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Cruise Ship in Norway - Hurtigruten©

Best of Scandinavia - Norway Cruise & Iceland - Winter

Train, Cruise & Minibus

(17 days / 16 nights)

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THE CHARM OF THE NORDICS

Spend 17 days on the ultimate Scandinavian tour that combines the history and culture of capital cities and charming towns, along with the breathtaking nature of the Nordics. Explore these modern, yet historical cities by land and sea as you cruise from Copenhagen to Oslo and explore these enchanting cities by foot. The tour also includes the popular Norway in a Nutshell® train journey over the mountains to Oslo, a relaxing Hurtigruten cruise, along with time in idyllic Iceland, touring the Golden Circle and scenic South Coast.

Looking for the summer version of this tour?

17 days / 16 nights

Price p.p. from

The amount will be charged in EUR

Approx 5807 EUR

— Why book with Nordic Visitor

  • Hassle-free & seamless travel experience
  • Tailored tour options
  • Quality & value for your money
  • Trusted local travel experts
  • Great customer reviews
  • Carbon offsetting included

Read more

— Book With Confidence

  • Optional cancellation insurance
  • Affordable deposits from 10%

Terms and conditions apply

Tour Highlights

  • Explore the colourful capitals of Iceland, Norway, Sweden & Denmark
  • Search for majestic northern lights in Iceland
  • Sail along the Norwegian coast on the famous Hurtigruten cruise
  • Board the Norway in a Nutshell® tour for breathtaking wintry landscapes
  • Explore the medieval city of Trondheim
  • Discover the Golden Circle and black sand beaches in Iceland
  • Stroll through Norway’s grand capital, Oslo and visit charming Bergen
  • Enjoy the charms of Swedish Fika in Gamla Stan (Old Town)
  • See the cascading waterfalls of Seljalandsfoss & Skógafoss in Iceland
  • Enjoy exploring the capitals at your own time and joining optional guided tours of the cities

Travel style

Independent Tours i

Interest

Culture and History i, Fjords i, Hurtigruten cruise i, Northern Lights i

Season

Oct - Apr

Departure

Daily

Interest

Culture and History i, Fjords i, Hurtigruten cruise i, Northern Lights i

Itinerary

A day-by-day plan to guide your Nordic adventure.

  • Day 1: WELCOME TO SWEDEN

    When you arrive at Stockholm-Arlanda Airport, make your way to Stockholm city centre. Many travellers opt to take the express train to Stockholm Central Station, but we also offer direct private transfers. After settling in at your hotel, spend the day exploring the beautiful city. Stroll the well-known street Drottninggatan where you can shop and feel the vibe of the capital city. Go for a walk in the surrounding area of Östermalm, where you will find interesting shops, cafés, and restaurants for a perfect introduction to Scandinavian culture. It could be fun to pick a cafe and experience Swedish „fika“, an afternoon tea or coffee.

    Spend the night in Stockholm.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 2: THE CHARMS OF SWEDISH CULTURE

    Today you will explore the heart of scenic Stockholm. We recommend exploring the capital by foot, Today you will explore the heart of scenic Stockholm. We recommend exploring the capital by foot, visiting attractions such as the Old Town (Gamla Stan), where you will find the Royal Palace, the parliament, old churces, beautiful cobble stone streets and medieval houses.

    After some time at Gamla Stan, you can take a short ferry ride to the nearby island Djurgården, a cultural oasis with something for everyone. Here you will find the kitschy Abba Museum, the Nordic Museum, the Vasa Museum and the Skansen open-air museum. It is ideal to spend the afternoon here, exploring the grounds and many attractions.

    Spend the night in Stockholm.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 3: TRAVEL FROM STOCKHOLM TO LOVELY COPENHAGEN

    Today you will take a short flight to Copenhagen. After settling in at your hotel, go for a walk along the enchanting old harbour area of Nyhavn, where you will see colourful houses and lively restaurants among the docked boats. Walk the narrow side streets, visit some shops and try out the traditional Danish open-faced sandwich, Smørrebrød.

    Spend the night in Copenhagen.

    *For those interested, we offer the option of travelling by train instead of flight between Stockholm and Denmark. For more details click the optional activities.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 4: A DAY IN CAPTIVATING COPENHAGEN

    You have the whole day to explore Copenhagen. We recommend seeing the city by foot, visiting landmarks like Amalienborg Palace (limited opening hours), Christiansborg Palace (limited opening hours), and the famous Little Mermaid statue. An optional cruise from the harbour is also highly recommended as you can appreciate the architecture and beauty of the city by water. Next, stroll Ströget street for some shopping and grab something to eat at Torvehallerne food hall.

