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Douro River Cruises

Our Portugal cruises uncover one of Europe’s oldest and most renowned wine regions. Cruise the Douro River through ancient wine estates, passing barcos rabelos laden with casks en route to Porto and Lisbon. A sublimely scenic corner of Europe, with equally sublime food and wine.

Portugal’s River of Gold

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Highlights of Douro River Cruises

Portugal famously prospered during its Age of Discovery and you will find monuments to this vibrant era everywhere. Port wine, too, put the nation on the maps of travelers and oenophiles. A Douro cruise with Viking brings it all into sharp focus for you, providing rich insight into fascinating highlights such as these:

• Lisbon’s stunning Manueline architecture
• Lisbon’s Moorish-flavored Alfama District
• Ancient universities in Coimbra, Portugal and Salamanca, Spain
• Port warehouses of Porto
• Porto’s historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Scenic vineyard-laden hills along the Douro River
• Vila Real’s extraordinary Mateus Palace
• The hilltop fortress town of Castelo Rodrigo
• The tiny village of Favaios, nestled among picturesque hills
• Port wine tastings at elegant estates

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Douro’s Valleys & Vineyards

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Douro’s Valleys & Vineyards Map

Enjoy rich beauty & history

Journey through the Douro River valley and into the history of fine Portuguese wine. Surrounded by terraced hills, spot some of the area’s quintas, clinging to the slopes. Experience Porto, where you can roam the port warehouses and take in the town’s cultural heritage. Visit Régua, Barca d’Alva and Favaios, home to one of the last traditional bakeries in the Douro Valley. Explore Salamanca, Spain, a UNESCO Site and one of Iberia’s oldest university towns.

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To learn more about each port of call and our included as well as optional excursions, click on the individual days below.

Itinerary and shore excursions are subject to change and may vary by departure.

More features, services and excursions included

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One complimentary shore excursion in every port of call

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Your Stateroom Includes:

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*All amenities on board Viking Longships; amenities vary on other ships.

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Favorite Experiences in Portugal’s Douro Valley: Viking Cruises

To travel through northern Portugal’s Douro Valley is to immerse yourself in a landscape that has been carved by nature and man for centuries. Steep, rocky terrain is covered in terraced vineyards and orchards, such as cherry and almond trees, as far as the eye can see.

In recent years, the  Douro River Valley has emerged as one of the most desirable destinations in Portugal, in part due to its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Beginning in north-central Spain, the Douro River’s journey takes it through Portugal to the Atlantic Ocean.   

Insider tip: Get up early to walk across the bridge and get some steps in. Or, enjoy some early morning reflections on the Douro River.

Wine production  and wine tastings are the top attractions in the Douro region, especially port wine. Though wine has been produced in the Douro Valley for 2000 years, it wasn’t until 1756 that the industry became organized and internationally known. 

 The further north you go, you leave the cities behind and discover small towns where people still live much as they have for centuries. The landscape becomes more dramatic and the distance between Quintas ( wine estates) grows farther apart. 

In May I experienced the Douro Valley with Viking Cruises on Portugal’s Douro River of Gold trip. 

Viking Cruises Portugal’s River of Gold  

The cruise is a combination of travel by land and on the river. You arrive in Lisbon, Portugal’s capital city and have a couple of days to take tours and explore Lisbon before boarding a bus to Porto, where you embark on the cruise ship. There is one stop along the way to Porto, Coimbra. 

 If you’d like to learn about another popular Viking cruise check out  Danube Rivers itinerary, read this article.

Of course, this itinerary includes many optional shore excursions, but I couldn’t do them all. In this article,  I’ll share some of my favorite places and best experiences on Portugal’s River of Gold . 

Barca de Alva the last Portuguese town on the Douro River and a few hundred yards from the Spanish border.

 Douro Valley and port wine

The Douro River Valley is the oldest demarcated wine region in the world. The heart of this region is Peso da Régua, the largest riverside town in the Douro Valley. In the 18th century, it was a major hub for the area, eventually connecting the railway, road, and river. 

From Régua, traditional wooden cargo ships called rabelos were loaded with barrels of port wine and set out on the rough waters of the Douro to Vila Nova de Gaia; the port was unloaded and left to mature before being exported on larger ships to Britain. 

In 1988, Régua was recognized as the International City of Vineyards and Wine by the International Organization of Vine and Wine, based in Paris. If you’re a true port wine lover, visit the Douro Museum while in Régua.

In a nutshell, port is a fortified wine created when 16th-century British merchants added brandy to the local wine to preserve it during the travel to Britain. Port wine comes in many styles, from dry to sweet, ruby to tawny. Note that the only grapes used to produce authentic port are grown in the Douro Valley. 

Viking Helgrim docked in Régua, Portugal.

Favorite Experiences on Viking’s Portugal River of Gold Cruise

Flavors of lisbon tour.

I enjoyed this tasty food tour of Lisbon’s Campo de Ourique neighborhood as much for the interesting neighborhood as the food. This is not a tour through a food market, nor is it in a neighborhood frequented by tourists. It’s a chance to get a glimpse of local life in a neighborhood with many older buildings, pretty tiles,  lots of trees, and a lovely shady park. By the time the tour was finished, I could imagine myself living there. 

If you’ve never tried Portuguese food, or even if you have, this tour is a nice introduction to some typical fare. It’s fun and educational, and each place is a unique, family-owned restaurant. There are no franchises. We also stopped at the revamped Campo de Ourique Market , a treasure trove of interesting local foods, spices, and gifts.

chorizo empanada, codfish with tomato rice fritter, and olive oil with tomato on housemade bread

Portuguese food is known for its simple yet flavorful approach, using local ingredients, such as cod, cheese, and smoked sausage. We made four or five stops, and in addition to local foods like ham, cheese, and cod cakes, we tried some Portuguese wines, beer, and a special liquor called Ginga . Ginga is a sweet liquor made from sour cherries. It is around 20% alcohol, so don’t let the sweet taste fool you.

The tour is capped by a stop in an atmospheric old cafe for a delicious, sweet treat, Portugal’s famed pastel de nata —an egg custard pastry accompanied by coffee. 

Inside tip:  Tran 28, an iconic image in photos of Lisbon, stops in this neighborhood. This is one of the best places to get a photo.

Food tours are the best way to see a neighborhood and get the overall flavor, pun intended.  As we walked, our guide gave us insights into the residents of the neighborhood, and insider tips, like how much it would cost to rent an apartment.  This tour was an optional excursion offered by Viking.

Music is one of the best ways to share culture. Even if you don’t know the language, music conveys the emotions so that you can understand the story being sung. What I remember most about Coimbra is the Fado music. Fado is sometimes called the music of the Portuguese soul. 

You may have heard about Fado in Lisbon… it is not the same as the Fado of Coimbra . In Lisbon, women sing Fado. In Coimbra, it is sung only by men, usually students of Coimbra’s famous university. The style in Coimbra is taken from the medieval troubadours.

Learn more about FADO, check out Quarteto Coimbra on IG. Or my You Tube channel . 

Coimbra is one of the oldest cities in Portugal and was the birthplace of six Portuguese kings. In 1139, King Alfonso Henriques made Coimbra the capital city. The small historic center is colorful with cobbled narrow streets, many alleyways and steps, and side streets to explore. Everyone I spoke to on the ship said they wished we’d had more time in Coimbra. There are some interesting shops there, too. 

Coimbra is probably best known for its university. It is believed to be the oldest in Portugal and has been hosting students from around the world for 700 years.  A tour of the university includes the Baroque Library, which contains over 300,000 books. 

Fun fact: The university keeps a colony of bats to eat the book lice that attack the books. It is one of two libraries in the world with a bat colony. But don’t worry, you won’t see any bats!

Mateus Palace & Gardens in Portugal’s Douro Valley

Mateus Palace and Gardens

You may recognize the Mateus Palace from the hallmark label on the bottles of Mateus rosé wine. But the wine is not made here. This is a very interesting story, but I’ll leave it for you to discover when you visit on your own!

The Mateus Palace is now a private residence but was formerly the home of the last count of Vila Real . The entrance to this stunning Baroque palace was designed by an Italian architect who wanted to create a dramatic and memorable entrance…he did. 

I enjoyed the tour of the palace and gardens much more than I expected. With such a grand entrance, you’re set up to expect something pretty fantastic inside, and the palace interiors do not disappoint. A tour of Casa de Mateus reveals the incredible architecture and priceless art objects that today would be impossible to produce either due to costs or lack of rare materials.

Details about the furniture and artifacts collected by the family are fascinating, but a walk through the gorgeous gardens and the cedar tree tunnel is equally captivating. There’s even a small vineyard. A tour of the house is with a guide only, but you can wander through the gardens on your own. 

Quinta do Seixo

Quinta do Seixo is the home of Sandeman. Once you reach the winery, you’ll recognize the image of Zoro wearing a black cape and flat-topped black hat called a sombrero cordobés . It’s the branding for Sandeman, an iconic image in port wine country.

The scenic ride to Quinta do Seixo is one that you’ll not soon forget. It includes some hairpin turns and edge-of-the-road views that are hair-raising, but it’s worth it for the spectacular views of the terraced vineyards and Douro River. 

The tour takes you through the winery, explaining the process of making port wine, the grapes used, fermentation, and storage. It’s a very basic tour, but it’s good if you don’t know much about the winemaking process. The tour ends in the tasting room and shop. The wine tasting includes a red and white port wine and an opportunity to purchase wine to go.  

Castelo Rodrigo

Castelo Rodrigo is one of Portugal ’s twelve historic parishes. Sometimes referred to as the original global village, it was a city that provided refuge for Jews, Arabs, and Christians. There is evidence that they all lived here peacefully for over one hundred years. I found this especially interesting in light of current events. 

The parish, located 2,200 feet above sea level, was under constant siege by the Spanish from the 11th to the 14th centuries. The ruins of a castle and the old church are evidence of the town’s bloody past. During the Spanish Inquisition, many Jews fled Spain for Castelo Rodrigo.

The little chapel is especially beautiful, and there are fantastic views over the countryside from the castle. Castelo Rodrigo makes a lovely day trip. There’s time to wander the narrow medieval streets and poke around the few shops that sell local goods made from cork.

This tour is a good way to see a lot of the countryside and learn some history. There’s also a stop on the way back for a scenic overlook of the beautiful landscape, and photo ops.

Salamanca , Spain

F ounded before the rise of the Roman Empire, Salamanca is an ancient city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site . It is known as the Golden City due to the color of the light reflected off the stunning sandstone facades. 

Salamanca is a city, like many in Europe, anchored by an important plaza. In Salamanca, the Plaza Mayor is a meeting place for all occasions. Just as Piazza San Marco in Venice , it has become one of the living museums of Europe. Just being outside, people-watching, and sitting at a table with a ringside seat is a unique experience to savor. 

Aside from enjoying the spectacle in Plaza Mayor, my favorite experience in Salamanca was a visit to Casa Lis Art Nouveau and Art Deco Museum . A former residence, it is an enchanting museum that houses an extensive collection of art nouveau art, stained glass, sculpture, paintings, pottery, and textiles. There’s a gift shop and cafe on site, as well. 

