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9 of the best Viking tours in Scandinavia

The Vikings came from Norway, Denmark and Sweden more than thousand years ago and left a rich cultural heritage across Scandinavia.

The era of the Vikings lasted from around 800–1050, during which time these sea-faring people travelled widely throughout northern Europe, trading, fighting, plundering and colonising as far afield as France, Ireland, Iceland and even Greenland . 

But it is in their home nations that the historical legacy is so strong, with Norway, Sweden and Denmark having loads of Viking remains that you can still see today.

What kinds of things can you see?

Throughout Scandinavia, you can visit museums displaying beautifully preserved Viking long boats, explore ancient Viking settlements and burial grounds, and marvel at Viking standing stones, runes and archeological finds.

The largest Viking longhouse ever discovered is at Borg on Vestvågøy in Norway’s Lofoten islands; the world’s best-known rune stones are at Jelling in Denmark; and the world’s largest haul of Viking silver has been recently excavated at Täby in Sweden.

And honestly, these treasures are just the tip of the iceberg!

Visiting Viking sites for yourself

Some of Scandinavia’s Viking sites are easy to access, while others are more remote and harder to get to.

You can visit museum sites that are highly organised with plenty of information and guides dressed in Viking gear – and maybe even Viking reenactments! 

These places really let you learn all the history and really get to grips with the Viking culture and lifestyle.  

Other sites are quiet, remote places where you can wander around on your own and drink in the atmosphere of a wild Viking camp.

Either way, taking a tour of Viking sites with an expert guide can really enhance your knowledge and experience of Viking culture.

For more on the Viking way of life and culture, see our guides on the Viking diet and Viking games .

Guided tours you can join

So, if you fancy seeing some of Scandinavian’s famous sites on a guided tour, there are plenty of different options available.

You can go on museum tours, archeological site visits , reenactment experiences, Viking feasts, boat tours, short day trips and multi-day tours with a guide, coach and accommodation included.

And the tours cover a wide geographical range from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and even Iceland.

So, whether you’re up for a fun interactive Viking feast experience or want to learn all about the culture, history lifestyle of the Vikings from an expert guide, there’s a tour for you.

Short tours and day trips

Here are some of some of our favourite Viking tours in Scandinavia. These are all relatively short tours that last anywhere from a couple of hours to a full day (we’ve listed multi-day tours below ).

Visit Viking sites from Stockholm

We love this tour from Stockholm that packs in a whole raft of impressive Viking sites in just one day.

Amongst other sites, you’ll visit a burial mound of Viking kings at Gamma Uppsala, the ruins of a church dedicated to Viking warrior Saint Olaf in Sigtuna, one of Sweden’s oldest towns, and explore Viking rune stones at Arkils Tingstad.

It’s led by an experienced guide with expert Viking knowledge and we think it’s a great introduction to Viking sites and culture.

Snowshoe in the fjords with a Viking dinner

Combine fantastic views of Norway’s fjords with a snowshoe hike, followed by a fun Viking dinner in front of the fire in a cosy Viking-style pub.  

We think this a unique opportunity to combine snowshoeing in the fjords with sampling a Viking-style feast of smoked reindeer and fish soup, accompanied by different Ægir beers.

Explore the Viking ship Museum in Roskilde

Combine history and culture on this day-trip from Copenhagen , which takes in the Roskilde Viking Ship Museum. Here you can admire renovated 11th-century Viking ships and learn all about Viking boat-building and sea-faring traditions.

Not only that, but the tour includes a visit to Roskilde Cathedral, burial site of 39 Danish kings and queens, plus Kronborg castle, the original Elsinore in Shakespeare’s Hamlet .

Visit the Viking islands from Alesund

This guided tour from Alesund in Norway’s fjordland takes in three islands which were settled by Vikings and explains all about the Viking heritage and history here.

You’ll visit three islands, including Giske, birthplace of the Viking Rollon (a descendent of the British royal family) and Godoy, home of a legendary Viking lighthouse.

Take a boat trip to the Birka Viking Village

Visit the Unesco-listed Birka Viking village on an island in Sweden’s Lake Mälaren. This huge archaeological site was once a thriving Viking settlement that dated from the 8th century and remains are still being excavated here today. 

The former settlement has been recreated so that visitors can experience Viking life – and there are regular talks, themed guided tours, and reconstructions of Viking feasts and ceremonies. 

The boat trip from Stockholm and entrance to the Viking village is included in the Stockholm Pass (May to October only).

Multi-day tours and vacations

If a short tour is not enough, why not base your holiday around visiting Viking sites, and even cover more than one Scandinavian country on your tour? Here are some of our favourite multi-day Viking-themed tours.

Visit Viking sites in four countries

This 15-day trip takes in significant Viking sites in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and even Germany, including Denmark’s Jelling stones, Norway’s stave churches and rock art at Tanum in Sweden.

What we really like about this tour is that it’s led by a senior lecturer in medieval archeology from the University of York and it includes private tours of some of the sights including the Hedared Stave Church and the Tanum rock art.

Cruise round the Viking sites

Combine Viking exploration with a cruise on this 12-day trip from Edinburgh, UK round some of Scandinavia’s most fascinating Viking sites, including the beautiful Unesco World Heritage city of Visby, whose well-preserved buildings date from Viking times. 

We like that this cruise also stops in at the Scotland’s remote Orkney islands, where Vikings from Norway settled in the 8th century.

Explore Norway’s Viking history

And if you just want to stay in Norway, we love this week-long jaunt around some of the country’s top Viking sites.

It includes a guided walking tour of the former Viking city of Bjørgvin, a trip to Gulating, home of a Viking court of law and parliament, and a walking tour on the island of Svanøy, birthplace of Viking, Erik Blodøks. 

But what we like best is the trip to the UNESCO-listed Urnes Stave Church, beautifully crafted in wood by the Vikings in the 12th-century.

Have a Viking adventure in Iceland

Iceland too was settled by the Vikings and there are plenty of Viking sites that you see on this three-day guided tour that also includes a trip into an ice cave and a hike along a glacial canyon.

Our favourite part of the tour is the cultural site Þingvellir, where the Eurasian and American tectonic plates meet and where the Vikings set up the Althing, the world’s first parliament.

You can walk along the walk through the gorge where the contintents collide and look inside Þingvellir Viking church.

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The Best Guided Viking Tours in the Scandinavian Region

Anna Gorin/Getty Images

If you're a fan of history and want to visit the Scandinavian countries of Sweden, Norway, or Iceland, you can learn about the first seafarers of this northern European region and  experience Viking history on a guided Viking Tour.

