11-night Cities of Light Cruise/Land Package

Welcome to Prague, capital of the Czech Republic. Transfer from the airport to your hotel. Airport meet & greet transfers are included when air is purchased from Viking River Cruises. After checking in for a 2-night stay, enjoy free time to explore this beautiful city—or join our “welcome walk” to stretch your legs and start getting oriented.,

This morning, tour this "City of a Hundred Spires". A guided walk takes you through Old Town to the famed Charles Bridge. Then, travel to Hradcany for a guided tour inside Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. See the Town Hall's intricate 15th-century Astronomical Clock, spend some time in historic Wenceslas Square, or discover the city's Jewish heritage in the Josefov Quarter. (B); Optional excursion: Enjoy a wonderful afternoon at Lobkowicz Palace in the Prague Castle for an exclusive look at the art collection, a private concert, and an elegant lunch. (This optional excursion can be booked in advance, no later than 30 days prior to sailing. Limited space will be available for in-destination booking.),

Travel to the Bavarian city of Nuremberg and take part in a city tour where you will see the former Nazi parade grounds and the Palace of Justice, historic site of the Nuremberg Trials. You have a brief stop at the court house before returning to the Old Town area enclosed by ancient city walls. Finish with a walk from the imperial castle grounds past the Albrecht Dürer House on your way to the Main Market Square with its elaborate Gothic fountain. Continue to Bamberg to embark your ship. (B, D),

Travel to the Bavarian city of Nuremberg and take part in a city tour where you will see the former Nazi parade grounds and the Palace of Justice, historic site of the Nuremberg Trials. You have a brief stop at the court house before returning to the Old Town area enclosed by ancient city walls. Finish with a walk from the imperial castle grounds past the Albrecht Dürer House on your way to the Main Market Square with its elaborate Gothic fountain. Continue to Bamberg to embark your ship. (B, D),

Travel to the Bavarian city of Nuremberg and take part in a city tour where you will see the former Nazi parade grounds and the Palace of Justice, historic site of the Nuremberg Trials. You have a brief stop at the court house before returning to the Old Town area enclosed by ancient city walls. Finish with a walk from the imperial castle grounds past the Albrecht Dürer House on your way to the Main Market Square with its elaborate Gothic fountain. Continue to Bamberg to embark your ship. (B, D),

Travel to the Bavarian city of Nuremberg and take part in a city tour where you will see the former Nazi parade grounds and the Palace of Justice, historic site of the Nuremberg Trials. You have a brief stop at the court house before returning to the Old Town area enclosed by ancient city walls. Finish with a walk from the imperial castle grounds past the Albrecht Dürer House on your way to the Main Market Square with its elaborate Gothic fountain. Continue to Bamberg to embark your ship. (B, D),

Today, stop in Reims for lunch and a visit to Reims Cathedral before continuing on to the Luxembourg American Cemetery to pay homage to the many Americans who lost their lives during the WWII Battle of the Bulge. Continue on to Trier and embark your ship. Dinner is served on board. (B, D),

Today, 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. Have lunch onboard before we depart this afternoon and begin cruising through the 106-mile-long Main-Danube Canal with 16 locks. The canal goes from Bamberg on the Main to Kelheim on the Danube. (B,L,D),

Enjoy a morning tour of Trier, Germany's oldest city, set on the banks of the Moselle River. See the wonderfully preserved Roman Porta Nigra, Trier Cathedral, and the Church of Our Lady. Lunch is served onboard as we depart. Enjoy scenic cruising along the Moselle this afternoon. We dock in Bernkastel around dinnertime. After your evening meal, you can take a walk through the town's cobblestone streets, or join an optional wine-tasting excursion in this famous wine region. (B,L,D),

Disembark in Würzburg, a Franconian wine town, and tour the Bishops’ Residenz, a beautiful Baroque palace with many paintings and frescoes. After lunch onboard, enjoy some free time in Würzburg—or you may choose to participate in an optional excursion to the charming medieval town of Rothenburg. Back onboard, dine and cruise through the night. (B,L,D),

A walking tour takes you through the quaint Moselle town of Cochem. Then, visit imposing Reichsburg Castle. After lunch, you sail the scenic Moselle to Winningen, arriving in the evening during dinner. Explore the cobbled streets and cafés, or stay on your ship and hear folktales about the Moselle. (B,L,D),

Cruise through the early morning, arriving in Wertheim after breakfast. Disembark for a full-day excursion 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. A guided walk through Heidelberg's Old Town and marketplace is included, as is lunch is in a local restaurant. Return to your ship at dinnertime. We sail through the night. (B,L,D),

After breakfast, disembark for a tour of Marksburg Castle, the only Rhine fortress that was never destroyed. Since its fortifications have remained so intact, stepping inside is a veritable journey back to the Middle Ages. Take in views of the Rhine Valley from this castle's stunning vantage point. Return to your ship for lunch and enjoy cruising through the storied Middle Rhine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lined with medieval castles, historic towns, and vineyards. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner),

Braubach is south-western Germany and 8km south of Koblenz. The Marksburg Castle is perched dramatically on the top of a hill overlooking Braubach. The fortification has never been besieged and escaped virtually unscathed during the French attacks of the 17th century when most other Rhine castles were destroyed. Within the castle sits a Gothic Hall, Citadel and torture chamber complete with gruesome instruments.