The other thing you must do in Salamanca is  find a seat at a tapas bar and enjoy the delicious Iberian ham Spain is known for, along with a glass of the local wines, perhaps tempranillo from Ribera del Duero or white wine from Rueda.

Fun fact: The port for this full day excursion is Barca d’Alva, the last Portuguese town on the Douro River.

Vineyards at Quinta de Avessada, by Penny Sadler

Quinta da Avessada & Favaois

During an excursion to visit the UNESCO-designated town of Favaios, you’ll visit the Favaois Co-op and taste the famous Moscatel de Favaois . 

Favaois, population 1,500, is also known for its bakery that still makes bread as it has been for centuries. During your visit, you’ll meet the sixth generation to carry on this tradition and you’ll get to taste the bread, fresh from the oven. They even give you butter and jam for it.

Part of the tour of Favaois is a visit to the Bread and Wine Museum,  which features both audiovisual and multimedia exhibits. Be sure to experience the exhibit which guides you through the aromatics of muscatel. 

Then, it’s on to the historic vineyards of Quinta da Avessada for a traditional Portuguese meal and more wine tasting. Take some time to enjoy the view over the vineyards and a sip of the sweet Moscatel wine. Made with Galego Muscat grapes and aged for eighteen months, muscat is a typical aperitif that can be drunk either before or after a meal. This was a really interesting excursion, and I wish we’d had a bit more free time in Favaois. 

Porto is one of the oldest cities in Europe…and currently one of the most popular. Located on the banks of the Douro River, Porto has been a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996 and a European Capital of Culture in 2001.

The second largest city in Portugal, it is known as the City of Bridges. Six bridges cross the Douro River; two were designed by the same Eiffel as the famous tower in Paris. The most known is the Luis I Bridge, named for the Portuguese king at the time of the construction.

Like Lisbon, Porto has a rich history and many architectural treasures. A walk along the narrow cobblestone streets and the riverfront provides many opportunities to admire this romantic city.

 Distinctive azulejos (decorative tiles) are a key architectural and cultural feature. The perfect place to study these tiles is the Sáo Bento train station in Porto. If you get the feeling you’ve seen this railway station before, well, maybe you have. A one-way ticket to Hogwarts, anyone?

20,000 tiles tell the story of Portugal at the Sao Bento Train station in Porto.

Excursions in Porto

As with each port, Viking offers multiple options for excursion. In Porto, Viking excursions included Porto on Foot,  Porto City Hike, and a tour of a traditional fish cannery. That last one may give you pause, but one of Portugal’s biggest industries is fish canning.

 I did the City Hike Tour, which included a ride in the funicular. The Porto on Foot tour does not include this. The panoramic views are worth it and honestly, how often do you get to travel by funicular? 

Port wine tasting

Viking offers an excursion with Graham’s Port wine to taste and learn more about Douro wines. I did not do this but I did try the wines on the ship and they are good! Many people who did take this excursion said they enjoyed it.

The ship docks on the Vila Nova de Gaia side of the Douro River, where all the big port houses store the wine before bottling and shipping. You can easily walk to many places for a tasting on your own if you prefer something less formal. I recommend Kopke , the oldest port wine producer in the Douro Valley.   I had a chance to meet one of the winemakers and experience a guided tasting of several vintages. They were all excellent. I’ll write more about that in a future article. 

Fun fact: Porto is the namesake of Portugal, not the other way around.

Ready to take a Douro River cruise?

The best time to take a Douro River Cruise is as soon as possible.  The scenery is spectacular offering unlimited breathtaking views. Due to the increasing number of cruise ships on the river in recent years, things are changing fast in the Douro Valley. And while all that tourism provides funds to keep some of these small historic places alive, it also irreversibly changes them. If you’re considering Viking Cruises Portugal’s River of Gold cruise, I suggest you go now. Go solo, go with someone else, just go.

Leave a comment if you’d like more information about any aspect of this trip.

All photos are copyright Penny Sadler unless otherwise noted. Viking Cruises sponsored my trip. All opinions and words are my own.

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[…] wines have long been recognized by wine enthusiasts, especially port wine from the Douro Valley region. More recently the Lisbon wine region is attracting those who seek wine experiences closer to the […]

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Viking River cruise on the Douro river - Cruises on the Douro

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• Cruises on the Douro

We loved our Portugal River of Gold Viking cruise. It was off season, which we were fully aware of... read more

First the good bits. The crew were attentive, polite and helpful. Every where was clean and tidy... read more

Viking River cruise on the Douro river

This was a smaller boat than our two previous Viking trips in China and northern Europe, but very nice. As always the service was excellent and the food and wine was flowing freely. For us wine lovers, the free wine at lunch and dinner is a real benefit. Short river in Portugal so you go out and back but see different things in each direction. Saw some lovely wineries, and small villages including a nice tour of a town in Spain just before we turned around. Nice amount of free time at each stop for those of you who like to shop or walk around on your own. Weather in early December was mostly good with two days of high winds and cold that wasn't ideal but manageable.

We where really looking forward to our first river cruise. The Douro river is beautiful also places you visit. Our problem was open dining didn’t exist passengers where pre tipping waiters to reserve large tables to sit with their group or same nationality and have all the attention for service and top ups of wine.Nearly all French balcony cabins are below waterline. The passengers who have already sailed with Viking have a cocktail party leaving first time passengers to be stay in their cabins as there is only one entertainment area . These holidays are over priced and geared up for tipping.

We’re on our second Viking river cruise and the attached picture is from right now on the Viking Osfrid on 10/14/2017. Our top floor view after 5 nights on the ship, 3 of those days and nights have been of nothing but the ship next to us. No light, so sun no sky...just windows from another ship 2 feet away. I opened the door to take the picture and honest to god exhaust trapped between the ships poured into our cabin. Viking will lie to you they have private docks. We paid for a top cabin and the trip has been almost all tied to another boat with no view. This is real and happening now.

As far as I can tell, the AMA boats and experience were the best on the river. The crew of the AMA Vida were exceptional and our experience focused on the food and wine of the region. We had the pleasure of cruising during the day, visiting the region in the morning or afternoon, and having time to explore in the evenings. Only negative was when our boat (that didn't run its engines at night) had to tie up next to boats that did. Fumes and noise. Hopefully, they will build more docks so this issue goes away.

This will be remembered as one of our best holidays - all thanks to Titan. The river boat was excellent - accommodation and dining on board really good. The staff /crew were lovely. The scenery magnificent and the days ashore visiting vineyards very interesting - what's not to like!!

Our 8 day cruise from Porto/Salamanca/Porto with Emerald Radiance was an amazing treat to scenery which can only be seen from the river. The 5 locks involved in getting to the Spanish border are some of the biggest drops in water levels in Europe. The Valeira Dam has a lock 85 metres long, 23 metres wide and a difference in water levels of about 32 metres. The power station produces an average of 663Gwatts per annum. Either side of the dams are rocky escarpments which then slowly change to steeply sloping hills with vineyards galore. Certainly a trip to go on one's tick list.

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Portugal’s River of Gold

This 10-day cruisetour from Lisbon to Porto sails the breathtaking Douro River, one of Europe’s most scenic and a longtime producer of the country’s prized port wine, to experience the best of Portugal.

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Written by Susan Lanier-Graham

Cruises | destinations | europe | portugal | travel.

Wander through Lisbon and Porto on a 10-day Viking River cruise on Portugal’s Douro River with history, architecture, wine, and food.

This summer, my husband and I took a 10-day cruise on the Douro River in Portugal – Portugal’s River of Gold. It was my third cruise with Viking River Cruises and a little different because it was one of their cruise tours, which means it combined cruising with touring Portugal via luxury motorcoach.

What's in This Article:

Introduction to Viking River Cruises

Viking is a family-owned company based in Switzerland. Their signature is creating cultural experiences for you as you travel. Viking will arrange your air travel to coordinate with your embarkation date. On this trip, I flew into Lisbon, and Viking had someone meet me outside customs. The driver gathered our bags, got us situated on a very comfortable bus, and took us to our hotel in the heart of Lisbon. Our Program Director, Sam Corbin, met us at the hotel, along with a team behind the Viking desk in the hotel lobby.

The Viking Helgrim docked on the Douro River. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

Having completed several cruises, I know this is a unique experience that really helps get the cruise off on the right foot. You have the Program Director who gets to know you and is with you throughout the cruise, along with Viking-dedicated staff who can help you with any questions. They have a welcome reception in the hotel, and there are several pre-cruise tours to help you discover your embarkation location.

Exploring Lisbon

After a long day of traveling, I was content to settle into my comfortable room at Tivoli Avenida Liberadade Lisboa . We had rooftop drinks at Sky Bar, where the views over Lisbon were breathtaking. Then, we went to the hotel’s main restaurant, Cervejaria Liberdade. The restaurant opens onto Lisbon’s main street, which runs in front of the hotel – Avenida Liberadade. The food was a perfect introduction to Portugal—we had a rice seafood dish that was possibly the best seafood I’ve ever eaten. They served everything in copper saucepans, and I regretted I couldn’t take it all away with me.

View from Sky Bar at Tivoli Avenida Liberadade Lisboa. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

The next morning, we joined Viking on an included tour of Lisbon. Today, Portugal is a tiny country with a still-developing economy in the 21st century. However, it was the leader in maritime exploration in the 16th century, and you can experience that history in Lisbon.

We drove along the Tagus River, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean. We stopped by Belem Tower , one of the city’s original fortifications dating back to the 16th century.

Belem Tower in Lisbon, Portugal. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

We stopped at the massive and beautiful Jerónimos Monastery , a UNESCO World Heritage Site that began in 1501. I didn’t go inside the church because it was a Sunday morning, but we did go into the West Wing, which houses the Maritime Museum .

Jerónimos Monastery is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that began in 1501 in Portugal. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

I enjoyed exploring the museum and seeing the history we’ve grown up within the “New World” from an “Old World” perspective. There is also a lovely little café adjoining the museum, so it was a great spot for a mid-morning coffee.

Maritime Museum in Portugal. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

Viking offered several optional tours that afternoon, but we explored Lisbon instead. We decided to begin with a late lunch and try one of the classic Portuguese sandwiches—a Francesinha. This is a meat lover’s sandwich. I discovered that the Portuguese have amazing seafood and incredible meats, particularly ham and sausage.

Exploring downtown Lisbon, Portugal. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

The Francesinha—which means little Frenchie in Portuguese—is a relative of the amazing Croque monsieur in France. But this is even more over the top. It’s two slices of bread, stuffed with ham, beef, and two or three types of sausage. They top it with slices of melted cheese and top it off with a fried egg and a hefty portion of sauce. Of course, it’s always served with a side of French Fries.

Francesinha with egg is a traditional Portuguese dish. Photo by Argos42 via Wikimedia Commons

We walked out of the hotel. It was early afternoon, so it was not traditional lunchtime. We wandered down a few streets and discovered a local crowd at Dote. That’s always a welcome sign. We both ordered the traditional Francesinha Top, although I ordered a “mini,” which is a half sandwich. I was able to eat about half of the half. It was very good but rich.

