A Complete Guide to the Viking Grand European Tour Excursions

The Viking Grand European Tour was my first ever river cruise. One of the benefits of this luxury European river cruise is the “Viking inclusive value,” and part of that includes shore excursions in every port of call. With 15 complimentary excursions and more than 35 optional excursions to experience, it can be overwhelming to decide which ones are worth the time and (additional) money. Whether you’re a first timer like me or a seasoned river cruiser, I’m breaking down everything you need to know about Viking Grand European Tour excursions.

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Amsterdam Grand European Tour excursions
Kinderdijk Grand European Tour excursions
Cologne Grand European Tour excursions
Koblenz Grand European Tour excursions
Miltenberg Grand European Tour excursions
Würzburg Grand European Tour excursions
Bamberg Grand European Tour excursions
Nuremberg Grand European Tour excursions
Regensburg Grand European Tour excursions
Passau Grand European Tour excursions
Melk Grand European Tour excursions
Vienna Grand European Tour excursions
Budapest Grand European Tour excursions

Viking Grand European Tour Excursions: What You Need to Know

There are two types of Grand European Tour excursions: included excursions and optional excursions.

Included Viking Grand European Tour Excursions

Each port of call has an included excursion, which means you don’t have to pay for it. You also don’t have to go on the excursion, but most people do. 

The included excursions are usually a guided walking tour. Think of it as a “greatest hits” walking tour where you get a brief history of the town while stopping at the most notable attractions in the city.

The panoramic tours usually are usually part bus tour and part walking tour. Most of the included excursions last anywhere between 1 to 3 hours.

Optional Viking Grand European Tour Excursions

In most ports, there’s more to see than could possibly be covered in a walking tour. That’s where optional excursions come in! 

That being said, many of the excursions are wildly overpriced. For example Schönbrunn Palace costs $119 per person, which is insane. We did it on our own for a lot less. (More details on that in the Vienna excursions section.) But if you don’t want to worry about getting around in an unknown city, then maybe the cost is worth it.

We did four optional tours: Brühl Palaces, Marksburg Castle, Rothenburg ob der Taub and Medieval Regensburg. Of all of those, I think the Rothenburg ob der Taub excursion was the best value because it also included a tour of Würzburg Palace, which we missed by not doing the included tour that morning.

And speaking from personal experience, I don’t think the all-day trips to Salzburg and Munich are worth it. You spend half of the day on the bus and the 4 hours you get in either city is not enough. However, I talked to some people who went on those excursions and they said they enjoyed them.

Viking Grand European Tour Excursions Activity Levels

The Viking website includes descriptions for each Grand European Tour excursion as well as the activity level. The activity level for Grand European Tour excursions range from easy to demanding.

• Easy: Walking portions are generally over easy surfaces with few steps or inclines. Total time walking or standing is normally not longer than 1.5 hours.
• Moderate: Walking portions may be long and somewhat challenging with occasional step-ups, stairs and inclines. Total time walking or standing normally ranges from 1.5 to 3 hours.
• Demanding: Physically challenging activities, including extensive walks, hiking, riding, water sports, and high altitude activities. Activities by foot may contain difficult, unpaved surfaces and/or multiple stairs and steep inclines. Total time walking or standing may exceed 3 hours.

Most of the included tours are “easy,” but I think a lot of people forget that the streets in Europe are not the same as the US. That means they’re uneven or lined with cobblestone, making it easy to trip or fall. It’s also worth noting that castles and palaces don’t have elevators. So if you find it difficult to hike up a lot of stairs, you might want to rethink going on that excursion.

To accommodate guests with mobility issues, Viking also offers a “leisurely group.” These tours usually go at a slower pace or avoid areas with steep inclines or a lot of stairs. Many guests also bring walking sticks, which help them maneuver the charming, but sometimes dangerous, European streets.

What About Tipping?

