Of all the river cruise itineraries in Europe, Viking’s Grand European Tour may be the most ambitious. It travels between Budapest and Amsterdam, crossing five countries and linking the Danube, Main and Rhine Rivers—all without making you pack and unpack at every stop.
Dan and I had fallen in love with river cruising during our Rhine River cruise, so when Viking River Cruises invited us to review their Grand European Tour, we couldn't resist. Two weeks of medieval towns, castles, wine regions and UNESCO sites without changing hotels? Share it all with our readers? Heck, yeah!
Cruise days are surprisingly full, so I kept a journal as we traveled. Below is the complete 15-day Viking Grand European Tour itinerary, including what we saw in each port, the excursions we chose and what the cruise was actually like day by day. Viking has changed a few stops since our sailing, and I’ve pointed out the important differences along the way.
What happens on a river cruise?
We’ve only been on two Viking river cruises so far, but the daily routine was generally similar. Each stop began with a guided tour at no extra charge, and we were then free to explore until the ship sailed.
On the longer stops, some passengers returned to the ship for lunch. We preferred to stay in town and buy our own. Few things can match ordering local food in a local restaurant surrounded by local people. To us, it added another layer to the experience of being in another culture.
At some stops, Viking offered optional excursions built around specific interests, such as wine, castles, or World War II history. These cost extra but gave passengers a chance to explore those topics in more depth.
One thing about this cruise itinerary: Be prepared for a lot of scenery, culture, UNESCO sites, history and food. If that sounds like your kind of trip, you’ll probably love river cruising as much as we do.
Viking Grand European river cruise itinerary
To give you a sense of the river cruise route, here is a map of our ports of call.
Viking has changed a few stops and excursions since our cruise. I’ve updated the itinerary below where it differs, but the rest is the trip Dan and I actually took.
Enough background. Let’s get this cruise underway.
Days 1–2: Budapest, Hungary
Budapest was our first stop, and Viking gave us two days to settle in and explore the city.
Day 1: Welcome aboard!
Viking’s recommended river cruise check-in time is 3 pm, but a light buffet lunch is available for passengers who arrive early. You can read more about what to expect on the first day of a Viking river cruise here.
Viking eases passengers into the Grand European Tour with a casual mid-afternoon walk around the neighborhood. It’s meant to help shake off the jet lag, but it also gives you a chance to get your bearings and pick up a few authentic Budapest souvenirs.
Our Program Director promised that our first dinner on board would be special, and it did not disappoint. Dinner was a traditional Hungarian menu accompanied by local wines and beers.
Many people don't know that Hungary has 22 wine regions and produces a number of excellent vintages. Tokaj and Bulls Blood are probably the best-known Hungarian wines, and Hungary's Tokaj wine region is so phenomenal that it is a bona fide UNESCO site.
If Hungarian food isn't your thing or you need to be selective about what you eat, no worries. They can accommodate many special diets, and every menu includes familiar options like grilled salmon and steak.
đź’ˇ PRO TIP: If you enjoy good wine, pick up some local vintages along the way to enjoy with dinner. Unlike some river cruise lines, Viking doesn't charge a corkage fee.
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Day 2: Exploring Budapest
Our first full day in Budapest began with an included morning tour of the city’s major sights. From Pest’s National Opera House and historic Heroes’ Square, we crossed over the Danube to the Buda side of the river, continuing along Castle Hill to Fishermen’s Bastion and Matthias Church. Everyone had some free time to explore before returning to the ship for lunch.
That afternoon, we could explore Budapest on our own or choose one of three optional tours:
- Dohány Street Synagogue and Jewish Budapest (tour highlighting Budapest’s colorful Jewish past and present)
- Spa Experience (Budapest is famous for its therapeutic thermal waters and has the spas to prove it)
- Hungarian Horsemen: Lazar Equestrian Park (trip to see a horsemanship exhibition).
The second evening in Budapest began with a Welcome Reception. Consider it an official opportunity to chat with your Program Director and traveling companions.
Thanks to an evening departure, Dan got some phenomenal photographs. Evening cruising through Budapest on the Danube is spectacular.