We spent more time recovering from our jet lag, wandering the wide avenue, listening to music, and watching people go past on the warm summer Sunday. For dinner, we headed to Time Out Market Lisbon . I had heard such amazing things about this market and was excited to check it out. This is a bustling food hall, the kind of which we’re only just seeing arrive in the U.S. Time Out Market, created by the journalists who write Time Out Portugal , features 24 restaurants, eight bars, and about a dozen shops, along with market stalls for vendors selling meat, fish, fruit, and flowers. It is also a popular concert venue. We were there on a Sunday evening, so the vendors were closed, but the market was packed. At first, it was a little overwhelming, with all the restaurants around the sides and bustling tables in the center.

Time Out Lisbon is a bustling food hall in central Lisbon. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

We realized that if you took the smaller hallway around the outsides, you could sit in quieter alcoves or even outside in the beautiful evening air but still enjoy the varied tastes of the market. We opted for Café de São Bento. This place has been a fixture in Lisbon for 30 years. They’re known for their beef and great local seafood served with Portuguese wines. I had an amazing shrimp and garlic dish. I ate every last drop of it, even though I’d had half of that sandwich about six hours earlier. Amazing flavor! I would go back to Lisbon just for that shrimp dish.

Shrimp in garlic from Café de São Bento. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

We walked back to the hotel—about 2 kilometers, which I needed after all that food. It was a beautiful evening. Time Out Market is right across from the riverfront, and we walked up the hill through the pedestrian zone to the hotel. Musicians were playing on every corner, singers were at the dozens of little sidewalk cafés, children were walking past with ice-cream cones, and the beautiful moon cast its shadows as we walked slowly past the sights and sounds of Lisbon.

Visiting the University Town of Coimbra

We followed our directions the next morning and had our luggage ready by 7 a.m. Viking detailed everything in our customized itinerary. We knew which bus to take and what time we were leaving, and they carried our luggage for us. We started our day—which you can see is a pattern—with a huge breakfast at the hotel. The massive buffet breakfast is included in the stay. It featured beautiful fruits, yogurts, pastries, omelets, eggs, an impressive selection of juices, and more.

After breakfast, your bags were already on the bus, so we climbed aboard our luxury motorcoach and started our journey toward the Douro River, where we would board our Viking ship. However, we made a stop along the way in the small town of Coimbra. Coimbra is about two hours north of Lisbon and about an hour south of Porto, so it was a good stopover about halfway to our ship. I enjoyed exploring the small streets of this little town. It feels a bit magical.

We stopped to wander the streets of Coimbra in Portugal. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

We visited the University of Coimbra , which opened in 1290 but was made famous recently because J.K. Rowling received her inspiration for Hogwarts from this historic school. The students wear long black capes as they walk through the beautiful campus. Our stop was at the university’s beautiful baroque library, Biblioteca Joanina.

Biblioteca Joanina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it’s no wonder when you explore it. I wasn’t allowed to take photos inside, but it was beautiful. There is a gorgeous brick ceiling, and old volumes line the walls. We were told that students still use the books in the library. What an honor it would be to research in such a beautiful space.

After the library, we climbed the bell tower to look over the city. We ended our tour in Saint Miguel Chapel. This beautiful little chapel dates to the 12th century. The classic tile throughout the chapel is breathtaking. It’s a quiet sanctuary that makes you feel peaceful and offers a few quiet moments.

S. Miguel Chapel at the University of Coimbra in Coimbra, Portugal. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

Arriving in Magical Porto

We finished our afternoon in Coimbra and made the rest of the journey to our Viking ship, the Viking Helgrim . It was docked in Porto, and we spent two nights there. I believe Porto is one of my favorite stops in all of Europe. It has a unique charm that is different from most of Western Europe. I could see why J.K. Rowling found this a captivating and motivating city for weaving magical tales.

The  Viking Helgrim is one of four ships custom-built for cruising the Douro River . They have the same Scandinavian feel of all Viking ships, but they are quite a bit smaller and offer a more intimate feel. The ship has only 53 staterooms, accommodating 106 guests at the most. The Viking Helgrim main deck has standard staterooms. The middle deck contains both Veranda staterooms and Veranda suites. The restaurant is also on the middle deck. The upper deck contains Veranda staterooms and suites, the reception desk, the lounge, and Aquavit Terrace.

Aquavit Terrace from the Viking Helgrim’s Lounge. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

There is also a sun deck with lounge chairs, tables, covered seating, and a pool. Every room has a nice bathroom, a 40″ TV, and there is free WiFi. The Viking Helgrim also included a small library with public computers, an onboard shop, and an elevator.

Enjoying a welcome Port wine spritzer on the Viking Helgrim’s Sun Deck. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

Life Onboard the Viking Helgrim

We arrived late afternoon and settled into our Veranda Stateroom on the third floor. One of my favorite things about river cruises is that you can unpack on the first day and not have to live out of a suitcase for the entire trip. We unpacked and then went to the lounge for the evening happy hour. This was a great chance to chat with the bar staff, get to know other passengers, and settle in for our cruise.

All meals are included with a Viking Cruise. We sometimes get meals while we’re out and about, but I do like to take advantage of being able to eat on the ship. We did opt for the Silver Spirits package. If you do NOT get the package, free assorted hot teas and coffee are available anytime. You can enjoy house wines, beers, and soft drinks during lunches and dinners. We found that the Silver Spirits beverage package is well worth the cost. You get a bottle of sparkling wine in your cabin and a choice of premium local wines, beers, cocktails, specialty coffee drinks, soft drinks, and juices throughout the day. There is also an open bar where you can enjoy cocktails or soft drinks during evening happy hour and entertainment.

Dinner in the Viking Helgrim restaurant had an amazing view, which my husband enjoys in this photo. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

Our meals onboard included a selection of classics that the chef made available each day, including steak, salmon, and chicken. However, each evening, the chef served meals from the region. The Maître d’ always remembered my favorite wines for the meals and suggested a few stellar wines that I have added to my permanent list.

That first night, we had some great options. There is always a vegetarian option and usually a tasting menu. You are free to pick and choose or even order multiple options. I started my journey with the local grilled octopus with a Mediterranean vegetable salad. For my entrée, I opted for the poached Norwegian salmon.

We thought about walking into town after dinner but decided to relax instead. We simply sat on our ship’s upper deck and soaked up the music, people, and river around us. With champagne in hand, we toasted the end of the day in Porto and the beginning of the river portion of our journey. We couldn’t wait to begin exploring the next morning.

Sunset over Porto from the Viking Helgrim sun deck. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

I always look forward to breakfast on a Viking ship. Coffee and pastries are available early, but I prefer breakfast in the dining room. I am a huge fan of breakfast, and Viking wows me. Some mornings I would order eggs Benedict, or on others I would have the chef make me an omelet or over-easy egg. The buffet is available in addition to the chef’s station. It is filled with amazing flavors—fresh yogurt, fruit, vegetables, pastries, bread, and more. After a fresh veggie omelet that morning, we were ready to explore.

History of Porto

We were docked on the Gaia side of the river, where all the port producers are located. Across the Douro from us was old town Porto .

Looking out at the Douro River from the Viking Helgrim. Porto is to the left of the photo, and Gaia is to the right. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

Porto began as a Roman settlement in the 4th century BC. Portugal was named for Porto; today, it is the second-largest city with about 240,000 people. It is often known as the “City of Bridges” because of the six bridges that link the two shores. Two of the six were designed by Gustave Eiffel years before he began working on the tower in Paris. The most remarkable is the Dom Luís Bridge, built by a student of Eiffel’s between 1881 and 1886. It connects Gaia to Porto and is a massive double-decker bridge. At its highest point, it is 146 feet tall. The bottom level has a pedestrian walkway where cars cross the Douro. The upper bridge has a pedestrian walk and is for the trains.

Dom Luís I Bridge over the Douro River connects Gaia and Porto. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

My husband and I didn’t take the included tour because we wanted to explore independently. Knowing that the ship was docked all that day and didn’t leave until breakfast the next day allowed us to see things on our schedule.

Exploring Porto

We started out early by taking the gondola from right outside our ship to the second level of the magnificent Luís I Bridge. We purchased the gondola tickets (5€ per person or about $5.45 USD).

Taking the gondola to the second level of Dom Luís I Bridge. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

The views of the city were spectacular. This is well worth the ride to see the sights.

Approaching Dom Luís I Bridge from the gondola. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

We hopped off, took some photos, and slowly crossed the bridge. It is one of the most spectacular vistas anywhere.

Views of Gaia and Porto from the Dom Luís I Bridge with the Viking Helgrim docked at Gaia on the left side of the photo and Porto to the right. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

On the Porto side, we wandered. We took winding pathways that led past homes and tiny shops off the beaten path.

We wandered the winding streets in Porto. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

We marveled at the beautiful flowers growing everywhere. It was an interesting mix of homes, gardens, and abandoned buildings.

I loved the flowers growing everywhere; the fog hanging over the river each morning added an air of mystery. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

We stopped by parks and looked at beautiful tiles adorning the walls. Eventually, we made our way back down to the banks of the Douro. We stopped in a café for coffee, sat down, and watched the people go past. We returned across the bottom of the Luís Bridge, past the scenic Rabelo boats, and strolled through the street vendors.

The Rabelo boats on the Douro in Porto, Portugal. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

One of the fascinating things I discovered about Portugal is that it is a leading producer of cork, so there are plenty of vendors selling cork products. The entire country is also filled with colorful tiles, so you can pick up items made from tiles. After lunch and a brief rest on our ship, we decided to head back into historic Porto.

Exploring Historic Old Town Porto

Viking ran two shuttle buses into the center of town. We decided to try the bus to see how it worked and made our way into the city center. I laughed that the gondola was quicker, but it allowed us to chat with some of our fellow passengers.

We wandered into the train station in the historic area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Fans of Harry Potter might think it looks a bit familiar. I about half expected to see Hogwarts Express pull up in the station.

The train station in Porto inspired J.K. Rowling. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

It is a lovely, open station with beautiful tiles. And, a travel tip: it has very clean restrooms, so it is a great place to visit while exploring.

The tile walls inside Porto’s train station tell the area’s history. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

We wandered through the shopping district and made our way to Livraria Lello. This charming bookstore opened in 1869 and would be amazing but is even more popular because J.K. Rowling frequented the store. There is always a long line to get inside the store and a charge that is refunded if you purchase something, so we peeped in the windows but didn’t go inside.

Downtown Porto. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

The Porto skyline is dominated by the bell tower of the Clérigos Church, but I didn’t go inside that one. Instead, I was drawn to a set of two smaller churches. The Igreja dos Carmelitas and Igreja dos Carmelitas stand at the corner of Rua do Carmo and Praça de Carlos Alberto. Igreja do Carmo sits on the outside corner. It has beautiful blue and white tiled walls extended all along the outside and we could hear music from inside. We stepped in just as someone was singing Ava Marie. I listened from the back for a few moments before continuing down the street.

Igreja do Carmo sits adjacent to another church, Igreja dos Carmelitas, in Porto. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

We made our way through the historic district, absorbing the culture and the atmosphere. I would love to return and have more time to explore. We decided that we had taken a gondola, a bus, and stairs, so we needed to descend using the Funicular dos Guindais . The funicular, built in 1891, sat unused for almost a century. It is now a great way to and from the top of the hill on the Porto side down to the Douro Riverfront and the lowest level of the Luís I Bridge. It takes about two minutes and costs 2.50€ (about $2.72 USD) per adult.