The only thing that’s not included in either type of Grand European Tour excursion is a tip for the guide and bus driver. Viking emphasizes that you are not obligated to tip, but most people do. The general guidance is a couple of Euros for the guide and driver, but you can always tip more if they are really good. (And most of the tour guides are!)

When to Book Your Viking Grand European Tour Excursions

As you will see below, many of the optional Grand European Tour excursions sold out in advance. The Kinderdijk by Vintage Barge sold out at least 6 months in advance. So if you really want to see something, book your excursions as early as possible.

I booked our Grand European Tour excursions about a month before our cruise, but I visited My Viking Journey often to make sure they hadn’t sold out. (They call out the remaining spots left if availability is low.)

If you weren’t able to book optional excursions in advance, no problem. You will have the opportunity to book certain excursions on board. For example, they were able to get additional spots for the concert in Vienna and a lot more people signed up.

Viking Grand European Tour Excursions By Day

Day 1 — Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Steps Taken: 21,049 (we did a lot of walking before boarding)

1:00 and 3:00 p.m. Welcome Walk — Included
9:00-10:30 p.m. Amsterdam Canal Cruise — $99 per person

Our tour kicked off in Amsterdam the day before King’s Day. This was a really good day to leave because the city was about to turn into my worst nightmare: large crowds of drunk people.

Since the boat didn’t set sail until after midnight, and our room wasn’t available until 3:00 p.m., we arrived a little before then. When we checked in, we were told about the Welcome Walk, which started at 3:00 p.m. (There was another one offered at 1:00 p.m.) Since it was free, and we had nothing else to do, we decided to go.

If you arrive in Amsterdam the same day the boat leaves and are hoping to see the city on the Welcome Walk, you will be very disappointed. According to the Viking Daily, this guided tour is a way to “discover the area in the vicinity of the ship.” Welp, considering we were docked behind the Movenpick hotel and walking distance from Centraal Station, there wasn’t much to see. You don’t even cross the bridge to go into central Amsterdam.

I’m not sure if the Welcome Walk would have been different if it wasn’t the day before a holiday, but it was a let down. It also didn’t help that our guide wasn’t that great.

In mid-January they also added an Amsterdam Evening Canal Cruise. Since we already did a canal cruise with Captain Dave that morning, we stayed on the boat.

Day 2 — Kinderdijk, the Netherlands

Steps Taken: 5,122

8:15-10:15 a.m. Kinderdijk by Vintage Barge (Privileged Access) — $89 per person (sold out before tour)
8:15-10:15 a.m. Kinderdijk Windmills by E-bicycle — $149 per person
8:20-10:20 a..m. Kinderdijk Windmills — Included
8:30-1:30 p.m. Kinderdijk Windmills & Dutch Cheese Making — $139 per person

Our first, and only, stop in the Netherlands was in Kinderdijk. I don’t know if it was because we arrived early or it was a holiday, but the UNESCO World Heritage site was very peaceful and serene.

Our guide, Ad, led our walking tour, which included stops in the pumping station, the famous cat’s cradle and the Nederwaard Mill. You could tell he loved his job and enjoyed sharing the history of Kinderdijk.

The windmill dates back to 1738. Unlike the windmills in Zaanse Schans, people used to live in these windmills. And it wasn’t just one or two people; we’re talking two adults and their 8+ children.

If you don’t like tiny steps or small spaces, you may want to skip going inside the windmill. My mom decided she saw enough windmills for one lifetime and stayed outside with the chickens and geese.

Overall, the stop in Kinderedijk is very brief. We had to be back on board by 10:30 am to keep things moving. However, nearly four guests were left behind. One couple flagged the ship down as it was about to leave. The other two had to take a taxi to Gorinchem where the boat picked up the guests taking the Kinderdijk Windmills & Dutch Cheese Making excursion. 

Moral of the story? Pay attention to the time so the ship doesn’t take off without you. If you are running late, call the ship to let them know.