During the late 8th through 11th centuries, these seafaring conquerors raided and traded with countries across Europe and into the Mediterranean Sea, North Africa, Central Asia, and the Middle East. Bolstered by advanced navigational and sailing skills aboard long ships, the Vikings were able to travel the globe well before Christopher Columbus "discovered" America; in fact, Vikings were the first non-native people to step foot on the United States' east coast.

If you are planning a trip to Scandinavia and want to get a taste of what life was like for these sailing adventurers during the height of the Viking Age, there's no better way to do it than take a guided tour to some of the area's most historically significant sites.

Stockholm, Sweden: The Viking History Day Tour

This full-day guided tour is an interesting, authentic Viking tour and very popular with visitors. If you want to learn about the Vikings, their Scandinavian home, and their way of life, this guided tour will introduce you to the basics of Viking culture, both past and present.

The tour takes you to Stockholm's best spots for Viking history, like the ruins of the 400 A.D. Viking settlement at Granby, the old Viking Parliament, Vira Bruk, and Sigtuna, which is home to two large ruins and a huge grave field dating back to the Germanic Era.

This fully guided eight-hour tour departs daily year-round with free pickup from your hotel in  Stockholm , making it an easy addition to your vacation itinerary.

Oslo, Norway: The Oslo Experience Cruise & Tour

If you're in Norway and have an afternoon to spare, learn about the Vikings' historical spots in Oslo , the capital of Norway, on the Oslo Experience Cruise Tour.

This five-hour guided tour focuses on the Vikings' influence on the city and is part bus tour, part boat tour. Among other stops, it leads you to exhibited Viking ships in Oslo and the Kon-Tiki Raft. Also, on the program is the memorable Norwegian Folk Museum and Vigeland Park...the world's largest sculpture park made by a single artist.

This guided tour is seasonal and departs from Oslo City Hall at 1 p.m. daily between late May and late August.

Reykjavik, Iceland: The Viking Horse & Gullfoss

The Icelandic horse is a breed the Vikings brought to Iceland, and these unique animals haven't changed much over the centuries since being introduced to the region. This year-round guided tour is great fun for big and small Vikings among us and a perfect day-tour for families visiting Iceland.

First, the tour takes guests riding on these Viking horses, and after a nice lunch break, the nine-hour tour heads to the Gullfoss waterfall, the National Park of Iceland, the unique Geysir hot springs, the village of Hveragerdi, and Pingvellir, the oldest functioning parliament in the world.

It departs daily from Reykjavik  at 10 a.m. with free hotel pickup.

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Ocean Cruises

Ocean cruises stand as one of the most popular and accessible ways to explore diverse destinations while enjoying the comforts of a floating resort. These voyages take passengers on journeys across vast expanses of open sea, visiting multiple ports of call along the way. From the sun-drenched beaches of the Caribbean to the historic cities of Europe or the wildlife-rich coasts of Alaska, ocean cruises offer a wide range of itineraries to suit various interests and preferences. Onboard, passengers can indulge in an array of amenities, including gourmet dining, entertainment, spa services, and recreational activities, creating a seamless blend of relaxation and adventure.

Modern ocean cruise ships are marvels of engineering and luxury, often equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and technologies to ensure a comfortable and entertaining experience. With spacious cabins, multiple dining options, and a plethora of entertainment choices, these floating cities cater to a diverse range of travelers, from families and couples to solo adventurers. While some passengers seek the excitement of shore excursions and cultural exploration, others may prefer to soak up the sun by the pool or enjoy the ever-changing sea views. Ocean cruises appeal to those who appreciate the convenience of unpacking just once while having the world come to them, making it an ideal choice for a memorable and leisurely vacation at sea.

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Vikings v jets in london.

The Vikings will play the Jets at Tottenham's incredible stadium as part of the NFL's International Series, and you could be there! Our packages include a 4* hotel with incredible views of the iconic Tower Bridge, a welcome reception, 2 days of Hop on Hop off sightseeing tours along with our exclusive pre-game tailgate party. For 2024 we’re reimagining our Saturday Night Party, it will be our biggest and without doubt the best event in the city that weekend. Your game tickets are always guaranteed and of course you’ll be hosted by our amazing tour managers throughout. After our hugely successful debut last year, once again we'll be offering an add on to the amazing city of Paris as well.

Vikings v Jets in London 3 Oct - 7 Oct from $2899

• 4 Nights at the 4* Tower Hotel
• Full Cooked Breakfast Daily
• Guaranteed Game Ticket
• The Ultimate Pre-Game Tailgate Party
• Welcome Reception with a View
• Exclusive Saturday Night Party
• 2 Day Hop on Hop off London Tour
• Tour of the Tower of London
• Thames River Cruise
• Roundtrip Private Airport Transfers
• Roundtrip Game Day Transfers
• All Taxes & Fees
• On Site Tour Host

Vikings v Jets Lon + Paris 3 Oct - 10 Oct from $3999

• 3 Nights 4* Hotel in Paris
• 2 Day Hop on Hop off Paris Tour
• Seine River Cruise
• Eurostar Train Lon - Paris

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• While we await the announcement of the event dates/trip pricing, you can confirm your interest in this package by submitting a fully refundable $500 per person deposit.
• You can make the deposit payment by calling our reservations team on 1 866 476 7139 .
• Once paid, the deposit is held in our system and guarantees that you’ll be able to confirm this trip.
• Once the dates/trip pricing is announced you will have a 7-day period to decide whether to go ahead with the trip.
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The five essential things you should know before you board a Viking cruise ship

W ith more than 90 ships sailing on rivers, lakes and oceans around the world, Viking is one of cruising’s major players. Its European river fleet is the largest in Europe and Viking has river ships on the Mekong, the Nile and the Mississippi. The fleet continues to expand. Ten more Viking Longships will join the river fleet by the end of 2026 and a new Mekong ship, Viking Tonle, launches in October 2025.

The ocean fleet includes two luxury expedition ships and 10 new-build ocean ships (all identical). Viking Vela is due to launch in December this year and Viking Vesta in 2025.

Serene, Scandinavian-inspired decor, a transparent fare structure and a focus on cultural destinations and learning has earnt Viking a loyal following. Viking has also broken barriers in the cruise industry as one of the first operators to offer its passengers shore exclusives, partnerships with the Scott Polar Research Institute at Cambridge University and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

All its ships are adults only. Fares are inclusive of flights, WiFi, a tour in each port, spa access and drinks with lunch and dinner. There are no additional charges at any restaurants on board.

1. Where does Viking cruise?

Viking’s river ships cruise in Europe, North America, south-east Asia and Egypt, on itineraries ranging from eight to 23 days.

In Europe, where Viking cruises on the Danube, Rhine, Elbe, Main, Douro, Moselle, Rhône and Seine days revolve around visits to châteaux, castles, riverside towns and villages, wineries and cities including Amsterdam, Budapest and Paris. Between November and January there are Christmas-market cruises and other festive sailings. 