Starting out on the Funicular in Porto. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

The views going down were spectacular. It runs from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the week and until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays in winter or until 10 p.m. during the week and until midnight on weekends during the summer months.

Articles Related to Visiting Portugal

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• Top 15 Essential Things to Do When Touring Portugal
• Explore Porto and Beyond: Four Unique Day Trips
• Cultural Immersion on the Danube with AmaWaterways
• Rhine and Mosel River Cruise with Scenic Opal

Preparing to Set Sail on the Douro

We had a long day, coming and going around Porto. Returning to the Viking Helgrim for the evening’s activities was great fun. We got back in time for happy hour in the lounge.

A cheer to end our explorations in Porto and prepare for our journey on the Douro River. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

We met our crew during the happy hour, including Captain Manuel Alves, whose father is also a captain on the Douro. We passed his ship later in the cruise. We met Executive Chef Peter Benko and the Maître d’ Manuel Gomez, a native of Spain who kept things running smoothly. We had an entertaining presentation by Program Director Sam, whom we met in Lisbon. His lilting British accent and positive attitude were a comfort throughout our trip. He explained everything that would happen the next morning when we set sail at 7 a.m. to explore the Douro.

Once again, we headed to the restaurant where my husband enjoyed the local specialty—grilled sardine toasts on rye bread—while I opted for the seared scallops. That night, I also ordered a delicious white bean soup and one of my favorite dishes from the cruise: black truffle risotto with refreshing lemon zest. The night’s dessert was my all-time favorite—a classic Orange Roll cake with Grand Marnier and sugar syrup. It’s a good thing I walk so much during the days when I take a Viking cruise!

After our dinner, we walked along the banks of the Douro River, soaking up the music that wafted through the night air.

Sunset casts beautiful colors across Porto. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

Then we ambled back up to the sun deck, where we settled in for an evening in the cool air and chatted with other passengers. We were ready to set out to explore the magnificent Douro River.

The author Susan Lanier-Graham and her husband Bill on the sun deck of the Viking Helgrim in Porto.

The next morning, at about 7 a.m., we headed upstream into the beautiful wine country. In the Alto Douro Wine Region, wine estates lined the river, small remote villages welcomed us, and wildlife watching from the banks.

Cruising on the scenic Douro River in Portugal. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

I thoroughly enjoyed the rest of my time in Portugal as we sailed toward Spain along the scenic Douro River. I long to return to explore the area and soak up more of this great country.

Exploring Lisbon and Porto with Viking River Cruises

Lisbon | Porto | River Cruises | Small Ship Cruising | Viking Cruises

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Here’s what we did on our Portugal River Cruise with Viking

06/19/2018 By Traveling Canucks 29 Comments Categories: Europe Portugal Top Lists Travel Stories Travel Tips Trip Ideas World Heritage Site

River Cruise in Portugal’s Douro Valley

We’ve returned from a fun Portugal river cruise and have so many wonderful experiences and photos to share. A European river cruise has been on our travel wish list for years now, so we jumped at the opportunity to partner with Viking River Cruises for this Portugal river cruise .

There are so many European river cruises – why did we choose Portugal?

Well, the simple answer is that we had not yet visited Portugal. This is a new country for us. We also want to do something special to celebrate Cameron’s 40th birthday.

After learning about the Douro Valley and it’s famous wine region , a luxurious river cruise in Portugal sounds like the perfect adult only vacation. The cruise is called Portugal’s River of Gold . It’s a 10 day river cruise that begins in Lisbon and ends in Porto (learn more here ).

This post shares our experience on the Portugal river cruise, including land excursions.

We break down each day of the tour and provide information about what we did. We took this cruise in May 2018. Times and details may change for future cruises, so use this information as a guideline (when in doubt, contact Viking directly).

Watch this short video about our river cruise here .

Day 1 – Lisbon, Portugal

The  River of Gold cruise itinerary begins in Lisbon, Portugal’s vibrant coastal capital. Our flight from Vancouver arrived at Lisbon International Airport at 12:00 PM on Sunday.

A representative from Viking was waiting for us at the airport. She was holding a red Viking sign so we easily identified her.

A private transfer took us from the airport to our hotel, the Tivoli Avenida Liberdade Lisboa . This transfer is included – no additional payment required.

Although we arrived at the hotel before the standard 3:00 PM check-in time, our room was ready and waiting for us. We were thankful for this because it was a long and tiring travel day.

The first day is a free day on the cruise itinerary. This means guests have the opportunity to explore Lisbon at their own pace.

The only organized activity was an optional talk at 6:00 PM that reviewed basic details about the Portugal river cruise itinerary. The hotel has a table in the lobby specifically for Viking River Cruise guests, so there’s someone available to answer your trip related questions.

After a quick nap, we went to the rooftop bar at the hotel. The views from this bar are spectacular. We could have easily spent the entire evening there. However, we only have two nights in Lisbon, so we want to get our and explore the city.

Find out what we did in Lisbon Portugal .

Views from Sky Bar, the rooftop bar at the  Tivoli Avenida Liberdade Lisboa .

Read this post to see more photos of Lisbon .

Day 2 – Lisbon, Portugal

A complimentary breakfast is provided at the hotel. The morning begins with an excursion to see Lisbon’s top tourist attractions.

We depart the hotel at 9:00 AM sharp and quickly learned that the wheels on the bus start moving at the specified time. Punctuality is very important.

The Lisbon city tour is a guided tour.

Guests on the Portugal river cruise are split into 3 separate coaches. There are about 25-30 people per coach. Each coach has an English speaking guide.

Guests are provided a  QuietVox  audio system so that you can hear what the guide is saying. Our guide was very knowledgeable and shared interesting stories about Portugal’s history and culture.

First stop was the magnificent Belém Tower (above photo).

We spent about 30 minutes at Belém. We did not go inside the tower, we took photos of the outside only.

Belém Tower is arguably the most important tourist attraction in Lisbon. We did not actually go inside this 16th century tower but we were able to marvel at its unique  Manueline architecture .

Navy Museum and Jerónimos Monastery

After Belém Tower we visited the nearby Navy Museum and Jerónimos Monastery, a  UNESCO World Heritage Site . It’s quite an impressive building (see above photo).

The Portuguese are very proud of their maritime history and achievements. The  Portuguese Empire  was one of the largest and longest-lived empires in world history, existing for almost six centuries.

The exhibits in the museum include historical paintings, archaeological items and several models of ships used in Portugal since the 15th century. This museum has over 17,000 items!

We spent about an hour at the maritime museum. The first 30 minutes was with our tour guide, the remaining 30 minutes was for us to explore on our own. Give yourself some time to walk down to the impressive Monastery (the domed tower at the far right of the above photo).

The bus departed the museum at 11:30 AM and passed the beautiful Praça do Comércio  (Commerce Square) before arriving at our next destination – the Alfama District.

The Alfama  is is the oldest district of Lisbon.

It’s the only part of Lisbon to survive the great 1755 earthquake, so it retains some of its old world charm. Today, this historical district is famous for its labyrinth of narrow medieval streets, small squares and quaint cafes and restaurants.

We toured the Alfama for about 45 minutes. The tour concluded at 1:00 PM.

We had the option to take the coach back to the hotel or get dropped off in the city center.  We opted to stay in the city and spend the afternoon exploring on our own.

Find out what we did here .

Related – Lisbon exceeded our expectations. Here’s what we did.

Optional Tour – A Taste of Lisbon

Viking offers optional tours at some of the locations. We decided to join the A Taste of Lisbon tour. The additional cost for this 3.5 hour tour is $69 USD per person.

The coach departed the Tivoli Avenida Liberdade Lisboa at 3:30 PM. We had 12 people on the tour with us.

The food tour stopped at 3 locations and included small samples of local dishes.

The first stop had us sampling Portugal’s most popular pasty – pastel de nada (see photo below). The second stop included steak sandwiches and beer. The final stop included charcuterie with wine pairings. This was the highlight of the Taste of Lisbon tour.

We also visited the  Miradouro de Nossa Senhora do Monte  to check out the amazing views of Lisbon (see photo below).

We arrived back at our hotel at 7:00 PM.

The iconic pastel de nata – so delicious!

Day 3 – Coimbra & Porto

We departed the hotel in Lisbon at 8:00 AM. Guests are required to be packed and ready by 7:00 AM because the luggage needs to be picked up from your room and taken to the coach.

Complimentary breakfast at the hotel is included (buffet style – typical European spread).

We drove for 3 hours before arriving at Coimbra , the country’s former capital and home to the historic University of Coimbra . The coach stopped for a bathroom and coffee break about half way between Lisbon and Coimbra. The coaches are equipped with wifi and bottled water is provided.

University of Coimbra

We arrived in Coimbra at 11:30 AM. We explored the medieval town for about 30 minutes before making our way to the University of Coimbra, one of the  oldest universities in continuous operation  in the world.

A highlight of the university tour is Joanina Library , an 18th century Baroque library that is home to 300,000 ancient books. We could not take photos inside the library.

That said, the photos we did see do not properly capture how incredible this library is. You have to experience it firsthand (there’s good reason why this university is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site).

The tour at the University of Coimbra is about 1.5 hours.

After the tour we had lunch at a nearby restaurant and were treated to a delicious 3-course meal with live traditional music (guitar and singing). The food was very good and the atmosphere was quite festive. We spent about 2 hours at this restaurant.

We got back on the coaches and made our way north to Porto. The final drive was about 2 hours. Most people had a siesta to sleep off the wine from lunch.

We arrived at the Viking river cruise ship in Vila Nova de Gaia (Porto) at 5:00 PM.

Above – street scene in the city of Coimbra.

Joanina Library at the University of Coimbra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site ( see listing ).

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The courtyard inside the historical University of Coimbra. Quite the place!

Vila Nova de Gaia, Porto

Our river cruise vessel, the Viking Osfrid , awaited our arrival at Vila Nova de Gaia, which is the south side of the Douro River (Porto is the on north side). The above photo was captured close to where the Viking ship docks. It’s technically not Porto but it’s close enough.

We boarded the ship and checked into our room. The process was fast and easy. Our luggage was delivered from the coach to our room. We had welcome cocktails at 5:30 PM and at 6:15 PM we were required to participate in a short safety drill. Basically, learn where your life jacket is located and how to use it in the unlikely event of an emergency.

Dinner was served shortly after the safety drill, around 7:00 PM. The captain took us up and down the Douro River on a sunset sail of Porto. After the sunset sail the ship docked at Vila Nova de Gaia for the evening.

We decided to get off the ship and explore Porto for a few hours.

Porto is such a photogenic city!

Related –  30 Photos of Porto that will inspire you to visit

Day 4 – Full day in Porto

The included excursion on Day 4 is called Panoramic Porto . Breakfast is served between 7:00 AM and 9:00 AM. The excursion departs at 8:30 AM sharp.

Similar to the Lisbon city tour , guests on the Portugal river cruise are split into 3 different coaches (the same groups as before).

The  QuietVox  audio system is provided so that we can learn about the places we visit (the devices are located in your stateroom – make sure you charge them every evening because you will use them every day).

First stop on the tour is the  Porto Cathedral , one of the city’s oldest monuments.