Speaking of the Kinderdijk Windmills & Dutch Cheese Making excursion, I’ve only heard positive things about this one. (I don’t eat cheese, so it didn’t make sense to pay for something I couldn’t enjoy.) And the Vintage Barge excursion was another hot ticket because it sold out months in advance.

Day 3 — Cologne, Germany

Steps Taken: 10,014

8:30-12:00 p.m. Cologne Walking Tour — Included
2:00-5:00 p.m. Cologne by Bicycle — $105 per person
2:00-6:00 p.m. Brühl UNESCO Palaces — $139 per person
6:30-10:00 p.m. Cologne’s Beer Culture & Dinner — $159 per person

If you get Mohamed as a tour guide, you are in for a treat. He has the best German accent and is absolutely hilarious. Our Cologne Walking Tour included a stop by the winged golden Ford Fiesta, the Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom), town hall (Rathaus) and some old Roman Ruins.

After the walking tour we had the option to stay in town or take the bus back to the ship. (The ship docked near the zoo bridge, which was about a 30 minute walk along the river.)

I had grand plans for Cologne, but I got overwhelmed and decided to go back to the ship for lunch before our second tour that afternoon. It was also Sunday, which meant a lot of shops were closed. (The Germans take their days off very seriously.)

I did a lot of research and lurked in various forums, but didn’t see a lot of reviews about the Brühl Palaces excursion. But your girl loves a palace, so I decided to take the risk. And guess what? It was amazing. Seriously, I think a lot of people sleep on this Grand European Tour excursion.

The tour included a self-guided tour of Falkenlust Palace as well as a guided tour of Augustusburg Palace. The highlight for me was the grand rococo staircase. The ornate decorations, the paintings, the iron work. It’s absolutely breathtaking.

It also helped that we had a fantastic tour guide who made sure to comment on different points of interest along the highway and in town coming from and going to the ship. (My mom particularly liked that.)

So if you’re wondering, “Are the Brühl UNESCO Palaces worth it?” I would say yes, it is!

Day 4 — Koblenz, Germany

Steps Taken: 5,812

8:45-11:00 a.m. Historic Koblenz — Included
9:30-12:30 p.m. Ehrenbreitstein Fortress — $85 per person 
9:45-12:45 p.m. Medieval Marksburg Castle — $105 per person

The Koblenz excursion schedule really irritated me. It’s a stop where you can only choose one shore excursion, and it’s a real Sophie’s Choice situation. I have heard lots of great things about the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, but I ultimately chose Marksburg Castle because I can’t say no to a castle.

Koblenz is also quite literally a stop; you aren’t there all day. In the early days of planning I thought we could do the included tour and then take a train to Marksburg Castle and do it on our own. I quickly found out that would be impossible because the ship leaves Koblenz for Braubach to pick up those who did the optional excursions and then you keep moving down the river.

So while I was a little sad we couldn’t tour Koblenz, we were able to take pictures with the giant statue of Wilhelm I on the Deutsches Eck before our tour left.

The Marksburg Castle is a “demanding” excursion and once you see the stairs it’s easy to understand why. The bus also can’t drive to the top of the hill the castle sits on, so the walk up is leisurely, but not ideal if you have mobility issues.

Our tour guide at the castle was a loud, cackling German named Kai. I enjoyed him and his sense of humor. It was hard not to laugh when he laughed.

Unlike fairytale castles like Neuschwanstein, walking into Marksburg Castle is like being transported back to medieval times. Perched on top of a hill, it dates all the way back to the 13th century and has never been destroyed. (They don’t make ‘em like they used to!)
 
My mom and I were fascinated with the toilet that was conveniently located right next to the kitchen table. It locks from the outside to keep intruders out. The other highlight is the armoury, which includes life-size figures wearing different types of armor. To get to the armoury you have to walk through a very narrow staircase. If you’re claustrophobic, they will take you a different route.

