Viking Oceans Cruises – Venice, the Adriatic & Greece (Italy, Croatia, Montenegro, Greece) 8 Days

Venice (Chioggia), Italy
Embark your ship and settle into your stateroom. Chioggia is a charming fishing community located at the southern end of the Venetian Lagoon and steeped in age-old seafaring traditions. Its combination of canals, bridges and fishing boats have lent it the nickname “Little Venice.” Lined with shops, bars and restaurants, the main pedestrian street of Corso del Popolo exudes a lively atmosphere amid the aroma of delicious fresh seafood dishes. Chioggia shares a long history of cultural and economic ties with Venice, dating back to the Middle Ages, and is a scenic journey by water taxi from the capital of the Veneto region.

Venice (Chioggia), Italy
The Venetian Republic ruled Adriatic waves for a millennium. During the 8th century as the Roman Empire began to decline, many Europeans fled to Venice and its neighboring towns, including Chioggia. Merchants put their skills to use, and the city-state was soon thriving. The Venetian Lagoon’s canal banks feature buildings influenced by Byzantine and Islamic architecture, reflecting Venice’s powerful trading network. The first vaporetto traversed the Grand Canal in 1881; alongside the gondolas, these iconic Venetian water buses are at the heart of Venice’s transport network.

Shore Excursions – Scenic Chioggia by Foot
Duration: 1 hour      
Explore lively Chioggia, set at the southern end of the Venetian Lagoon, during a brief walking excursion. One of Italy’s largest fishing communities and known as “Little Venice,” Chioggia exudes Italian charm, from its intriguing layout to its elegant palaces and colorful houses overlooking the canals. Transfer by boat to the Ponte di Vigo, where you will begin your tour admiring the views overlooking the lagoon. Set out with your guide through the narrow, cobblestone calli (“streets”) and learn about Chioggia’s history. See the 14th-century church of Saint Domenico and the fishing boats that line the nearby canal; the Gothic-style Palazzo Grassi, the Goldoni Palace and the St. Andrew Tower Clock—the second-oldest clock in the world. Cap your journey at the impressive Chioggia Cathedral, the most sacred building in the village, before returning to your ship at your leisure.

Shore Excursions – At a Glance: St. Mark’s Square
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes     
View this fabled city from the Venice Lagoon’s languid, stunning waters and explore legendary St. Mark’s Square. You will explore La Serenissima (the Most Serene) starting with a leisurely cruise, passing magnificent waterside palazzos and piazzas and peering down the lapping, narrow canals that weave their way into the city’s medieval corridors. Disembark at the landing pontoon next to Palazzo Cornoldi, meet your guide and take a short walk to beautiful St. Mark’s Square, crossing the four elegant bridges that link the waterfront. After a short orientation tour, enjoy free time to visit the splendid Gothic-Byzantine St. Mark’s Basilica and its grand Campanile bell tower and admire the Doge’s Palace and other nearby attractions. Enjoy a gelato here, sip an espresso or just soak in the medieval ambience. Return to your ship at leisure via a complimentary shuttle boat from the landing pontoon next to Palazzo Cornoldi.

Split, Croatia
Built around the Roman Palace of Emperor Diocletian, Split is one of Croatia’s oldest cities. Its promenade commands majestic views over a bay and the Adriatic Sea. Despite evidence of Split’s origins in the 6th century BC, the city is traditionally considered over 1,700 years old—counting from the construction of the palace. Its well-preserved remains have been seamlessly assimilated into the modern city. An Ethnographic Museum is found at the palace’s heart and shops line the passageways of its ancient basement. Diocletian’s ancient mausoleum is now a stunning cathedral.

Shore Excursions – Split Walking Tour
Duration: 2 hours
Walk through Split’s 17 centuries of architecture on this included walking tour. Because we are berthed close to the historic city center, you will stroll with your guide to the old quarter. Split is one of the oldest towns on the Adriatic, built around the 4th-century palace erected for Roman Emperor Diocletian as a retirement haven. What is left of his sprawling home has been seamlessly incorporated into modern Split. Explore the city center around the palace and make your way along its charming cobblestone streets, passing beautiful pre-Romanesque churches and Gothic chapels. In the palace complex, you will descend into the well-preserved cellars. Stop to admire the stunning bell tower at the Cathedral of St. Domnius, the patron saint of Split. At the end of the tour, you will return to your awaiting ship.

Dubrovnik, Croatia
Dubrovnik is a historic jewel, with its spectacular Adriatic setting, 12th-century medieval streets and incredibly preserved structures. So stunning is its Old Town, the playwright George Bernard Shaw famously called it “paradise on Earth.” It is all spectacularly surrounded by a towering medieval wall. Inside, the ancient city’s Stradun is lined with authentic stone houses. The peaceful 14th-century Franciscan Monastery and Apothecary, housing the world’s oldest working pharmacy and a fine collection of Renaissance paintings, provide insight into the ages.