It’s located on a hilltop and showcases incredible views of the old red roofed city.

After the cathedral, our group walked to the nearby São Bento Railway Station , famous for its detailed tile murals. There are approximately 20,000 azulejo tiles on the walls that date as far back as 1905.

After the train station we visited Porto’s most popular shopping district and had about an hour of free time. We enjoyed another delicious round of  pastel de nata and coffee (Europeans know how to make great coffee!).

We visited Igreja de Santo Ildefonso (Church of Saint Ildefonso), an eighteenth-century church located near  Batalha Square , before re-joining our group and making our way back to Vila Nova de Gaia.

The last stop on the tour was probably our favorite – we visited Sandeman’s port wine cellar to learn about the region’s famous port wine and sample the goods. The Sandeman location is a short walk from where the ship is docked in Vila Nova de Gaia.

See more photos of Porto, Portugal

Above – monument in front of Porto Cathedral.

Beautiful tile mural inside São Bento Railway Station, Porto.

The Church of Saint Ildefonso. Notice the detailed tile art on the outside of the church.

Inside the Sandeman cave, home to hundreds of barrels of port wine. It smells so good in here!

Exploring Porto, Portugal

We arrived back to the Viking Osfrid for lunch. Guests can join a few different optional tours at this time. Or, you can take a shuttle back to Porto’s main shopping district.

We chose the shuttle back to Porto and spent the afternoon exploring Porto at our own pace.

Our self-guided walking tour began at the infamous Dom Luís I Bridge, where we took hundreds of photos of this incredible city (more on that here ).

We wandered around the city for about 3 hours and made our way back to the ship by 6:00 PM. The city is quite hilly, so we definitely got our exercise. We enjoyed dinner on the boat at 7:00 PM.

Views of Porto from the top of the Dom Luís I Bridge, an iron bridge built in 1886. One of the key people involved in its design was  Gustave Eiffel , the same man who designed the world-famous  Eiffel Tower .

Day 5 – Régua, Mateus Palace and Pinhão

We began the Portugal river cruise up the Douro River on Day 5, passing several towns and villages along the way. The ship departed from Porto at 7:00 AM. We woke up slowly that morning and watched the world slowly pass us by from the comfort of our bed.

We made our way to breakfast around 8:30 AM and finished just in time to witness the ship pass through the first river lock on the Douro River. It’s a very interesting procedure.

These river boats were built for the tight locks on the Douro River. Our captain carefully guided the Viking Osfrid into the narrow lock with only a few inches to spare on each side.

We spent the rest of the morning enjoying coffee on the sundeck of the ship, soaking up the unique landscapes as we sailed up the Douro. Lunch was served at 12:30 PM.

We arrived at the town of Régua at 2:30 PM. The included excursion departed shortly after we arrived, at 2:45 PM. We were a little behind schedule because there was a delay at one of the river locks.

WATCH – Video from our Douro Valley River Cruise

Mateus Palace in Vila Real, Portugal

First stop on the excursion is to Mateus Palace , a beautiful baroque palace located in Vila Real. The drive from Régua to the palace took about an hour. We had a 30 minute guided tour followed by 30 minutes of free time to explore the beautiful gardens and chapel.

After Mateus Palace we boarded the coach and made our way to Quinta do Seixo , located in the Upper-Corgo in the heart of the Douro Demarcated Region . This region is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (read the listing here ) because wine has been produced in the Alto Douro region for 2,000 years.

If you’ve been counting, that’s 4 different UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 4 straight days! 

The drive up the hill to the Sandeman winery is a little harrowing. The tight switchbacks put our driver to the test, but he was up for the challenge. If you don’t like heights, you may not want to look out the window during this part of the tour.

The views from the Sandeman at Quinta do Seixo are spectacular – see photos below. We’ve been to wine regions in Europe before (read about our trip to the Mosel Valley in Germany ), but we haven’t see vineyards quite like these. The rows of grape vines stretch up the side of the river valley for miles.

The terraces reminded us of the ancient terraces of Banaue in the Philippines .

Régua to Pinhão

For those who decided to skip the excursion to Mateus Palace and Quinta do Seixo, they stayed on the ship as it sailed from  Régua  to Pinhão . The coaches met up with the ship in Pinhão at around 6:45 PM.

Our coach actually passed the ship while it sailed up river. The above photo was captured from the window seat of the coach. That is our ship, the Viking Osfrid.

Dinner was served at 7:30 PM. That evening, we enjoyed local dishes and the ship’s staff were dressed in traditional Portuguese outfits. Performers came aboard the ship and played live music while we ate. It was a very festive evening.

The ship docks in Pinhão for the night. We had the opportunity to explore the town in the evening but we were too full from dinner. We decided to enjoy some local wine on the sundeck instead. It was a fun day.

Above – ship docked in the town of Pinhão, located in the district of  Vila Real .

Sailing up the calm Douro River. Views from the sundeck of the Viking Osfrid.

The variety of landscapes was unexpected. One minute we’re surround by wineries, the next minute we are sailing within a few meters of jagged rocks and steep canyons.

Panoramic views from Quinta do Seixo, home to the Sandeman brand of port.

Our big coach carefully made its way up these steep, windy roads.

Day 6 – Barca d’Alva and Castelo Rodrigo

The ship casts off from Pinhão at 7:15 AM. Like the previous morning, we take our time and enjoy the passing countryside from the window of our upper level stateroom.

We ate breakfast at 8:00 AM and made our way to the sundeck. The weather did not cooperate that day. It rained for most of the morning.

We arrived at Barca d’Alva at 2:15 PM and joined the included excursion that departed at 2:30 PM. We boarded the coach and made our way to the historical village of Castelo Rodrigo , a tiny medieval fortress town that retains its old world charm. The hilltop village is still home to about 60 people.

We had about 1.5 hours to explore the village, palace ruin and church of Castelo Rodrigo. The guided walking tour takes about 30 minutes. It’s not very big, so you can explore the village on your own.

We arrived back at the ship at around 5:00 PM. That evening we were treated to a cocktail party with a variety of colourful drinks to choose from. We ate dinner at 7:30 PM and went for a walk around Barca d’Alva afterwards. The town is quite small and there’s not a lot to do.

The ship docked at Barca d’Alva for two consecutive nights.

Admiring the palace ruins at Castelo Rodrigo.

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Steep slope in the medieval village of Castelo Rodrigo.

Sampling a glass sparkling white wine that’s manufactured in the region. It tasted like sweet almonds. We’re not sure if the white wine was mixed with the almond flavour? It was an interesting combination. We’ve never tasted anything like it before. It was a little too sweet for our liking.

Our coach stopped at this lookout point so that we could capture photos of these beautiful landscapes. You can see the Douro River in the far distance. That’s where the ship was docked while we toured the region.

Day 7 – Salamanca, Spain

This was the longest and one of the most memorable days on the cruise itinerary..

After an early breakfast on the ship, we boarded our coach at 8:45 AM and began a two hour drive to Salamanca , known for its ornate sandstone architecture and the Universidad de Salamanca  (founded in 1134). 

The Old City of Salamanca has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We arrived in Salamanca at 11:00 AM. We stopped for a coffee break about half way on the drive from Barca d’Alva to Salamanca.

The guided tour begins at Salamanca Central Market . We sampled a variety of cured meats fresh cheese, olives and wine. It’s a nice start to the afternoon. We then walked to the magnificent Plaza Mayor, considered the heart of Salamanca and said to be one of the most beautiful plazas in Spain .

You are given free time to explore Salamanca.

You may re-join the group for a guided walking tour at 2:00 PM or choose to discover Salamanca at your own pace.

We decided to enjoy a bottle of red wine and tapas at Plaza Mayor. It’s the perfect place to people watch and soak up the atmosphere. We visited during graduation season and there seemed to be a lot of bachelor and bachelorette parties (we counted at least 10 different groups that were dressed up and ready to party).

If you travel to Salamanca, you must visit the incredible New Cathedral of Salamanca , built between the 16th and 18th centuries in both Gothic and Baroque styles. It’s one of the most impressive Cathedral’s we’ve visited. It is joined together with the  Old Cathedral  that dates back to the 12th century.

The coach departs Salamanca at 4:00 PM and arrives back at the ship at 6:00 PM. The ship remains docked in the town of Barca d’Alva for a second night.

Related – Why you should add Salamanca to your travel list

Outside Salamanca Cathedral. It’s so big that we couldn’t fit it all in the frame!

Inside Salamanca Cathedral. Nicole is dwarfed by the towering columns. This church is huge!

Above – the stunning architecture and detailed ceiling in Salamanca Cathedral.

Random sighting at Plaza Mayor. This girl was dressed up in a fat suit for her bachelorette party – we believe. Salamanca is clearly a university party town.

See more photos of Salamanca here .

Can you spot Nicole in the above photo? Hint – she’s looking left.

Enjoying tapas and red wine in Plaza Mayor.

Above – endless rows of Jamón Ibérico, Spain’s celebrated cured ham. 

Day 8 – Favaios and the Douro Valley

The Viking Osfrid departs Barca d’Alva early, around 6:15 AM.

We arrived at Pocinho  at 9:00 AM and disembarked the ship to join the included excursion to the historical town of  Favaios , a village with a population of about 1,500 people that is known for one thing – its wine, Moscatel de Favaios .

The drive from Pocinho to Favaios took about an hour and passed through the region that was heavily impacted by the forest fires of 2017.

The first activity in Favaios was a visit to one of the last traditional bakeries in the Douro Valley. We sampled some fresh bread and learned how it’s made. Nicole tried kneading the dough but her bread did not make the cut. The baker was not impressed with her bread making abilities.

VIDEO: 15 Reasons you should visit Portugal’s River of Gold

After the bakery, we visited the local museum and learned about the region’s wine making process and its infamous Moscatel de Favaios. We then made our way to the Favaios co-operative, where the region’s wine makers work together to produce Moscatel de Favaios . Of course, we also had a wine tasting.

We left Favaios and traveled 30 minutes to Quinta da Avessada , an ancient site that has long produced one of the richest wines in the Douro wine region. We enjoyed a welcome glass of Moscatel before sitting down for a memorable 3 course meal. The owner is quite the character. He kept everyone laughing throughout lunch. We spent about 2 hours at Quinta da Avessada .

The coach travels through the Douro Valley on its way back to the ship.

The landscapes in the demarcated wine region are stunning. The never-ending terraces stretch for miles and miles – see the above photo.

We arrived at Folgosa at 3:30 PM and boarded the cruise ship. It sailed for about two hours before arriving at Regua, our final destination for the day.

We attended the Captain’s Cocktail Party at 6:00 PM before dinner was served at 7:00 PM. Because the ship is docked in Régua for the night, we decided to disembark the ship after dinner to explore the town. When we returned, we were treated to a special performance of Portuguese Folk Music by a local group called the Tuna Folk Show.

Nicole learning to make traditional Portugese bread in Favaios.

Above – Church in the town of Favaios, Portugal.

Felicidades!

Above – inside the impressive Favaios   Adega Cooperativa  wine making facility.

Enjoying the region’s famous Moscatel de Favaios, similar to port wine.

Our host at Quinta da Avessada gave us a warm welcome and kept us entertained.

