Capitals of Scandinavia & Norwegian Fjords ... Independent Holidays

Endless day, perpetual night. Rocking festivals, majestic aurora borealis. With effortlessly chic cities and remote forests, Scandinavia attracts style-gurus and wilderness-hikers alike.

Outdoors
The great outdoors is rarely greater than in Europe's big north. Epic expanses of wilderness – forests, lakes, volcanoes – and intoxicatingly pure air mean engaging with nature is a viscerally pleasurable experience. National parks cover the region, offering some of Europe's best hiking as well as anything from kayaking to glacier-walking to bear-watching. Spectacular coasts invite exploration from the sea, whether there be rugged fjords, cliffs teeming with seabirds or archipelagos so speckled with islands it looks like an artist flicked a paintbrush at a canvas. Wildlife from whales to wolverines awaits the fortunate observer.

City Style
Stolid Nordic stereotypes dissolve in the region's vibrant capitals. Crest-of-the-wave design can be seen in them all, backed by outstanding modern architecture, excellent museums, imaginative solutions for 21st-century urban living, internationally acclaimed restaurants and a nightlife that fizzes along despite hefty beer prices. Live music is a given: you're bound to come across some inspiring local act, whether your taste is Viking metal or chamber music. Style here manages to be conservative and innovative at the same time, or perhaps it's just that the new and the old blend with less effort than elsewhere.

Seasons
They have proper seasons up here. Long winters carpeted with thick snow, the sun making cameo appearances if at all. Despite scary subzero temperatures, there's a wealth of things to do: skiing, sledding behind huskies or reindeer, snowmobile safaris to the Arctic Sea, ice fishing, romantic nights in snow hotels, visiting Santa Claus and gazing at the soul-piercing aurora borealis. Spring sees nature's tentative awakening before the explosive summer's long, long days, filled with festivals, beer terraces and wonderful boating, hiking and cycling. Autumn forests display a glorious array of colours, offering marvellous woodland walking before the first snows.

Green Choices
You'll rarely come across the word 'ecotourism' in Scandinavia, but those values have long been an important part of life here. Generally, green, sustainable solutions are a way of living, rather than a gimmick to attract visitors. Scandinavia will likely be affected by climate change significantly, and big efforts to reduce emissions are being made across the region. Travelling here, you'll be struck by the excellent levels of environmental protection, the sensible 'why don't we do that back home' impact-reducing strategies and the forward thinking. It makes for pleasurably enlightening travel.

On this tour … THE UNBEATABLE BEAUTY OF SCANDINAVIA

Experience the culture of Scandinavia in its beautiful capital cities, Copenhagen, Stockholm and Oslo and marvel at Norway’s breath-taking nature along the fjords. The 14-day tour includes a scenic Hurtigruten coastal cruise from Trondheim, revealing majestic landscapes among the vast fjords. You will also experience the popular Norway in a Nutshell® train journey over the mountains to Oslo. The pace of the tour allows you to time to join optional activities and enjoy culture in its charming cities.

Hassle-free & seamless travel experience

• We plan and book your entire vacation before you arrive — cruise tickets, flights, optional activities, and hotels. And for Hurtigruten guests, we book voyage tickets, cruise cabin, hotels on land, and optional excursions.
• Before starting your trip, we will send you a personalised itinerary that outlining accommodations and activities, cruise information for Hurtigruten passengers, and other details about what to expect on your journey.
• You are never alone when you book with us. You will have access to our 24/7 helpline during your trip, so if a challenge arises, one of our local staff members can help solve any urgent issues.
• As a reputable travel agency with a wide network of suppliers, we also arrange any travel by rental car or train that might be part of your package.

Tailored tour options

• With years of experience selling Scandinavian tours, we're well acquainted with the various ways to tailor the journey for you.
• Travel on the dates that suit you as most of our packages can be booked in any month.
• We can add extra days to your itinerary and you can select from a range of optional activities when booking online.
• As Scandinavian travel specialists, we can easily arrange tour packages that include upgrades and optional activities.

Quality & value for your money

• We take care of all the practicalities for you as we select quality hotels and tour operators based on our experience, offering you the best value for your vacation.
• Our tours are designed around the road routes and fjord cruises that include the best scenery and most popular attractions, giving you the best of both nature and culture.
• Your travel documents will include tips on what to pack, a day-by-day outline, and a detailed list of departure and arrival times for your cruise travel.
• As we’ve travelled on the same cruises, we have first-hand knowledge about the routes, cabins and on-board amenities.

Trusted local travel experts

• Enjoy the service of a dedicated English-speaking travel expert, before, during and after your trip.
• Our Scandinavia travel experts have in-depth knowledge of the locations, cruise journeys, and activities on your itinerary.
• We have a strong network of trusted suppliers in each country and visit them regularly. We personally inspect the services offered in our tours.
• If anything interrupts your travel plans, you won't be on your own. Our travel experts can modify your itinerary as needed due to unexpected events.

Great customer reviews

• Our dedicated travel teams deliver excellent service quality
• We also take great pride in our customer feedback: 97% of our travellers say they would recommend us to friends and family.
• We strive to help our clients realise their dream vacation in Scandinavia.