Cruise through the early morning, arriving in Wertheim after breakfast. Disembark for a full-day excursion 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. A guided walk through Heidelberg's Old Town and marketplace is included, as is lunch is in a local restaurant. Return to your ship at dinnertime. We sail through the night. (B,L,D),

After breakfast, disembark for a tour of Marksburg Castle, the only Rhine fortress that was never destroyed. Since its fortifications have remained so intact, stepping inside is a veritable journey back to the Middle Ages. Take in views of the Rhine Valley from this castle's stunning vantage point. Return to your ship for lunch and enjoy cruising through the storied Middle Rhine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lined with medieval castles, historic towns, and vineyards. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner),

Winding from Bingen to Bonn, the 'heroic Rhine' has created a beautifully picturesque gorge. The river-scape has been an inspiration to both artists and authors.

Arrive in Mainz during breakfast then disembark and take a guided tour of a city that boasts over two thousand years of history. Walk the picturesque streets of Old Town and stop by the Gutenberg Museum. Founded in 1900, 500 years after the birth of Johannes Gutenberg, the museum covers the history of the printed word and displays many beautiful books and fascinating printing technologies, including a replica of Gutenberg's workshop. Return to your ship for lunch and scenic afternoon cruising on the Rhine. Arrive in Rüdesheim midafternoon. You will have time at leisure to enjoy the restaurants, bars, and shops that line Rüdesheim's Drosselgasse, or you may choose to join an optional wine tasting experience. Dine onboard and remain docked overnight. (B,L,D),

Arrive in Mainz during breakfast then disembark and take a guided tour of a city that boasts over two thousand years of history. Walk the picturesque streets of Old Town and stop by the Gutenberg Museum. Founded in 1900, 500 years after the birth of Johannes Gutenberg, the museum covers the history of the printed word and displays many beautiful books and fascinating printing technologies, including a replica of Gutenberg's workshop. Return to your ship for lunch and scenic afternoon cruising on the Rhine. Arrive in Rüdesheim midafternoon. You will have time at leisure to enjoy the restaurants, bars, and shops that line Rüdesheim's Drosselgasse, or you may choose to join an optional wine tasting experience. Dine onboard and remain docked overnight. (B,L,D),

Cruise this morning through the most beautiful stretch of the Rhine, lined with castles on both sides. This area is a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Landscape. After lunch onboard, arrive in the quaint Moselle town of Cochem. Take a walking tour of the city and visit imposing Reichsburg Castle. Dine onboard; you can take an evening stroll if you like before we lift anchor. (B,L,D),

Disembark in Karlstadt and take a half-day excursion to the enticing Franconian wine town of Würzburg where you tour the Residenz, a beautiful Baroque palace with numerous paintings and frescoes. Enjoy some free time in Würzburg this afternoon, or join an optional journey along the "Romantic Road" to the walled medieval village of Rothenburg. Meet your ship in Würzburg and dine onboard. (B,L,D),

After breakfast, an optional guided walk through the 700-year-old town of Bernkastel is available, replete with narrow cobblestone streets lined with half-timbered houses. Return to your ship for lunch and enjoy lovely, unspoiled scenery as we cruise along the Moselle River toward Trier. We arrive late afternoon and will have time for a tour of Germany’s oldest city. See the wonderfully preserved Roman Porta Nigra, Trier Cathedral, and the Church of Our Lady. Dine onboard. We remain docked here tonight, so you may take an evening stroll in town. (B,L,D),

Disembark in Trier this morning. Travel to Luxembourg where you will visit the American Cemetery and pay homage to the many soldiers who lost their lives during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. See the city of Luxembourg on a guided city tour and get lunch before continuing to Paris. Arrive in Paris, the romantic capital of France, and check in to the Le Méridien Étoile (or similar) for a 2-night stay. Your evening is free to explore and dine on your own. (B),

Disembark in Trier this morning. Travel to Luxembourg where you will visit the American Cemetery and pay homage to the many soldiers who lost their lives during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. See the city of Luxembourg on a guided city tour and get lunch before continuing to Paris. Arrive in Paris, the romantic capital of France, and check in to the Le Méridien Étoile (or similar) for a 2-night stay. Your evening is free to explore and dine on your own. (B),

Disembark in Trier this morning. Travel to Luxembourg where you will visit the American Cemetery and pay homage to the many soldiers who lost their lives during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. See the city of Luxembourg on a guided city tour and get lunch before continuing to Paris. Arrive in Paris, the romantic capital of France, and check in to the Le Méridien Étoile (or similar) for a 2-night stay. Your evening is free to explore and dine on your own. (B),

Disembark in Trier this morning, then travel to Luxembourg where, at the American Cemetery, you can pay homage to the thousands of soldiers who lost their lives during the World War II Battle of the Bulge. Then pause in Reims to visit the cathedral and stop for lunch before continuing on to Paris. When you arrive in the romantic capital of France, check into your hotel for a two-night stay. Your evening is free to explore and dine on your own. (B),

Today’s tour begins with a drive along the Champs Elysées, past the Arc de Triomphe to the world-famous Louvre. The remainder of the day is free to see more of Paris—visit a museum, explore Montmartre or take a moonlit cruise along the Seine River. (B),

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and proceed to the airport for your return flight. Airport transfers are included when air is purchased from Viking River Cruises. Or, extend your trip with 2 additional nights in romantic Paris. (B),