On the Mississippi itineraries sail both the lower and upper sections of the river and in Egypt, Viking’s ships sail round-trip from Cairo on a 12-day itinerary that begins with three nights in Cairo.

On the Mekong, itineraries visit Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, and Phnom Penh and Siem Reap (for Angkor Wat) in Cambodia. 

Ocean itineraries focus on Scandinavia and Northern Europe, the British Isles and Ireland, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, Australia and New Zealand, Asia, Alaska and North and South America and Africa.

Viking’s Grand Voyages combine multiple ocean-cruise itineraries that facilitate shorter sailing segments. You could, for example, visit all of Scandinavia’s major ports, spend a month in Asia (Tokyo to Bangkok) or visit Australia and New Zealand (Auckland to Bali).

Viking returns to China this year, visiting cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. New, five-night pre- or post-cruise extensions to Mongolia, visit Ulaanbaatar and the Gobi Desert. 

Viking’s two expedition ships, Polaris and Octantis, sail to Antarctica, South America and the Great Lakes in the US and Canada. 

The ships also sail on Longitudinal World Cruises ranging from 63 to 87 days and on four Grand Journeys in South America. These include a new 48-day Antarctica , Chile and the Americas cruise.

2. Who does it appeal to?

There are no casinos, theatre shows or formal nights on board, which will suit passengers who prefer to focus on the scenery and on-board talks. Itineraries include frequent overnight stays in port and a complimentary excursion in each port.

The line’s target audience is reflected in the line’s cultural partnerships with the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the RHS, the Munch Museum in Oslo and the Royal Academy of Art, among others. As part of its range of pre- and post-cruise extensions Viking guests can benefit from ‘Privileged Access’ experiences. This could be a visit to Highclere Castle to view the Earl of Carnarvon’s private collection of Egyptian artifacts, a behind the scenes tour at Oxford University’s Griffith Institute and a private tour of the Egyptian Collection at the British Museum.

On-board expert-hosted enrichment programmes delve into local art, architecture, music, geopolitics and wildlife and expedition ships sail with a raft of field experts.

3. The Viking fleet

River ships.

There are 55 Longships (190 passengers) sailing on European rivers. Features include floor-to ceiling windows, indoor and alfresco dining and sun decks with herb gardens. Most of these ships have two “Explorer Suites” with a wraparound veranda. 

On the Douro in Portugal Viking has the slightly smaller Viking Helgrim, Hemming, Osfrid and Torgil (all 106 passengers). 

By the end of this year Viking will have six luxury ships sailing the Nile. The 82-passenger Viking Sobek launched in May and Viking Hathor will launch this summer. The smallest in the Nile fleet, Viking Ra, carries 52 passengers.

The Viking Mississippi (386 passengers) has an infinity plunge pool and private verandas. Suites have a full-size veranda off the sitting room. Unique to this ship are the River Café and a terrace for barbecue-style dining. 

Ocean ships

Each of the line’s 10 identical ocean ships carries 930 guests in 465 sea-view rooms. Interiors feature forest-scape murals, pelt-draped sofas, flame-effect firepits, Swedish granite, birch and juniper furniture and hand-woven textiles. There are several restaurants and bars, including Mamsen’s café, serving soups, open-faced sandwiches and Swedish pancakes. The stylish Nordic Spa features a snow grotto and an infinity pool and you could lose days in the impressive library.

Expedition ships

Similar in design to the ocean fleet, Viking Polaris and Octantis each carry a fleet of zodiacs, kayaks, a submarine and two 12-seater Special Operations Boats. There are several restaurants, a library, an indoor pool, a science lab and an auditorium for daily lectures, briefings and documentaries. 

Each expedition cruise sails with 36 experts, including research scientists, mountain and kayak guides and submarine pilots. Passengers can assist in onshore fieldwork via several Citizen Science programmes. All cabins have luxury bathrooms, floor-to-ceiling windows that open halfway and a heated hanging space for expedition gear.

4. Access for guests with disabilities

Viking says: “As conditions vary considerably from port to port we ask that guests contact us to discuss specific needs before booking.” (020 8780 7900). 

5. Loyalty scheme

Automatic membership to the Viking Explorer Society after first sailing. Benefits include special offers and early access to new itineraries, £100pp savings on future bookings and exclusive invitations to UK events.

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"Vikings: Valhalla" star names his favorite places in Ireland

English actor leo suter described the stunning slieve league sea cliffs as "magical" and also singled out the forty foot in dublin for praise. .

English actor Leo Suter, star of "Vikings: Valhalla" has named his favorite places to visit in Ireland, stating that there are "too many good pubs" to choose a favorite. 

Suter described the stunning Slieve League sea cliffs in County Donegal as "magical" and also singled out the Forty Foot in Dublin for praise. 

"There is something magical about Slieve League in Donegal – it's a great hike and kind of Viking," Suter said. 

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Speaking about how he liked to spend his downtime while filming Vikings, Suter said: "I did like to go down to the Forty Foot in Dublin and have a swim there. That was very good for mind, body and soul. When I'm in the mood for some peace, a nice pub in Dublin with a book and a pint – and there's too many good pubs to pick one out." 

The third season of "Vikings: Valhalla", which premiered on Netflix on July 11, was partially filmed in County Wicklow and Tourism Ireland has teamed up with Suter to produce a behind-the-scenes video from the latest season. 

Elmagh Killeen, Head of Brand & Marketing Communications at Tourism Ireland, said the latest season of Vikings will help showcase Ireland as a tourist destination. 

"We are delighted that season three of Vikings: Valhalla was partially filmed in Co Wicklow – another great screen tourism opportunity for Tourism Ireland and a really great way to highlight the destination," Killeen said in a statement.

"The Netflix series is bringing the magnificent scenery of Co Wicklow to the attention of viewers around the world. And, our behind-the-scenes film will remind our millions of followers on social media that filming for the series took place here, inspiring them to put Ireland on their holiday ‘wish list’." 

Are you planning a vacation in Ireland? Looking for advice or want to share some great memories? Join our Irish travel Facebook group.

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We Asked AI to Take Us On a Tour of Our Cities. It Was Chaos

With high hopes of finding some hidden gems in our home cities and $100 (£77) each burning a hole in our pockets, we—Natasha Bernal in London and Amanda Hoover in New York—asked AI to plan out the perfect day.

We decided to use Littlefoot, an AI-powered local discovery chatbot that can generate experiences in 161 cities around the world. It was created by Bigfoot, a startup founded by former Airbnb executives Alex Ward, James Robinson, and Shane Lykins that purports to enmesh the minds of all the publicly available AI chatbots, including ChatGPT, Claude, Llama, Anthropic, and Perplexity, in addition to 50 information sources such as Tripadvisor and Google. Bigfoot claims to use three different language models as “AI agents” to create itineraries.