Shore Excursions – Dubrovnik on Foot
Duration: 3 hours   
Explore one of the world’s most beautifully preserved medieval cities during a guided walk through Dubrovnik. Founded in the 7th century, Dubrovnik was once a major maritime republic and trading power. Meet your guide and transfer by motor coach to the heart of the city to begin your exploration; see its beauty up close as you enter the cobblestoned Old Town on foot through the historic Pile Gate. Follow the Stradun—the marbled main pedestrian way that gleams from centuries of footsteps—to the Dominican Monastery, where you can view a fine collection of Renaissance paintings. You will also pass the Sponza Palace, the Baroque Church of St. Blaise and the 15th-century Onofrio’s Fountain, a marvel of medieval engineering that transports water from the Rijeka Dubrovačka spring to the city. After, enjoy free time to explore more on your own before returning to your awaiting ship.

Kotor, Montenegro
Kotor is Montenegro’s picturesque capital set amid glorious mountains and dramatic scenery. Towering cliffs soar above the narrow Kotor ria—a submerged river canyon often called Europe’s southernmost fjord. Kotor is also home to one of the Adriatic’s best-preserved medieval Old Towns. The charms of this red-roofed city are endless, from the mismatched towers of its Romanesque cathedral to its narrow streets. Its stunning Venetian walls were built in 1420, remnants from Kotor’s nearly 300 years as a province of the Venetian Republic.

Shore Excursions – Kotor on Foot
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes 
Discover the charms of this medieval city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site nestled between limestone cliffs and a bay. From your ship, take the short walk with your guide to Kotor’s network of cobblestone streets. In the main square, you will see the Venetian walls that surround the city. Constructed in 1420, they have been reinforced through the centuries and stand well-preserved today. You will also visit the 12th-century Romanesque Cathedral of St. Tryphon, a remarkable repository of 14th-century frescoes and valuable artifacts. Over the centuries, the building has suffered earthquake damage—as evidenced by its mismatched towers, one of which was rebuilt with meager funds after a tremor. At the maritime museum, set in a historic building, browse an engaging exhibit depicting the seafaring heritage of Kotor. After, return to your awaiting ship. 

Corfu (Kérkyra), Greece
Corfu has a rich history shaped by conquerors and by royalty seeking tranquility. Corfu’s Old Town and Fortress—fashioned by the once powerful Venetian Republic—constitute a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its narrow warrens lead to one of Europe’s largest public squares and a lovely promenade once exclusively reserved for the local aristocracy. Everywhere, magnificent coastal views unfold and scenic byways lead to history-rich enclaves, from the archaeological site of Paleopolis and the stunning Vlacherna Monastery to a former Greek royal villa.

Shore Excursions – Panoramic Corfu & Old Town Walking Tour
Duration: 3 hours      
Take in the highlights of Corfu during a scenic drive and a guided walk of Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Board your motor coach and set out for Kanoni with your guide—this historic peninsula offers sweeping views of tiny Pontikonisi Island, or Mouse Island, and the Vlacherna Monastery. Pause for photographs before continuing past the archaeological site of Paleopolis and the gates of the late Georgian Mon Repos Villa, once a residence of the Greek Royal Family and the birthplace of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Past Garitsa Bay, you will reach Corfu’s Old Town. Enjoy a guided stroll down the famous Esplanade, one of Europe’s largest public squares; elegant Liston promenade, once reserved for aristocracy; the Old Fortress; Durrell Gardens; and the Palace of St. Michael and St. George, former residence of the British High Commissioner. Later, return to your awaiting ship.

Olympia (Katakolon), Greece
Katakolon is huddled around a pretty little harbor dotted with colorful fishing boats. Nearby, the fertile valleys of the western Peloponnese are a bounty of olive groves, vineyards and orchards, and lead to the legendary city of Olympia. The well-kept ruins here transport visitors back to the days of the earliest athletes who competed for nothing less than the favor of the gods. The remains evoke the glory of the Games, and the Olympia Archaeological Museum features statues that once overlooked the site.

Shore Excursions – Ancient Olympia
Duration: 4 hours      
Step back in time to the first Olympic Games on an excursion to the magnificent setting in which they began. Drive with your guide into the breathtaking fertile valleys of the western Peloponnese, passing olive groves, vineyards and orchards. On a spectacular mountain plain in the shadow of Mt. Kronos, walk among the remains of the first Olympic Park, established in 776 BC. See the Temple of Zeus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and once home to a gold-and-ivory statue of the Greek god. Admire the Temple of Hera and circular Philippeion temple. Marvel at the stadium, the largest of its day with a capacity of 45,000 spectators. Afterward, enjoy free time to explore more. You may choose to visit the Olympia Archaeological Museum and its remarkable collection, including the stone head of Hera; or explore Modern Olympia on your own before returning to your ship.

Athens (Piraeus), Greece
Bid farewell to your fellow guests and journey home. Or spend more time exploring, perhaps joining one of our extensions.