Best Sights to See on the Viking Grand European Tour River Cruise

Imagine visiting lovely cities — small and large — along the fabled Rhine River and Danube River. You can certainly visit these cities on your own and enjoy them. We’ve discovered that river cruising gives you this, but with valuable perks. The Viking Grand European Tour river cruise takes you to all the key towns along the Rhine, Main, and Danube rivers. Each evening you enjoy the company of others, dine on destination-inspired meals, are lulled to sleep in “your own bed,” and wake up refreshed to start another great day of exploring. You have pre-planned tours of towns you visit — or explore on your own — and then return to your floating hotel, lounge, and restaurant.

Check out my Complete Guide to a Viking River Cruise article to learn more about the overall experience onboard.

My husband and I usually design our vacations to Europe, and we like talking about and planning what we want to see and where we want to stay beforehand. However, we heard more and more from friends about how much they enjoy European river cruises. So we decided to leave our comfort zone and find out more. We’re glad we did.

River cruising allows travelers to visit many great places while only having to unpack once. (Sounds good, right?) Essentially, you’re staying in a floating full-service hotel with amenities and planned excursions. We chose Viking River Cruises because of its stellar reputation and its 15-day Grand European Tour that began in Amsterdam, traveled down the Rhine, Main, and Danube rivers, and concluded in Budapest. You could, of course, choose to begin in Budapest and end in Amsterdam. It’s the same journey in reverse. Viking continues to add boats and ports of call, so there are plenty of options depending on your geographic and sightseeing interests. 

Disclaimer: My husband and I paid for the Viking Grand European Tour. We did not receive compensation or discounts from Viking or any other organization. I merely want to share our experience on this river cruise with my readers. 

The following are our favorite visits to the major ports of call on Viking’s Grand European Tour river cruise.

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands

Our Viking Grand European Tour river cruise began in Amsterdam. When we arrived at the ship, we dropped our luggage and explored the city a bit. We had already visited the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Anne Frank House on a previous trip. They were all outstanding, and we highly recommend visiting them. We decided to take a canal boat cruise for this short visit and walk the town more. 

Whether by canal boat or on foot, you’ll notice the relatively narrow homes along the canals. In years past, the maximum width of homes was 18 feet, so people built up multiple floors. Because of the height of the homes and the resulting narrowness of the staircases within, the homes have hoisting beams along with pulleys and ropes on the front gables to lift furniture and goods to the upper floors.

KINDERDIJK, The Netherlands

This village’s name is derived from a long-told story about a flood hundreds of years ago when the water swept away belongings and a child in a cradle. As the tale is told, a cat perched on the cradle, balancing it as it floated away. Thus, the name Kinderdijk “children’s dike,” was born.

You’ll see lots of windmills. They’ve long served an important purpose by helping regulate water flow into and out of the river, depending on the water levels behind the dikes. Windmills are still in operation today and are homes for the families of the windmill operators. 

We biked along a path by the windmills and stopped at a museum (Museum Windmill Blokweer) showing how a typical family lived there in the 1950s. Tragedy struck at this one when the son of the owner walked out the wrong door and was killed by the windmill’s blade. (There are two doors on a windmill, so there’s always a way out that is not on the side where the blade turns.) When people come to visit someone who is living in a windmill, they look up to make sure the brake for the blade is on, which indicates that the blade is not moving.

COLOGNE, Germany

Our Viking cruise ship docked within a few minutes walk into the center of Cologne (Köln), the fourth largest German city. Because it’s so walkable, you’ll be able to cover several of the top spots and have time to spare for a meal and/or shopping before you need to board the ship for departure.

Cologne Cathedral

When you approach the Gothic Cologne Cathedral, you are greeted with a dark facade due to pollution. The facade was built with sandstone — a material easy to transport centuries ago — that soaks up the dirty fumes; this makes cleaning it a chore since sandstone is too fragile to power wash. But once you walk into the Cologne Cathedral, you see the beauty of the architecture and the artwork. And you feel small — so small, which, of course, is by design. You are to look upward and feel the power of God. There are towering walls with detailed stained glass windows all around you. This cathedral houses the bodies of the three magi (three wise men) and holds special significance to Christians. It is a sight to see and ponder the labor and craftsmanship that went into building it. The Cologne Cathedral was the tallest building in the world before the Washington Monument and the Eiffel Tower eclipsed it. Gustave Eiffel gained some of his practical structural engineering inspiration from a visit to the Cologne Cathedral. Guided tours in English are available, as are tickets to climb up to the tower.