Days 3–4: Vienna, Austria
Viking has updated their itinerary since our cruise, dropping a day in Bratislava in favor of two days in Vienna. As much as we enjoyed Slovakia's capital, we left Austria's capital feeling as though we hadn't seen enough. Props to Viking for listening to passenger feedback and allowing more time for visiting Vienna.
Vienna’s historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and there is plenty to see. Our morning tour included some of the city’s baroque architecture, along with the world-famous Opera House, St. Stephen’s Cathedral and Hofburg Palace.
Many of our fellow passengers spent the afternoon exploring Vienna on their own. If you do that, make sure to set aside some time to relax in one of Vienna's traditional coffee houses, just as the locals do. Sitting over coffee and cake is practically a Viennese institution, so you can call it sightseeing.
We chose the optional afternoon tour to Schönbrunn Palace. Nicknamed the “Versailles of Vienna,” it has an almost ridiculous 1,441 rooms—which tells you everything you need to know about Habsburg ideas of modest living. The palace and its gardens are a UNESCO World Heritage Site in their own right.
After dinner, we were treated to a classical concert—think Mozart and Strauss, not classic rock—performed by a Viennese orchestra. That was optional too, so there was no need to endure it if you weren’t a fan.
Day 5: Wachau Valley and Melk, Austria
Most cruising is done overnight, unless it’s through a picturesque area. This morning, we cruised through the Wachau Valley, the heart of Austria’s wine country. The stretch of the Danube between Melk and Krems is lined with vineyards, little towns and ruined castles. UNESCO thought it was pretty special too and named it a World Heritage Site.
The crown jewel of Melk is its abbey, an incredibly ornate 900-year-old Benedictine monastery. Inside, you’ll find magnificent frescoes, medieval manuscripts and some of Austria’s finest Italian baroque architecture.
Day 6: Passau, Germany
Passau sits where the Inn, Ilz and Danube Rivers meet. Our guided walk took us through Old Town, along narrow streets lined with traditional patrician houses.
Three rivers converging in one place sounds picturesque until they all decide to flood at once. One of the more memorable sights was a wall with markers showing the peak level of past floods.
Can you imagine having to evacuate the second floor of your home?
We also saw the New Bishop’s Residence and St. Stephen’s Cathedral, with its wildly ornate interior. If you’re there at noon, you may be able to hear a concert played on its enormous pipe organ.
Then we had free time to explore Passau on our own.
Day 7: Regensburg, Germany
Regensburg is one of Germany’s best-preserved medieval cities, with narrow lanes, old fortifications and nearly 2,000 years of history packed into its streets. No wonder its Old Town and Stadtamhof are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Our walking tour took us through the market square and past the Old Town Hall and St. Peter’s Cathedral. We also saw 13th- and 14th-century patrician houses, Roman ruins, and plenty of Romanesque and Gothic architecture.
In other words, Regensburg is catnip for history and architecture lovers.
Day 8: Nuremberg, Germany
Our morning was spent cruising to Nuremberg. The program director gave a talk about the European Union, but Dan and I skipped it. Coffee on our private balcony while Germany floated past seemed like a far better use of the morning.
That afternoon, the included tour covered Nuremberg’s Old Town, including Albrecht Dürer’s House and the Main Market Square. We also drove past Zeppelin Field, where the Nazis held their enormous propaganda rallies, and the Palace of Justice, where leading Nazi officials were tried after World War II.
History buffs could skip the Old Town tour and visit the Documentation Center instead. Apparently, Viking understood that some passengers wanted medieval Germany, while others preferred several hours of Nazis.
Day 9: Bamberg, Germany
We spent the morning cruising through the 106-mile-long Main-Danube Canal and passing through some of its 16 locks. Charlemagne first dreamed of a water route between the North Sea and the Black Sea in 793, but it took until 1992—a whopping 1,200 years—to make it happen. So much for German efficiency.
Once we arrived in port, Viking took us on a walking tour of Bamberg’s medieval city center. Bamberg has a magnificent 11th-century cathedral, but it's best known for its picturesque Old Town Hall, built on a tiny island in the middle of the Regnitz River.
