Highlights of Scandinavia

After your arrival at Stockholm Arlanda Airport, make your way into Stockholm city centre. Many travellers opt to take the express train to Stockholm Central Station. Your accommodation will be located nearby. For a more direct and comfortable way to travel, we are happy to organise a private airport transfer for you. 

If you arrive early in the day, we recommend spending the afternoon strolling through the city centre. You could go shopping on the well-known pedestrian street Drottninggatan and explore the surrounding area of Östermalm. Here you will find numerous shops, cafés, and restaurants for a perfect introduction to Scandinavian culture.

This evening, you will meet your group and tour leader at a welcome dinner. 

Spend the night at the Elite Hotel Adlon or similar.

Included:
• Welcome dinner with tour leader and travel companions

Today you will explore the historical heart of Stockholm. In the morning, embark on a guided bus tour around the top city attractions including the City Hall, the hip district of Södermalm, where you will get a panoramic view over Stockholm, and the Old Town (“Gamla Stan”). Next, you will go on a guided walk through the medieval cobbled streets of the Old Town where you’ll also enjoy lunch with the group. 

After lunch, you get the rest of the day to explore on your own. We recommend taking a short ferry ride to the charming island Djurgården. Here you’ll find some of Scandinavia’s most popular museums, including the Vasa Museum and Abba The Museum. You could also visit Skansen, the oldest open-air museum and zoo in Sweden. Other sightseeing options include joining a guided boat tour of the archipelago or visiting the Royal Palace. Tonight you will dine on your own in Stockholm. 

Spend another night at the Elite Hotel Adlon or similar.

Included:
• Continental breakfast buffet at your accommodation
• Guided sightseeing tour of Stockholm (4 hours)
• Lunch in Old Town

Estimated time with tour leader: 5 hours

After breakfast, the group will head to Stockholm Central Station for a half-day train journey to Denmark. As you travel to your next Scandinavian destination, you’ll be rewarded with the gorgeous scenery of the idyllic farmlands and forests of southern Sweden.

Once you’ve reached Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, you will be transferred by bus to your accommodation. Then a local guide will meet you to take you on a walking tour of Copenhagen’s main landmarks. Stroll through the grand courtyard of the Amalienborg Palace, where the Danish Royal Guard stands watch day and night. Take in the impressive Frederiks Kirke and the picturesque and colourful Nyhavn harbour. A drink will also be offered during the tour. After your guided walk, you will dine with the group.

Spend the night at the Scandic Front Hotel or similar.

Included:
• Continental breakfast buffet at your accommodation
• Train from Stockholm to Copenhagen
• Bus transfer from Copenhagen Central Station to your accommodation
• Guided walking tour of Copenhagen including drink (3 hours)
• Dinner at a restaurant in town

Estimated time with tour leader: 10-11 hours (including train travel)
Estimated travel duration: 5 hours by train

This morning you will enjoy a guided tour of the Renaissance-era Rosenborg Castle followed by a walk through the lush Botanical Garden. You will stop for lunch at the famous Torvehallerne food market – a favourite amongst local and visiting foodies. After lunch, you will get a different perspective of the city with a short canal boat tour with views of Christiansborg Palace, the Royal Danish Opera House and the colourful Christianshavn canal.

You’ll then get the rest of the afternoon and evening to explore at your leisure. A perfect way to spend the afternoon and evening is visiting the famous Tivoli Gardens amusement park. It combines international architecture, nostalgic games and rides, as well as lights and music (entrance fee included). Tonight, you will dine on your own.

Spend another night at the Scandic Front Hotel or similar.

Included:
• Continental breakfast buffet at your accommodation
• Guided tour of Rosenborg Castle (1 hour)
• Boat tour around the harbour and canals of Copenhagen (1 hour)
• Entrance to Tivoli Gardens

Estimated time with tour leader: 6-7 hours

Explore the Danish capital on your own this morning. We recommend strolling along Strøget, a central street of Copenhagen renowned for world-class shopping, or relaxing at one of the cafés or restaurants by Nyhavn. 

If you’re up for it, walk up the winding equestrian staircase of the Round Tower (Rundetårn), or, for amazing views of the city, climb the 400 steps to the spiralling steeple of the Church of our Saviour. You can also take this time to take a leisurely stroll along the shoreline to the world-famous Little Mermaid statue.