Viking’s Top of Cologne Excursion

If you can, take the optional Top of Cologne excursion while on this cruise. You‘ll accompany an art historian in the construction elevator that whisks you to the workrooms where restoration work is always occurring. The workrooms are situated between the ceiling you see from inside the cathedral and the actual roof of the building. Up here, you’ll see what goes into maintaining the cathedral (inside and out), including models of the gargoyles (for use in future restoration work). You can step out on narrow walkways, peer over city rooftops, and down into the streets below. One highlight was stepping out in the belfry for a spectacular 360-degree view. Sadly, we were asked not to share pictures of this excursion online.

Cologne Beer Houses

Cologne has its special version of beer called Kölsch. It’s a pale ale — cold, crisp, and clear- served in small, thin 7-ounce glasses. No beer steins in this part of Germany! After you finiah a beer in a Brauhaus (beer house) or other taverns, the waiter will replace your empty glass with another one. This will continue until you put a coaster on top of the glass, signaling, “No more! I’ve reached my limit!” The beer houses are places designed for socialization — European style. Instead of big screen TVs like in the U.S., you’ll find customers enjoying conversations with their friends, welcoming others to the tables, and lots of positive vibes.

Other Cologne Sights Near the Dock

The Museum of Applied Art, The Chocolate Museum, and the Mustard Museum are within easy walking distance from the dock.

MARKSBURG CASTLE, Braubach, Germany 

Another excursion, the Marksburg Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dating from the 12th century and expanding over the centuries, the Marksburg Castle suffered minimal damage during World War II when many other structures were destroyed. The fact that it survived the war relatively unscathed makes it a place that stands pretty much true to its original design.  Situated high atop a hill on the Rhine River not far from Koblenz, the castle served as a home for powerful nobles, a refuge for the citizens of the town Braubach, and a point to control the customs levied on boats traveling on this part of the Rhine River. Wear good walking shoes as there’s uneven terrain at the castle.

CASTLES OF THE MIDDLE RHINE, Germany

Several castles along the middle Rhine River hold the stories of the wealthy landowners who built fortresses for protection and exacted tolls from boats passing by. Cruising down the Rhine River was one of the highlights of Viking’s Grand European Tour. The castles are nestled on hilltops, high above little hamlets and towns. Vineyards are planted along many south-facing hilltops — a reminder of the delicious wines this area boasts. Our program director narrated this tour as we passed by these scenic spots one warm, sunny afternoon.

MILTENBERG, Germany 

Miltenberg is a charming, small Bavarian town along the Main River, with the city walls still visible. As one entered the town’s gates, in times of old, a toll was collected — whether you were engaged in commerce or just visiting. Nowadays, it’s a relaxing place to spend a few hours, strolling the winding cobbled streets, admiring the half-timbered structures with intricate signs denoting a merchants’ trade, window shopping, stopping for a beer, or walking up to the bishop’s house to catch a view of the river and countryside.

Here, there is a monastery where boys as young as seven years old were raised and taught academics and religion. Boys learned trades at monasteries; in this case, they learned to make beer and bread — including pretzels. The dough for pretzels was commonplace, and people would eat it much like we eat baguettes today since they were then long thin pieces of bread. Over time, the loaves of bread were formed into pretzels. Here’s a story we heard from a guide: during one season of Lent, someone decided to twist the dough so there’d be three holes, signifying the Holy Trinity. Forming the dough into pretzels also meant that the bread was more portable — a vendor could carry them on a stick, and people could easily carry them in their pouches (no pockets back then!).

Miltenberg is worth a couple of hours’ visit. It’s small and has charm, but there’s not a lot to do. It feels like it depends on tourism, and while it was quaint, it lacked the energy of other charming towns.

