Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are entirely our own, and we have not been compensated in any way for these opinions.
After two Viking River Cruises that included The Netherlands, Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria and Hungary, we decided to venture into Eastern Europe. We were certainly not as familiar with Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia and Croatia, but were very excited to explore this area along the Danube. As it turned out, we found these countries fascinating. The interesting places that we visited and the warm, welcoming people we met far exceeded all of our expectations!
Before discussing the specific itinerary of the Passage to Eastern Europe cruise, we thought we would first take a look at the Viking Cruise company and some general information regarding what to expect from any of their river cruises. If you read our previous article on the Viking Rhine Getaway Cruise, this information may be familiar to you.
Viking Cruises
Founded in 1997, Viking Cruises has grown to be the world’s leading river cruise line and has expanded to include an ocean fleet that now sails around the world. In January 2022, Viking will launch new expedition voyages, sailing to Antarctica, the Arctic and North America’s Great Lakes. Also in 2022, Viking will expand its destination-focused travel experiences with the launch of Mississippi River cruises. You can see all of their cruise options on their site here.
– Why You Should Give Viking a Try – One of the reasons we love Viking, and there are many, is that so much is included, with very few additional charges. For one price you will have a beautiful stateroom, all your meals, a free excursion in every port, unlimited wine and beer with lunch and dinner and free WiFi. You will only pay for drinks outside of lunch/dinner, gratuities and any optional excursions that you elect to take. Need some additional incentive to consider a Viking cruise? Take a look at one of our recent articles, Viking River Cruise – 10 Reasons to Go.
– Preparing for Your River Cruise – To ensure you get the most from your river cruise experience, we recommend a number of things that you can do to enhance your trip, and it all starts from the time that you book your trip.
For example, Viking offers the option of booking your flight directly through Viking. Typically, their pricing is very competitive and they even offer free air on some cruises. For a small additional fee, you can even work with Viking to select your specific flights, including options for stopping over in other destination cities on the way to and from your cruise. You can also enhance your trip by taking advantage of pre and post extensions, allowing you to spend additional time before or after your cruise in some spectacular destinations.
You can find more information about booking tips in one of our previous articles, Tips for Booking a Viking Cruise.
– Life on Board Viking’s River Ships
The Viking river ships have no more than 195 passengers and never feel crowded. There are several areas to relax, take in the sights and have a libation. But there are a few things you will not find on a Viking river ship. First, everyone must be 18 or over, so there are no children. Second, there is no casino, theater or exercise gym (although there is a walking track on the top deck). You can think of the ship as a luxury hotel that takes you from destination to destination.
• Dining – The primary dining area is simply called The Restaurant and is the main dining venue. The other option is the Aquavit Terrace for al fresco dining. On a nice day there is nothing better than sailing down the river while having your morning coffee or one of your meals in this lovely spot on the front of the ship. Take note that there is no room service on the river ships (with the exception of breakfast in the Explorer Suite), so don’t plan on meal delivery to your room.
TIP: Although reservations were not needed in the past for the main dining venue, The Restaurant, protocols arising from the pandemic may require dinner reservations in advance.
• Lounge – The lounge is the main gathering place in the late afternoon as guests relax with their favorite beverage, after a fun-filled day of sightseeing. Each evening before dinner, the cruise director discusses any pertinent announcements and the next day’s itinerary, while the chef previews the evening’s dinner options. By the way, we found the drink prices in the lounge to be very reasonably priced, much less than your typical luxury hotel!
After dinner the lounge is the place to go for the evening’s entertainment, which could be a cultural experience, live music or even a trivia game.
• Sun Deck – Our favorite spot to relax, the Sun Deck is the perfect place to view the towns, vineyards and castles along the river. With deck chairs that are both under cover or out in the sun, you can find your favorite spot to relax. The Sun Deck also has a walking track, putting green and herb garden.
We know that first time cruisers may have many more questions about what to expect during the cruise itself. You can find some additional information in another article, Viking Cruises Frequently Asked Questions.
Another frequently asked question is what to wear during your cruise. In our article, What to Wear on a European River Cruise we will walk you through what to pack.
