the park's incredible mountain vistas and abundant wildlife.

Related: The best US river cruises

American Cruise Lines' 50-night The Great United States

If 15 nights aren't enough to satisfy your wanderlust, American Cruise Lines offers a 50-night version of The Great United States program for 2025.

The 2025 sailing encompasses three cruises. It takes the 15-night National Parks & Legendary Rivers itinerary described above and adds a 21-night Mississippi River cruise from New Orleans to St. Paul, Minnesota, aboard 180-passenger American Serenade, which will call on 21 ports in six states. Along the Mississippi, you'll have a chance to visit Civil War battlefields in Vicksburg, Mississippi; Mark Twain's boyhood home in Hannibal, Missouri; and the landmark Gateway Arch in St. Louis. You can also enjoy legendary blues music on Beale Street in Memphis.

That segment will be followed by a 14-night, 14-port cruise along the coast of New England on 125-passenger American Pioneer (debuting in 2025). The ship will sail round-trip from Boston and visit scenic coastal ports in Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Massachusetts, including the quintessential New England islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.

Tour options will include visits to the Maine Botanical Garden in Boothbay Harbor and Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor, an SUV adventure along the dunes of Provincetown on Cape Cod and a tour of the gilded mansions of Newport in Rhode Island.

In total, you'll check off 15 states from your must-visit list during this river cruise. That's an impressive number of destinations to visit in a single trip.

Avalon Waterways' 7-night Vida Portugal: Vineyards & Villages Along the Douro

Portugal's Douro River Valley is beloved by oenophiles. Over the past few decades, it has also attracted river cruisers seeking a relaxing itinerary punctuated by sleepy small towns and the daily enjoyment of local food and wine.

In March 2024, Avalon Waterways added the Douro River to its offerings when it debuted 102-passenger Avalon Alegria sailing an itinerary called Vida Portugal: Vineyards & Villages Along the Douro . The seven-night cruise is round trip from Porto, where there's time at the start and end of your cruise to explore this colorful city's historic port-wine cellars, churches and bridges (including the Ponte de Dona Maria Pia, designed in 1877 by Gustave Eiffel).

Noteworthy stops range from an afternoon call on Porto Antigo, with included excursions to monasteries and churches in Braga and Guimaraes, to a call at Peso de Regua, where sightseeing and wine tasting go hand in hand. You'll even have an opportunity to add an optional excursion from Pinhao to the elaborate 18th-century Baroque palace Casa de Mateus (of rose wine fame).

Save time for the onboard activities, too. After a full-day excursion from Barca d'Alva to Salamanca, Spain — a city known for its mix of Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque architectural styles — you can learn how to paint azulejos (Portugal's famous blue-hued handmade tiles) or enjoy a pastry-making demonstration on the ship the next morning.

Related: The best river cruises in Europe

CroisiEurope's 7-night A Cruise Through Four Exquisite European Valleys

Germany is known for its scenic river valleys, and a new itinerary from French river cruise line CroisiEurope doesn't skimp on beautiful vistas. Called A Cruise Through Four Exquisite European Valleys , the seven-night, round-trip sailing departs from Strasbourg, France, and visits the Rhine, Neckar, Moselle and Saar river valleys.

The ship for this itinerary, 81-passenger Elbe Princesse II, is one of CroisiEurope's three paddle river boats. It normally navigates the Elbe River between Berlin and Prague. However, from July to October 2025, the ship will be cruising the Rhine and its tributaries.

This river cruise kicks off on the Saar River, famous for the Great Bend at Mettlach (the river equivalent of a hairpin turn), and overnights in the town of Saarburg, Germany. After a morning scenic cruise onto the Moselle River, you'll visit Trier, Germany, known for its ancient Roman structures and its photogenic medieval buildings, before continuing on to Cochem, Germany, where you can enjoy an afternoon visit to the hilltop Reichsburg Castle.

Larger cities like Koblenz, Germany, located at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers and home to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, are also on the itinerary. The trip features a stop in wine-centric Rudesheim, Germany, as well, so you can sample some vino and enjoy a ride on a scenic train while in the Rhine Valley.