If you’re into a castle lover, like myself, or enjoy medieval history, you’ll enjoy the Marksburg Castle excursion. Plus the views of the Rhine are pretty incredible.

Day 5 — Miltenberg, Germany

Steps Taken: 7,346

3:15-5:45 p.m. Miltenberg Walking Tour — Included

Miltenberg only had one excursion: the included walking tour. It was only about an hour long, which was more than enough for the small Franconian town with cobblestone streets and crooked, half-timbered houses.

The walking tour included stops at:

• Schwarzviertel or “black quarter” due to the lack of sunshine
• St Kilian Kellerei, a wine cellar that goes 100 meters into the mountain (felt great because it was so hot!)
• Faust Brewery
• St Jakobus Kirche
• Altes Rathaus
• Zum Riesen

Afterwards you could walk around the town, but most shops were closing by 5:00 p.m. Schloss Miltenberg is located above the town, so naturally I made my mom hike up the steep hill. Unfortunately, it was closed, but there are some pretty great views from the top.

Before taking the bus back to the ship you can take a picture with the Staffelbrunserbrunnen, otherwise known as the three peeing boys fountain.

Day 6 — Würzburg, Germany

Steps Taken: 12,121

8:15 a.m.-4:45 p.m. Rothenburg ob der Tauber Day Trip — $189 per person 
8:30-11:30 a.m. Hike the Würzburg Hills — $129 per person
1:45-4:45 p.m. Würzburg Residenz & Walk — Included

Würzburg, and the Rothenburg ob der Tauber Day Trip, was probably my favorite day on the Viking Grand European Tour. And out of all the Grand European Tour excursions, it offers the best value. You’re essentially getting two excursions for one. (I might be doing some girl math here, but it makes sense to me.)

If you haven’t heard about or seen Rothenburg ob der Tauber on your Instagram feed, it’s straight out of a Disney movie. And that’s actually true! This picturesque German town inspired the village in Pinocchio. (Walt Disney traveled Germany’s Romantic Road in the 1950s, which included a stop at Neuschwanstein Castle in 1955. It inspired the Sleeping Beauty castle.)

Before our included lunch, we were able to walk around the town as well as the walls. I also found vegan Schneeballen at Bäckerai Stiffler. They had four flavors, so naturally I bought one of each. They were so good! 10/10 would recommend.

The only meh part about this excursion was the included lunch at Glocke. For the non-vegans, lunch included traditional German cabbage rolls, mashed potatoes, gravy and a tiramisu dessert. I got a pesto pasta dish and Obstsalat (fruit salad). No one at our table enjoyed the traditional lunch. As one person said “It tasted like an outhouse smells.”

After lunch we drove back to Würzburg where we toured the Residence. The palace made my Baroque-loving heart sing. The frescos, the plaster, the gold — everything you’d expect in a home for a Prince-Bishop. It really was impressive and the perfect way to end a fairytale of a day.

Day 7 — Bamberg, Germany

Steps Taken: 9,161

1:30-6:00 p.m. Bamberg Walking Tour — Included
1:30-6:00 p.m. Margravial Opera House — $105 per person

Of all the stops on the Viking Grand European Tour, Bamberg was probably my least favorite. It also didn’t help that it was hot and crowded due to it being a holiday — not my favorite combination. We were also there for way too long.

That being said, our tour guide Carmen was delightful. The walking tour took us along the river, known as “Little Venice”, up the hill to the cathedral, the Old Court (as seen in “The Three Musketeers”), the New Residence and back down to the Altes Rathaus.

The highlight for me was seeing where they filmed the wedding scene from Season 1 of “Die Kaiserin.” The square in front of the Bambergerdom is where Sisi greeted the people of Vienna on her wedding day. (The real royal wedding church, Augustinerkirche, is in Vienna.)

After the tour ended we went back to the cathedral to check out der Bamberger Reiter (Bamberg Horseman) and the rose garden at the New Residence.