Day 9 – Régua and Lamego

We disembarked the ship in Régua at 9:00 AM and joined the included excursion to Lamego . The drive is 30 minutes. The tour is only 3 hours.

The clear highlight in Lamego is the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies , a stunning 18th-century Baroque and Rococo sanctuary that sits on a hilltop with 686 stairs in front of it (see above photo).

You can walk up the stairs, as many pilgrims will do, or you can take the bus to the top of the church and walk down. That’s what we did.

After walking down the stairs in front of the Sanctuary of Our Lake of Remedies, we visited Lamego Cathedral  (also known as Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral) and Museu de Lamego . Viking guests are given free admission to the museum. We spent about 30 minutes inside the museum.

We returned to the ship at 12:00 PM for lunch. The cruise ship departs from Regua and makes its way down the Douro River to Porto, the final stop on this Portugal river cruise.

We arrived at Vila Nova de Gaia at 8:00 PM on the Monday.

The 686 stairs in front of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies.

The beautiful Lamego Cathedral (Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral).

Admiring the exquisite rugs hanging on the wall inside Museu de Lamego .

Douro River Locks

The Viking Osfrid went through five different river locks while on this Portugal river cruise. This was the first time we passed through locks of this size. They are huge!

The lock at Carrapatelo Dam rises up 115 feet (35 meters) and the lock at Valeira Dam rises 109 feet (33 meters). We were told that these are some of the tallest river locks in Europe.

We have a few time lapse videos that we will post on our Facebook page soon. It’s a very interesting experience. We made sure to be on the sundeck every time we passed though one of these impressive river locks on the Douro River.

Approaching the Valeira Dam

The river lock is located on the right side of Valeira Dam, in that big concrete box with the black door that resembles a garage door.

The ship approaches the lock and the door opens. It then enters the lock compartment and the doors close. The lock fills with water and this lifts the ship. Once it reaches the top, the opposite side door opens and the ship departs at the higher level (or lower lever if the ship is going down).

Above – inside the river lock. Views from the sundeck of the Viking Osfrid.

View of the Douro River from the top of Valeira Dam. It’s a long way up (and down)!

Day 10 – Porto and Disembarkation

The portugal river cruise concludes in the city of porto..

Most of the guests disembarked the ship early in the morning and went straight to the airport. You can enjoy breakfast one last time on the ship. Viking asks guests to vacate the room by 9:00 AM so they can prepare the ship for the next cruise.

We decided to stay one extra night in Porto.

This was the right call for us. Otherwise, we would have had to disembark the ship at 4:00 AM to catch our 7:30 AM flight home.

Porto is such a cool city. We could have easily spent a few more nights there.

We disembarked the ship at 9:30 AM and took a taxi to the hotel. Our accommodations were booked separately. Because we were early, we left our luggage at the hotel and spend the afternoon exploring the city.

On our final evening in Porto, we dined at a restaurant on the riverfront promenade. The Viking Osfrid was docked across the river at Vila Nova de Gaia. We watched guests taking photos on the sundeck, just as we did 7 days earlier. It was a moment of envy and nostalgia as the ship set off for its sunset sail up the river (see photo below).

We knew exactly what those guests were about to experience as they began their unforgettable Portugal river cruise up the Douro Valley.

Above – the Viking Osfrid sets sail up the Douro River.

What did we think of this Portugal River Cruise?

We thoroughly enjoyed our Viking River Cruise. In our opinion, we believe everyone should experience the luxury and simplicity of a European river cruise, at least once in their life.

We look forward to discovering new destinations with Viking River Cruises. Their service and attention to detail is top notch. We would recommend the Portugal’s River of Gold  cruise. It exceeded our expectations.

With that said, we must disclose that we teamed up with Viking River Cruises in order to make this trip possible. Our cruise was complimentary. We agreed to share our honest, firsthand experience on this blog and social media channels. 

Are you considering a Portugal river cruise?

Leave us a comment if you have any questions about this Portugal river cruise.

Related:  Lisbon totally exceeded our expectations! Find out why.

Related posts:.

06/21/2018 at 6:20 am

Portugal is one of the best places to check out in Europe.

08/16/2018 at 8:17 am

We agree! Would love to explore the south too.

06/25/2018 at 10:52 am

This all looks so amazing. Portugal has been #1 on my wish list for quite some time, and as a wine lover here in California, I’d love to spend some time getting to know Portugal’s wine country. It seems like Viking River Cruises are the perfect way to experience it! I’m sure that it was a nice, relaxed way to travel as a couple, too.

08/16/2018 at 8:19 am

It was so nice and a really great way to experience the countryside. We would highly recommend doing it on a river cruise we Viking.

08/23/2018 at 10:42 am

I have been dithering about taking this cruise, but since I’ve read your fabulous article, I’m ready to pick up the phone and book it! We loved our first Viking cruise – the Grand European Tour — so I’m sure we’ll love this one too! Thanks so much for your photos and excellent reports!

08/23/2018 at 11:25 am

Thank you for this review, we do this cruise on the Hemming in October 2018. Reading such a detailed review is like getting spoilers for TV shows. Some folk don’t want to know till it happens. But to know, in such detail, means a lot to my wife and I because it means we have the information to plan our trips. We know what’s what everywhere. So valuable.

We were spoilt with our first Viking Cruise on the Rhine, and still consider this the best one. But, who knows, maybe the Douro will outshine it! Viking deservedly regularly gets Best River Cruise company awards and their service makes a cruise as much as the cruising!

08/26/2018 at 2:19 pm

since you spent the extra night in Porto, how did you transfer to the airport which I assume was Lisbon?

08/27/2018 at 7:44 am

We departed from Porto Airport. We caught a taxi the following morning from our hotel. It’s about a 30 minute drive from Porto to the airport.

02/02/2019 at 11:08 am

Am I correct that the “Taste of Lisbon” was the only Optional Tour that you took?

If not, what others did you take and did you like them?

Or what reports of other optional tours did you hear from other passengers?

02/03/2019 at 11:18 am

Hi John – we did the Taste of Lisbon tour, but we did not enjoy it. When we did the tour, we visited 3 locations and the food was disappointing. We shared our feedback with the tour guide, so maybe it will be different in the future. We did not take any of the other optional tours. The included tours were very good, so we did not feel the need to do the optional ones.

02/15/2019 at 12:51 pm

Thank you for an amazing day by day experience with Vikings Duoro river cruise. We are taking the cruise with Vikings late November 2020 – it’s going to be sweater wrather, but hope for Mother Nature’s good weather mood. We are taking the post trip on the road to Santiago and hope someone can also share this experience with us. Thank you.

03/03/2019 at 1:36 pm

You’ll have a great time! Unfortunately we didn’t do the post trip, but we have no doubt that you’ll love it! Come back and tell us what you think.

06/27/2019 at 10:26 am

Any tips for traveling with fractured ankle? I fractured my ankle 10 days ago and our Portugal cruise is in 10 days?

02/17/2019 at 7:25 am

Thank you for this exceedingly helpful guide. We went with Viking last year on a Danube cruise and thoroughly enjoyed it. Our only niggle was the we would have liked the boat’s itinerary to have been more easily found – ie if we sign up on an excursion will the boat be repositioning. We wanted to be able to make an informed decision on whether to coach or stick with the river. Of course, the movement of the boat does depend very much on the river levels (especially on the Rhine and Danube) but a little more transparency would be good.

We have already booked this Portugal cruise for later in the year so I was starting a little pre-tour googling and happened on your site. Wonderful!

03/03/2019 at 1:38 pm

Hi Caroline,

Thanks for your comment. We found this too! We weren’t sure how long we would be cruising etc. So, we hope this post helped you. Come back and let us know what you thought of Portugal!

02/24/2019 at 5:33 pm

Did you find the long bus rides from the ship interesting in themselves or did you feel the bus rides were too long? We took Rhine cruise Basel to amsterdam an enjoyed. How would you compare Yangtze river cruise to portugal with regard to time on buses?

03/03/2019 at 1:51 pm

We hope to do the Yangtze sometime soon, but unfortunately we can’t compare it. A few of the bus rides were longer, especially to Salamanca where it was 2 hours there and 2 hours back. But, that was the longest day. The ride was nice and the buses are comfortable so we sat back and enjoyed the countryside.

04/26/2019 at 9:33 am

Hi. Thank you for this wonderful information. Looking forward to our Viking Douro cruise this coming July, 2019. We have cruised with Viking at least 8 times prior to this one. Booked a few extra excursions, but am thinking of cancelling the one to Historic Guimaraes. Any thoughts? Maybe not so much there as one blogger put it. We are doing the extra Olive Oil grove excursion. Generally, on most of our cruises, we have only procured the included tours. I have made some notes from your post. Thanks again for your input.

04/26/2019 at 1:10 pm

Hi Barbara,

Thanks for reading. We did the included tour in Porto, Panoramic Porto. It was great, and we did enjoy it. Porto is now one of our favourite cities!

You will have time to explore Porto on your own, so there is enough time to visit Historic Guimaraes.

It’s a tough call because we enjoyed our time in Porto so much, that I’m not sure we would have wanted to spend a lot of time elsewhere. However, the places we did go on the included tour could easily be visited by yourself after you get back. And you do have a fair bit of time in Porto.

It’s hard because we didn’t see Historic Guimaraes, so we don’t know what we are missing. If you do decide to go, make sure you visit the places that were on the included tour because they are really impressive.

I hope this helps, a bit at least!

05/18/2019 at 12:43 pm

Hi! So happy I found your description of the Portugal tour. This will be our second cruise with Viking, we did the Grand European in May 2018. The Portugal cruise is a close to my grandparents homeland as I will get. They are both from the Azores. Thank you for all your insight on this beautiful area.

05/28/2019 at 10:32 am

We would love to take the Portugal pot of gold cruise however I am concerned that I might not be able to keep up on the tours as I have MS and it affects my talking. I can walk but not continuously for more than 30 minutes at a stretch before I would need to rest. Also a lot of stairs and hills are very challenging. Appreciate your thoughts on whether this cruise would be okay for someone who has mobility challenges.

06/18/2019 at 2:21 pm

I am interested in knowing the name of the hotel you booked in Porto at the end of the cruise. Also any comments on the Road to Santiago tour offered by Viking would be helpful. Loved your blog.

06/19/2019 at 8:51 am

I don’t recall the name of the hotel – I would not recommend it. The front desk was very rude and unhelpful. The room was fine, but nothing special.

We did not take the Road to Santiago tour, so I can’t help you with that.

09/13/2019 at 7:27 am

Wow, what a fabulous trip review! We just booked the Portugal cruise yesterday for Christmas week. No sure if the scenery will be as gorgeous as your photos show, but each day sounds really exciting. We have done several river and a couple ocean cruises on Viking and this time will be celebrating our 55th wedding anniversary. Thank the Lord we are still going strong.

11/12/2019 at 12:02 pm

It was interesting and informative to read your travelogue. Thanks for sharing. We are booked in the May 2020 Douro cruise with Viking. We have taken three other Viking cruises in Europe and Asia. We thoroughly enjoyed their hospitality. The River of Gold cruise will involve more coach touring. We hope the rides are picturesque and worth the journeys.