We told Littlefoot our respective starting points, dates, and times, and introduced some caveats: Amanda asked that her New York tour be dog-friendly; Natasha was obsessed with avoiding London’s crowded tourist hotspots.

The results were, frankly, rather mad. Right now, Littlefoot has no concept of time or space or what a human being might find interesting. Its recommendations vary wildly from the incredibly niche (climbing up a hill in South East London) to the wildly vague (going to the London Zoo, no further instruction provided). The same attractions—such as the London Eye, the Namco Funscape arcade in Romford, a cycling studio in Brooklyn—kept coming up in recommendations, to the point that we suspected it might be paid-for advertising. (Bigfoot has confirmed that is not the case and that it has no plans to offer sponsored picks.)

It recommended back-to-back gym sessions in London, a concert and helicopter tour in New York that were out of our budget, restaurants for lunch that didn’t open until dinner time, and itineraries that would have sent us criss-crossing around our respective cities. In London, Bigfoot’s map function showed two out of the four suggested destinations in completely wrong locations, an issue that the company says it is working on.

“While we expect to face typical challenges associated with an early company, we are confident in our ability to meet them as we acquire more resources and continue to refine our approach based on user feedback,” says Bigfoot CEO Alex Ward. “We’re a preseed startup of six, and itineraries aren’t meant to be perfect just yet. But we are working to do everything we can to get there in the not-too-distant future.”

Bigfoot says its features—which are currently very contingent on the location you provide and how you phrase what you’re looking for—have been tested by 70 to 80 alpha users this year, and the company is refining the platform based on feedback.

A Day Around London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

I picked a day centered around the 560-acre sporting village, which features pedal boats, a track cycling arena, and tennis courts. I had never been before and assumed it would be great fun. It wasn’t.

My day started at 10 am at WIRED’s office in Central London. The first stop was in East London, to eat at a place called Pizza Union, which didn’t open until 11 and which Littlefoot claimed had slices priced £6. (It was wrong.) Armed with Google and a comrade, fellow Londoner and WIRED staffer Sophie Johal, I marched to the underground for a 3-mile trip to Aldgate East, a place I can confidently say no one goes to voluntarily.

We stalled until the pizza place opened. I ordered a margarita pizza pie and a bottle of water, and we sat on a wooden bench on the sidewalk, complete with a view of a strip club called White’s. I choked a bit on an inordinately crispy piece of basil.

Then we walked just over a mile to the next stop, the historic Borough food market, near London Bridge. On the way, in the 17th-century church of Saint Magnus the Martyr, we found a 2,000-year-old crusty-looking wooden log randomly tucked in under the entrance way. Were it not for this trip, we might have lived our entire lives never having seen it.

Across London Bridge, we arrived at the market, where we had to navigate around bag-wearing people and other obstacles to find Horn OK Please, a random Indian street-food stall that happened to be one of the only vegetarian eateries in the entire place. We stood next to a trash bin at around midday and ate dosa chaat (a wrap filled with masala potatoes, onion, coriander, and chutneys). I was sweating profusely, felt like I had eaten a brick, and began to worry about whether I would make it to the Olympic Village at all.

We jumped back on the tube and headed in a circle to Trafalgar Square—2 miles away and five minutes from WIRED’s office. We stood in a crowded queue for 10 minutes outside the National Gallery, and after seeing some familiar public art from the likes of Degas, Murillo, Raphael, and Gainsborough, rewarded ourselves with treats from the gift shop (some badges featuring Van Gogh and Manet artwork and the museum logo, and a chocolate coin—the only things we could afford on our budget).

Back on the tube, I took the Elizabeth Line—opened in 2022—for my first time ever, to get to Stratford and the Olympic Park. Severely tired and dehydrated, I led us beyond mega-supermall Westfield, which overlooked a gigantic car park, to a not-very-scenic path near blocks of flats. By that point, we had figured out that the pedal boats weren’t working, that you had to take a training course for the cycling track, and that the tennis courts were unaffordable on our meager remaining budget.

There was no sign of the hideous steel Orbit Tower , or anything else noteworthy for that matter—we just saw blocks of midrise flats and a rather large park. Invoking the spirit of the Olympics and taking advantage of the fact that we were practically alone, we attempted to complete an obstacle course in a nearby fitness playground. (We got stuck on the equipment a few times.)

And that’s how we ended up lost near the Wetlands Walk close to the River Lea, cycling around on the only available rental e-bike I could find. Unfortunately it could only travel at breakneck speed, so I spent about 20 minutes screaming in genuine fear as I hurtled back and forth through the same bit of stinky swampland, with Sophie perched precariously on the fender like a human pannier.

I gave up attempting to find anywhere after it started to pelt down rain, and realized I had paid £6 for the e-bike, for the pleasure of going absolutely nowhere. We never even found the bike track, and were too exhausted to go to our final stop, six miles away at Bradley’s Spanish Bar. Instead I had an ice cream (two scoops: one straciatella, the other chocolate and hazelnut) at a place near the station. I had a cuppa, and at £64 spent, called it a day.

In the darkest moments, I would have described the itinerary as a teeny bit evil and a lot pointless. It would take two minutes with an internet connection to come up with a better plan, but it would not be as chaotic and random—and ultimately unforgettable.

As soon as I got home, I asked ChatGPT to come up with a rival day: It suggested a cultural walk along the South Bank, winding around Big Ben and the London Eye, with stops to enjoy some art and culture along the way. It made sense, but a small part of me—the same one that screeched in delight at seeing a giant slide that we could go on—wonders whether there was some magic in Littlefoot’s mundane (and inane) picks.

A Day Around Washington Square Park and Central Park in New York

I wanted to see whether Littlefoot could do something a little challenging: Plan a day around Manhattan that I could bring my dog, a 22-pound poodle mix named Charlie, along on. Turns out, it couldn’t.

The app gave me recommendations for a park in New Jersey that wasn’t accessible without a car and two restaurants with the word “dog” in the name—although I’m not sure dogs would be allowed inside—and repeatedly tried to persuade me to take a spin class in Brooklyn, I’m assuming because the word “friendly” was in the description. It also highlighted an expensive helicopter tour of Manhattan when I asked for outdoor activities and, at one point, a Noah Kahan concert (sold out, with only pricey resale tickets available).

Sifting through the options took some work and reprompting. Some of the restaurants recommended were closed at the times Littlefoot suggested I go, and they would send me between the city’s boroughs, or even further out of my way—even when I asked for a day in Manhattan that was completely accessible by subway.

