Explore with Viking—Quiet Season Mediterranean

Immerse yourself in ancient and modern Athens, from the heights of the Acropolis to the intimate Plaka District. Travel with your guide past the harbor of Zea, with its dock dating to the 5th century BC, and the elegant promenade at Mikrolimano. During your visit to the legendary Acropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, climb 80 steps through its grand entrance, the Propylaeum, to the plateau of the rock. Here, the mighty Parthenon reigns over the Nike, Erechtheum and other temples. You will have time to take it all in. Your panoramic drive also passes the ancient athletic Panathenaic Stadium as well as the Hellenic Parliament, Syntagma (Constitution) Square, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Temple of Olympian Zeus. Stroll the cobblestone streets of the laid-back Plaka District, admiring the colorful facades of its buildings and views of the Acropolis.

Discover one of the most powerful cities of antiquity during a visit to ancient Corinth. Vestiges of its importance can be seen in the many archaeological sites that dot the old city. Join your knowledgeable guide on a walking tour to see iconic landmarks such as the monolithic Doric columns of the Temple of Apollo, the 15,000-capacity ancient theater and the imposing Acrocorinth, a hilltop fortress that had protected the city from antiquity to the 19th century. Afterward, board your motor coach for a short drive to the famous Corinth Canal; plans to build a canal through the Isthmus of Corinth predate the Romans, but the 4-mile long waterway carved through steep limestone was not completed until the late 19th century. After a short stop for photos, you will continue back to your awaiting ship.

Admire La Sagrada Família and more of creative architectural genius Antoni Gaudí’s surreal works. View some of his finest work at Park Güell. Covering almost 50 acres, the park was built between 1900 and 1914 and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. La Sagrada Família is the centerpiece of your tour. You will approach it by foot and be rewarded with remarkable views of its towering, distinctive exterior. Construction began in 1882 and is scheduled for completion in 2026, the centenary of Gaudí’s death. Step inside to marvel at its breathtaking, fantastical sanctuary. Along the Passeig de Gràcia, pass the Casa Batlló, or House of Bones, and the hulking Casa Milà, two impressive Gaudí buildings featuring his characteristic curved facades and “scooped out” windows.

Journey into the evocative heart of Barcelona, the Barri Gòtic, where the Romans founded a walled settlement. Today the Gothic Quarter is bounded by Las Ramblas, the lively boulevard famous for its kiosks and tapas bars. But your tour will focus on two of its most historic treasures. You will start at either Santa Maria del Pi or Santa Maria del Mar, both churches set on a romantic plaza and crowned with a bell tower from which you can enjoy marvelous views of the surrounding barrio. Then, walk the quarter’s narrow streets to the Museum of the History of Barcelona, or MUHBA, which is housed in a Gothic palace. Here, you will see remarkable archaeological treasures from the Roman era to the modern age, with art and artifacts from the old Jewish district, Roman temples, Spanish Civil War industrial buildings and more. After this interesting visit, return to your awaiting ship.

Immerse yourself in the true heart of Croatia, gaining an intimate view of rural traditions and village life. Explore the Old Town of Dubrovnik on a walking tour, with time to browse handicraft market stalls and admire the fine Renaissance paintings at the Dominican Monastery. A scenic drive leads you to the village of Orašac. Here, stop to explore an ancient house, witness its horse-driven olive oil mills and taste homemade cheese, smoked ham and wine. In the hamlet of Ljuta, see how flour is still produced using the old water-powered stone mill at Mlinica Dvori. Enjoy lunch with the Novakovic family in their Čilipi village home. They have lived here for generations, producing grape brandy, olive oil and wine from old family recipes. Sample their homemade wine and enjoy typical Dalmatian music performed by a group of local musicians. Return to your ship after lunch.

Discover Valletta, a UNESCO Site, and learn about its ties to the Knights of Malta from a present-day knight. With a local guide, you will explore this mighty fortress city, viewing the auberges built to house the knights of the Order of St. John. Visit St. John’s Co-Cathedral, one of Europe’s finest examples of high baroque architecture. Its most famous work, Caravaggio’s The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist, hangs in the Oratory. You will also meet a local member of the present-day Hospitaller Military Order of Jerusalem. He will present a short talk about the historical role of the knights, their founding as part of a hospital providing care to sick pilgrims in the Holy Land, their emergence as a military order during the Crusades, and how they conduct business today.