    Spend the night in Copenhagen.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 5: SET SAIL FOR NORWAY

    Spend the morning touring Copenhagen. Some interesting attractions include the observatory of The Round Tower, the most famous church in Copenhagen, Church of Our Saviour, as well as the impeccable King’s Garden, and the regal Rosenborg Castle. In the early afternoon, it’s time to board your cruise to Oslo, which sails gently up the Kattegat Sund on its way to Norway’s capital city. You can enjoy dinner in one of the restaurants, check out the entertainment on board or just relax and watch the sunset from the deck.

    Spend the night on the cruise.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 6: ENJOY ENCHANTING OSLO

    After the cruise ship docks, get ready to see the best of Oslo. The city is quite walkable and recommend exploring by foot and the convenience of public transport. Notable attractions include the beautiful Vigeland Sculpture Park and Fram Polar Ship Museum as well as spending some time along the beautiful harbour area.

    Other interesting stops include the Munch Museum, Royal Palace, Akershus Fortress, and Oslo City Hall

    Spend the night in Oslo.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions
  • Day 7: RAILWAY JOURNEY TO TRONDHEIM

    This morning you will head out early to Oslo Central Station to board the half-day (6.5-hour) journey aboard the Dovrebanen train. The train route passes over the Dovre mountain plateau through historic towns and nature preservations and includes great variations in terrain and altitude. The journey concludes with a steep, curvy descent down to the lowlands where Trondheim is located.

    Spend the afternoon discovering Trondheim, including Bakklandet, an idyllic neighbourhood full of history and culture, Nidaros Cathedral, as well as other attractions such as the Ringve museum and gardens, Munkholmen and the Old town bridge.

    Spend the night in Trondheim.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions
  • Day 8: EXPLORING THE COASTLINE OF NORWAY

    This morning, you will embark on a cruise that will have you discovering the enchanting wintry beauty of Norway. You will head to the Trondheim harbour to board a Hurtigruten cruise ship for the Norwegian Coastal Voyage. It will then set sail along the Trondheim fjord and past Hitra Island, enjoying views of the icy fjord from the comfort of the ship.

    In the evening, the boat will dock at the city of Kristiansund and the town of Molde, lovely under soft winter light. This journey passes through some breathtaking coastal landscapes, and the final port of the day is a brief stop in Ålesund, after midnight.

    Spend the night on board Hurtigruten, in a private cabin.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions
  • Day 9: SAIL TO HISTORIC BERGEN

    During the night, the ship calls at Torvik, Maløy, and Florø as the journey weaves through islets and stunning landscapes before coming within view of its final destination—Bergen. Here you will disembark the ship at 14:30 to enjoy some leisure time. Bergen, “The Capital of the Fjords”, has all the charms of a small town. Here you’ll find Bryggen, a UNESCO World Heritage site, along with remarkably preserved old houses, a lively fish and flower market, cable cars offering stunning views, great museums and more. We recommend riding the Fløibanen Funicular to Mount Fløyen to enjoy the panoramic view of the city. Bergen is surrounded by 7 mountains so a good place for hiking.

    Spend the night in Bergen.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions
  • Day 10: NORWAY IN A NUTSHELL BY LAND AND SEA

    Today will be an especially scenic day with a lot of travel. From Bergen, the early Bergensbanen train transports you to Voss, followed by bus to Gudvangen.

    There, you will embark on a scenic 2-hour fjord cruise to Flåm, including a trip through Nærøyfjord, the narrowest fjord in all of Europe. This UNESCO World Heritage site is perhaps the most breathtaking part of Sognefjord, Norway’s longest and deepest fjord, with its mighty peaks, tumbling waterfalls, and small farms dotting the mountainsides. Finally, the boat sails up Aurlandsfjord to Flåm, a charming village, where you will spend the evening. 

    Spend the night in Flåm.

    We recommend booking luggage transfer for the travel between Bergen and Oslo.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 11: THE FLÅM RAILWAY EXPERIENCE

    In the morning, you'll experience the famous Flåm Railway as it climbs 900 metres over a span of 20 kilometres up the winding track to the Myrdal Station. Here you will switch to the Bergensbanen train that takes you over the mountainous rooftops of Norway. This ride will take you through the charming villages of Geilo and Gol before concluding in Oslo, where you will spend your last night in this amazing country.

