Review: Viator


Yes, Viator is a reliable way to book activities while you travel. The catalogue lists more than 400,000 experiences, most can be cancelled for free up to 24 hours before, and in our test the ticket cost exactly the same as on the attraction’s official website.
Our advice before you pay: use a card with no foreign transaction fees, such as the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card. That way, you avoid the 2.5% most cards add on an activity charged in a foreign currency.

Viator was born in Sydney in 1995, and Tripadvisor bought it in 2014. Today, the platform brings together more than 400,000 activities worldwide, from guided tours to day trips.
You’ll also find admission tickets and skip-the-line tickets, handy for avoiding the queue at the busiest attractions.
Viator doesn’t run any activity itself. Instead, it acts as the middleman: local operators list their tours, and you search, compare and book them in one place, with a single account.
Yes. You pay Viator, and Viator is also the one that refunds you if you cancel on time. However, the quality of the activity depends on the operator, so before you book, read the recent reviews and the organizer’s name on the activity page.
Each activity page shows a rating out of 5, the number of reviews and travellers’ photos. We suggest you focus on reviews from the last few months, because they reflect the activity as it is now.
Five advantages tip the scales in Viator’s favour:
The last limit often comes as a surprise. Viator excludes from Rewards any booking made through an affiliate link, including when such a click left a cookie on your device in the past 30 days.

To find out whether Viator costs more, we compared the same ticket on both websites: adult admission to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. The result: $33.84 on both, taxes included.
| Criterion | Viator | Hall of Fame website (hhof.com) |
|---|---|---|
| Displayed price | $33.84, taxes and fees included | $29.95, before taxes |
| 13% HST | Included | $3.89 |
| Total paid | $33.84 | $33.84 |
| Visit date | Chosen when you book | Any day until December 31, 2026 |
| Reserve Now & Pay Later | Yes | No, payment at checkout |
| Viator Rewards | Yes, when you book directly on viator.com | No |
So price doesn’t separate the two options; the terms do. On one side, Viator lets you cancel for free up to 24 hours before and pay later. On the other, the ticket bought on the Hall of Fame website isn’t tied to a date and stays valid until December 31, 2026.


Above all, keep the method in mind: open the same activity on Viator and on the operator’s website, compare the total with taxes, then choose based on the flexibility you need.
Pay with a credit card with no foreign transaction fees: most cards add a 2.5% fee when the activity is charged in a foreign currency.
For activities charged in US dollars or euros, here’s our pick:
Your account takes a minute to set up: an email address, a password, then a confirmation link sent by email.
You then use it for everything: saving your favourite activities, booking, leaving reviews and earning Viator Rewards.
Once you sign up, you also receive Viator’s promotions.
They come in two forms:
Be careful, though: a promo code can’t be combined with your Viator Rewards. When you pay, keep whichever discount saves you more.
Viator doesn’t have a user guide. Instead, your account gives you access to a help centre that covers choosing an activity, reviews, Viator Rewards and payment.
If you have a problem with a booking, Viator's help centre directs you to the right service.
Start with your destination: the most popular activities appear first. Then, filters help you narrow your choice, from a private tour to a small group.
Each activity page details the duration, what’s included, how it unfolds and its accessibility for people with reduced mobility. Read it to the end, because the cancellation policy is there too.
When you pay, you can also let the operator know about a special need, such as a stroller to store.
Beyond the most visited sights, Viator also opens the door to off-the-beaten-path activities, often run by locals.
These are often what makes a trip memorable: an Italian food tour in Greenwich Village, New York, a surfing lesson at Waikiki, Hawaii, or a fado evening in Lisbon.

The “Reserve Now & Pay Later” option holds your spot without you having to pay right away.
The activity page shows whether it’s offered, and Viator charges nothing extra to use it. It comes in handy when your travel dates aren’t set yet.
Once the activity is paid for, your tickets arrive by email and in the app. Download them before you leave if you might not have a signal on site.
You can see your bookings at any time in your Viator account, under "Manage my booking".
Something came up? You handle everything from your account.
In your account, open the booking and select "Manage your booking": you'll find the cancellation and refund request options there.
Then follow the steps: Viator confirms your request by email.
For most experiences, you get your money back in full if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start. Still, check the exact policy on each activity page.
After the activity, it’s your turn to rate it. Open your bookings and choose “Write a review”: your feedback helps the next travellers choose.
Download Viator's free app from Google Play or the App Store: you'll find the activity catalogue, your bookings and your tickets there.
Before you book, we suggest opening the same activity on a second platform, because price and cancellation policy sometimes change from one site to another.
Viator suits you if you want to book a popular activity in advance, keep the freedom to cancel and manage everything from one account.
For us, Viator remains a safe bet. In our test, the ticket cost the same as on the official website, and you also got free cancellation up to 24 hours before and the option to pay later.
Viator is a Milesopedia partner: if you book through our link, you support our work at no extra cost to you. Keep in mind, though, that a booking made through an affiliate link doesn't earn you Viator Rewards.
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Viator has been around since 1995 and offers more than 400,000 experiences. Each activity is still run by a local operator: before you book, read the recent reviews of the activity and the name of its organizer.
Not in our test: the adult ticket for the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto costs $33.84 with taxes on Viator and on the official website alike. If you find the same activity cheaper online, on the same date and in the same currency, the lowest price guarantee refunds the difference. You have until 48 hours after the activity starts to send your proof, on a purchase of at least US$20.
Each eligible booking gives you a dollar credit, available 24 hours after your activity and valid for 180 days. It applies automatically to your next booking. Note that a booking made through an affiliate link doesn’t earn any, even if the click dates from the past 30 days.
Yes, for most experiences: you get a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start. Still check the policy shown on the activity page, as some are exceptions.
A card with no foreign transaction fees, if the activity is charged in a foreign currency. Most cards add 2.5% on those purchases; the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card doesn't, so you only pay the exchange rate.
Not always. For activities that offer it, the "Reserve Now & Pay Later" option holds your spot at no extra cost, and you pay later.
Both sell activities from local operators. For the same activity, compare the price and the cancellation policy on both platforms, then read our GetYourGuide review.
Our reviews and rankings are based on an objective assessment. Advertisers do not influence our content. We may receive compensation through some links; our analysis and opinions remain independent.