I combined and pruned two itineraries to save myself some agony of hours on the subway. I left Harlem at around 8 am and headed to my first stop: the Obelisk in Central Park, a 3,500-year-old monument brought over from Egypt. Charlie was particularly happy with this plan, as we made it to the park during off-leash hours, and he was free to roam the greenery and trails with other dogs.

We walked a mile across Manhattan’s Upper East Side to get to Claire’s Kitchen Cafe, a tiny Mediterranean-inspired spot with outdoor seating that Littlefoot had recommended. It definitely wasn’t a tourist trap, but rather a neighborhood spot. I had a cream cheese and smoked salmon breakfast sandwich and a latte, both of which were good, but not necessarily something I would travel to a new neighborhood to eat.

Charlie and I took the subway downtown and got off near Washington Square Park, our next suggested stop. The park was quieter than normal on a weekday morning, although I saw some probable TikTokkers running up to people on benches to interview them. We walked past the iconic archway and fountain, and stopped at the dog park, where I threw a tennis ball for Charlie.

We got back on the subway and rode to the AI-recommended 9/11 Memorial & Museum—a somber stop mixed in with all the recommendations for parks and pubs. With my dog in tow, I couldn’t go into the museum, but we did walk around the memorial, and Charlie made a few friends with tourists there.

Our last stop was at the Dead Rabbit for lunch. It was a quirky Irish pub with upscale bar food and drinks, and a bunch of dollar bills taped to the shelves holding liquor. It’s been deemed the best bar in the world by some, and luckily, it was dog-friendly, with one little table out front that was empty when I arrived. I had a burger and a drink, which ran me about $50 with tip. (Charlie slept at my feet during lunch, undisturbed by nearby construction sounds, but completely knocked out.)

About five hours later, I was exhausted and had spent $90 between the subway and food. We had traveled from Harlem, toward the top of Manhattan, to the Financial District at the bottom, taking five trains and walking 5 miles to hit Littlefoot’s recommended spots. I had to rely on my own knowledge of the city to create the most efficient route between the various recommendations provided by Littlefoot.

Afterward, I ran a similar prompt through Perplexity’s chatbot, and found an itinerary with more details about prices and how to get around. This wasn’t perfect, either. It recommended I take Charlie to Manhattan’s iconic High Line, which doesn’t allow dogs, and gave vague advice about buying a bagel from a street vendor “nearby” Central Park. But it did give recommendations in several known parts of the city that would keep me under budget.

Littlefoot got me to try some new restaurants and explore some new corners of famous parks—plus, it got me out of the house and away from my routine. But had I followed its recommendations exactly, I may have ended up going to Brooklyn or Queens to find restaurants with their doors closed, or gone way over budget on some experiences. AI might have some new recommendations, but until the technology improves, I’d rather just ask a fellow New Yorker where to go.

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36 Hours in San Diego

By Freda Moon Updated July 17, 2024

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By Freda Moon Photographs by John Francis Peters

Freda Moon, a frequent New York Times Travel contributor living in California, is a San Diego devotee and visits as often as she can.

Dripping with flowers, adorned in murals and fronted by gorgeous beaches, San Diego is almost too pretty to be taken seriously. It excels at being underrated and overlooked. But that’s changing fast, as new hotels, restaurants and arts institutions, including the $85 million Rady Shell , the San Diego Symphony’s summer stage, add depth to a city already flush with eclectic, arty neighborhoods. Despite the changes, tradition holds strong in the “birthplace of California” (San Diego was the first permanent European settlement on the West Coast). The beloved Balboa Theater , a former vaudeville venue, turns 100 this year , and Balboa Park’s Spreckels Organ — over a century old and the world’s largest outdoor pipe organ — continues to draw crowds for free public concerts (every Sunday at 2 p.m.).

Recommendations

• Spend an afternoon in Barrio Logan , a historic Mexican American neighborhood, for rolled tacos with a cult following at Las Cuatro Milpas , a remarkable collection of murals at Chicano Park , an innovative art gallery at Bread & Salt and micheladas at Mujeres Brew House .
• Take the ferry to Coronado , an island city in San Diego Bay, to ride bike paths to Coronado Beach and the Hotel del Coronado, a Victorian-era hotel with a star-studded history.
• Mike’s Taco Club features an excellent rendition of one of San Diego’s most beloved and distinctive dishes, the French-fry-and-carne-asada-filled California burrito.
• The Rady Shell is an ambitious new waterfront concert hall.
• The Maritime Museum and the USS Midway Museum , along the waterfront Embarcadero, are a testament to the harbor’s seafaring history and significance.
• Visit the Ocean Beach Tide Pools at low tide for an up-close encounter with the Pacific Ocean’s ecological bounty, including sea anemones and crabs.
• At Oakoasis County Preserve , a 2.5-mile hike offers a mix of shade and vistas, chaparral and live oaks.
• Leucadia State Beach is an out-of-the-way stretch of gray sand and smooth stones, affectionately known by locals as Beacon’s.
• Ironside Fish & Oyster Bar has one of the city’s best happy hours, with $1 oysters and an assortment of other seafood-centric snacks and drinks.
• Bobboi Natural Gelato serves seasonally changing flavors of gelato in a gorgeous Little Italy shop.
• Secret Sister is a tea shop and sourdough bakery ideal for a quick bite near Balboa Park.
• Callie is a special-occasion restaurant where Californian ingredients shine in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes.
• Mabel’s Gone Fishing serves Spanish-inspired food and gin-based cocktails in a stylish North Park space.
• Atelier Manna is quintessentially Southern California, offering patio-only dining with big, fresh flavors and sophisticated nonalcoholic drinks.
• Cocina 35 Brunch makes Mexican breakfast staples, including five kinds of hangover-soothing chilaquiles.
• Bar Kamon serves immaculate, Japanese-inspired cocktails in a tranquil, low-lit space.
• The Gutter offers late-night bowling in the wildly stylish Lafayette Hotel.
• Part Time Lover is a hi-fi listening room, record shop and cocktail bar with spectacular sound and design.
• Bad Madge & Co. sells quirky and colorful secondhand clothing and housewares that evoke a sunny, retro Southern California aesthetic.
• Verbatim Books is a warehouse-size temple to used books.
• Pigment is a charmingly eclectic gift shop arranged like a Pantone color chart.
• The 1926 La Valencia Hotel is a pink-hued, Spanish-tiled San Diego historic landmark terraced into the hills of the seaside enclave of La Jolla, a worthy beachfront alternative to Hotel del Coronado during its renovation. Rooms start at around $550.
• With its gorgeous swimming pool, over-the-top lobby and multiple restaurants, bars and nightlife spots (including a bowling alley and live-music venue), the Lafayette Hotel is much more than a place to sleep. Rooms start at $228.
• Humphreys Half Moon Inn , on Shelter Island, a man-made peninsula, is a family-friendly resort with a large pool, lawns and a retro vibe that evokes midcentury Hawaii. Humphreys Concerts by the Bay , a 1,400-seat outdoor waterfront stage belonging to the hotel, attracts touring acts from April through October. Rooms start at around $200.
• Thanks to its relatively small urban core — much of it walkable — San Diego is the rare city in the Western United States that is possible to enjoy without a car. A utilitarian network of public trolleys and buses , along with private ferries , pedicabs and ride-hailing services reaches beyond downtown.