    Spend the night in Oslo.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions
  • Day 12: IDYLLIC ICELAND & NORTHERN LIGHT HUNT

    This morning, enjoy some last-minute shopping, visit one of Oslo’s many museums or relax at a café, before heading to the airport for your flight to Iceland. On arrival to Keflavik International Airport, you will be greeted by a driver who will take you to your accommodation in Reykjavík.

    In the evening, get ready to search for the otherworldly northern lights. You will join a guided small group bus tour with a knowledgeable driver that will find a great spot to view the white, green and sometimes red lights dancing and flickering in the sky.

    Spend the next five nights in Reykjavik.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 13: REYKJAVÍK CITY WALK & BLUE LAGOON

    After breakfast, enjoy an exclusive walking tour in the heart of Reykjavík. You’ll join a small group and a friendly local guide. The tour starts at Ingólfur Square (“Ingólfstorg”) in the city centre.  

    Over the course of the 2-hour walk, your guide will introduce you to the bustling downtown area. They will also point out great restaurants, charming cafés and museums in the area.

    The highlights you’ll see on this tour include the Harpa concert hall, the old harbour area, the parliament building, the Reykjavík pond and more! This is a great way to see the best of the Icelandic capital and get some insider knowledge on hidden gems in the city.

    Later in the afternoon, you will be picked up for a bus transfer to the famous Blue Lagoon spa. Here, you can spend your time bathing in the heated geothermal outdoor pool, which is rich in silica and soothing for your skin. There is also a mask bar, a sauna and steam room to take advantage of. Or enjoy a spa treatment (must be booked in advance).

    After relaxing in the warm waters, you can choose to dine at the luxurious Lava Restaurant on-site, before taking the bus back to Reykjavík.

    Spend the night in Reykjavík.

    Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 14: Exploring the Golden Circle

    Today you visit some of Iceland’s most famous attractions with a small guided group tour of the classic “Golden Circle” route in South Iceland. You will start the day heading to Hveragerði where the bus will make a short stop before continuing on your journey.

    One of the many highlights you’ll see today is the impressive Kerið Crater. Other attractions include the magical two-tiered Gullfoss waterfall and the spouting hot springs of Geysir. While Geysir lies dormant, its neighbour Strokkur erupts every few minutes, gushing steam and water high into the air.

    The last stop of the day is Þingvellir National Park, a place of great historical and geological significance. It is also one of Iceland’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Þingvellir is the site of the country’s first parliament and is located along the edge of the great rift between the Eurasian and American tectonic plates.

    Spend the night in Reykjavík.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 15: The South Coast – Glaciers and Black Sand Beaches

    Enjoy a guided group tour along the striking south coast of Iceland on another day of adventures. Start your journey with a stop at the picture-perfect, 60-metre-high (197-foot-high) Skógafoss waterfall. Next you’ll stop at Reynisfjara, a hauntingly beautiful black sand beach. You will then continue towards the town of Vík where you’ll make a photo stop at the local church, which offers expansive views of the landscape.

    Then it is time to head back along the south coast. You will stop at Sólheimajökull glacier where you will learn everything about glaciers and the area. The last highlight of the day is the picturesque Seljalandsfoss waterfall, which is 40 metres (131 feet) high. Its main attraction, besides the scenery, is the pathway leading behind the waterfall, giving you a chance to admire the falls from all angles. Later, you’ll return to Reykjavík.

    Spend the night in Reykjavík.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 16: YOUR ICELANDIC ADVENTURE

    Today is up to you! You could choose to join an exciting optional activity like snorkeling in the Silfra fissure at Þingvellir National Park, or riding a stocky and adorable Icelandic horse, or even venturing inside a glacier. The Into the Glacier tour is highly recommended. You would be transported to Húsafell in the west, transfer to a customised vehicle to climb the glacier, and get to explore the actual ice in Iceland from the inside.

    If you are up for a more leisurely day, you could choose to relax in Reykjavik. Options include visiting a local swimming pool, checking out museums, or strolling the charming streets to see where the day takes you. Keep in mind that your travel consultant can fulfill customised requests like renting a car or booking activities that you enjoy.

    Spend the night in Reykjavik.

    See Activities for this day
  • Day 17: DEPARTURE FROM ICELAND

    Your adventure in Scandinavia and Iceland has come to an end. Depart to Keflavik International Airport via a semi-private transfer. If your flight is in the afternoon, you will have time to visit some of Reykjavik´s boutiques or museums. You may also opt to take an exciting optional activity (not included).