Passage to Eastern Europe – Ports of Call
Now that we have discussed some of the general information, let’s get started with the Passage to Eastern Europe cruise itinerary, along with the pre and post extensions that we added on to our cruise. We opted for the pre-extension in Bucharest mainly because it included a trip to the Carpathian Mountains and a night in Brasov. We also loved Prague so much from a previous trip, we decided to visit there again as a post-extension.
Our trip was from mid-June to the first week in July. The weather along the way was pleasant, although it consistently grew warmer throughout the remainder of June and as we entered July.
TIP: Weather can always be unpredictable, so it’s always best to bring along layers so that you can easily adjust to changes in the weather during the day.
– Bucharest and Brasov, Romania
Our flight arrived in Bucharest late in the afternoon, the day before the Viking extension started. We decided to come in one day early so we could do our own excursion before the start of the actual Viking extension. It is easy to adjust your arrival and departure days by using the Viking deviation process. We checked in to our hotel, the Sheraton Bucharest Hotel. We selected the Sheraton because it was the same hotel Viking used for the extension, so we didn’t need to change hotels or even rooms. Since we arrived one day early, we were not able to utilize Viking’s airport transfer, and we had to make our way to the hotel on our own. We ended up simply taking an express bus from the airport to the town center and then had a short walk to the Sheraton.
The Sheraton is very conveniently located and many restaurants and tourist sites are within walking distance. Once we settled in to our hotel, we had time to walk around a little and grab a bite to eat.
In this article we will review the highlights of the pre-extension trip to Brasov, but we previously wrote a detailed article on both Bucharest and Transylvania that covers these areas in more detail along with some recommendations for places to stay, restaurants and things to do. You can find the articles here, A Week in Romania – Part 1: Bucharest and A Week in Romania – Part 2: Transylvania and Dracula’s Castle.
Romania Day 1: Bohemian Bucharest Tour – Most pre-extension passengers were arriving throughout the day. However, since we arrived the previous day, we arranged our own tour to see some of the historical, architectural, and culinary aspects of Bucharest that we knew the Viking tours would not cover. We found this tour from Urban Adventures to be excellent. Our tour included walking through some historic neighborhoods (called mahallas), visiting an awesome marketplace and sampling local foods, including mici. Mici are caseless sausages, made of ground beef mixed with various spices. Believe me, they are delicious and became an instant favorite. Our excellent guide, Dana, was very friendly and knowledgeable, helping to ensure that we had a fantastic time while learning a lot about Bucharest.
Romania Day 2: Brasov and Peles Castle – The next morning was the official start of the Viking extension. After our included breakfast, we boarded a tour bus to head to the Carpathian Mountains. We enjoyed a beautiful drive through the Romanian countryside before arriving at Peles Castle. Peles Castle is located just north of the town of Sinaia about an hour north of Ploiesti. This ornate, beautiful castle is built in the Neo-Renaissance style and looks like something out of a fairytale. Romania’s first king, King Carol I, constructed the castle as part of a compound that he and his family used as a summer residence. Be sure to stroll through the surrounding gardens after your tour of the castle.
From Peles Castle we continued on to the town of Brasov, which was to be our overnight stop. Before checking in to the hotel, the Kronwell Brasov Hotel, we had a tour of Brasov. The main square in Brasov is called Council Square. The square is full of shops and restaurants, and there was plenty of time to walk around and relax with a coffee at one of the many cafes. The Biserica Neagră church, which translates as the ‘Black Church’, is also located here. Legend has it that the 15th century church gets its name from a fire that caused damage and turned the walls black in the 1600’s.
Romania Day 3: Bran Castle – The next morning we checked out of the hotel and boarded the bus again for a trip to Bran Castle. Admittedly Bran Castle is a very ‘touristy’ place, however the castle and its history are quite interesting. Coupled with the beautiful surroundings, this really is a spot not to be missed. Plus, how many people can say they visited Dracula’s castle (wink-wink)?
After the morning tour, we were on our own to grab lunch. At the base of the castle are many shops and restaurants. We chose a charming place and for a tourist spot, meals are very reasonably priced. We split a pizza and each had a beer and our check was under $15! After lunch we again boarded the bus, made our way back to Bucharest and checked back into the Sheraton.