ROTHENBURG OB DER TAUBER, Germany 

Rothenburg is a delightful Bavarian town that carries you back to the Middle Ages. The town’s name means “red fortress above the Tauber,” referring to the Tauber River. This is a well-preserved town with a little more than 10,000 residents who welcome tourism. 

Like Amsterdam and other European cities, Rothenburg’s half-timbered homes from yesteryear have hooks on the top of their facades to pull grain up to the top floor where it was stored for the year. This storage system was particularly important when the town was seized by others because the grain was safely stored in the attic. The plentiful fountains in town served as a source of drinking water, of course, but they also guaranteed a water supply should a half-timbered home catch fire or enemies surround the town. 

Places of Interest

• Rothenburg Town Hall (Rathaus) Bell Tower – Climb the bell tower for a far-reaching view of the town and countryside. You climb a little over 200 steps and pay the entry fee (less than 3 Euros for an adult) as you approach the last 10 steps. Enter the town hall through the doors facing the square, and you will see the steps to the bell tower.
• Town Ramparts – Walk the ramparts and elevated path to view the town and the reinforcements that helped protect it from invaders.
• Castle Garden (Burggarten in German) – Stroll through the Bishop’s gardens for a peaceful, relaxing time admiring the flowers as well as views of the countryside.
• Bakeries – Sample the snowball cookies — round confections of cookie dough that are deep fried and then either sprinkled with confectioners’ sugar or glazed.
• Disney Delights – Search for the structures that served as inspiration for Disney creations and backdrops for many movies.

WURZBURG, Germany 

Situated on the Main River in northern Bavaria, Wurzburg is known for its culture and wine (a dry white from the Silvaner grape). It’s a university city, and its students help Wurzburg have a younger vibe. As in other stops, our Viking river cruise ship docked within steps of the historic center. 

Wurzburg Residence

This structure was built for the Prince-Bishop of Wurzburg in the 18th century.  A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Wurzburg Residence and the outside gardens are a treat to visit. The palace was designed and furnished to rival Versailles. In fact, the palace was a stand-in for Versailles in the 2011 movie, The Three Musketeers.

Each room had a specific purpose; the major ones were the White Hall and the Emperor’s Hall. The architecture and artwork are something to see in an over-the-top kind of way. The money that was spent on this palace is incredible to ponder.  Some of the artwork incorporates trompe l’oeil (artistic illusion), so some of the frescoes actually look like they’re three-dimensional.

About 90% of the Wurzburg Residence was destroyed by Allied bombing in 1945 during World War II. Major John Davis Skilton, a member of the U.S. Army and one of the people instrumental in preserving Tiepolo’s Olympus and the Four Continents artwork on a ceiling in the Wurzburg Residence after it was bombed and left open to the elements, is honored here for his work in helping to restore this historic site after its near destruction. To read more about the work of the hundreds of people dedicated to preserving the artwork during World War II, read The Monuments Men.

Other Places of Interest in Wurzburg

• Old Main Bridge – The Old Main Bridge (Alte Mainbrücke), spanning the Main River, boasts statues of saints and other historic figures. In nice weather, it’s a gathering spot for folks.
• Fortress Marienberg – Dating from the 8th century, Fortress Marienberg, sitting atop the Main River bank in Wurzburg, has two museums, a restaurant, and a commanding view of the town.

FRANCONIAN COUNTRYSIDE

This excursion takes travelers by a private motor coach to several spots. In addition to what is included below, this excursion includes a relaxing stop at a restaurant where visitors enjoy a cold beer with pretzels (to dip in delicious mustard).

Zeil 

A small town of less than 10,000, Zeil has half-timbered houses and quaint charm. It is also the place that suffered from conflicts as well as a devastating loss of crops in the early 17th century.  Some people questioned authority and were accused of being witches; ultimately, hundreds were tortured and killed here under the local prince-bishop.