    See Activities for this day

Optional extras

We recommend adding your extra activities to the tour now for the best booking experience and to secure your spot, as activities are likely to sell out.

Map

Here’s a map of your travel route, to help put things in perspective.

What's included

Don’t worry, we’ve got this covered.

Reviews

We don’t like to brag, so we’ll let our happy customers do it for us.

Highly recommend Nordic Visitor

We loved most aspects of the tour. Liza from Nordic Visitor was fantastic to deal with and everything was brilliantly organised. The detailed itinerary was very useful as were the suggested tips for the visitor. We'd highly recommend Nordic Visitor to anyone thinking of visiting Scandinavia.

Very well planned!

Our tour was very well planned! We felt like royalty with all our transfer cars booked! The hotels were well chosen and having breakfast included was such a bonus.

Professional and friendly

Everything from initial contact to final details was professional and friendly. Loved every part of this tour and service. Cannot recommend highly enough to anyone thinking about undertaking this option. We only had incredible experiences with all arrangements - we loved them all.

Accommodation

Sleep soundly, in the accommodation type of your choice, and wake up ready to enjoy another day of exploration.

Comfort Plus

Standard rooms in good quality and comfortable three-star hotels in combination with charming country hotels.

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Superior

Standard rooms in four-star hotels in combination with Superior rooms in premium three-star hotels.

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Price per person from

The amount will be charged in EUR

Approx 5807 EUR

Tour Information

We recommend that all Nordic Visitor travellers read through the following information about our self-guided tours, travelling with the cruise ships, boarding flights or trains, weather information, and other useful information for your travels.

We recommend you wait to book flights to Scandinavia, and other parts of your travels, until we can confirm your desired travel dates for this tour. This is due to varying availabilities aboard Norway cruises, as included in this package. Contact us for more details.

OUR SELF-GUIDED TOURS
This is an independent, self-guided tour. All accommodation, flight, cruise and ferry tickets (as specified in the itinerary) will be pre-booked by Nordic Visitor, but travellers are ultimately responsible for getting to hotels and to any airport or ferry departure points by the specified times.

Please note, for each planned activity in Iceland, you can expect a different tour operator and guide, and you will have free time between activities. Nordic Visitor works with a small group of handpicked suppliers that are highly rated and deliver excellent service that meet our high standards.

FLIGHT FROM STOCKHOLM TO COPENHAGEN
Included in the package is a flight between Stockholm and Copenhagen. The direct flight takes approximately 1h10 min. Baggage allowance per person is 20kg per checked bag and 8 kg per carry-on bag. Most days offer flights at mid-day but in some cases, you may be booked on a morning or evening flight. Your travel consultant will book the best option for your travel dates. Please note that airport transfer from your hotel in Stockholm to the airport is not included nor the train from Copenhagen airport to the hotel. We recommend Arlanda Express Train, a short 18-minute train ride to the airport from city center.
 

DFDS CRUISE
The overnight cruise from Copenhagen to Oslo includes cabin accommodation (Comfort Plus or Superior cabin with windows) with private facilities, and breakfast is included. There are two ships operating the route, Pearl Seaways and Crown Seaways, and each ship can accommodate approx. 1800 passengers. On board you will find restaurants, bars and activities.

  • Departure from Copenhagen: 14:15
  • Arrival in Oslo: 09:15
     

FLIGHT FROM STOCKHOLM TO COPENHAGEN
Included in the package is a flight between Stockholm and Copenhagen. The direct flight takes approximately 1h10 min. Baggage allowance per person is 20kg per checked bag and 8 kg per carry-on bag. Most days offer flights at mid-day but in some cases, you may be booked on a morning or evening flight. Your travel consultant will book the best option for your travel dates. Please note that airport transfer from your hotel in Stockholm to the airport is not included nor the train from Copenhagen airport to the hotel. We recommend Arlanda Express Train, a short 18-minute train ride to the airport from city center.

WOULD YOU RATHER TAKE THE TRAIN?
If you prefer to travel from Stockholm to Copenhagen by rail instead of flying, we would be happy to arrange that for you. The train tickets might not be bookable until 30 days prior departure. In the meantime, we will book the rest of the travel arrangements for you. Please select the train option during the booking steps online.

