Barcelona, Viking & Rome: Anne-Marie

From Gaudí and Gothic streets to Mediterranean cruising and the ancient wonders of Rome
There are some trips that are really a collection of holidays in one—and Anne-Marie’s 2025 European adventure was certainly one of them.

Her journey began in Barcelona, where she spent time exploring the city before boarding a Viking Ocean cruise to Rome. After eight days and seven nights at sea, she continued her Italian adventure with a few nights in Rome.

Along the way, she discovered some memorable hotels, fascinating cities, incredible food and a few useful lessons that only come from travelling firsthand.

Here are Anne-Marie’s highlights and recommendations.

Barcelona: Give Yourself Time to Explore
Barcelona was Anne-Marie’s first European stop, and her advice is simple: don’t rush it.

“For a first visit to Barcelona, I would recommend 4–5 days as a minimum to really get to see 60–70% of the city.”
She found Barcelona fascinating and felt safe throughout her stay, although she was careful around the major attractions where pickpocketing can be an issue.

Food was noticeably more expensive than she had expected, but there was plenty to discover, from the Gothic Quarter and La Rambla to the waterfront and Gaudí’s extraordinary architecture.

Where Anne-Marie Stayed: Kimpton Vividora
For her Barcelona stay, Anne-Marie chose the Kimpton Vividora, and it was a definite highlight.

Located close to the Gothic Quarter and less than two minutes' walk from La Rambla, the hotel was perfectly positioned for exploring on foot. The waterfront was approximately a 10-minute walk away.

“The location is incredible and it’s a really beautiful hotel.”
Her room was compact but comfortable, with a good-sized shower, plenty of bench space, coffee machine and daily bottled water. Despite being so centrally located, the room was also surprisingly quiet.

The rooftop pool and bar offered wonderful city views, while the rooftop restaurant, Terrazza de Vivi, was a memorable—but expensive—dining experience.

The service also stood out.

“Staff were lovely! They even messaged us on WhatsApp to check everything was okay.”
Anne-Marie’s Barcelona Taxi Tip
Barcelona has many pedestrian and shared-use streets, which can make hotel drop-offs slightly tricky.

Anne-Marie discovered that taxis can be reluctant to drive down some of the smaller lanes.

“When I spoke to the hotel, they suggested guests call from the taxi. They will talk to the driver and arrange for you to be dropped at the door.”
A small tip that can make a big difference, particularly for travellers with luggage or mobility considerations.

Seeing Barcelona: Hop-On Hop-Off or Guided Tour?
Anne-Marie used a 48-hour hop-on hop-off bus pass and found it an excellent way to get an overview of the city.

The first day took her around the Blue Route, which took just under two hours. The route provides access to attractions including the Natural History Museum, while one stop is around a 10-minute walk from the Sagrada Família.

On the second day, she explored the Red Route, which took approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes and covered areas including the Olympic Village and Barcelona's beaches.

For travellers continuing onto a cruise, Anne-Marie also discovered a useful connection: one of the Red Route stops provides access to shuttles to the cruise port.

Sagrada Família: Absolutely Worth Going Inside
Anne-Marie also booked a guided Sagrada Família walking tour through Infinity.

There was still some waiting despite the skip-the-line arrangement, so she recommends being prepared to stand for a while. Large bags aren't permitted, making a small day bag the best option.

But once inside, the wait was worth it.

“What an incredible building and very interesting. Still under renovation … and will be for a while. Well worth a visit inside.”
 
Setting Sail with Viking Ocean Cruises
After several days exploring Barcelona, it was time to head to the port and begin the next chapter: an 8-day/7-night Viking Ocean cruise from Barcelona to Rome.

Anne-Marie's overall verdict?

“We loved our Viking Cruise. Understated elegance is how I would describe the feel onboard.”
The Barcelona cruise port was easy to navigate. Bags were collected when passengers arrived, security was quick, and Anne-Marie was checked in and onboard within approximately 5–10 minutes.

There was a refreshment waiting on arrival before passengers headed to their muster station and completed the mandatory safety briefing.

And then the holiday really began.

 
Life Onboard Viking
The atmosphere onboard was one of the things Anne-Marie enjoyed most.

The ship felt calm, relaxed and elegant without being overly formal. Although there were plenty of people onboard, the spaces never felt crowded.

“The overall feeling on the ship is casual and calm. Plenty of bars and places to relax.”
She particularly enjoyed being out on the upper decks during sailaway.

“I loved being on the upper decks at sailaway, usually with a cocktail in hand.”
Viking's adults-only environment also suited the trip, with passengers on Anne-Marie's sailing generally around the 55–60 age range and a mix of American, Canadian, British, Australian and New Zealand travellers.

 The Cabins
Anne-Marie found her cabin spacious, light and practical, with plenty of wardrobe and hanging space—making it easy to properly unpack rather than living out of a suitcase.

The bathroom was also light and airy.

