Fly into Frankfurt, then transfer to Trier to embark your ship.* After boarding, you can relax, explore Trier a bit on your own, or join our “welcome walk” to stretch your legs and start getting oriented. (D)
Day 2 - Trier & Bernkastel
Take a morning tour of Trier, Germany’s oldest city, set on the banks of the Moselle River. See the wonderfully preserved Roman Porta Nigra, one of the original city gates and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You also see Trier Cathedral, with its extraordinary interior vaulting and baroque stucco work—another UNESCO Site. Lunch aboard as you depart for scenic afternoon cruising.
We arrive at Bernkastel, the “Pearl of the Moselle,” at dinnertime. Enjoy some free time to explore the town’s charming half-timbered houses and medieval market square, or join an optional tasting of local wine vintages. We depart this evening. (B, L, D)
Day 3 - Cochem & Koblenz
A walking tour takes you through the quaint Moselle town of Cochem, where you also visit imposing Reichsburg Castle. Eat lunch while cruising the scenic Moselle to Koblenz, arriving after dinner. We remain docked overnight, so you can take an evening stroll along riverside promenades and through the cobblestone streets to the historic central square of this charming German town located at the confluence of the Rhine and the Moselle.
(B, L, D)
Day 4 - Rüdesheim
Today you find yourself cruising through the storied Middle Rhine, lined with medieval castles, historic towns and vineyards—a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stop for a tour of Marksburg Castle, the region’s best-preserved, then continue cruising to Rüdesheim. Take free time to enjoy the restaurants, bars and shops lining Rüdesheim’s Drosselgasse. (B, L, D)
Day 5 - Miltenberg & Heidelberg
Today’s full-day excursion takes you to Heidelberg, an ancient city that is home to Germany’s oldest university. Tour the imposing red sandstone ruins of Heidelberg Castle, originally built in the 12th century but twice destroyed by lightning. A guided walk through Heidelberg’s Old Town and marketplace is included, as is lunch at a local restaurant. Return to your ship for dinner and departure. (B, L, D)
Day 6 - Würzburg
Disembark this morning in Karlstadt and take a half-day excursion to the charming Franconian wine town of Würzburg. There you tour the Bishops’ Residenz, a beautiful baroque palace built in 1744. You will see the sweeping staircase and many paintings and frescoes by the Venetian painter Giovanni Tiepolo, all of which miraculously survived World War II bombing. Join your ship in Würzburg; dine and cruise through the night. (B, L, D)
Day 7 - Bamberg
This morning, navigate through the 106-mile Main-Danube Canal, an engineering marvel stretching from Bamberg on the Main River to Kelheim on the Danube and comprising 16 locks. Originally envisioned by Charlemagne in the 8th century, this waterway was finally completed and opened in 1992, creating a continuous waterway from the North Sea to the Black Sea.
After lunch we stop in the historic town of Bamberg, founded in 902 and an important center of the German Enlightenment. Enjoy a walking tour of Bamberg’s beautifully preserved Old Town area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, then take time to explore or perhaps sample the town’s famous locally brewed smoky beer, Rauchbier. Celebrate your journey with a final dinner aboard. Depart tonight. (B, L, D)
Day 8 - Nuremberg
Arrive in Nuremberg this morning. After breakfast aboard, disembark and proceed to the airport for your return flight.*
The following meals are included:
B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner
*Transfers are not included. Let us know if you would like help arranging your airport transfers
Cruise ship operating this itinerary:
Viking Sky
* Ports of call may vary based on itinerary and departure dates selected
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Ports
Trier
Country - Distance from port to City - Distance to Airport - Currency -
Places of Interest
Bernkastel
Country - Distance from port to City - Distance to Airport - Currency -
Places of Interest
Cochem
Cochem is a town in western Germany and is the capital of the district Cochem-Zell. It is situated in the valley of the Mosel, at the foot of a hill surrounded by a feudal castle, the Reichsburg, dating from 1051. The town is surrounded by vineyards.
Country - Germany Distance from port to City - <1km Distance from port to Airport - 100kms Currency - Euro (EUR)
Places of Interest Reichsburg Castle, wine tasting, Senfmühle mustard mill, Pinnerkreuz Mountain, Mosel-Wein-Express train, Klotten Wildlife and Leisure Park, Schlagkamp-Desoye Win Museum, Senheim Sculpture Park
Koblenz
Situated in the picturesque landscape of the Rhine and Moselle and surrounded by four low mountain ranges is the 2000-year-old town of Koblenz. Its abundance of cultural monuments and historic buildings, its cosy lanes and narrow alleyways, the relaxed and happy atmosphere of its squares and river promenades make Koblenz a friendly town where guests feel right at home.
Country - Germany Distance from port to City - 0kms Distance from Port to Airport - 116kms Currency - Euro (EUR)
Places of Interest German Corner, Empress Augusta Gardens, Theatre and Obelisk, Beethoven Memorial, Museum of Military Technology, The Wine Village
Rudesheim
Rudesheim sits at the entrance to the Upper Middle Rhine Valley. If you come from the direction of Frankfurt or Mainz, it is one of the first major tourist towns you'll reach along the Rhine River. Rudesheim makes a good base for exploring the entire Rhine Valley, which is the home of famous wines, medieval villages and beautiful scenery.