Wallfahrtskirche Maria Limbach

Said to have healing power, this pilgrimage church sits along a road calling no attention to itself. In fact, the exterior is so plain that one would expect the interior to be simple, too. This is not the case. The architect also worked on the Wurzburg Residence palace in Wurzburg (which is a must-see in that town), but we were told that he died before he could design the outside.

Seehof Palace 

Built in the 17th century and located just outside Mummelsdorf, this was the Bamberg prince-bishops’ summer residence and hunting lodge. Its White Hall was an important stateroom for hosting visitors; its ceilings are magnificently painted. Our guide told us that there was a salt lick outside the prince-bishop’s bedroom window, so he could watch animals as he peered outside in the morning after he awoke.

NUREMBERG, Germany

The second largest city in Bavaria (after Munich), Nuremberg (Nürnberg) has over 500,000 residents, and over 35% of them are immigrants. A major force in German history, it is probably best known for its Christmas markets and its place in World War II history. When visiting today, you can still see the moat that encircled the city centuries ago.

It is said that Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party chose Nuremberg as its base due to its central location with Germany, its strong railroad infrastructure (an advantage as it made it easy for the masses to gather here), and the abundant land on the city outskirts which offered the space they needed to build large grounds including Zeppelinfeld (which you can visit) for their rallies. Since about 90% of the city was bombed during World War II, much of Nuremberg was rebuilt and, therefore, not original. Today, Nuremberg has a somewhat odd look to it as it has a patchwork of historic and modern (1960s-1970s) architecture. Considering so much of the city’s structures were ruined, there was no proportional loss of life. I was told by our local guide that this was due, in part, to the large number of beer cellars that were enlarged and converted into air raid shelters. It was Nuremberg that was the site of the Nuremberg Trials that were held after the war.

Imperial Palace (Kaiserburg)

The seat of power from the Middle Ages, this palace welcomed visiting emperors and other distinguished dignitaries.

St. Lorenz Church

Dedicated to St. Lawrence, this church was built in the 15th century and was the first church in Germany to become Lutheran in the 1500s. St. Lorenz was badly damaged during World War II and has since been restored.

Pedestrian Market Square

Nuremberg is an inviting place due to the large square and other areas in the city center that are reserved for pedestrians. Lots of shops and restaurants lure visitors.

Documentation Center

With detailed exhibits that include photographs, artifacts, and videos (including some from Holocaust survivors), this museum provides detailed insights into the rise and fall of Adolf Hitler. Near the end of the tour, you come to a balcony of sorts that overlooks the unfinished Congress Hall (resembling a coliseum) that Hitler had planned to use for his efforts. The museum gave off an eerie vibe (one that I’m sure was intended) with its low ceilings, dark lighting, brick walls, and life-sized photographs of the thousands of Nazis who used Nuremberg as its base.

Nuremberg Palace of Justice

The Nuremberg Trials were held here in courtroom 600. The courtroom has changed since the infamous international tribunals of Nazi criminals in 1945-1946, but you can imagine the scene with a guided tour leader explaining it to you. The courtroom is open to visitors when it is in use.

REGENSBURG, Germany

Regensburg is a charming medieval town — the oldest on the Danube River — that still has visible remains from the Holy Roman Empire. (Luckily, Regensburg sits right on the river, so we had a very short walk from our Viking cruise ship to the town itself.) Regensburg grew to become part of a major trade route. Over the years, wealthy citizens boasted of their wealth by building tall towers (20 of the original 60 survive) within the city. Today it’s home to three universities; the young population makes it a happening place: there are plenty of restaurants, shops, and beer gardens.

St. Peter’s Cathedral

Built in 1320, this cathedral has a unique feature: a sculpture of a smiling angel (the first such sculptured angel known at this point). We were lucky enough to enjoy some organ music inside at noon — a welcome respite from sightseeing.

Old Town Hall tour 

The tour explains the political system of the Middle Ages and beyond, the hierarchy of the Holy Roman Empire’s nobles, as well as the crime and punishment protocols. This tour included a visit to the torture chamber and prison cells. Buy your tickets for an English tour at the tourist information office attached to the town hall.