The city is known for its Rauchbier or smoked beer. I don’t drink, but from what I’ve heard you either love it or hate it. I think I’d hate it.

Day 8 — Nuremberg, Germany

Steps Taken: 6,947

8:30-11:30 a.m. Surviving the War: Art in Nuremberg — $119 per person
8:30-12:30 p.m. Nuremberg Through History — Included
8:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Nuremberg & World War II — $139 per person

Like Koblenz, you could only do one excursion in Nuremberg. And I think that’s a shame because the town has so much history. (This complaint is Amsterdam to Budapest specific. If you sail from Budapest to Amsterdam, you get a whole day in Nuremberg.) In fact, up until a few weeks before our cruise, the art tour time was in the afternoon. I don’t know why it changed.

We opted for the included tour, which was part bus and part walking tour. The bus drove by the Zeppelin fields and where the Nuremberg trials took place, but given the short amount of time it would have been hard to go back on our own.

Once in Altstadt, our tour guide walked us through the city with stops at the Imperial Castle, Albrecht Dürer’s house, St. Sebald, das Rathaus and Schöner Brunnen (beautiful fountain). We also saw the glockenspiel go off at the Frauenkirche.

I thought the tour itself was fine, but our tour guide wasn’t nice. I tried to ask a question in German and she kind of snapped at me and sounded angry. Or maybe that’s a normal German tone. (I asked about the weird rabbit sculpture near Dürer’s house.) Grumpy German attitude aside, she was very knowledgeable.

As for the optional tours, everyone who went on them said they were excellent. If I could do it again, I’d probably do one of the optional tours instead.

Day 9 — Regensburg, Germany

Steps Taken: 16,805

8:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Munich Highlights — $309 per person
9:00-10:30 a.m. Regensburg Walking Tour — Included
9:00-11:00 a.m. Historic Regensburg & Jewish Heritage — Included
1:45-4:15 p.m. Medieval Regensburg — $89 per person
Hop Farm Visit — $159 per person

The included Regensburg Walking Tour was relatively short, but we did hit the main sights, like the old stone bridge, Goliathaus, Altes Rathaus, Haidplatz and St. Peter Cathedral. My mom didn’t think our tour guide was great and I kind of agree. Rather than showing us where Oskar Schindler lived after World War II, we gathered in a courtyard of a restaurant which dated back hundreds of years.

We also did the option Medieval Regensburg excursion. Apparently this excursion is relatively new and Viking added it to the website a couple of months before our cruise. I didn’t really know what to expect, but decided to roll the dice since we were going to be there pretty much all day.

The excursion started out with a short walk from the ship to the Altes Rathaus. Our guide kept saying “You probably heard this on your included tour…” And me and my mom were like “No we didn’t.” So our guide was kind enough to fill in the gaps and also walked us by Oskar Schindler’s house.

The main part of this tour took place at the old town hall. We had a private guide that took us to different rooms, like the Imperial Hall, tourture chamber and prison. If you’re into medieval history, I think you’d really enjoy this tour. (Although you could easily tour it on your own for much less.)

Day 10 — Passau, Germany

Steps Taken: 14,147

8:15 a.m.-4:45 p.m. Salzburg Highlights — $309 per person
9:15-10:45 p.m. Passau Walking Tour — Included
2:30-6:00 p.m. Bavarian Cruise & Baroque Town of Schärding — $119 per person (sold out before tour)
3:00-6:00 p.m. Bavaria by E-Bike — $169 per person
Hike the Passau Hills — $105 per person
Flightseeing Over Passau — $839
Neuschwanstein Castle by Plane — $2099 (this is not a typo)

Known as the city of three rivers (or Dreiflüssestadt for my German readers and speakers), Passau is where the Inn, Danube and Ilz river meet. It’s really cool to see thee Inn’s turquoise water meet the Danube’s dark water.