The final day calls on a trio of German ports on the Neckar River. In the morning, you'll visit Mannheim and disembark for a coach transfer to Heidelberg, home to pink-hued Heidelberg Castle, historic churches and atmospheric beer halls. You'll then reboard Elbe Princesse II in Heidelberg and sail to Eberbach, a medieval city with an abundance of half-timbered homes and ancient fountains. The ship will overnight as you enjoy a final gala dinner before disembarking in Strasbourg the next morning.

Riverside Luxury Cruises' 11-night Danube and Main River Discovery

With the March 2024 debut of 110-passenger Riverside Debussy, Europe-based newcomer Riverside Luxury Cruises has added more than a half-dozen new three- to 21-night itineraries, with options on the Rhine, Main, Moselle and Danube rivers. In October 2024, the ship will sail an 11-night Danube and Main River Discovery itinerary from Budapest to Frankfurt that combines the highlights of two rivers and visits four countries: Hungary, Slovakia, Austria and Germany.

You'll embark Riverside Debussy in Hungary's capital before cruising past the illuminated Hungarian Parliament Building on your way to Bratislava. The capital of Slovakia is home to a hilltop castle, a walkable pedestrian zone and pubs serving local beer.

The next day, discover the history and artistry of Vienna with visits to its Hapsburg-era palaces, 16th-century St. Stephen's Cathedral and numerous museums. Charming Durnstein, Austria, is known for its medieval castle and a riverfront abbey with a pretty blue-and-white spire, while the golden-hued abbey in nearby Melk, Austria, celebrates the flavor of apricots in preserves and liquors.

As you reach Passau, Germany, which sits on the confluence of three rivers, you'll enter Bavaria and discover a walkable city with a domed 17th-century Baroque cathedral. The next day on the Main River (a Rhine tributary), you'll tour Regensburg, Germany, including its UNESCO World Heritage-listed city center, before spending two days exploring Nuremberg, Germany, which has a notably complex history.

Rounding out the cruise are calls on Bamberg, Wurzburg and Wertheim, Germany, with bustling Frankfurt — where historic remnants of the Middle Ages meet modern skyscrapers — serving as the departure port.

Related: River cruise packing list: What to pack when traveling by riverboat

Scenic's 66-night Scenic Cruising Through Europe

If you have two months to spare, a fascination with history, a love of fine wines and a generous budget, you can explore the rivers of Europe in one epic trip with Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours. The new 66-night Scenic Cruising Through Europe journey — available on two dates in 2025 ( May 4-July 9 and Aug. 16-Oct. 21 ) — explores more than a half dozen major rivers and waterways and calls on almost 60 ports in 13 countries.

The first part of the journey begins in Bucharest, Romania, with an overnight in a luxury hotel before you set sail on one of Scenic's 163-guest Space-Ships from Giurgiu. You'll cruise the Danube, Main and Rhine rivers all the way to Belgium and the Netherlands, then backtrack along the Rhine to Basel, Switzerland, taking some time to explore towns along the Moselle River.

This portion of the trip will take 36 days, and you'll explore ports in Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, Hungary, Austria, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland. You'll spend two days each in Budapest, Vienna and Amsterdam, and scenic highlights include Austria's Wachau Valley and Germany's Rhine River Gorge, with its many hilltop castles.

After a flight from Zurich to Paris, you'll start the next leg of your trip when you board 124-passenger Scenic Gem for a 10-night cruise on the Seine River. Visit historic Rouen and Honfleur or take excursions to Claude Monet's home and gardens at Giverny and the WWII beaches at Normandy.

Next, you'll fly from Paris to Bordeaux and board 149-passenger Scenic Diamond for a 10-night journey along the Garonne and Dordogne rivers in the heart of France's Bordeaux wine region.

On day 57, you'll fly from Bordeaux to Porto, Portugal, to board 96-passenger Scenic Azure on the Douro River for the final 10-night leg of your trip. You'll explore the legendary port cellars of Porto, taste wine amid the terraced vineyards of the Douro Valley and venture into Spain for a day trip to Salamanca. Your river cruise — and this epic 66-night journey — concludes back in Porto with an overnight, allowing you more time to experience this exceptional city.

