These Voyages Showcase Everything to Love about Europe in the Winter
Produced by Virtuoso with Viking
Swap summer’s peak for winter’s charms on this trio of ocean and river cruises.
Pleasant strolls along the Mediterranean, coffee breaks in cozy Bavarian cafés, and jaunts to snow-dusted Austrian vineyards. While Europe’s summer allure draws cruisers every year, the low season offers its own appeal for exploring the continent’s cities and small towns – and yes, fewer crowds, quieter ports, and easier access to landmarks are just some of the biggest perks. Known for exploring the world in comfort, Viking is capitalizing on the calm with a selection of river and ocean sailings departing after summer’s swell subsides.
Whether they’re on one of the line’s sleek, Scandinavian-designed river longships or its oceangoing vessels, passengers feel like they’ve checked into an elegant, floating boutique hotel: Suites come with floor-to-ceiling windows or large and private verandas, onboard restaurants highlighting regional specialties, and culturally enriched experiences including performances inspired by the voyage’s ports of call. As Europe’s top destinations slip into view, myriad shore-excursion options allow travelers to join all-encompassing city tours, gain private access to museum collections and centuries-old palaces, and snag the best seats in the house for ballet and opera performances.
From cheese tasting in Passau to quiet strolls down Cologne’s medieval alleys, find Europe’s winter charm on these three Viking itineraries.
For Dubrovnik without the crowds, set sail after September.
A Fresh Mediterranean Perspective
Travelers love the Med in the summer for good reason, but Europe’s sun-soaked region doesn’t lose its luster as the calendar slides into September. If anything, considerably thinner crowds and favorable temperatures might make a late-fall sailing even more appealing for many. Viking invites cruisers to experience the quiet season on a nine-night, Venice-to-Athens journey (or the reverse) aboard the 930-passenger Viking Sea.
Eight ports of call include summertime favorites such as Dubrovnik, along with quieter locales such as Koper, Slovenia, and Corfu in the Greek Isles. Sip white wine on a private estate in Karst, Slovenia, hike Montenegro’s Lovcen Mountain, and in Corfu, board a smaller boat for a coastal cruise around Paleokastritsa, also known as the “Capri of Greece.” The sailing culminates with an overnight in Athens, where mild weather makes for pleasant excursions such as an e-bike ride through the Plaka district and an 80-step climb to the top of the Acropolis. Departures: October 21 and December 30, 2024.
Salzburg aglow. Viking
Winter on the Danube
The quaint, riverfront towns in Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary are even more enchanting during winter, when festive lights adorn building facades and snow blankets the riverbanks. Viking’s new nine-night, Budapest-to-Passau, Germany, cruise on the 190-passenger Viking Tor embraces the season, sailing along the Danube Bend and into the heart of the Wachau Valley. In Gyor, take in Hungarian charm during a guided walking tour, strolling along narrow cobblestoned streets lined with baroque buildings and walking up Káptalandomb hill for views of the Danube, Raba, and Rabca rivers converging.
Overnight stays in Budapest, Vienna, and Passau allow for proper immersion: In Budapest, for example, travelers can cross the city’s iconic Chain Bridge, tour the Hungarian State Opera, sign up for a langos (deep-fried Hungarian flatbread) cooking class, or spend time people-watching in Heroes’ Square. In Vienna, a full-day tour spotlights the Austrian capital’s baroque, neo-Renaissance, Gothic, and Romanesque architecture before a private concert of Mozart and Strauss classics by the Vienna Residence Orchestra at the ornate Palais Auersperg.
As part of Viking’s Inclusive Value program, cruisers receive meals, lectures, onboard activities, and one complimentary shore excursion in each port. On this itinerary, that can translate to a day trip to Salzburg and Mondsee, and lunch at Austria’s oldest restaurant, St. Peter Stiftskulinarium, accompanied by musical renditions of The Sound of Music in Salzburg. Departures: Multiple dates, January 5 through March 18, 2025.
Germany's Katz Castle towers over the Rhine. Viking
The Rhine’s Winter Treasures
The UNESCO World Heritage Upper Middle Rhine Valley, which runs between the German towns of Bingen and Bonn, is one of Europe’s most scenic stretches. Its banks brim with turreted fortresses, grand cathedrals, and terraced vineyards best admired from a river-ship perch. A full day gliding through this scenic region is one highlight of Viking’s nine-night, Amsterdam-to-Basel voyage, which calls on seven ports in the Netherlands, Germany, France, and Switzerland.
After two days in Amsterdam for canal tours, Dutch cheese tastings, and poffertjes (pancakes) breakfasts, cruisers board the 190-passenger Viking Hervor and head for the Netherlands’ town of Nijmegen, home to the indoor Grote Markt, where they can sip on mulled wine and local Dutch beer. From there, it’s off to Cologne for an exclusive visit to the rooftop of the German city’s medieval cathedral, Mainz for a little winter winetasting, Breisach to explore Germany’s Black Forest region, and more.
Diversions on board the Viking Hervor keep cruisers occupied between port calls: Find a cozy nook in the library to read and sip hot chocolate, or order a charcuterie plate in the Aquavit Terrace and watch the landscape drift by. Departures: Multiple dates, January 4 through March 8, 2025.
For more details and booking information, visit our upcoming trips. Or Search for more Trips
Matt Wolfe, B.F.A. from University of S. Florida, Carol Birkner, B.S.E. from ETSU
River Cruise Specialist, AMA Waterways certified
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Avalon Cruise Certified