Romania Day 4: Snagov Monastery & Mogosoaia Palace – This day was the last day of the extension and no included tours were offered. So, we decided to take the optional tour to Mogosaia Palace & Snagov Monastery.
The Mogosoaia Palace was the home of Constantin Brancoveanu, Prince of Wallachia from 1688 to 1714. (Wallachia was the name of this area of southern Romania from the 1300’s to the 1800’s.) The beautiful summer palace was completed in the Brancovenesc style, which is a combination of Ottoman and Venetian architectural styles.
Located about 25 miles from the Mogosoaia Palace is the Snagov Monastery. The monastery was founded in the 1300’s and is located on an island in the middle of a lake. There is supposedly one monk remaining who is responsible for caring for the small Orthodox Church, which is really the only remnant of the original monastery. The religious artwork inside the little church is very well preserved and is quite beautiful. In the middle of the church is the grave of Vlad the Impaler. (If you are not aware, Vlad the Impaler was a 15th century ruler of Romania and Bram Stoker’s inspiration for Dracula.) However, there seems to be some disagreement regarding who is actually buried there.
As noted, this day was the last for the pre-extension. So, while we were out on our excursion, our fellow cruise passengers had been checking in at the hotel in Bucharest throughout the day, marking the official start of the cruise portion of our trip.
Romania Day 5: Bucharest & The Village Museum – After checking out of our hotel and before arriving at our cruise ship, an included all day tour took us to the top sites in Bucharest. The first part of the tour consisted mostly of riding in the bus and driving by some of Bucharests’s highlights such as the Romanian Athenaeum, the Arch of Triumph and the expansive Palace of Parliament. On our trip, two versions of the included tour were offered. One version included a full tour of the Parliament building. So, we selected that option and we were not disappointed. The interior of the Parliament building is huge and it is in fact the second largest building in the world, exceeded only by the Pentagon.
The second main destination for the day was the Dimitri Gusti National Village Museum. For a real step back in time, the National Village Museum brings to life the history of Romania’s rural areas and traditional lifestyles. This nearly 40-acre, open-air museum is comprised of an impressive collection of authentic structures, many of which have been relocated from across the country.
The included lunch of Romanian specialties was very good and also included a lively folkloric performance.
After the tour, we arrived at the ship, the Lif, which was to be our home for the next 8 days. There we were greeted with a welcome drink and found our stateroom ready for our arrival. We spent some time unpacking, exploring the ship and then relaxing in the lounge before dinner. Note that while the cruise is 11 days/10 nights, there is one night in a hotel in Bucharest and 2 nights in a hotel in Budapest, so there are really only 7 nights spent on the ship.
– Russe, Bulgaria
The first stop on the cruise was Russe, Bulgaria. Russe is located just across the Danube from where we boarded our ship, so there wasn’t any real sailing required to get to this destination. But now on the Bulgarian side of the Danube, we boarded buses to begin our first day in Bulgaria.
Veliko Tarnovo – At the start of our journey, we traveled through the city of Russe and the Bulgarian countryside as we made our way to our first stop in Veliko Tarnovo. The countryside was full of sunflower fields that seemed to go on forever. As you can see from the picture, they make for an amazing site! The small medieval town of Veliko Tarnovo is built around Tsarevets Hill and the royal castle on its hilltop.
We stopped for coffee and some treats at the Interhotel Veliko Tarnovo. Built in the 1980’s, this Soviet-era hotel is very unique, if not somewhat strange. It is sometimes referred to as the ‘world’s ugliest hotel’ despite the fact that it was considered luxurious in its day. From this spot on the Yantra River we had good views of the surrounding town, including the castle.
The next stop was Samovodska Charshia, which is a traditional street packed with artisans, small shops, and very friendly shop owners. We had seen a silversmith’s shop on an episode of Rick Steve’s Europe, so we had to go in and meet the owner. The shop owner talked with us for a while and proudly displayed pictures of himself with Rick. We even picked out a piece of jewelry to take back home with us.