Ironside Fish & Oyster Bar

Start at one of the city’s best happy hours (3 p.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays) at Ironside Fish & Oyster Bar . This Little Italy mainstay, with a giant papier-mâché octopus above the dining room, hasn’t raised prices for its beautiful, fresh oysters ($1 each) since it opened in 2014. There are other snacks, including a fried shrimp taco with spicy aioli ($6), and a seasonal selection of $8 cocktails. Don’t leave Little Italy without a scoop (starting at $5.85 for a two-flavor cup) at Bobboi Natural Gelato , whose Sardinian chef, Monica Maccioni, studied at Bologna’s Università del Gelato. Exotic flavors are ever-changing, but one of the more traditional options, the pistacchio della California — made with organic nuts from Santa Barbara — is both rich and refreshingly herbaceous.

Walk the waterfront en route to the Rady Shell, a gleaming white, hornlike concert venue that opened in 2021. Along the two-mile stroll, admire the Maritime Museum ’s Star of India — the world’s oldest active sailing ship, built in 1863, and the massive USS Midway Museum , housed in the longest-serving U.S. aircraft carrier of the 20th century. Alternatively, hop on a pedicab for a wind-in-your-hair ride ($10 to $50, by distance). The Rady Shell, an $85 million acoustic dream in a peninsular park on San Diego Bay, hosts the San Diego Symphony as well as mainstream pop acts. Opt for either a table up front or, for a more affordable option, a bring-your-own-blanket or lawn chair spot on the lawn (tickets start at $30).

Make reservations for a late, postshow dinner at Callie , a splurge-worthy restaurant in the East Village, a 20-minute walk away, that celebrates Southern California ingredients with a Mediterranean-meets-Middle Eastern menu. Opened in 2021, Callie is a homecoming for the chef Travis Swikard, who spent a decade in the kitchens of Daniel Boulud’s famed New York City restaurants. Try the kanpachi (greater amberjack) served on a vibrant green splash of zhoug -like hot sauce and dusted with black lime and avocado ($29) or the local uni (sea urchin) on toast with Spanish Iberico ham ($29). After dinner, head around the corner to Bar Kamon . Hidden behind an unmarked door inside a Japanese bakery, this cocktail bar evokes 1920s Japan with dim lighting, rice-papered walls and whiskey-centric drinks.

The Botanical Building, currently closed for renovation, in 1,200-acre Balboa Park, which is bigger than Central Park in New York and Millennium Park in Chicago combined.

Cocina 35 Brunch

Get to Cocina 35 Brunch early to beat the crush of boisterous multigenerational families celebrating milestone birthdays at the first full-service restaurant from this long-running local Mexican cafeteria chain. Cocina 35 has a following for its five varieties of chilaquiles (starting at $21), crispy fried tortillas in a red or green chile sauce with assorted toppings. Or skip brunch and head to Ocean Beach, for a California burrito , one of San Diego’s quintessential dishes (carne asada, French fries, guacamole and more, $15), to go from Mike’s Taco Club , a counter-service spot with bottle caps tiling the walls. Eat at the beach while watching the surfers and seagulls before walking south of the neighborhood’s famous pier to explore tide pools full of sea anemones, crabs and more (best at low tide).

Take the Flagship Ferry to Coronado, a beachy island city in San Diego Bay, for a quick cruise along the waterfront ($8). Rent some wheels at Holland’s Bikes & Beyond to ride the island’s six miles of bike paths through charming neighborhoods of bungalows and Craftsman homes to the powdery white sand of Coronado Beach . From there, travel along the boardwalk for a glimpse of the 1888 Victorian Hotel del Coronado , or “the Del,” which is undergoing a multiyear, $160 million renovation set to be completed next spring. A nonguest can buy a day pass to visit the hotel’s beachside, Olympic-size Cabana Pool, which is heated year-round (starting at $75 per adult, $35 per child).

Chicano Park

In Barrio Logan, a historic Mexican American neighborhood, Chicano culture is celebrated at every turn, in bilingual bookstores, galleries, street-art supply stores, record shops and new-school taquerias. First, stand in line at Las Cuatro Milpas , an institution since 1933, which serves homestyle food from another era. While the counter-service restaurant is known for its rolled tacos, it’s the chorizo con huevos ($5) , a soupy mix of spiced sausage, egg and beans beneath a sheen of chile oil, and the burrito-size tortillas, rich in lard and a delicate crust of flour, that you’re unlikely to have elsewhere. Then, cross Cesar Chavez Parkway to Chicano Park . Established in 1970, after a 12-day occupation of the site at the height of California’s Chicano civil rights movement, this national historic landmark features more than 100 outdoor murals — the country’s largest collection — depicting cultural figures central to the neighborhood’s story.

Walk uphill on Cesar Chavez to Logan Heights’ Bread & Salt (closes at 4 p.m.), a former bread factory converted into a 45,000-square-foot community art center, with galleries, studios, a cafe and sculpture garden. Unlike a meticulously curated museum, this lived-in, experimental space is somewhere to wander and be surprised. Afterward, go next door to Mujeres Brew House , a rare woman-owned brewery in a city lousy with great beer. Serving micheladas (a beer cocktail, typically with some combination of Clamato or tomato juice, Worcestershire, hot sauce and lime) and a lineup of refreshing cervezas that taste made for the brewery’s brightly hued, picnic-table-and-plant-filled patio, which often features a taco cart and live music.

Bad Madge & Co.

For Southern California-style souvenirs, head to South Park’s extraordinarily exuberant Bad Madge & Co. , a vintage shop that leans heavily into a 1960s- and ’70s-era riot of color in its clothing offerings and a midcentury housewares aesthetic that includes an impressive collection of ceramic tiki glasses. Opened in 2015, North Park’s Verbatim Books is a warehouse-size used-book store that’s grown into a local institution. It’s a mural-adorned cathedral to literature, with soaring ceilings and quirky corners that feel like altars (one to Stephen King, another to vintage Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew). On the next block, Pigment is a color-themed gift and décor shop with a D.I.Y. succulent arrangement station that evokes year-round sunshine.