Country - Germany Distance from port to City - 0kms Distance from Port to Airport - 55kms Currency - Euro (EUR)
Places of Interest Drosselgasse, Niederwald Monument, Rheingau Wine Museum, Asbach Brandy Distillery, Medieval Torture Museum, Bird of Prey Zoo, Jagdschloss, Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet
Miltenberg
Miltenberg, nestled tightly below wooded hills on a bend of the Main River, enjoys a wonderfully photogenic setting. Explore the "Pearl of the Main River" with your local guide. See the half timbered houses that give the town its fairy tale feel, along with the Crooked House and Royal Inn.
Country - Germany Distance from port to City - 1km Distance from port to Airport - 85kms Currency - Euro (EUR)
Places of Interest
Heidelberg
Heidelberg is known for its famous castle, which overlooks the city's Old Town. A trip up to the castle affords a good view of the city and its photogenic bridge over the Neckar, whose form, with its multi-arch support structure, is reminiscent of a Roman aqueduct, and whose tower-flanked entrance was said to have inspired Walt Disney in his design of the Magic Kingdom. The Philosophenweg (Philosophers' Walk), across the river from the Old Town section, is another way to view the city and some of the older castles upriver.
Country - Germany Distance from port to City - 0kms Distance from Port to Airport - 45kms Currency - Euro (EUR)
Places of Interest Heidelberg Castle, Old Town, Museum of the Palatinate, Sculpture Park, Funicular Railway, Zoo, Philosopher's Walk
Wurzburg
Surrounded by pleasant hillside vineyards Würzburg is both an old episcopal see and a vivacious modern university city. The great medieval fortress of Marienburg dominates the skyline, overlooking the beautiful Old Town with its architectural masterpieces from many different periods. Art, culture and the fine wines of Franconia are all important elements of the Würzburg lifestyle. This carefree city with its relaxed southern atmosphere is the perfect starting-place for a journey of discovery on the Romantic Route.
Country - Germany Distance from port to City - 0kms Distance from Port to Airport - 90kms Currency - Euro (EUR)
Places of Interest Fortress Marienberg, Town Hall
Bamberg
Country - Germany Distance from port to City - 1km Distance from port to Airport - 50kms Currency - Euro (EUR)
Places of Interest
Nuremberg
Visitors to Nuremberg, a lively city with a medieval feel, will find evidence of its 950-year history at every turn. These legacies of the past also reveal much about the past and present of the German people. Here in Nuremberg, monuments to the city's inventiveness and its cultural self-confidence over many centuries stand in the midst of the hustle and bustle of a modern, dynamic urban centre.
Country - Germany Distance from port to City - 0kms Distance from Port to Airport - 6kms Currency - Euro (EUR)
Places of Interest Castle, City Wall, Zoo, Toy Museum, Verkehrs Museum, Old Quarter
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Viking River Cruises
Viking River Cruises itineraries journey along the rivers of Europe and Russia, allowing you to explore fascinating destinations up close and in comfort.
Better than an ocean cruise or bus tour, our river cruises show you the best of Europe from the large cosmopolitan cities to small quaint villages.
So come aboard, unpack just once, and see it all. Spend your time exploring Europe, not getting to it, and enjoy the best of Europe with Viking River Cruises.
A river cruise with Viking River Cruises is the best way to see the real Europe up close and in depth. Explore the best of Europe from an intimate perspective, spending your time being there, not getting there.
Unlike a bus tour where you spend more time on the bus than actually seeing the country, or a hotel-hopping trip where you constantly pack and unpack, Viking River Cruises offers you fine food, great service and scenic cruising along Europe's great rivers.
Viking River Cruises visits at least one port a day on virtually every itinerary and you can explore small villages off the beaten path that are inaccessible via an ocean cruise. Docking in the heart of town, you'll have more to time to see the cities, not just travel to the cities. You'll experience ever-changing riverside scenery as well as local nightlife when your ship overnights in port.
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Viking - Europe River Cruises
To visitors, Europe is a colorful world of picturesque landscapes, legendary rivers, lush vineyards and hilltop castles. As you travel through Europe with Viking River Cruises, its rich history is arrayed before your eyes—Roman ruins, magnificent monasteries, hallowed universities, rural villages and sophisticated cities, and a vibrant collage of food, music, dance, costumes and languages recalling thousands of years of human history. Traveling with Viking River Cruises gives you the opportunity to experience and learn about all these aspects of your cruise destinations. Throughout history, each great European river has played a crucial role, carrying goods and passengers from city to city and country to country. Today’s river cruises continue this proud tradition. The Rhine River, the Seine River, the Danube River, the Elbe River—their very names evoke a timeless beauty and grace. Viking River Cruises excels at giving travelers an authentic European experience on land and by river. Take one of our unforgettable river cruises along a legendary European river; these waterways cover the entire Continent, from the North Sea through the heart of Europe to the Black Sea. Enjoy natural wonders on our river cruises, like Austria’s Wachau Valley and Germany’s Rhine Valley—both UNESCO World Heritage Sites—and engineering marvels like the Main-Danube Canal. Hilltop castles, lush vineyards and gorgeous countryside are right outside your ship on our European river cruises. Experience Europe’s legendary history, contemporary life and bright future for yourself.
Viking River Cruises ships cruising the waterways of Europe are listed below. Click on the ship name for details about each specific ship.