Arbanasi – We stopped for lunch just a short drive away in Arbanasi. The restaurant was located in a charming park-like setting. Throughout the garden were multiple small buildings and patios with dining tables, so that everyone was spread out throughout the garden. Bulgarian specialties were offered in a multi-course meal, while traditionally dressed singers and dancers performed at each of the venues. We enjoyed both the food and the entertainment. After lunch we stopped at the Nativity Church. The church was purposefully built to be very plain on its exterior. However, the inside is very ornate and the frescos were incredible. From the church our bus carried us back across the countryside to our waiting ship and dinner.
– Vidin, Bulgaria
The day started after breakfast with a one-hour drive across more incredible Bulgarian landscape to reach Belogradchik Rocks & Fortress. We had no idea these unique rock formations even existed! Although it was a bit of a hike, the views from the top were well worth it. Some folks took longer to get to the top than others, but I think everyone who wanted to, made it to the top. There was plenty of time to explore the surroundings and there were many spots for excellent photo opportunities.
After arriving back at the ship and grabbing a quick bite for lunch, we decided to explore some of Vidin on our own. We started our walk along the river and quickly reached the Monument of Freedom. Just a few steps further and we were at Baba Vida Fortress. Baba Vida is among the most well-preserved medieval fortification constructions in Bulgaria. While we did not take the tour of the interior of the fortress, we did walk around its perimeter and the mote that surrounds it.
After leaving the fortress, we turned back toward town to view the ruins of the Vidin Synagogue, which was completed in 1894 and was Bulgaria’s second largest synagogue. It was seized by the communist government after World War II and was left in ruins. There have been discussions for years concerning its restoration, but unfortunately it still stands in ruins today.
– The Iron Gate & Golubac, Serbia
Iron Gate – First thing in the morning, we transited a large lock marking the beginning one of the highlights of the trip, our journey through the Iron Gate. So just what is the Iron Gate? The Iron Gate is a series of spectacular narrow gorges that slice though the Carpathian Mountains to the north and the Balkan Mountains to the south. The scenery in this area is simply spectacular. For the best views, be sure to be on the Sun Deck if weather permits.
As you cruise this area, watch for Trajan’s Tablet on the Serbian side of the Danube (above left), which marks the location of a Roman military road and the enormous rock sculpture of Dacian King Decebalus on the Romanian side of the river (above right).
Once we exited the Iron Gate area, we made a quick stop at Donji Milanovac on the Serbian side of the Danube. This stop was to let people disembark for an optional tour. While we did not take that tour, we did have time to stroll along the river in the picturesque small town.
Golubac Fortress – We then continued on to the impressive Golubac Fortress, which was not even listed as a stop on our itinerary at the time of our cruise. Located right along the river, the fortress and visitor’s center had only recently opened for visitors. We were told that this was one of the first times Viking had stopped at this spot and they solicited passengers’ opinions about making the Golubac Fortress a permanent part of the cruise itinerary. We really enjoyed the fortress and apparently others liked it as well, since it is now on the cruise itinerary.
– Belgrade, Serbia
Belgrade was the capital of the former state of Yugoslavia and is now the capital of Serbia. It’s location at the confluence of the Sava and Danube Rivers has made it a contested region and has contributed to the city being destroyed and rebuilt some 20 times. Owing to reconstruction that took place after the warfare of the 1990’s, the city is now a combination of old historical structures and new, very modern buildings.
We arrived in Belgrade just before sunrise and awoke to some very load music. I opened the sliding glass doors on our cabin to realize the sound was live bands coming from bars along the river. I was amazed that people were still partying at sunrise on a weekday, but after talking with some local folks, we found that it is not too unusual for Belgrade.
After breakfast, our included tour started with a stop at Kalemegdan Fortress. The fortress dominates the skyline of Belgrade and the views and photo opportunities are very good. Also located here is the Victor Statue (Pobednik monument), which is Belgrade’s most famous landmark. It commemorates the Kingdom of Serbia’s war victories over the Ottoman Empire (First Balkan War) and Austria-Hungary (World War I). The bronze male figure holds a falcon in one hand, on watch for the new threats on the horizon, and a sword of war, ready to counter these threats in the other.