When our guide released us to explore this UNESCO site on our own, a few of us asked for one final stop: Schlenkerla, a historic brewpub renowned for its smoked Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier.
Franconia may be better known for wine, but Bamberg is famous for smoked beer. It tastes as though someone dropped a campfire into your glass, which probably sounds revolting unless you love smoky flavors as much as I do. Truth be told, visiting Schlenkerla is still my favorite memory of Bamberg.
Day 10: Rothenburg and WĂĽrzburg, Germany
Day 10 combined two of Germany’s biggest draws: an optional excursion to a storybook medieval town and a visit to an outrageously ornate baroque palace.
Morning: Romantic Road excursion
Viking’s optional Romantic Road excursion takes about 1.5–2 hours by bus, but the drive goes by quickly because the route is so scenic. We passed half-timbered villages, onion-domed church towers, and patchwork fields along the way. I just wish the drizzle hadn’t made it so hard to see through the wet windows. Dan’s camera probably thought it had developed cataracts.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a beautifully preserved medieval town filled with charming half-timbered houses, cobbled streets, a turreted city wall, and impressive Gothic and baroque architecture. It ranks among the most picturesque towns in Germany, thanks in part to a German commander who ignored Hitler’s orders—he surrendered before an American artillery attack could level the historic center.
If you have a camera, this is one place where you’ll give it a workout.
After our walking tour, we wandered through the old town, browsing the shops, and taking more photos before meeting the group for a traditional German lunch. Then it was back on the motorcoach for the ride to WĂĽrzburg, where we rejoined the other passengers for the afternoon.
Afternoon: Exploring WĂĽrzburg
Würzburg sits along the Main River in the heart of Franconian wine country. The town is best known for the Bishops’ Residenz, one of Germany’s largest and most ornate Baroque palaces. And wouldn't you know it, we arrived in time for the tour!
This UNESCO World Heritage Site was built in the 18th century for the powerful bishops who ruled WĂĽrzburg. The grand staircase sits beneath an enormous ceiling fresco by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, and the rooms beyond are covered with gilding, mirrors, paintings, and elaborate plasterwork.
It’s so over the top, it’s hard to believe anyone actually lived like this.
Evening: Guess who misses the boat
We had another delicious dinner on board. Viking had planned an evening glassblowing demonstration afterward, but … nope. The cruise director had to postpone it at the last minute because the glassblower missed the boat.
Oops.
Day 11: Wertheim, Germany
Wertheim is a small German town where the Main and Tauber Rivers meet. It's a typical, small German town, with roots that date back to the 7th century, and it has a long glassblowing tradition.
Our walking tour included the historic marketplace, and our guide pointed us toward a glassblowing studio we could visit afterward. Many passengers spent their free time shopping for glass souvenirs. Dan and I preferred to leave the main drag and explore the old town’s 1,100-year-old back streets.
The afternoon was pure downtime. We relaxed on the sun deck with other passengers, watched the vineyards of Franconia sail by, and sampled some of the region’s wines with dinner. Tough day.
That evening, we finally got our glassblowing demonstration. The glassblower was hilarious and kept us all laughing, especially when he drafted members of the audience to help. After missing the boat the night before, he more than made up for it. The whole evening was super fun!
Day 12: Middle Rhine, Mosel wine tasting and Koblenz
This morning was all about hilltop castles along a stunning stretch of the Rhine River. The Upper Middle Rhine Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and there were plenty of oohs and aahs on the Sun Deck as we passed dozens of castles, vineyards, and riverside towns.
This was our second time in the Rhine Gorge, and we enjoyed it just as much. The views are incredible, and Viking’s commentary added the stories behind what we were seeing—castles, legends, battles, and the occasional medieval family feud.
Afternoon: Mosel wine tasting
The ship stopped in Braubach for a tour of Marksburg Castle. It’s the only hilltop castle along the Middle Rhine that has never been destroyed, so unlike many of the others, it isn’t a reconstruction. Definitely a must-see.
Because we had toured Marksburg on our previous cruise, we joined a couple dozen other passengers for Viking’s optional Moselle wine tour instead. Our route followed the Mosel River past terraced vineyards and classically German towns.