04/29/2022 at 1:58 pm

This is exactly the blog I’ve been looking for – Thank You! My friend and I booked this cruise with our young adult daughters in June 2022. None of us have done a river cruise, and I’m a girl who wants to know what’s coming and be able to plan for our free time. Your review with specifics as to timing and locations is exactly what I needed. We are going to skip a couple city tours and do it on our own so we can prioritize locations and likely visit quite a few more in Lisbon & Porto. We also picked a few optional excursions, but this really helped me to know what to expect. Your pictures are lovely and we are so excited to travel and bond with our favorite people.

10/29/2022 at 10:11 am

I’ve just returned from the Viking Portugal trip. I was on the Torgil. Your post is spot-on! I enjoyed the river cruise and time in Lisbon so much. Just curious, do you use a fancy camera or just an iphone? Your photos and blog are terrific!

10/31/2022 at 11:35 am

I’m glad you enjoyed the trip and found the blog post helpful. Thanks for the kind words about our photos. We use a mirrorless camera and phones, plus a gopro at times.

02/28/2023 at 3:45 am

4 of us are taking the Duro river cruise. Is the Silver Drinking package worth the price given that it is a Port Wine heavy trip. ?

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• Expeditions

Press Release

Viking celebrates start of 2024 river season in europe, new winter river voyage extends viking’s sailing season on the danube river.

Los Angeles (March 20, 2024) – Viking® ( www.viking.com ) today is celebrating the start of its 2024 river season in Europe, as the award-winning Viking Longship ® fleet begins sailing itineraries throughout the region. Designed specifically for European waterways, the company’s river fleet of sister ships, which host 190 or fewer guests, sail a variety of itineraries on the Rhine, Main, Danube, Seine, Rhône, Douro, Moselle and Elbe rivers.

“With its rich history, culture and scenic regions that are best explored by river, Europe remains our most popular destination,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “As more curious travelers become familiar with river voyages as a seamless method for exploring, we are pleased to begin a new season on Europe’s iconic waterways.”

Viking has also announced a new opportunity to call on ports along the Danube River during the winter months with the 10-day itinerary, Treasures of the Danube . The new voyage will sail between Budapest and Passau, from December 2024 until early March 2025. Viking guests also have the choice to explore the Rhine River during the winter season, with the 10-day Treasures of the Rhine itinerary, which debuted in December 2023 and sails between Amsterdam and Basel. An ideal time to visit, winter offers guests smaller crowds, easier access to landmarks and opportunities to savor local traditions.

Viking’s River Voyages in Europe:

Sailing March through December, some of Viking’s other popular river itineraries in Europe include:

• Rhine Getaway (8 days; Amsterdam—Basel) – Explore one of Europe’s best-loved rivers. Discover the turreted fortresses, grand cathedrals, historic cities, medieval towns and stunning scenery of the Middle Rhine—a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Taste the region’s renowned white wines, the roots of its terraced vineyards reaching back to Roman times. Savor the various culinary traditions of Alsace. With calls in Amsterdam, Cologne and Basel, this journey reveals a rich landscape of beauty and culture.
• Danube Waltz (8 days; Budapest—Passau) – Soak up soothing steam at a Budapest thermal bath. Learn to waltz at a Viennese dance school. Savor Austro-Hungarian cuisine in Vienna and Budapest. Admire the Wachau Valley’s beauty. Explore lesser-known Central European cities like Bratislava and Passau. Witness daily monastic life on an exclusive visit to Göttweig Abbey. This eight-day itinerary reveals the best of these places while cruising leisurely through spectacular scenery.
• Romantic Danube (8 days; Budapest—Regensburg) – Visit Budapest’s Castle District and cross the famous Chain Bridge. Explore Göttweig Abbey, one of Austria’s most revered monastic centers, and make dumplings with Wachau Valley apricots. Visit historic Salzburg. Spend two days in Vienna, and celebrate the city’s musical heritage at a concert featuring works by Mozart and Strauss. With medieval towns, grand cities and stunning scenery, this 8-day journey on the “Blue Danube” is one you are sure to love.
• Paris & the Heart of Normandy (8 days; Paris roundtrip) – Dock in the heart of Paris, admiring views of the Eiffel Tower and a replica of the Statue of Liberty from your ship. Experience history firsthand at the Normandy beaches and delight in Rouen’s Gothic architecture. Explore Giverny and the charming house and gardens where Claude Monet lived and worked, the setting inspiring many of his masterpieces. This voyage celebrates history, art, food and customs in France’s most alluring urban and pastoral settings.
• Lyon & Provence (8 days; Lyon—Avignon) – Tap into your inner van Gogh at an Arles painting class. Discover Roman Provence at Les Arènes d’Arles and the Pont du Gard. Explore the world’s largest Gothic palace at Avignon’s grand Palace of the Popes. Excite your palate in Lyon, capital of French gastronomy. Savor local wines, hunt for truffles and see how chèvre cheese is made. Come witness the beauty that inspired artists like Cézanne and Chagall on this eight-day voyage along the Rhône.
• Christmas on the Rhine (8 days; Basel—Amsterdam) – Immerse yourself in the spirit of Christmas as you journey through storybook villages. Sample tasty yuletide treats and regional delicacies as you browse colorful stalls for handcrafted ornaments and unique gifts. Admire the twinkling lights of Cologne and revel in the merry atmosphere of the Rhine Valley, as storefront displays, wine cellars and markets embrace the holiday season. This 8-day voyage is a joyful celebration of festive cheer.
• Danube Christmas Delights (8 days; Budapest—Passau) – Pass through Europe’s most enchanting countries, stopping to explore cultural capitals and fairy-tale villages. Savor Austro-Hungarian cuisine, admire the Wachau Valley’s beauty and explore Central European cities. Take part in European holiday traditions and experience the region’s renowned Christmas markets. Breathe in the scents of traditional fare and admire the handiwork of local artisans—perfect for bringing home to your family and friends.
• Christmas on the Seine (8 days; Paris roundtrip) – Embrace the holiday season with a taste of Joyeux Noel. Explore Paris, France’s twinkling “City of Light.” Sail through the snow-covered landscapes of Normandy’s countryside and admire the scenes of fairy-tale villages along the way. Enjoy the scented aroma of mulled wine and roasted chestnuts amid a festive backdrop of Christmas markets. Onboard festivities include regional dining specialties, seasonal treats and more to celebrate the holidays.
• Portugal’s River of Gold (10 days; Lisbon—Porto) – Experience the renaissance of Lisbon, newly invigorated with trending galleries and restaurants. Explore two of Iberia’s oldest university towns: Coimbra, Portugal and Salamanca, Spain. Roam the port warehouses of Porto. Enjoy traditional cuisine, wine and fado singing. Cruise the Douro River Valley, the world’s oldest demarcated wine region and a UNESCO Site. Our 10-day cruisetour includes a hotel stay in Lisbon and the added bonus of a visit to Spain.
• Grand European Tour (15 days; Budapest—Amsterdam) – Admire Rhine Valley vistas from a 900-year-old castle. Sample the food and wine of Austria’s Wachau Valley. Learn the Viennese waltz and linger in Budapest’s Café Gerbeaud. Indulge all your senses on this 15-day journey spanning the best of Europe. Our most iconic itinerary traces the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers between the windmill-dotted waterways of Holland and the stunning landscapes of Hungary, with engaging encounters at every bend.

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About Viking

Viking was founded in 1997 and provides destination-focused journeys on rivers, oceans and lakes around the world. Designed for curious travelers with interests in science, history, culture and cuisine, Chairman Torstein Hagen often says Viking offers experiences for The Thinking Person™. Viking has more than 450 awards to its name, including being rated #1 for Rivers, #1 for Oceans and #1 for Expeditions by Condé Nast Traveler in the 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards. Viking is also rated at the top of its categories for rivers, oceans and expeditions by Travel + Leisure . No other travel company has simultaneously received the same honors by both publications. For additional information, contact Viking at 1-800-2-VIKING (1-800-284-5464) or visit www.viking.com . For Viking’s award-winning enrichment channel, visit www.viking.tv .

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The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Viking cruise ship

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Fast-growing Viking has one of the most diverse arrays of itineraries of any cruise line.

Not only does the California-based company offer ocean cruises in almost every corner of the world, it also offers river cruises on many of the world’s major rivers.

That’s notably different from most cruise lines. Typically, cruise lines operate either ocean cruises or river cruises but not both. That gives them a smaller range of itineraries.

For more cruise guides, tips and news, sign up for TPG’s cruise newsletter .

Viking has a particularly large footprint when it comes to European river itineraries, with a wide range of sailings on nearly every European river of any note, from the Douro in Portugal to (until recently) the Volga in Russia.

The company also operates river trips on the Nile in Egypt and the Mekong in Southeast Asia, and it just began river trips on the Mississippi River .

There are 80 river ships in Viking’s fleet — an astounding number. None of its main competitors among river lines catering to North Americans, which include Avalon Waterways, Uniworld and AmaWaterways , have anywhere near that number of vessels.

Related: First look at Viking’s stylish new Nile River ship

Among ocean cruise destinations, Viking has a major presence in Scandinavia and Northern Europe, which it considers its home turf. (The company was founded by a Norwegian family.) However, you’ll find Viking’s nine traditional ocean ships everywhere from North America to Asia and Australia.

Last year, the line began cruising to Antarctica with its first expedition ship — a type of vessel built specifically for travel to remote, hard-to-reach places. Viking now has two such vessels.

Among the line’s voyages, there’s everything from eight-day cruises in the Mediterranean to 138-day around-the-world voyages.

Overwhelmed with choices? Here are the five best Viking cruise destinations where the line can truly offer you a memorable vacation.

Scandinavia and Northern Europe

Some of Viking’s most interesting itineraries are around Scandinavia and the Baltic Sea, with many beginning or ending in Norway — the homeland of the company’s founder and chairman, Torstein Hagen.

As Hagen once told me, Scandinavia and the Baltic Sea are what the company considers “Viking country” — a region where it wants to dominate.

During summers, in particular, Viking devotes an unusually large number of its ships to itineraries around Scandinavia, the Baltic Sea and other Northern Europe destinations such as Iceland. Many, notably, use the relatively small but famously scenic Norwegian city of Bergen (population 286,000) as a gateway, something no other line is doing. That allows for unusual variations on the typical Baltic Sea or Norwegian fjords cruise.

The line’s most popular route in the region, “Viking Homelands,” is a two-week-long, one-way trip between Bergen and Stockholm that combines several days of exploring the fjord region of Norway’s west coast with more-typical Baltic cruise destinations such as St. Petersburg, Russia, and Helsinki.

Related: The ultimate guide to Viking ships and itineraries

Note that, in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Viking has pulled the St. Petersburg stop, as well as stops in Finland and Estonia from the Viking Homelands itinerary; the trips instead feature extra stops in Norway and Denmark. It’s unlikely St. Petersburg will return to the itinerary until the war in Ukraine is resolved.

Viking also offers a 14-night itinerary that includes several stops in the northernmost part of the country above the Arctic Circle. Dubbed “Into the Midnight Sun,” the one-way route between Bergen and London is unique because it combines calls in far-north Honningsvag and Tromso, Norway, with visits to Scotland’s remote Shetland Islands and the Orkney Islands. Though part of the United Kingdom, these archipelagos have ties to Norwegian and Viking history.