Our tour guide and Passau native, Anja, walked us through the city on a drizzly Sunday. Stops included the Schaiblingsturm tower, Altes Rathaus, the high water scale (the town is famous for flooding), Höllgasse, Residenzplatz and St. Stephen’s Cathedral.

This day happened to coincide with Maidult. It’s basically Oktoberfest in May. Men were dressed in lederhosen and women in dirndls. They were also wearing chain necklaces with different placards. It turns out they belonged to shooting clubs. I was just excited we got to hear “oompah” music since the Bavarian band couldn’t perform on the ship the night before.

Since we would be in Passau until 6:00 p.m. and we didn’t go on any optional excursions, my mom and I walked up to the Veste Oberhaus across the river. We didn’t go into any of the museums, but the views are worth the hike. (We were both winded because someone told us to take the long way because it was flat. Don’t be stupid like us. Take the stairs.)

Everyone who went on the Bavaria by E-Bike excursion said it was awesome. (This could be said about all the optional bicycle tours.)  The Bavarian Cruise gets mixed reviews. I wanted to do the excursion, but since it was both booze and meat-heavy, I decided against it. I’ve also read that the excursion is overpriced and not worth it or amazing.

Day 11 — Melk and Krems, Austria

Steps Taken: An embarrassingly low number

8:45-11:15 a.m. Melk Abbey — Included 
4:15-6:45 p.m. Wachau Valley Winery — $105 per person
Göttweig Abbey & Travelers Blessing (Privileged Access) — $219 per person

After 11 days on the ship, it finally happened: I got sick. (Word to the wise: bring medication from the US. European meds don’t hit the same.) Of all the days to get sick, I think this was the most ideal because it was raining and cold. That being said, everyone who went on the Melk Abbey excursion said it was absolutely gorgeous.

Even though the My Viking Journey showed the Göttweig Abbey excursion before our cruise, I didn’t see it on the Viking Daily.

Day 12 — Vienna, Austria

Steps Taken: 15,185

9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Panoramic Vienna — Included
1:45-5:45 p..m. Klimt & Viennese Gold Workshop (Privileged Access) — $199 per person
1:30-5:00 p.m. Behind the Scenes at the Lipizzaner Stallions — $149 per person (sold out before tour)
7:30-10:30 p.m. Mozart & Strauss Concert — $139 per person

Our Panoramic Vienna excursion started out with a bang — literally. Our bus got into an accident with a taxi as we were being dropped off. Thankfully, no one was hurt.

The walking tour portion started at Maria-Theresien-Platz before walking over to the Hofburg. We then made our way to St. Stephen’s Cathedral where we had free time to walk around before taking the bus back to the ship.

It sprinkled off and on this day  and the wind made it cold. I had to dip into H&M to buy a scarf before seeking shelter in St. Stephan’s Cathedral. It also didn’t help that I was still getting over a cold. Moral of the story, if you come in late spring (April to May) come prepared for cold weather. (See my Viking River Cruise packing list for more tips on what to pack.)

Because we were in Vienna over night, we had the rest of the afternoon and evening to do whatever we wanted. We didn’t do any of the optional excursions, so we took the subway back into the city to tour the Sisi Museum. If you’re into Habsburg history or watched “Die Kaiserin” on Netflix, you’ll enjoy the Sisi Museum.

I read a few comments/complaints in the forums about the Lipizzaner Stallions excursion. Many said it’s overpriced because it doesn’t include a show, so you’re basically paying to see horse stables. Performances usually take place from mid-August to December on Saturdays and Sundays. From what I gathered, you’re better off doing it on your own. 

The Mozart & Strauss Concert was by far the most popular excursion of the day. Because the time coincides with dinner, they moved the service up to 6:00 p.m. to accommodate those going to the concert. Viking also offers a “privileged access” concert with Alma Deutscher, but that wasn’t an option on our cruise. 

Neither me or my mom were interested in going to the concert, but from what I hear, the Alma Deutscher concert is amazing. However, the regular concert always receives rave reviews.