After stopping to stretch our legs at a scenic overlook, we continued to the winery, where they took us into the inner sanctum of wine production and showed us how they made and stored their wines. Then, of course, we sampled a few of their best. Research is important.
Evening: Koblenz
Our ship would be docked in Koblenz until late that evening. Our ship docked in Koblenz until late evening. This picturesque town sits where the Mosel and Rhine Rivers meet, at a point known as Deutsches Eck, or German Corner.
We ran into a group of crew members in town. They were enjoying a few hours off and invited us to join them.
We figured they could speak more freely away from the ship, and took the opportunity to ask what it was really like to work for Viking.
Several had worked for other cruise companies, so they had a good frame of reference. They agreed that Viking had high standards but treated its employees well and with respect. Much better than the other companies had.
Isn’t that wonderful?!
Day 13: Cologne, Germany
Cologne is Germany’s fourth-largest city. Our morning walking tour through Old Town passed St. Martin’s Church, the Renaissance city hall and the remnants of an ancient Jewish mikveh (a ritual bathhouse).
The tour ended at the Dom, Germany’s largest cathedral and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After that, the rest of the day was ours.
Naturally, I made sure we went to the Chocolate Museum. Some attractions are simply more important than others.
The Captain’s Farewell Reception that evening was a blast. Viking served a “Taste of Germany” buffet dinner, complete with live oompah music, and the crew dressed in traditional German costumes to make everything even more festive.
Because it was a buffet, the chef came over to help us identify which dishes fit our diet. We had mentioned our restrictions once, at the beginning of the cruise, and never had to explain them again. The entire staff remembered every time we ordered. That level of attention impressed us more than I can say.
After dinner, we joined the optional Prost! Tour to experience Cologne’s Brauhaus culture and drink the city’s famous Kölsch beer. We had done the same tour on our Rhine cruise, and it was just as much fun the second time.
Day 14: Kinderdijk, Netherlands
We sailed along the Rhine all morning, and Viking kept us busy with Dutch cheese, jenever, and sjoelen, a Dutch version of table shuffleboard.
Cheese, liquor, and a game we had never heard of. Not a bad way to spend a morning.
After lunch, we docked in Kinderdijk for an afternoon tour of its UNESCO-listed windmills. It’s a fascinating place, both for the photos and for seeing how the Dutch have managed water for centuries.
We had visited Kinderdijk on our previous cruise, and the highlight was climbing inside a working windmill to see the machinery and the surprisingly compact living quarters. Anyone who thinks tiny-house living is a modern invention should take a look inside one of these.
The stairs are steep and the space is tight, so Viking also offered an alternative for passengers with mobility concerns, claustrophobia, or no desire to squeeze themselves into a windmill: a visit to a Dutch cheese farm.
Holland may be famous for Edam, but this farm specialized in Gouda. Of course, the best part came at the end, when we sampled the many varieties in the shop. Educational travel can be such a burden.
That evening, we enjoyed our final dinner on board and one last night together as the ship cruised toward Amsterdam.
Day 15: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Our cruise ended in Amsterdam, and since Viking doesn’t offer an Amsterdam tour, we enjoyed one last leisurely breakfast on board—complete with local breads, cheeses, and other specialties—before saying goodbye to the ship.
Most passengers had early flights and headed straight to the airport after breakfast. Personally, I couldn’t understand the rush. There’s a lot to enjoy in the city: neighborhoods, restaurants, museums, and exciting nightlife—some of it displayed behind glass in the Red Light District.
Here they were, arriving in a world-class city like Amsterdam and leaving without seeing any of it.
Even with limited time, they could have squeezed in a canal cruise. At least they would have seen more of Amsterdam than the route between the ship and the airport.
This canal cruise is especially popular.
Where to stay in Amsterdam
We spent one day in Amsterdam at the end of our first cruise, so this time, we gave ourselves longer to explore.
We can recommend two hotels from personal experience:
- Renaissance Amsterdam Hotel — a short walk from Amsterdam Centraal, which makes it convenient for sightseeing and getting to or from the cruise dock.
- Bilderberg Garden Hotel — farther from the center, but in a quieter neighborhood and still convenient to a tram stop.