Mabel’s Gone Fishing has the unfussiness of a neighborhood restaurant, but with a citywide following that demands reservations. With its long, perpetually packed bar, where gin and tonics ($16) and tapas (from $9) are king, this sultry Spanish-style restaurant is date night incarnate. Sit at the chef’s counter if you want to sweat while watching onions char and fish sizzle in glistening oil in the restaurant’s frenetic open kitchen. The menu changes based on the availability of local seafood and seasonal produce, but the Basque cheesecake ($16) is a reliable end-of-meal hit.

Across the 30th Street, Part Time Lover is a surprise. Behind a facade that only nods at what’s inside, this beautiful, low-lit listening room and bar has a rich wood interior with Art Deco and Craftsman detailing. The in-house record store, at the back of the bar, supplies the eclectic mix of music for the hi-fi system. Then, end the evening with a game at the retro fabulous Lafayette Hotel , where the Gutter offers a two-lane bowling alley ($50 per person for one hour), along with shuffleboard, pool table and cocktails.

Secret Sister

Pick up a breakfast sandwich — a cheddar-and-garlic-chive gougère (a savory French pastry) with a fried egg and arugula ($11) — and coffee to go from South Park’s Secret Sister , so you can hit the trails early. Add a sourdough doughnut, with seasonally changing flavors (local passion fruit is a favorite, $5), for a midhike pick-me-up. Then, drive to Oakoasis County Preserve , about a half-hour from downtown’s skyscrapers. The preserve’s partly shaded 2.5-mile loop has just enough elevation change to offer a modest workout, along with an ever-changing landscape of wildflowers, oak trees and a meandering creek. About halfway, there’s a detour to a large boulder where you can sit above the chaparral and look out over San Vicente Reservoir .

For lunch, drive to the coast for a revitalizing, booze-free brunch at Atelier Manna in Leucadia. The modest-size outdoor dining room serves an eclectic mix of dishes with big, fresh flavors, including a gorgeous halibut ceviche topped with a tangle of herbs and chile ($23), and a thick slice of miche bread topped with boquerones (fresh anchovies) and a ramp dressing ($18). In place of mimosas and Bloody Marys, the restaurant serves sophisticated mocktails it calls “vitality tonics” (from $8). Then, walk up the hill to Leucadia State Beach , where you can climb down the cliff-clinging staircase to stroll a shoreline of colorful pebbles while pelicans soar overhead.

Balboa Park

One of the world’s great urban greenspaces, 1,200-acre Balboa Park is bigger than Central Park in New York and Millennium Park in Chicago combined. Best known for the exceptional San Diego Zoo , the park has 18 museums and dozens of other attractions. The Mingei International Museum (entry $15, under 18 free) reopened in 2021 after a three-year, $55 million renovation. The museum celebrates global folk art and crafts, with exhibits highlighting practices like tea services, beadwork and quilting. The museum also has a piece by Niki de Saint Phalle , the French artist who spent her final years in Southern California and created the kaleidoscopic, open-air mosaic installation “ Queen Califia’s Magical Circle ” in Escondido, a city a half-hour north of San Diego (it’s worth a private tour on your drive out of town; schedule in advance ).

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

Boston:  A destination steeped in history, as ever, has reinvented itself with outdoor spaces for drinking, dining and recreating, and more change in the air .

Spain:  By welcoming visitors with glorious scents and a natural beauty that rivals Provence in France, the annual lavender harvest has revitalized the medieval town of Brihuega .

Santa Fe:  Every spring, hundreds of bicyclists gather in the New Mexico city to ride through a high-desert landscape  rich in art, history and Indigenous culture.

Lausanne:  A new arts district, stylish restaurants and a museum that pays homage to the Olympics greet visitors to this Swiss city , home to the International Olympic Committee.

Orient Express:  The luxury version of this classic train journey costs $50,000. But for $1,000 or less, you can book the trip from Paris to Istanbul yourself .

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Great travel accessories can turn the inconveniences of a trip into a piece of cake. This weekend, REI has deals on all the accessories you could want, including picks from top brands. At 25 percent off, this puffy blanket from Rumpl is the perfect way to bundle up on a cold airplane or mountain alike. It packs into its own tiny stuff sack while you’re traveling, and then clips onto the body like a cape while hiking. Eagle Creek’s electronic tool organizer has a large enough capacity to hold all of your tech, taking what was previously a mess of tangled wires into organized, padded pockets for 25 percent off. 

• Rumpl NanoLoft Puffy Travel Blanket , $63 (originally $85)
• Eagle Creek Pack-It Reveal E-Tools Organizer Pro , $30 (originally $40)
• Kavu Renrose SE Convertible Bag , $24 (originally $35)
• Zippo Heatbank 3 Rechargeable Hand Warmer and Power Bank , $19 (originally $28)
• Eagle Creek Pack-it Weekend Packing Cube Set , $42 (originally $60) 

Zippo Hearbank 3 Rechargeable Hand Warmer and Power Bank

Best active footwear and hiking shoe deals.

Dozens of quality footwear essentials are on sale this weekend, including hiking shoes, trail running sneakers, and everything in between. Any outdoor adventurer knows that good footwear can make a world of a difference (and that the off-season is the best time to buy winter gear), so don’t wait to shop deals on items like these snow-friendly Columbia boots that are 50 percent off right now. If you’re planning to spend your summer white water rafting or kayaking, don’t miss out on your chance to snag Merrell’s Hydro Moc Shoes for 20 percent off now.

• Columbia Women’s Bugaboot Celsius Plus Omni-Heat Infinity Boots , $85 (originally $170)
• The North Face Men’s Larimer Mid Waterproof Boots , $93 (originally $139)
• Asolo Men’s Tahoe GTX Hiking Shoes , $140 (originally $190)
• Hoka Women’s Speedgoat 5 Trail-Running Shoes , $93 (originally $155)
• Arc'teryx Norvan SL 3 Trail-Running Shoes , $128 (originally $160)
• Keen Men’s Ridge Flex Mid Waterproof Hiking Boots , $135 (originally $180)
• Merrell Women’s Crosslander 2 Hiking Shoes , $68 (originally $90)
• Brooks Women's Hyperion Road Running Shoes , $70 (originally $140)
• Merrell Men’s Hydro Moc Shoes , $48 (originally $60)

Teva Women’s Outflow Universal Water Shoes

Best women’s apparel deals.

Being just as stylish as you are comfortable is easy when you have the right gear. Luckily, REI has everything you need to look and feel great, including raincoats, joggers, tennis skirts, golf dresses, and more. For starters, the Patagonia Fleetwith Skort pairs perfectly with this tank from Outdoor Voices , and both are just about 30 percent off right now. My personal favorite deal? Vuori’s ultra-popular Performance Jogger Pants are about $20 off right now in select colors, and I’m looking to add a few more colors to my closet.