Itineraries that will take you from Bergen to Iceland or even as far away as France, Portugal and Spain also are available.

Viking’s Scandinavia and Northern Europe trips range widely in length from just seven nights to a whopping 28 nights.

Among the longest sailings that Viking offers that include calls in Northern Europe are one-way, 28-night voyages between Bergen and New York City. The trips include stops in Norway, Iceland, Greenland and Canada.

In Northern Europe, Viking ships mostly sail out of Bergen, Amsterdam, Stockholm, Copenhagen and London as well as Reykjavik.

The Mediterranean

Viking has grown into a major player in Mediterranean sailings, with more than 30 distinct itineraries that include stops in the region.

The trips include voyages focused specifically on the Western Mediterranean or Eastern Mediterranean and some that include stops across both areas.

Typical of the latter is the line’s 14-night “Mediterranean Antiquities” routing, a one-way trip between Athens and Barcelona that stops in Greece, Turkey, Italy, Monaco, France and Spain.

More-focused Mediterranean itineraries include the line’s nine-night “Empires of the Mediterranean” voyages between Venice and Athens, which mostly concentrate on stops along the eastern side of the Adriatic Sea in Slovenia, Croatia and Montenegro.

In the Mediterranean, the line’s main hubs are Barcelona; Civitavecchia (the port for Rome) and Venice, Italy; Piraeus (the port for Athens), Greece; and Istanbul.

Related: The complete guide to Viking cabins and suites  

Europe riverways

Viking is, quite simply, the giant of river cruising in Europe — at least among lines that cater to English speakers. The company operates around 70 river ships on a broad swath of the continent’s rivers — far more than any other river line catering to North Americans.

In all, the line accounts for about half of all river cruises taken by North Americans in the region. The next biggest player in Europe river cruises for North Americans, AmaWaterways, is less than half the size.

Among the rivers in Europe where Viking has a major presence are the Rhine, Main and Danube in Central Europe; the Seine, Rhone, Dordogne, Garonne and Gironde in France; the Douro in Portugal; and the Moselle and Elbe in Germany. Until recently, Viking also offered cruises on the Dnieper River in Ukraine. The voyages have been suspended since Russia invaded the country in early 2022.

On nearly all of the rivers, the line offers multiple itineraries with lengths ranging from seven nights to as many as 22 nights.

Among 10 different itineraries on the Rhine River alone, offerings range from a seven-night “Rhine Getaway” from Amsterdam to Basel, Switzerland, to a 22-night “European Sojourn” from Amsterdam to Bucharest, Romania. The latter adds travel on the Main and Danube rivers to days on the Rhine.

Viking offers some of the most intimate and elegant cruises on the Nile, with three ships including the recently unveiled, 82-passenger Viking Osiris — one of our favorite vessels on the river.

All three of Viking’s Nile ships operate the same seven-night Nile cruise itinerary that Viking pairs with a four-night stay at a hotel in Cairo (three nights before the cruise and one night after) to create an 11-night “Pharaohs and Pyramids” tour of Egypt.

Related: The ultimate guide to Viking’s loyalty program

The cruise portion of the tour includes visits to the historic temples of Luxor, Karnak, Esna, Dendera and Abu Simbel as well as a visit to the iconic Valley of the Kings. The stay in Cairo brings a visit to the pyramids of Giza, the Egyptian Museum and other sites.

Viking Osiris is the first of four sister ships that Viking plans to launch on the Nile by 2025 as it doubles its footprint in Egypt. The vessels offer a clean-lined, Scandinavian-influenced design that mimics the look of Viking’s Europe-based vessels.

Notably, the ship features an entire deck of sprawling suites that rival anything else found on the Nile for luxury and comfort. Each comes with two full-size rooms — a large living room with a residential feel and an adjacent bedroom with a walk-in closet and bathroom. Each suite also has an outdoor balcony with seating for two — something you don’t always see on Nile ships.

Viking is a newcomer to cruises to Antarctica, but the destination is a big growth area for the line. Viking recently added two new, 378-passenger expedition cruise vessels specifically built to travel to the White Continent.

Dubbed Viking Octantis, the first of these vessels began sailings to Antarctica in February 2022. The second ship in the series, Viking Polaris, has just joined its sister in Antarctica this year. Together, the two ships are already making waves in the market for Antarctica cruises, in part because they have several new and unusual features.

Most notable is The Hangar, an enclosed marina that allows passengers to transfer to two of each ship’s exploratory vessels while still in the protected interior of the ship. A first for an expedition ship, it’s something that is significantly improving the experience for passengers heading out on Antarctica exploration.

Related: The 3 types of Viking ships, explained

In another first for polar expedition cruise vessels, every cabin on both Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris has floor-to-ceiling glass walls that slide partially open from the top to create a balcony-like feel.

Viking offers several Antarctic itineraries, with the typical trip starting with a night at a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, before a flight to Ushuaia, Argentina, to board one of the two expedition ships for an 11-night cruise to Antarctica and back. A longer version of the trip features 13 nights on board one of the ships and extra days in Antarctica.

Viking also offers Antarctica sailings that combine a visit to the White Continent with stops in the Falkland Islands, Uruguay and Brazil.

Viking Octantis, notably, also operated Viking’s first sailings around the Great Lakes this year. In 2023, both Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris will spend their summers in the Great Lakes.

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• River Cruising

Viking Moscow Tour

By cadreamer , May 19, 2010 in River Cruising

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I would like to find out if the Viking tour in Moscow goes inside the Armory Museum. For some reason no one at Viking is able to answer this question. I appreciate your help.

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alexandra cruiser

not sure if still doing it....look on website,,,it should say see armory museum,,,,or try calling again and speak to supervisor ,not just phone operator....if not, you can go on own when they drop you off at Red Square...gave us a few hrs. Also, we took a taxi back,not bus, to stay in area longer...but,,,do get the docking directions in Russian for taxi driver.About one half hr.drive from city to dock....you ll love the trip...one of our favorite....small cities are great too...do get guidebook for more info...envy you....:)

We asked Viking to send us the day by day itinerary LONG before our upcoming 6/10 trip so that we could analyze just what was included and what we needed to do a private tour for.

I did not see any indication of going to the Armory Museum so we have arranged to go there as part of our private tour on one of Viking's "at leisure" days.

Yes, our Viking tour of the Kremlin included a guided tour of the Amoury. More info on what is included in the Armoury can be found at this site - http://www.kreml.ru/en/main/museums/armoury/

Can you advise specifically where you were told you'd have a guided tour of the Armory? I just reviewed the day by day itinerary from Viking and although I see a Kremlin Tour on Day 4, I don't see anything about the Armory???

I also see an OPTIONAL TOUR on Day 3 to the Military Museum, but I didn't think that was the same as the Armory???

Thanks for the additional info. Sorry if I'm being a PITA.

know on ours it was inc. when we took Kremlin tour...very close in Red Square area....it was only 1 hr tops, so you may want to call Viking and see ....if you re really into that stuff ,as my husband is, it may not be long enough for you and will appreciate taking your own private tour...its been a few yrs.and they sometimes change tours...maybe even names of things in Russia,maybe now more politcally correct than Armory,eh? Regardless, great cruise.....we loved the smaller towns too,very scenic,quaint,etc....hope they still have the vodka tasting class onboard,,,quite well attended,hahaha...also, had great lectures by a female PH,d in history that were very informative.It was one of my favorite cruises,,you ll have a great time....:)

Yeah, I don't see it in the itinerary either. I agree you should call Viking again and ask what's specifically included in the Kremlin tour. We toured the armoury and one church, plus the grounds. The Armoury has some arms and weapons, but also has fabulous silver, clothing items, and the royal carriages. It's not all military. So if they mention including those types of displays on the Kremlin tour, they should be able to follow up and confirm that it's the Amoury for you.

We had great time on this cruise - even on an older boat!

We were with Viking last July, and the armory was definitely part of the Kremlin tour. It is my understanding that it is always part of the Kremlin tour if it is open.

If you are interested in military items, plan to go on the optional tour to the military museum, which should be offered on the second full day that you are in Moscow.

Rivercruiseresource

Hi ! let me disclose that I work for Viking, and then, let me answer the question. Over the last few years, getting tour groups into the armory has become increasingly difficult. It has gotten to a point where we felt if became impossible to provide people with a good experience as part of a group visit to the Kremlin, which is why, with heavy hearts, we decided to not bring our groups there any longer. You will find, however, that there is plenty of free time in Moscow and while we offer things to do, we can also assist you in making your own plans, should you want to visit the armory on a private tour. The ship's staff is happy to help. We hope you'll have a wonderful cruise !

Rivercruiseresource - Thank you so much for your informative reply. This is just the information I needed. I appreciate your responding. I will make private plans to visit the Armory and maybe the Diamond Fund.

• 3 weeks later...

laverendrye

I have just returned from a St. Petersburg-Moscow cruise on the Viking Kirov and the above advice is not accurate, at least in my experience.

The number of visitors to the Armoury are limited, so it is is not part of the included tour of the Kremlin. However, it IS available as an optional tour added on to the regular Kremlin tour.

On our cruise, 100 places were available (and all were taken) at a cost of 32 units (ie Euros) per person. Thus of the six buses that went to the Kremlin, four included the Armoury and two did not.

The Armoury tour took about an hour or so (1hr30 is the max allowed) and I thought that this was adequate--although the collection is so stunning that one could study these exhibits for much longer. The tour did not include the Diamond Fund exhibit, but I didn't really miss it given the splendours of the rest of the exhibits.

After the Armoury tour, we continued the rest of the Kremlin tour, which included the interior of the Uspensky Cathedral. The non-Armoury tours also visited the interior of another cathedral (not sure if it was the Archangel or the Assumption).

All in all, it was a most interesting and enjoyable tour.

• 2 months later...

Search words Viking Kirov + Armory + Kremlin + war museum

I just returned from Moscow Sunday Aug 22, 2010.

When it comes to reading reports, check the dates first.

I went to the Armed Forces Museum which is totally different than the Armory. The AFM has the wreckage of the U-2 Gary Powers flew. They have many glass case exhibits of small arms, a small tank or two, WW2 Lend Lease documentation. Information about their atomic bomb and all things war related.

Evidently there was lots more that was not on exhibit.

In the back yard they have rocket launchers, several MIG airplanes, a few helicopters, a few bigger missiles and an armored train. It was raining and damp and I did a quick tour taking pictures of the planes and then following up with a picture of the exhibit description so I could “connect the dots later,”

The Armory is inside the Kremlin. It is totally different. You will find all kinds diamond encrusted swords, daggers, medals, Faberge eggs. Purportedly the diamonds on the swords “were to blind the enemy” and gain an advantage. Then there is clothing, jewelry and all things not war related like multi-ton horse drawn carriages. Yes, one was one that was 5000 pounds that took several horses to pull it. Make an attempt to touch an exhibit and an alarm goes off letting everyone know what you did.

Be prepared to go through a thorough airport security screening type of entrance. If you look carefully, there are cameras in the ceiling everywhere and motion sensors too. Remember, this is the home of the former KGB and you never know who is watching you. So, keep you hands in your pockets.

The Military Museum was 39 units or Euros

The Armory tour was 32 Euros.

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