Historic Sausage Kitchen (Historische Wurstkuchl)

Our guide recommended this spot on the side of the old stone bridge (today, it’s a pedestrian bridge) that serves a sandwich with finger-sized sausages, mustard, and sauerkraut. We ate ours as a takeout meal and strolled over the bridge to Alte Linde, an outdoor beer garden.

Alte Linde

A beer garden, Alte Linde is the perfect outdoor spot to relax in Regensburg — sipping beer under a canopy of mature trees along the banks of the Danube.

Golfmusem Regensburg

Situated near the docking area, this is for golf lovers, of course!

PASSAU, Germany

It’s a good news, bad news story for this storied town.

Good news: The convergence of three rivers helped Passau (“The City of Three Rivers”) develop into a prosperous town driven by commerce — especially in salt, which was sometimes referred to as “white gold” since trading in salt helped its early economy flourish.

Bad news: Passau’s location on rivers has meant periodic flooding through the centuries.

A delightful town to visit, Passau has a population of about 50,000, including about 12,000 students at the University of Passau. We enjoyed the uncrowded streets and a midday organ concert at St. Stephan’s Cathedral.

Old Bishop’s Residence (Veste Oberhaus)

Built high above Passau, the castle represented the power and wealth of the prince-bishop (and the Catholic church itself) who built it. The prince-bishop was the town’s top administrator until Passau became secularized in 1803 when Napoleon took over the area. You can walk through the ruins, visit the museum (well worth it), eat at the restaurant, and take in the view from the ancient walls. From here, you can see how the three rivers come together and even the difference in the color of the Inn River (due to the silt from its journey that originates in the Swiss Alps). You can walk up from the street (which we opted to do) or take a bus from Passau.

New Bishop’s Residence (Neue Residenz)

This site is worth a visit, especially for viewing the stately Baroque stairway crowned with an elaborate ceiling fresco. Dominating the painting are two women. The woman in a red dress represents Rome; the woman in the blue dress represents Passau (shown below). The interpretation is that Rome is crowning the prince-bishop of Passau.

St. Stephan’s Cathedral (Stephansdom)

Built in the 17th century after a fire destroyed a previous church, St. Stephan’s was the seat of Passau’s bishop. It is yet another ornate church with a richly carved and painted interior. What makes this cathedral stand out is its organ. With over 17,000 pipes. it’s the largest cathedral organ in the world. There are daily organ concerts from May to October.

Mariahilf

Though not as ornate as St. Stephen’s Cathedral, this pilgrimage church is said to house the tomb of the first Hungarian Christian queen. Access it by climbing the covered 321 stairs used by pilgrims through the ages. This is another spot that offers stunning town views.

Town Park

Walk down to the point where the Danube, Inn, and Ilz rivers converge for a restful break.

MELK ABBEY, Austria

Sitting high atop a rock in the Wachau Valley in Austria, Melk Abbey (Stift Melk) is a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Site. Founded by Benedictine monks in 1089, the abbey is still home to monks. It has imperial rooms, a museum, and a library — in addition to a church. No photos are allowed inside the Abbey.

GOTTWEIG ABBEY near KREMS, Austria

Krems was a brief stop, and we visited Gottweig Abbey. Another UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Site, Gottweig Abbey is a Benedictine monastery that dates back to 1083 on a hilltop overlooking the picturesque Wachau Valley along the Danube River. The Abbey has vast land holdings, including 13,000 acres of forest. Their main income is derived from timber, tourism, and wine. Centuries ago, this was also a safe harbor for townspeople to congregate during wartimes. We opted for the Abbey tour and a delightful dinner on the terrace overlooking the valley.

VIENNA, Austria

Austria’s capital and largest city, Vienna, accounts for about one-third of the country’s population. It’s home to several international organizations, including OPEC. Sometimes dubbed the City of Music for its rich musical history, it’s also sometimes referred to as the City of Dreams because of one of its famous former citizens, Sigmund Freud. Its two UNESCO World Heritage Sites (the Historic Center of Vienna and the Palace and Gardens of Schönbrunn) are popular tourist spots.

