As a globetrotter and lover of travel, I seek to immerse myself in the history, art, culture, archaeology, and landscape of every place I go. However, orchestrating these journeys can be a Herculean task, fraught with logistical nightmares and the ever-present fear of missing out on the true essence of a destination. Enter Viator, a platform that lets me search a destination to get an idea of the experiences possible in a place and a one-stop shop for many tickets.
We often have too little time for our vacations and they cost a lot of money, so picking the right attractions to visit and experiences to have is important. Viator lets me search cities around the globe, so I can get inspiration about what I want to see, do, and experience. They say the journey is as important as the destination and playing around with top Viator experiences and Viator destinations on their website makes the trip last even longer since mentally the journey has already began!
Here are some Viator booking tips to help you with your trip planning.
What is Viator?
Viator is a leading online platform that connects travelers with incredible experiences worldwide. They offer over 200,000 bookable activities across the globe, offering a treasure trove of tours, experiences, attractions, and day trips. The Viator platform is vast though and can be overwhelming, so I created the Roaming Historian Viator Shop where I have curated and shared some travel experiences that I think look interesting and have good Viator reviews. You can check out my shop if you want to see options that I think look good.
How does Viator work?
Viator has a user-friendly platform that allows travelers to search for experiences based on destination, type of activity, or specific interests. The platform offers filtering options to help narrow down choices. Each experience comes with detailed descriptions, including what to expect, departure times, and user reviews, which help travelers make informed decisions. You can also look for “top Viator experiences” for major cities in order to see what activities constantly get top reviews.
Viator doesn’t offer the experiences themselves—they work with the travel companies and operators who offer the experiences. In other words, they are an aggregator. You book on their website but the tickets come from the company you are booking with. You can see who the operator is when you do the listing. Viator doesn’t add a charge either. For instance, when I booked Chicago Field Museum tickets through them, I paid the same price as I would have on the museum website and the tickets were sent instantaneously electronically. The benefit was that by booking through Viator I had all my booking information in one place.
I also enjoy that by searching for the top Viator experiences I get to see what other travelers think is great. This is cool because although I generally read travel articles about “what to do/see” before I go to a city those are generally limited to the “top 10” and are written for the general public. I can find the best tours for me, including ones I never even knew existed, by using Viator reviews to compare similar experiences from different companies.
What kind of experiences does Viator offer and where?
From the wonders of Europe and Asia to the marvels of the Americas, Africa, and Australia, with Viator destinations the world is opened to you.
- Tours: Viator’s tours range from classic city walks to off-the-beaten-path adventures, ensuring there’s something for every type of traveler. Their curated experiences prioritize cultural immersion, providing opportunities to engage with local communities, learn ancient traditions, and support initiatives that preserve and celebrate indigenous heritage.
- Activities: Whether you’re an adrenaline junkie or a culture enthusiast, Viator’s activities have got you covered. How about: Snorkeling with sea turtles in Hawaii? Learning to make authentic pasta in Tuscany? Taking a hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia? The possibilities are endless!
- Attractions: Say goodbye to long queues and confusing ticket systems. Viator offers easy access to world-famous attractions like the Eiffel Tower, Colosseum, and Taj Mahal. With priority access options, you’ll spend less time waiting and more time exploring. Pro tip: Look for “Skip the Line” tours to make the most of your time at popular attractions!
- Day trips: Why limit yourself to one location? Viator’s day trips allow you to explore nearby destinations without the hassle of planning transportation and itineraries.
Why should I use Viator?
- Variety: With thousands of experiences across the globe, you’re sure to find something that sparks your wanderlust. Viator’s search functionality will guide you to the perfect match.
- Convenience: Book everything in one place, often with mobile tickets for easy access.
- Flexibility: Many tours offer free cancellation, perfect for uncertain times.
- Local Insights: See the world through local eyes and gain authentic experiences led by knowledgeable local guides. Embrace the opportunity to engage with your guides, ask questions, and seek their recommendations on hidden gems, local customs, and off-the-beaten-path experiences.
- User Reviews: With millions of authentic insights at your disposal, you can make informed decisions, gaining invaluable perspectives on the quality of experiences, the expertise of guides, and the overall value proposition. Pro tip: Look for Viator’s Badge of Excellence to see which tours have consistently garnered good reviews.
- Inside Access and Exclusive Privileges: One of the hallmarks of a truly exceptional tour is the ability to gain insider access and exclusive privileges that would otherwise be inaccessible to the general public. Viator’s partnerships with local operators and cultural institutions often grant you privileged entry, allowing you to bypass lengthy queues, explore restricted areas, and savor experiences that are off-limits to the masses.
Travel can transform us by expanding our horizons, challenging our perspectives, and creating lasting connections between us and the places we visit. We often come away energized, relaxed, and invigorated. I bring back a little of each place I visit and incorporate it into my regular life—that way my travels (and happy places) aren’t so very far away. Viator is a cool tool to use to help me daydream travel and the next great adventure I’m going to have. As you navigate Viator’s trip planning tools, remember that it is a gateway to possibilities, so go ahead and immerse yourself in the fun. Although the destination is great, there is joy in the journey to get there.
I used to be skeptical about Viator—as I am all aggregators—but now I’ve purchased through it and see the benefits, so I became an affiliate of them. It doesn’t increase your costs, so we would appreciate you using our Viator affiliate links or using our Viator shop when making selections. I hope this article helps you find the best Viator tours. Happy travels!
Viator Link: https://www.viator.com/?pid=P00161535&mcid=42383&medium=link&medium_version=selector
Viator Shop: https://www.viator.com/partner-shop/roaming-historian
With industry leaders in tours, travel insurance, hotels, vacation rentals, flights, cruises, and trip planning (LivTours, World Nomads, Expedia, Viator, VRBO, & more), explore the world with our curated list of affiliate links on our Travel Planning page: https://roaminghistorian.com/travel-planning/
Check out our tour trip partners all over the world:
Europe: https://roaminghistorian.com/european-tours/
Italy alone: https://roaminghistorian.com/save-money-italy-tours/
North, South, and Central America: https://roaminghistorian.com/usa-tours/
Africa, Asia, and Australia: https://roaminghistorian.com/visit-africa-asia-australia/
Disclosure: Roaming Historian may derive revenue from affiliate links and other sources, which helps offset the costs of bringing you the information we do. The blogs and reviews posted on this website are of our own opinion though.
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