For travellers who enjoy having a little more space and organisation during a cruise, this was a definite plus.

The Food: A Highlight of the Cruise
Dining was another standout.

“The food onboard was incredible. We managed to dine in all restaurants – never disappointed.”
Anne-Marie particularly enjoyed Manfredi's, which she recommends booking as soon as reservations become available.

The Pool Grill was another favourite for lunch, offering fresh food and plenty of choice.

And on excursion mornings, room service breakfast became a clever time-saving solution.

“We did room service breakfast most days due to the early starts. They were always on time and the food was great.”
 
Choosing Your Shore Excursions
Viking offered a good variety of included and paid excursions, and Anne-Marie recommends pre-booking wherever possible.

Her itinerary included some particularly memorable experiences.

Montserrat & Best of Barcelona
This full-day paid excursion was one of her favourites.

Montserrat was fascinating, with incredible views, and the tour also included Park Güell.

“Absolutely loved it.”
Sète
The included walking tour of Sète was less successful for Anne-Marie. The guide wasn't particularly engaging, and she felt the town would have been easy enough to explore independently.

A useful reminder that included doesn't always mean better—and sometimes having free time to explore at your own pace is the better option.

Avignon & the Palace of the Popes
A long day, but a memorable one.

Anne-Marie found the Palace of the Popes fascinating and enjoyed having some free time to explore Avignon.

The day also came with an unexpected adventure: an enormous thunderstorm caused flooding, and the ship had to delay departure while excursions made their way back.

“Quite an experience. I would absolutely love to go back one day.”
Menton, Èze & Monte Carlo
The itinerary changed from Nice to Menton, Èze and Monte Carlo due to coach restrictions in Nice.

Menton was colourful and charming, with a blend of French and Italian influences.

Then came Èze.

“EZE – LOVED IT!”
The medieval hilltop village was one of Anne-Marie's favourites, although the steep and sometimes slippery walking means good footwear and reasonable mobility are important.

Old Monaco was another highlight, with charming lanes, restaurants and shops.

And Monte Carlo?

“WOW – so expensive, but gosh it's pretty. The wealth is eye boggling!”
Leonardo da Vinci Museum & Lucca
The final standout excursion was a full day visiting the Leonardo da Vinci Museum and the historic walled city of Lucca.

The museum was fascinating, although Anne-Marie would have liked more free time.

Lucca, however, completely stole her heart.

“LUCCA – WOW! Probably my favourite place we visited.”
She loved the atmosphere, restaurants, quirky shops and impressive historic walls.

“Would LOVE to go back.”
 
Pisa: Go Early
The included excursion to Pisa was another lesson in timing.

The journey from the port took around 45 minutes, and Anne-Marie recommends arriving early because the area becomes extremely busy later in the day.

She also felt this was the destination where she was most conscious of aggressive vendors and pickpockets.

Her advice: keep valuables secure, stay aware of your surroundings and don't let the crowds distract you.

Anne-Marie's Viking Verdict
While she loved the cruise, there was one important consideration for travellers choosing an itinerary.

The seven-night sailing was busy.

With long excursions and early starts, there wasn't always enough time simply to enjoy the ship.

“I think 10+ days would be ideal and I do think that a few sea days to enjoy the ship is a very good idea!”
For travellers who see cruising as much as an experience onboard as a way of exploring destinations, this is valuable advice.

Arriving in Rome
The cruise ended in Rome, and Anne-Marie found the disembarkation process straightforward.

She arranged an early transfer to the airport and felt a midday flight would be comfortably achievable for travellers using one of the early transfers.

Instead, she continued her journey into Rome for a few more nights.

Rome: Walk, Explore & Expect the Crowds
Anne-Marie stayed at The Glam Hotel, which she found to be a comfortable and well-located base.

The hotel was around a 10-minute walk from the Trevi Fountain and approximately 15 minutes from the Colosseum.

“We walked everywhere.”
Her room was large and spacious, and the rooftop restaurant and bar offered wonderful views. After a long day exploring, it was an easy place to enjoy dinner without having to head back out into the city.

Breakfast was also served upstairs, with a good selection.

The Colosseum: Exceeding Expectations
For Rome, Anne-Marie booked a WALKS tour with special access to the Gladiator's Gate and Arena Floor, along with the Colosseum and Roman Forum.

It was a small group of just 12 people, and the guide made all the difference.

“I was worried it wouldn't live up to the hype and expectation—but it really did exceed my expectations.”
Walking through the Gladiator's Gate was a particular highlight.

The Colosseum itself was extremely busy, but headsets made it easy to hear the guide.

There are plenty of stairs, uneven surfaces and walking involved, so this is something travellers should consider when choosing a tour.

For Anne-Marie, however, it was absolutely worth it.

“For most of our clients, I think the WALKS tours are a fabulous option.”
 
Anne-Marie's Mediterranean Travel Tips
After travelling through three very different destinations, Anne-Marie came home with plenty of practical advice.