Day 13 — Vienna, Austria

Steps Taken: 13,121

8:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Vienna’s Countryside by E-Bike — $169 per person (sold out before tour)
8:45 a.m.-4:45 p.m. Picturesque Bratislava — $179 per person
9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Schönbrunn Palace — $119 per person
1:15-4:00 p.m. Behind the Scenes at the Vienna Boys’ Choir (Privileged Access) — $119 per person

Since our ship didn’t depart until 4:45 p.m., we basically had an entire second day in Vienna. I knew I wanted to go to Schönbrunn Palace (surprise, right?), but I couldn’t get over the cost of this Grand European Tour excursion. After seeing how easy it was to navigate the Vienna subway, we decided to do it ourselves.

We bought the Sisi Pass for €51, which included audio tours at both Schönbrunn and the Sisi Museum at the Hofburg. The subway ticket cost €2.40 one way and the ride (which included one transfer) took about 30 minutes. Easy peasy! 

We made sure to get to Schönbrunn early to beat the crowds — which we did. The Sisi Pass also meant when didn’t have have to reserve a time. The audio guide did repeat some of the same facts as the Sisi Museum, but I imagine it’s just as good as a tour guide.

After walking around the gardens and walking up to the Gloriette, we took the subway back into Vienna and toured the Kaiserliche Schatzkammer or the Imperial Treasury. If you loved seeing the Crown Jewels in London, then you’ll love the Viennese version. I’m a sucker for shiny and sparkly things, so this was right up my ally. (My mom worked with jewelry for a living, so she was interested, too.) 

The final stop on our Habsburg Tour of Vienna was the Kapuzinergruft. Also known as the Imperial Crypt, it’s where all (or most of) the Habsburgs are buried. Unlike the Hollywood Forever Cemetery or Westwood Village Memorial Park, the final rest place of the Habsburgs is underground. And there’s more than just elaborately decorated sarcophagi here. The heart and inner organs can be found in urns on the walls. I obviously loved the crypt, but my mom did not.

While I don’t have any reviews on the tours for the second day in Vienna, I hope this encourages or inspire you to not be afraid to do things on your own. (And save some money while you do!) For more ideas on what to do in Vienna, check out my Ultimate Vienna Itinerary.

Day 14 — Budapest, Hungary

Steps Taken: 19,108

9:00-12:00 pm. Panoramic Budapest  — Included
1:45-5:45 p.m. Hungarian Horsemen — $119 per person
1:45-5:15 p.m. Dohány Synagogue & Jewish Budapest — $119 per person
2:15-5:45 p.m. Budapest Thermal Bath — $105 per person
2:30-5:00 pm. Grand Market: Flavors of Hungary — $95 per person
Budapest Castle Hill Hike — $119 per person
Gödöllo Royal Palace & Gardens — $129 per person
Best of Budapest — $319 per person

Since we only had one full day in Budapest before disembarkation, I wanted to make the most of our time. I read that the Panoramic Budapest excursion wasn’t that great, so I searched for a private tour guide before our trip.

I ended up finding Julia Kraviansky, who came highly recommended from the Rick Steves forum. I booked her Grand Budapest Walk, a 7 hour private walking tour that takes you all of over Budapest.

If you have a short amount of time in Budapest I can’t recommend her enough. We were able to experience so much more than the included excursion. (We even beat them to the first location.) Seriously, after the end of it I felt like there was nothing else we could possibly see. My mom thought it was one of the best things we did on the entire trip.

As far as the optional excursions go, one guest said the Thermal Bath was a bust. If you want to visit the Grand Market, you can easily walk to the Grand Market from where the ship docks. It’s probably a 20 minute walk and the market itself is free to enter.

I also wished they offered the Budapest at Night excursion like they do on the Budapest to Amsterdam sailing. But considering it would be on the last night, and a lot of guests have early flights the following morning, I can understand why they don’t.