Tauck's 13-night Romantic Capitals: Prague to Paris

Tauck's newest river offering in Europe for 2025 is its 13-night Romantic Capitals: Prague to Paris itinerary. This multiriver and land journey is available from April to October on Tauck ships Joy and Savor.

You'll start your journey with two nights at the Fairmont Golden Prague Hotel and enjoy ample time to take in sights such as Prague Castle and the Charles Bridge. You'll then transfer to Regensburg, Germany, for a nine-day cruise to Trier along the Main, Rhine, Moselle and upper Danube rivers, as well as the Main-Danube Canal.

Ports and cities visited on excursions include Frankfurt, Koblenz, Nuremberg, Bamberg, Wurzburg, Wertheim and Boppard, Germany. Exclusive experiences available to Tauck guests range from a private reception and dinner at Schlosshotel Kronberg near Frankfurt to a visit to the legendary Nurburgring racetrack near Koblenz.

You'll continue your trip on land with a quick stop in Luxembourg for a walking tour of its capital city. Afterward, you'll board a train to Paris, where your journey will conclude with a two-night stay at L'Hotel du Collectionneur.

Uniworld's 13-night Cruise & Rail: Paris to Istanbul

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises has added a new 13-night Cruise & Rail: Paris to Istanbul itinerary to its 2025 journeys. The two-week cruise offers you the chance to experience these two legendary cities, visit landmarks along the Seine River and then travel by luxury sleeper train for five nights from Paris through six additional countries to Istanbul. A 14-night reverse itinerary from Istanbul to Paris is also available.

If you begin your journey in Paris, you'll board Uniworld's 128-passenger Joie de Vivre for a seven-night Seine River cruise. Highlights include visits to Claude Monet's home and gardens at Giverny and Normandy's medieval capital, Rouen, known for its 11th-century cathedral and Joan of Arc history. A second stop in Rouen gives you a choice of excursions to the beaches of Normandy. This portion of the trip concludes with a stop at Versailles and an overnight in Paris.

You'll then transfer to Gare de Lyon and board the Golden Eagle Danube Express. First stop: the vineyards of Champagne for a tasting. The next day, the majestic scenery of the Austrian Alps are a daytime highlight, while dinner and a private classical concert in Vienna are on the evening agenda. After a morning exploring the city, you'll be back on board as your train heads to Postojna, Slovenia, where you'll enjoy a nighttime tour of the intricate Postojna Caves.

A visit to the Serbian capital of Belgrade rewards you with a traditional feast, while the next day's stop in Sofia, capital of Bulgaria, offers architectural and archeological gems in a city dating back 7,000 years. Upon disembarking in Istanbul, you'll spend a night at the luxurious Four Seasons Sultanahmet and have time to explore nearby sights, which include the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace.

Viking's 10-night Rhine & Main Explorer from Nuremberg to Basel

Viking 's newest itinerary for 2025 is the 10-night Rhine & Main Explorer , which cruises from Nuremberg to Basel (or vice versa) from May to November and visits cities in Germany, France and Switzerland. It's a new mix of ports for Viking, including some lesser-known historic towns in Germany's Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria regions.

You'll board one of the cruise line's 190-passenger Viking Longships in Nuremberg, where an overnight offers time to learn about the city's medieval structures and past as a staging ground for Nazi rallies. More medieval architecture awaits in Bamberg, famous for its river-spanning Altes Rathaus (Town Hall) and its rauchbier (smoked beer). If wine is your preferred spirit, you're in luck, as Wurzburg, a city in Germany's Franken wine region, is also on the itinerary.

As you continue your cruise, you'll see the vibrant half-timbered houses and sample the hearty Bavarian cuisine (think: bratwurst and pork knuckle) of Marktheidenfeld, Germany. A visit to bustling Frankfurt, which provides a stark contrast between historic and modern Germany, is also in order after an afternoon spent sailing past the Main River's castle-topped hillsides.

France's Alsace region gets its turn when you call on Strasbourg, known for its beautifully preserved Old Town encircled by the Ill River. The itinerary also includes a stop across the Rhine in Breisach, Germany, the gateway to the Black Forest and a town full of vineyards. You'll end your journey with a full day of exploring charming guild house-lined Marktplatz, history-rich streets and more than 40 museums in Basel.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

Expedia Rewards is now One Key™

Elektrostal, visit elektrostal, check elektrostal hotel availability, popular places to visit.