HURTIGRUTEN CRUISE-LINE
The cruise includes cabin accommodation (unspecified cabin with windows/port holes) with private facilities, and breakfast is included. All ships have restaurants, a cafeteria, laundry room, WIFI and on-board activities. The Hurtigruten Coastal voyages are not like conventional cruises as there are 11 different ships that vary in size and age that sail the Norwegian coast on different dates. Optional shore excursions are available onboard, and we recommend that you pre-book them (can be done until 4 weeks prior to arrival depending on availability). We are unable to offer guaranteed cabin numbers for port-to-port and short voyages (less than 5 nights). You can disembark the ship in ports where the stop is for more than 30 minutes.

NORWAY IN A NUTSHELL® WINTER TOUR

This tour includes the famous Norway in a Nutshell® tour from Bergen to Oslo. This is one of Norway’s most iconic journeys. You’ll travel by train, bus and ferry, seeing beautiful landscapes of steep mountains, cascading waterfalls, shimmering fjords, charming villages and scenic coastline.

The first leg of the journey is from Bergen to Flåm. Then you’ll travel from Flåm to Oslo. The duration of both days will be around 6 hours. 

The connections will be announced and clearly explained in your travel documents. You will receive a ticket with all the information about transfer points and timings with your final travel documents.

There are places to store your luggage during each leg of your journey. Be aware that if you do not book luggage transfer in advance, you have to carry your luggage from train to bus to boat etc.

FLIGHT FROM OSLO TO REYKJAVIK
Included in the package is a direct flight between Oslo and Reykjavik. The flight takes approx. 3hrs. Baggage allowance per person is 20kg per suitcase and 8 kg per hand luggage. The flight schedule varies, and your travel consultant will book the best option for your travel dates. Please note that transfer to Oslo airport is not included.

THE BLUE LAGOON
Please note that your scheduled transfer to the Blue Lagoon can be on a coach bus, with up to 70 fellow travellers. The minimum age requirement for children at the Blue Lagoon is 2-years old. It is mandatory for children aged 2 to 8 to wear inflatable armbands while in the lagoon. These are provided free of charge. Please note that only two (2) children under the age of 10 can be admitted into the lagoon per guardian.

THE NORTHERN LIGHTS & DAYLIGHT IN ICELAND
The best months to experience the northern lights are October through April, with peak visibility from December through February. Please note that as the northern lights are a natural phenomenon, we cannot guarantee sightings even if the tour is operated. Please be advised that daylight is limited in Iceland during the winter months, with 4-5 hours of daylight from December to January.

AUTUMN & SPRING IN SCANDINAVIA
If you are travelling to Scandinavia during the spring (end of March - end of April), or autumn (mid-September – mid October) please be advised that the weather is much milder and you will get to experience warmer temperatures in Sweden and Denmark and more sunlight compared to the winter months. However, the weather can be a bit colder during these months in Norway.

WINTER TRAVEL IN SCANDINAVIA
Travelling in the winter season in Scandinavia is highly recommended and very enjoyable. You will get a chance to see the snow covered landscape during the deep winter months (December – February) and it‘s not as cold as one would think. Please be advised that northern lights in Scandinavia can only be seen from northern Norway, Iceland, Swedish Lapland & Finnish Lapland, which is not part of this tour package. Also, please note that there are limited opening hours during the Christmas and New Year‘s season throughout the countries. If you have any additional questions, please contact your travel consultant for further information.

WHAT TO PACK

  • If booking the additional luggage transfer - an overnight bag in Flåm
  • Warm outdoor clothing, including a thermal base layer
  • Warm socks
  • Waterproof jacket and pants
  • Hats and gloves
  • Sturdy hiking boots
  • Camera
  • Lip balm & moisturizer
     

CURRENCY RATE
All bookings are charged in Euros (EUR). Prices displayed in other currencies are indicative only and based on the daily exchange rate. Therefore, conversions from EUR to other currencies will fluctuate from day to day.

AFTER BOOKING WITH NORDIC VISITOR
After booking your package with Nordic Visitor, you will be contacted within two working days by one of our travel consultants, who will serve as your dedicated contact person for all of your travel needs before, during and even after your holiday. Your travel consultant will provide you with details about your booking and your remaining payment (if not paid in full). You will also receive more information about what to expect during your holiday.

CARBON OFFSETTING YOUR TOUR
Nordic Visitor is working on offsetting the estimated carbon footprint of your package. We’ve partnered with an environmental fund in Iceland to carbon offset all our tours. Carbon offsetting your international flights is not included, but we highly recommend you look into possibilities with your airline or directly through a local environment fund.

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