Vienna is huge compared to the other river towns on this cruise. It boasts just less than 2 million people. There is much to do and see in Vienna and plenty of excursions from which to choose. Because of how crowded the city was, we took a walking tour of the city and a guided tour of the Hapsburg’s summer home, Schönbrunn Palace. There again, we encountered so many people that the tour was a disappointment.

BUDAPEST, Hungary

Budapest (actually pronounced Budapesht because the “s” in Hungarian is pronounced “sh”) is the capital of Hungary. Formed in 1873, Budapest — with a population of over 1.7 million, the tenth largest city in the European Union —  is a marriage of two parts. Buda sits on the western side of the Danube River (the river is Danu in Hungarian), and Pest sits on the eastern side.

Buda Hill

Take the Buda Funicular (or walk or take the bus) to Castle Hill. Here you’ll find Buda Castle (home of the National Gallery and the Budapest History Museum); Mattias Church (Mátyás-templom), a Catholic church built in the 1200s; and Fisherman’s Bastion (Halászbástya), a viewing terrace on Buda Hill.

Széchenyi Chain Bridge

Built in the 1800s, this suspension bridge first linked Buda and Pest.

Hungarian Parliament 

With its domed exterior, one might mistakenly think this is a religious building. It’s huge — the second-largest parliament building in Europe (after Romania). Some say the Hungarian Parliament was built to impress visitors from Vienna, 150 miles away. It’s a notable sight from outside — especially at night when it is adorned with lights. But inside, it is an absolute must-see. You can take pictures everywhere inside except in the heavily guarded Dome Hall, where the ancient Hungarian crown is on display (and guarded around the clock). Buy tickets online to ensure you’ve got a spot on an English-speaking tour on the day you’re visiting.

Shoes on the Danube

This touching display is a short walk from the Hungarian Parliament. These shoes (made of iron) represent Jews who were shot and killed by the Arrow Cross militia in 1944-45. After being shot, their bodies fell into the Danube to drift away.

Great Market Hall (Nagyvásárcsarnok) 

The oldest indoor market in Budapest, the Great Market Hall was opened in 1896 in the Pest area. It is chock full of stalls with merchants selling produce, meat, candy, baked goods, and Hungarian treats. The upper level has places to eat and souvenirs.

Thermal Baths 

The Szechenyi Baths are probably the best-known thermal baths, but many are in the city. You’ll find luxury spa treatments, saunas, and massages at the baths, so do your research. Don’t forget to pack your swimsuit!

We had two short days in Budapest, but you may want to add more time to explore all the city offers. Many river cruisers add time at the beginning or end of their Viking Grand European Tour cruise (depending on if they are beginning or ending their cruise here), so they have enough time to do this city justice.

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• Viking Ocean Cruise Excursions: What You Need to Know
• Viking Cruises: Best Action Steps to Take After Booking a Cruise
• Viking River Cruises: The Complete Guide
• Best Sights to See on a Viking Grand European Tour Cruise
• Viking Antarctica Cruise: A Complete Guide for Adventurers

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• Best Apps and Websites for Savvy Travelers
• Travel Lightly: Top Ten Tips for Your Next Trip
• Travel Planning Timeline
• Expert Tips for Traveling to Europe for More Fun, Less Stress
• How to Use Google Translate While Traveling

Final Thoughts

The Viking Grand European Tour river cruise offered the best of the Rhine, Main, and Danube rivers. We appreciated the well-planned ports of call and excursions. In addition, Viking did a fine job communicating with us about what we were to see each day. The evening port talk by the program director (before dinner) prepared us for the next day’s destination. Also, the Viking Daily, a four-page handout that was left in our stateroom each evening while we were at dinner, outlined the city we would be visiting the next day along with all the important times to note (docking, excursions, departure) and not-to-miss highlights and notable restaurants and shops of each destination. The Grand European Tour was certainly a grand experience for us!

To ensure you remember all the great experiences on your cruise, take lots of pictures and create a photo book of your journey when you return home. You’ll be glad you did!

Comments?

Feel free to share your experiences on the Grand European Tour or any of the spots mentioned in this article. 🙂