View Dubrovnik from a unique vantage point, strolling atop 1½ miles of medieval stone walls encircling the city. With your guide, ride by motor coach to Stari Grad, Dubrovnik’s Old Town. Encircled by intact, monumental stone ramparts, this historic area has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Parts of the walls date from the 13th century. Ascending the stairway at Pile Gate—where Dubrovnik’s famous main street, the Stradun, begins—you soon reach the top of the walls, where your guide will lead you on a walking tour. You will see the gorgeous Minčeta Tower, St. John Fortress and Fort Bokar, and take in breathtaking views. After you descend back to the Stradun, return to your awaiting ship.

Compare Malta’s two most influential cities, Mdina and Valletta. You will drive with your guide to the former capital, Mdina, one of the world’s best examples of a medieval walled city. With its hilltop location and peaceful, shaded streets, locals fondly refer to Mdina as "the Silent City." During a walking tour with your guide, admire the views of the countryside from centuries-old bastions and soak up the atmosphere. Continue to the present-day capital, Valletta, founded in the 16th century. Walk these bustling cobblestone streets past St. John’s Co-Cathedral and the Magisterial Palace of the Grandmaster. Pass the Auberge de Castile, the Prime Minister’s residence, to Barrakka Gardens, where splendid views of the Three Cities and Fort Ricasoli await.

Stroll past the famous Dogeʹs Palace to beautiful St. Markʹs Basilica on this walking tour of Venice. After a panoramic boat ride, disembark near the famed St. Markʹs Square and step into the splendor of Venice. With your guide, you will view Dogeʹs Palace, once the seat of government for the Venetian Republic and Courts of Justice. The present palace was built during the 14th century in the Venetian Gothic style. In the heart of St. Markʹs Square, admire the Campanile, the cathedralʹs bell tower that famously collapsed in 1902; an exact replica was built ten years later. You will also visit the grand interior of St. Markʹs Basilica, a beautiful cathedral built in the shape of a Greek cross. The basilica houses the bones of St. Mark, smuggled out of Alexandria by Venetian merchants in 828 AD. Enjoy free time to explore the square on your own before returning to your ship.

View the transcendent wonders of Vatican City, with a local guide along to provide insight. You will meet your guide upon arrival in Rome and see the important monuments of ancient Rome during a panoramic tour—the Aurelian Walls, the Pyramid of Cestius, the Circus Maximus and the Colosseum. In Vatican City, the smallest sovereign state in the world, visit the world-renowned Vatican Museums, home to a diverse collection ranging from Egyptian and Etruscan art to pieces by Raphael and Caravaggio. In the famed Sistine Chapel, marvel at the art-adorned walls and, of course, Michelangelo’s famous ceiling painting in which the hand of God gives life to Adam. Then, you will enjoy free time to explore more of Rome’s sights, either centered around the Vatican or in central Rome. After lunch at a local restaurant, you will return to your awaiting ship.

Discover two of Venice’s most beautiful outlying islands and linger in one of Europe’s most beautiful squares. With a local guide, you will cruise along the Giudecca Canal, passing St. Mark’s Square and the Doge’s Palace. Marvel at the impressive view of Venice from the lagoon before docking at the island of Murano. Nicknamed “Island of the Flames,” all of Venice’s glassmaking was moved here in 1291 to reduce the risk of fires in the city. You will visit one of the leading glass manufacturers and witness a master craftsman at work. On Burano, a charming island lined with brightly colored houses, learn about Venice’s lace-making industry and stroll along quaint cobblestone streets. After, enjoy free time to explore the island independently, shopping for handicrafts, visiting a café or simply taking in its charming atmosphere before returning to your ship.

Step inside the Roman Forum, once the beating heart of ancient Rome, and take in the city’s highlights. Embark on a panoramic drive past the city’s important ancient sites, including the Aurelian Walls, Pyramid of Cestius and Circus Maximus. Pause to view the magnificent Colosseum, the most important amphitheater in the Roman world, then step inside the Roman Forum to explore its ruins and learn about its ancient history. Continue on foot to see the famed Spanish Steps and the beautiful Trevi Fountain—an 18th-century baroque masterpiece—and view the exterior of the well-preserved Pantheon. Stroll through the picturesque square of Piazza Navona. Then after lunch, reboard your motor coach to drive past Castel Sant’Angelo with the picture-perfect St. Peter’s Basilica as a backdrop, before returning to your ship.