Rejoining the bus, the tour of the city continued with a drive highlighting some of the more modern aspects of Belgrade. Again, we were amazed at the contrast of old and new buildings and at how beautiful and clean the city appeared.
Our tour ended with a stop at the Temple of St. Sava. Although the church was built in the 20th century, construction was started and stopped many times due to wars and political upheaval. St. Sava was one of the most important figures in Serbian history. The church’s site was selected because St. Sava’s grave was said to be here. It is the largest Orthodox Church in Serbia, and it ranks among the largest churches in the world. When we arrived, we were told we could not go inside, and that we could only visit the basement. At first we were disappointed, but upon entering the basement, we were in awe. The pictures are amazing, but hardly do the site justice.
Once our tour was over and we finished lunch on the ship, we ventured back out on our own to the pedestrian shopping area which was only a few blocks away from where our ship was docked. (Although we chose to walk, Viking had arranged for a shuttle to carry passengers back and forth). There we shopped a bit and then stopped at an outdoor cafe to people watch while sampling a local Serbian beer.
– Osijek and Vukovar, Croatia
After cruising all night and most of the next morning, we arrived in Vukovar, Croatia around noon. Our included tour started right after lunch and began with a driving tour of Vukovar before setting off toward Osijek, which is on the Drava River.
Before reaching Osijek, we stopped at a small neighborhood not far from the confluence of the Drava and Danube Rivers. Our group was divided into parties of 8 to 10, and each party was introduced to an Osijek resident, who took us to their private homes. We accompanied a lovely lady to her home, where we joined her at a large dining room table overlooking the Danube. Our host shared homemade cakes and pastries, along with homemade juice and wine. She told us all about life in Croatia, both the good times and the bad times that occurred during the war in the early 1990s. She 
was also just as interested in her guests, and we all took turns telling her a little about ourselves. This interaction was a very moving and enriching experience and one of the highlights of our entire trip.
After arriving in Osijek, we visited the Rising of the Holy Cross Church and enjoyed a short concert there. After exploring the Holy Trinity Square and all of the small shops and architecture, we traveled back to our waiting ship.
– Kalocsa, Hungary
We arrived in Kalocsa after lunch and then boarded the bus for our included tour. The first stop was in Kalocsa to visit the Archbishop’s Palace and St. Joseph Church. The church had a beautiful organ and we were treated to a short concert.
From there we traveled to the Bakodpuszta Equestrian Center, a family-owned horse farm. If you have never seen Hungarian horsemen in action, prepare to be amazed. The horsemanship displayed is a testament to the amazing relationship of trust and respect that exists between the humans and the horses. There was time after the show to explore the grounds, take a carriage ride, and visit some of the horses and other animals residing at the Equestrian Center.
TIP: You might have noticed that we didn’t do any optional excursions during our time on the ship. We found that the included tours were very good and took up most of the time in port. We also love walking around and exploring on our own. So be careful not to book too many excursions and save time for your own exploration.
– Budapest, Hungary
This visit was our second time in Budapest. If you would like more detail about Budapest, including where to stay, where to eat and things to do, we wrote a detailed article on visiting Budapest that you can find here, Budapest in 3 Days. Below are the highlights of the activities from this cruise.
Budapest Day 1: Panoramic Budapest Tour – We arrived in Budapest in the morning. From the Sun Deck of our ship the views of the city are truly amazing. The Liberty Statue high above the river, the famous Chain Bridge, and the Parliament Building on the bank of river offer so much to see! Once we disembarked, we started our tour of all of the major sights. Starting on the more modern Pest side of the river, we drove down the elegant Andrássy Avenue, sometimes called the Champs-Élysées of Budapest. We admired the National Opera House and circled Heroes’ Square, a wide-open plaza of monuments and statues commemorating the Magyar state.
Crossing the river to the more traditional Buda side of the city, we arrived in the Castle District with its massive hilltop castle complex, the turreted Fishermen’s Bastion and Matthias Church. We had a tour inside the church and had time to discover fantastic picture spots from atop Fisherman’s Bastion, where we had some of the best views of Budapest.