In the early afternoon, you will board a cruise to Oslo and enjoy a traditional Scandinavian dinner buffet on board. As you sail up the Kattegat strait to Norway’s capital, you can take part in the on-board entertainment or just relax and watch the sunset from the deck.

Spend the night on the cruise, in a private cabin with sea view.

Included:
• Continental breakfast buffet at your accommodation 
• Overnight cruise from Copenhagen to Oslo
• Scandinavian dinner buffet onboard the ship

Estimated time with tour leader: 2 hours

Enjoy the views of the Oslo Fjord during breakfast as the ship sails into port. As you disembark, you‘ll head straight into exploring the Norwegian capital with a local knowledgeable guide.

The bus tour will take you along the famous landmarks of the city. The highlights include the beautiful Vigeland Sculpture Park, filled with over 200 metal and stone artworks, the Royal Palace, Akershus fortress, and City Hall. Tonight you will dine at your leisure. 

Spend the night at the Thon Hotel Opera or similar.

Included:
• Continental breakfast buffet on board the ship)
• Guided sightseeing tour of Oslo (4 hours)

Estimated time with tour leader: 4-5 hours

After an early breakfast, you will head to Oslo Central Station to start your Norway in a Nutshell® journey towards Bergen. This train ride, ranked amongst the 20 best train journeys in the world, takes you over Norway’s mountainous “rooftop” and through charming villages like Gol and Geilo. In Myrdal, you will board the Flåm Railway for an incredible 20-kilometre (12-mile) ride with a 900-metre (3,000-foot) descent to the beautiful village of Flåm.

In Flåm, you’ll have free admission to the Flåm Railway Documentation Centre, located right beside Flåm Station. Here you can learn about the construction of one of the world’s steepest railway lines. In the evening, the group will dine together at your accommodation.

Spend the night at the Fretheim Hotel or similar.

Included:
• Continental breakfast buffet at your accommodation
• Norway in a Nutshell® railway journey from Oslo to Bergen (with overnight stop in Flåm)
• Direct luggage transfer from Oslo to Bergen
• Dinner at your accommodation

Estimated escorted time with tour leader as a group: 6-7 hours (including travel time)
Estimated travel duration: 6 hours total

You are free to explore Flåm as you wish this morning before the group boards a cruise to continue the journey. The boat tour will take you onto Aurlandsfjord and the World Heritage-protected Nærøyfjord, the narrowest fjord in the world. This is perhaps the most beautiful and wildest arm of the Sognefjord, with its tall mountains, mighty waterfalls and small farms clinging to the steep mountainsides.

On arrival at the pier in Gudvangen, you‘ll board a coach bus to take you on to Voss, where you will switch onto a train for the last stretch of the journey to Bergen, arriving around 9pm.

Tonight you will dine on your own, eating something light on the train or eating later upon your arrival in Bergen.

Spend the night at the Zander K Hotel or similar.

Included:
• Continental breakfast buffet at your accommodation
• Fjord cruise from Flåm to Gudvangen
• Bus transfer from Gudvangen to Voss
• Train from Voss to Bergen

Estimated time with tour leader: 5-6 hours (including train travel)
Estimated travel duration: 5 hours total including cruise, bus and train

Bergen, the “Capital of the fjords”, is Norway’s second largest city while still enjoying the charms of a small town. You’ll experience its beauty and character first-hand with a guided walking tour. A local will take you around Bryggen, the medieval part of the city, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will then take the funicular up to nearby mountain, Fløyen, for stunning panoramic views over the city and surrounding fjords.

You get the rest of the afternoon to explore Bergen at your leisure. In the evening, you’ll share one last dinner with your travel companions, a chance to chat about your favourite memories from your Scandinavian tour.

Spend another night at the Zander K Hotel or similar.

Included:
• Continental breakfast buffet at your accommodation
• Guided walking tour of Bergen (2.5 hours)
• Fløibanen funicular round-trip tickets
• Farewell dinner with the group

Estimated time with tour leader: 4-5 hours

When it’s time for your Scandinavian adventure to come to an end, you can either take a taxi from your accommodation to the airport or hop on the airport bus. If your flight is in the afternoon, you can choose to enjoy some last-minute shopping in Bergen, visit one more attraction or simply relax in a local café, enjoying the last few moments of this amazing journey.