• Electrostal History and Art Museum

You can spend time exploring the galleries in Electrostal History and Art Museum in Elektrostal. Take in the museums while you're in the area.

• Cities near Elektrostal

• Places of interest
• Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center
• Central Museum of the Air Forces at Monino
• Peter the Great Military Academy
• Bykovo Manor
• Balashikha Arena
• Ramenskii History and Art Museum
• Malenky Puppet Theater
• Balashikha Museum of History and Local Lore
• Pekhorka Park
• Orekhovo Zuevsky City Exhibition Hall
• Saturn Stadium
• Noginsk Museum and Exhibition Center

MOSCOW - RUSSIA

Ewf b.v east west forwarding.

Edelveis, Right Entrance, 2nd Floor Davidkovskaja, 121352 Moscow, Russia

• Phone: +7 495 938-99-66
• Mobile: +7 495-997-0977
• Fax: +7 495 938-99-67
• email: [email protected]
• web: www.eastwestforwarding.com

Company Profile

• LIST WITH US

To: EWF B.V EAST WEST FORWARDING

Enter the security code:

+7 495 938-99-67

+7 495-997-0977

+7 495 938-99-66

Directory of Freight Forwarders, Cargo Agents, Shipping Companies, Air, Ocean, Land, Logistics and Transportation Brokers

• Expeditions
• Complimentary Brochures

Europe River Cruises

With longer port calls and our destination-focused approach, Viking maximizes your discoveries in Europe. From the fairytale castles of the Middle Rhine to the natural beauty of Norwegian fjords, you will gain deep insight into the continent’s cultural and historic riches.

Rhine Getaway

• Request a Quote

Grand European Tour

Romantic Danube

Danube Waltz

Lyon & Provence

NEW! Rhine & Main Explorer

Paris & the Heart of Normandy

Cities of Light

Paris to the Swiss Alps

Châteaux, Rivers & Wine

Paris & D-Day 80th Anniversary

London, Paris & D-Day

France’s Finest

Lyon, Provence & the Rhineland

Portugal’s River of Gold

Passage to Eastern Europe

Capitals of Eastern Europe

Elegant Elbe

Holland & Belgium

Tulips & Windmills

European Sojourn

Treasures of the Rhine

NEW! Treasures of the Danube

Christmas on the Seine

Christmas on the Rhine & Moselle

Christmas on the Main & Moselle

Christmas on the Rhine

Christmas on the Danube

Danube Christmas Delights

Christmas Along the Elbe

Rhine & Viking Shores & Fjords

Highlights of europe river cruises.

Europe’s inland waterways and stunning seaside coasts are brimming with old-world treasures. Discover them in celebrated capitals such as Vienna and Oslo, and in delightfully surprising ports, like Bratislava, Slovakia and Skagen, Denmark. From river to ocean, you can find:

• Cologne’s towering Gothic cathedral
• A traditional Sami ceremony north of the Arctic Circle
• Ancient trade routes of the Vikings
• Budapest’s regal Parliament building and Chain Bridge
• Sheep farming and wool production in a Faroese village
• Vintners tending their vines in quintas along the Douro
• The Hanseatic past of historic Bergen
• Kinderdijk’s windmills, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Picturesque Icelandic waterfalls and fjords
• Award-winning beers at Britain’s oldest brewhouse

Sign up to receive updates from Viking

Stay current with special offers, news and destination-focused content.

Company Information

• Order a Brochure
• Special Offers
• Sweepstakes
• Travel Advisors
• Media Center
• Investor Relations
• Health & Safety Program
• Privacy Policy
• Cookie Policy
• Manage Cookies

Viking River Cruises

• Mississippi

Viking Ocean Cruises

• Scandinavia
• British Isles & Ireland
• North America
• Caribbean & Central America
• South America
• Mediterranean
• Quiet Season Mediterranean
• Australia & New Zealand
• World Cruises
• Grand Journeys

Viking Expeditions

• Great Lakes
• Longitudinal World Cruises