• Patagonia Fleetwith Skort , $59 (originally $85)
• Outdoor Voices TechSweat MoveFree Tank Top , $40 (originally $58)
• Adidas Optime Stash Pocket High-Waisted 7/8 Leggings , $38 (originally $55)
• New Balance RC 3-inch Shorts , $45 (originally $65)
• Vuori Performance Jogger Pants , $75 (originally $94)
• The North Face Aphrodite 2.0 Capri Pants , $36 (originally $60)
• ExOfficio BugsAway Brisa Woven Long-sleeve Shirt , $70 (originally $95)
• Tilley The Outback Hat , $84 (originally $120)
• Beyond Yoga Featherweight At The Ready Square Neck Dress , $96 (originally $138)
• Columbia Painted Peak Cropped Wind Jacket , $70 (originally $100) 

Beyond Yoga Featherweight At The Ready Square Neck Dress

Best men’s apparel deals.

Being your own stylist is easy if you have the clothes. Summer hiking essentials like quick-dry joggers, sweat-proof shirts, and windbreakers are currently available on sale at REI. Keep an eye on the Free Country Button-Down Acadia Shirt , now 30 percent off, as it's the perfect summer buy. It looks like a dress shirt, but it’s made with quick-dry fabric and mesh insets. Now 20 percent off, Vuori’s anti-odor and moisture-wicking Cruise Board Shorts are a must-buy to pair them with. If you want a piece of clothing you’ll wear every season, Marmot’s Arch Rock Convertible Pants are 24 percent off, and reviewers love them.

• Patagonia Lightweight Synchilla Snap-T Fleece Pullover , $69 (originally $139)
• Arc’teryx Cormac Downword T-shirt , $49 (originally $70)
• Janji Rainrunner Pack Jacket 2.0 , $138 (originally $198)
• Saucony Outpace 5-inch Shorts , $38 (originally $55)
• Adidas Adizero Running Singlet , $49 (originally $65)
• Marmot Arch Rock Convertible Pants , $68 (originally $90)
• Nike Dri-Fit Phenom Elite Knit Pants , $47 (originally $95)
• Smith Pinpoint ChromaPop Polarized Sunglasses , $122 (originally 189)
• Free Country Acadia Shirt , $49 (originally $70) 

Free Country Acadia Shirt

Best camping and hiking deals.

There’s something special about spending the summertime in nature, away from civilization and your inbox. Whether you’re planning on climbing a mountain, sleeping under the stars, or both, investing in quality gear can make your favorite activities all the more fun. Camping and hiking essentials like the Alpine Mountain Gear Weekender Tent 4 and Nathan Crossover 15 Liter Hydration Pack are on rare sale at REI, but these prices won’t last long. 

• Alpine Mountain Gear Weekender Tent 4 , $65 (originally $150)
• Salomon XT 10 Bladder Pack , $90 (originally $120)
• Nathan Crossover 15-liter Hydration Pack , $90 (originally $130)
• Uco Mini Spork Package of 3 , $5 (originally $7)
• Nikon Prostaff P3 10 x 42 Binoculars , $130 (originally $150)

Nikon Prostaff P3 10 x 42 Binoculars

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2024-2026 OCEAN CRUISE AND AIR FARES:  Offer applies to bookings made from July 1-31, 2024. Terms & conditions for select promotions may vary. $25 deposit is applicable to all itineraries except World Cruise products. Special fares plus up to FREE roundtrip airfare valid on select departures of Canada & New England Scenic Shores; Eastern Seaboard Discovery; Grand Hawaii & Polynesia; Hawaiian Islands Sojourn; Panama Canal & Central America; Panama Canal & the Pacific Coast . Airfares may vary on other gateways & departures. Airfare does not have to be purchased to get cruise\cruisetour offer. All prices are in US dollars and for US residents only. Additional restrictions may apply. 2024 : Pay in full by July 31, 2024 or at time of booking if within 120 days of departure. 2025 : Pay in full by September 30, 2024. 2026 : Pay in full by March 31, 2025. Offer may be withdrawn at any time without prior notice. Offers Expires July 31, 2024.

*$25 DEPOSIT:  For itineraries 35 days or less, a $25 deposit applies to December 2024 & onward departures; for itineraries greater than 35 days, a $25 deposit applies to February 2025 & onward departures; World Cruise products excluded; call for details.

GENERAL RESTRICTIONS:  Cruise fares listed are cruise only in U.S. dollars, per person, based on double occupancy. Single supplement savings are off applicable rates. Cruise fares listed are valid for U.S. residents only. All fares and offers are for new bookings only and are subject to availability, may not combinable with other offers except Viking Explorer Society Travel Credits and Viking Referral Rewards, are capacity-controlled and may be withdrawn at any time without prior notice. Special fares are based upon published full brochure fares; cruise fares do not include pre-paid charges, optional facilities, and personal charges, as defined in the terms and conditions of the  Passenger Ticket Contract  which may be viewed elsewhere on this website. Full brochure fares may not have resulted in actual sales in all stateroom categories and may not have been in effect during the last 90 days. Promotional fares may remain in effect after the expiration date. Air promotion applies to roundtrip flights only from select Viking Cruises U.S. gateways and includes airport-to-ship or hotel transfers, air taxes and air fuel surcharges. Roundtrip airport transfers are included when air is purchased with a cruise or cruisetour package; if air is not purchased from Viking, transfers may be purchased separately. All transfers must be in conjunction with a Viking-purchased cruise, cruisetour, land extension or extra hotel nights. Viking reserves the right to correct errors or omissions and to change any and all fares at any time. For up-to-date prices, please call Viking or your Travel Agent. Additional terms and conditions may apply. Complete terms and conditions may be found in the  Passenger Ticket Contract .

AIR UPGRADE:  Upgrade to Premium Economy air from $999 per person or Business Class air from $3,499 per person based on select gateways and dates. Premium upgrades may not be available on all departures. Additional airline-imposed baggage charges may apply; for more information visit  Airline Luggage Restrictions  . Air prices are per person based on cruise/cruisetour check-in date and include transfers plus all government taxes/fees of approximately $160 and air fuel surcharges. Air seats are limited; airfares are subject to change and are not guaranteed until full payment of air is received. For more information about customized air services and US gateways, visit the  Viking Air Plus

NOTE:  International flights depart the U.S. one day prior to check-in date. Paid Business or Premium Economy Class may require travel in economy on flights within North America or Europe. Premium economy is limited to specific airlines and we may not be able to accommodate based on aircraft type and availability. Roundtrip airport transfers are included when air is purchased with a cruise or cruisetour package; if air is not purchased from Viking, transfers may be purchased separately. All transfers must be in conjunction with a Viking-purchased cruise, cruisetour, land extension or extra hotel nights.