Next, we traveled to the Market Hall and browsed the huge market where all types of fresh food was for sale. Just outside and across the street from the Market Hall, we found the Anna Cafe, where we shared a charcuterie board and sampled the local brew. Finally, we arrived at our hotel, the Hilton Budapest City, our home for the next two nights.
Later that evening, we went out to see the beautiful lights of the city. All the buildings and bridges were lit up in a gorgeous display. Good viewing areas are along the banks of the river and the bridges. Fisherman’s Bastion is the perfect spot from which to see the spectacular views. Above is one of our favorite pictures from Budapest.
Budapest Day 2: Wine Tour and Andrássy Avenue – Since we had been to Budapest before, we decided we would spend the morning on a non-Viking tour to the Etyek-Buda Wine Region, only 30km from Budapest. That morning our guide picked us up right on time from our hotel for the 4-hour tour. We first visited the Nadas Bormuhely winery where we met the owner and sampled six of his delicious wines. We also toured his winemaking facilities and learned about the history of wine in this region of the country. From there we traveled a short distance to the Buzal-Morocza Winery and Guesthouse, where we were treated to a delicious 3-course lunch served with plenty of the winery’s wonderful vintages. So if you are looking for a fun adventure that is a little more laid back and a chance to meet the local people, this wine country tour is a great excursion.
After returning from the winery tour, we set out to explore Andrássy Avenue on our own. Andrássy Avenue is just under 3 miles long and extends from Heroes’ Square to Elizabeth Square. Elizabeth Square is also where the Budapest Eye is located. After we finished our walk, we stopped by the High Note Skybar. It is a great stop for an afternoon or late night snack and libation. Located one block off Andrassy Avenue near the Budapest Eye and next to St. Stephen’s Basilica, we had fantastic 360-degree views from their multi-level rooftop terrace.
– Prague, Czech Republic
We had also visited Prague on a previous trip and we wrote this article on the Highlights of Prague. You can find more detailed information about Prague in that article. Here, we will recap our time in Prague after the Passage to Eastern Europe Cruise.
Prague Day 1: Prague by Night – The bus ride from Budapest to the Czech Republic takes about 6 hours. Passing through 3 countries, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, the scenery is beautiful and the time passes quickly. After arriving in Prague, we checked in to our hotel, the Art Nouveau Palace Hotel. This is a charming hotel, only a few blocks off the Old Town Square.
We had signed up for the Prague by Night optional tour and while it was not really completely dark at that time of July, the tour was lovely nonetheless. The first stop was the Žižkov Television Tower. The tower was completed in the early 1990s and is regarded as one of the ugliest structures in the world. Most of the pictures you see of Prague are taken from the Prague Castle side of the city. But the tower is on the opposite side of Prague, so the tower’s observation deck does provide a unique vantage point for some excellent photos of Prague. Now for the strange part. The tower is also home to unique sculptures called ‘The Babies’. These baby statues are huge, faceless and crawling all over the tower. Some people really like it and find it artistic. Others, not so much. Personally, we thought they were very creepy.
Our next major stop was on the other side of Prague at the Strahov Monastery, not far from Prague Castle. From there we could see the television tower we had just visited, along with some of the more iconic views of Prague. We were glad we did this optional tour as it provided some unique photo opportunities. It also allowed us to discover a great lunch spot we would visit a few days later, Bellavista Prague, which is adjacent to the monastery and offers the spectacular views.
Prague Day 2: Panoramic Prague – Right after breakfast, the included tour started in the Old Town Square. It is a wonderful tour that explores many of the main sights of Prague.
Old Town Square – The Old Town Square contains some of the main attractions in Prague. We started with the Tyne Church. This magnificent Gothic church was built in the 14th century. Its spires tower more than 260 feet and are the dominant feature on the Prague skyline. Next, we walked over to the Astronomical Clock. This beautiful clock has been in place on the Old Town Hall since 1410, and is the oldest astronomical clock that is still operating. At the top of each hour the clock chimes and various sculptures, including a skeleton, move about on the clock. On the opposite side of the square from the Tyne Church is the St Nicholas Church. Built in the 18th century, this church is one of the best examples of Baroque architecture in central Europe.