We enjoyed both. Your best choice depends on whether you’d rather be close to the action or retreat somewhere quieter at the end of the day.
Whatever you choose, don’t cruise all the way to Amsterdam just to see the airport.
Note: As is common in the travel industry, Dan and Linda were provided with a complimentary cruise package for the purpose of review. While it has not influenced coverage, AWSI believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see the Disclosure page.
I like your philosophy of never wasting a day in life. Bamberg is certainly a top place to spend one. Nice post.
Thanks, Stuart. That cruise sure kept us busy – we didn’t waste a moment!
What is the best month to travel on the europe ?
We went in early June, but September would be nice as well, and daylight is still long enough. We prefer spring and fall, when school is in session and there are fewer tourist crowds.
It seems a nice tour and honestly, I would like to follow this itinerary. Thanks for sharing this post and on a very honest note, I got much information about the European cities and countries.
Glad it helped.
Thanks for the information, we are taking the Budapest to Amsterdam trip end of July on the Viking Modi. looks like Bratislava, Slovakia is no longer part of itinerary
Well dang, Larry & Maggie, you’re right! Instead, you get an extra day in Vienna. As much as we enjoyed our time in Slovakia, that seems like a fantastic trade-off. We were left longing for more with our single day in Vienna.
Come to think of it, we’ve seen day trips to Bratislava from Budapest online, and trains run regularly. Should be easy for one to fly in a couple of days early and see it as well.
Thanks for letting us know!
We are taking this cruise in June 2018 and reading your day to day journal is helpful in terms of what to expect each day. Thank you for sharing your adventure, it makes me even more excited about our trip.
You are more than welcome. We know you’ll have so much fun! (Do you mind if we admit to the tiniest bit of envy? We’d love to take that cruise again.)
I’ve seen comments about long bus rides at each port to get to the sites. Was that your experience on the Grand European Tour?
Well, yes and no. We docked in town at most of the Rhine and Danube stops. Those towns developed around the rivers, so naturally, ports are centrally located. Most of the trips that required bus rides were for towns on the Main Canal, because it was constructed recently and to preserve infrastructure and homes, they had to build it where space was still available.
The rides didn’t seem particularly long to us, though. Our guides gave us interesting orientations and we had wonderful scenery to enjoy on the way. (We napped and chatted on the way back.)
This itinerary looks pretty awesome. I had no idea the tours were quite so long and you get to see so many awesome places! I’d love to go on one of these cruises one day!
If you do go, you’ll be amazed. The staff is remarkable, the tours are excellent (and free), and the small passenger capacity makes it an intimate experience you will never forget.
You should go! River cruises are a fabulous experience. We can’t recommend them enough.
A Viking cruise is on our bucket list; thanks for the info. All the places look amazing. Now you have made me want to go even more.
I know what you mean. We want to take the Nile and Mekong cruises next.
Thank you so much for sharing your adventures. This has been very helpful because I will be cruising from Amsterdam to Budapest in April.
How did you pack all you needed in a carry-on and a back-pack? I would love to be able to do that.
Hi Bette, thanks for your question. Actually, I’ve been pondering writing a post about this.
In a nutshell, we always carry our valuables (camera and electronics) on board with us in our backpacks.
The biggest keys to packing light are to:
Enjoyed the information your post included. We are scheduled to take this cruise in July 2018 and you gave me a concise idea of what to expect each day. Also greatly appreciated your ideas on packing–this cruise will require different items than on a big ship in the Caribbean!
Thanks for the feedback! We’re so glad our post was so helpful. I hope our other posts for each destination were as useful and informative. 🙂
I am curious how you got permission to take pictures inside the Schönbrunn palace and the Milky Abbey. We were told it was absolutely not possible to take pictures while inside.
The only part of Melk Abbey that is off limits to photographers is the library. As for Schonbrunn, they forgot to tell our tour group that we couldn’t take photos until we had already taken shots of that one room. So we stopped.
I would love to do one of these river cruises and have been enjoying the posts taking note of how our small family of 3 would fare on such a cruise.
I think river cruises are best when children are old enough to appreciate sightseeing and history. Most little ones have far too much energy for a ship of that size and need more room to run and play.