Charles Bridge – From the square we walked a short distance to the Charles Bridge. The bridge was built in the 15th century and is a pedestrian-only bridge which connects the Old Town with the Castle District. All along the bridge are 30 statues of the saints erected during the 17th and 18th centuries.
Castle District – Just beyond the Charles Bridge, our tour continued on a Viking bus that drove us up to the Castle District. Prague Castle is more than a thousand years old and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Built in the 10th century, Prague Castle is the largest castle complex in the world, is composed of buildings constructed in various architectural styles and currently houses the office of the Czech president.
There are quite a few sights to see in the Castle District. The most prominent sight is the St. Vitus Cathedral. It is the largest cathedral in the country and we found it quite remarkable. A second and smaller church, the Basilica of St. George’s, was originally built around 920 and is one of the oldest churches in the Czech Republic. We also visited the Royal Palace that was used for various state functions. If time permits, try to check out some of the other buildings in the complex, as well as the changing of the guard ceremony that takes place daily at noon.
TIP: Here is a bit of advice. While the included tour is fantastic, it puts you in the Castle District by late morning, the busiest time of the day. Since this is the top spot in Prague, it will be packed and hard to see the sites. Consider returning to the Castle District on another day and making it your starting point for the day. Most of the sites open at 9 AM, and tickets go on sale shortly before that time. There are different types of tickets, known as circuits. We purchased one for about $10 per person and it included all the main sites. More information can be found here. Using this strategy, we were able to walk into every site, virtually by ourselves.
Prague Day 3: Terizen Optional Excursion – For our last day in Prague, we thought we would do something outside of the city. So, we selected the optional excursion to Terizen. Terizen was a World War II concentration camp, located 30 miles north of Prague. Although this tour was certainly not uplifting, it was educational and very moving. As painful as it is, it is important for everyone to understand history in the hope that it is never repeated.
After leaving Terizen we traveled a very short distance to the town of Litoměřice and visited the Microbrewery Labuť. This brewery was a pleasant surprise, as it was really a fun place. We enjoyed a few craft beers and delicious lunch. The staff was very friendly and gave us a tour of their facility.
The next morning, we departed our hotel and Viking escorted us to the airport for our long flight home. We really enjoyed this trip and we think you will too!
We hope you found our review of the Viking Passage to Eastern Europe Cruise helpful and informative. And we hope you join us in the future as we explore some other Viking Cruises.
Safe travels!
Really enjoyed the article. This should be a great help for those wishing to explore this part of the world. Keep up the good work.
Thank you for sharing this trip. We are going on this itinerary in October with Emerald. I have a question about money. We’re there any places you weren’t able to use a credit card for purchases? Are there many street vendors? With so many countries and each having their own currency, it is making for more difficult planning.
Whenever we travel, we try to use our credit card as much as possible. In Europe, this is fairly easy. We did take some Euros with us, which we used for tipping tour guides. It is also easy to stop at an ATM and get some local currency if you need it. But avoid the ATMs on the street, they will over charge you. Try to use an ATM in a hotel or bank.
Thank you for the resume of this trip. We were booked on this same trip for May 2020 rescheduled to August 2021 and again rescheduled to July 2022. Really hoping this one will work.
We are also doing the pre-cruise in Bucharest. You’ve done a really great job of detailing your trip, thanks so much.
Now we are more eager than ever to do this trip.
Thank you for the comment. Hope you have a great trip!
Sounds fabulous. Can you share info about your independent tour of Etyek- Buda wine region? Who did you book with?
Here is a link to the tour we did. It was great fun and good food. https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductReview-g274887-d11454343-Half_day_Wine_Tasting_Tour_in_Etyek_Wine_Country_near_Budapest-Budapest_Central_Hu.html
Just got back from this trip. It was amazing and I felt it taught me a lot about politics, communism as I heard many stories about life there from people we met. In Bucharest took a private tour “The Real Communism” which was both chilling but victorious in the end in Liberty Square. I HIGHLY recommend this Viking tour as it is thought provoking besides interesting and full of history. (American ex-pat living in England)