Tour Highlights

• Explore the colourful capitals of Norway, Sweden & Denmark
• Board the Norway in a Nutshell® tour for breath-taking landscapes
• Discover Scandinavian royalty by visiting castles and palaces
• Fly from scenic Stockholm to captivating Copenhagen
• Sail on a scenic Hurtigruten Coastal Cruise in Norway
• Stroll through Norway’s grand capital, Oslo and visit charming Bergen
• Enjoy the charms of Swedish Fika in Gamla Stan (Old Town)
• Experience the legendary Flåm railway, one of the world’s steepest railway lines
• Visit UNESCO World Heritage site Bryggen
• Enjoy exploring the capitals at your own leisure and joining optional guided tours of the cities

Photos

Itinerary

• Day 1

  Welcome to Stockholm, Sweden - Day at leisure

  Upon arrival at Stockholm - Arlanda Airport, meet & greet by our representative, transfer to hotel for check in. Many travellers opt to take the express train to Stockholm Central Station, but we also offer direct private transfers.
  
  Stockholmers call their city 'beauty on water'. But despite the well-preserved historic core, Stockholm is no museum piece: it's modern, dynamic and ever-evolving.
  
  Cultural Riches - Across the city, world-class museums and galleries inform and provoke, harbouring everything from glittering Viking treasures and an ill-fated warship, to Abba props and subversive contemporary art. It's a stimulating, inspiring mix, where the past, present and future constantly merge, converse and engage.
  
  Impeccable Style - Stockholm's sense of style is legendary. Here, good design is not a luxury, it's a right – even the humblest coffee shop is usually design literate, from its lighting right down to its cups, bowls and cutlery.
  
  Easy Town - Stockholm is easy in all the right ways. Despite being spread across 14 islands, it's a relatively compact creature, and walking is often the best way to get around. Bridges connect most of the islands, while ferries and the tunnelbana (metro) link the rest. Public transport is safe, smooth and efficient, covering every corner of the city and its bucolic surrounds.
  
  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, cafes and restaurants for a perfect introduction to Scandinavian culture.
  
  It could be fun to pick a cafe and experience Swedish fika - afternoon tea or coffee
  
  Overnight at Stockholm

• Day 2

  Stockholm sightseeing - The Charms of Swedish Culture & Wooden Bicycle Tour

  After breakfast, sightseeing of Stockholm
  
  Today you will explore the heart of scenic Stockholm.
  
  Discover two of Stockholm's sightseeing highlights on this walking tour. Walk the cobbled streets of Gamla Stan (Old Town), then stop by the Kungliga Slottet (the Royal Palace) and Storkyrkan (Coronation Church) with a knowledgeable local guide.
  
  Enjoy a ferry ride to Djurgården to tour the Vasa Museum, home to an ancient warship that sank in 1628 and has been painstakingly restored. Here you will find the kitschy Abba Museum, the Nordic Museum, the Gröna Lund amusement park, and the Skansen open-air museum.
  
  It is ideal to spend the afternoon here, exploring the grounds and many attractions
  
  Later, we encourage you to ride a handcrafted wooden bicycle through the streets of Stockholm on this city sightseeing tour. Learn about what makes Stockholm one of the most sustainable countries in the world today, and the history of its ancient times through your guide's commentary. Make use of the extensive network of bike lanes to access some of the city's best viewpoints.
  
  Evening at leisure
  
  Overnight at Stockholm

• Day 3

  Stockholm to Copenhagen, Denmark by train or flight - Day at leisure

  After breakfast, transfer to station or airport for travel to Copenhagen
  
  Upon arrival at Copenhagen, meet & greet by representative, transfer to hotel for check in
  
  Copenhagen is the epitome of Scandi cool. Modernist lamps light New Nordic tables, bridges buzz with cycling commuters and eye-candy locals dive into pristine waterways.
  
  Culinary Prowess p In little over a decade, Copenhagen has gone from dining dowager to culinary powerhouse. The Danish capital claims no less than 15 Michelin-starred restaurants, more than any other Scandinavian capital. In recent years, sous chefs from numerous high-profile kitchens have spread their own wings, opening a string of thrilling new eateries where culinary prowess comes with a more approachable price tag.
  
  Danish Design - Only here does the morning rush of cyclists look more like a runway show on wheels. Forget Milan; when it comes to style, it's hard to beat Copenhagen's denizens. Few people have such a knack for effortless cool, driven by a reverence for simplicity, detail and understated beauty. These tenets drive everything from Copenhagen's painfully hip streetwear labels, its world-famous furniture and lighting, to its grassroots ceramics and glassware.
  
  Enviable Liveability - When cities seek enlightenment, they commonly look to Copenhagen. The hometown of architect Jan Gehl – one of the world's leading authorities on sustainable urban planning – the Danish capital regularly tops world liveability lists. After all, this is one of the globe's greenest, cleanest, most sustainable urban centres, a place where cycling is serious transport, where buses and the metro run frequently and around the clock, and where the harbour is squeaky clean enough for a bracing dip.
  
  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.
  
  In the evening, visit the amusement park Tivoli Gardens, which has something for everyone. It’s a lovely place to admire the architecture and gardens and to enjoy some carnival rides.
  
  Overnight at Copenhagen

• Day 4

  Copenhagen sightseeing - A grand day trip & Learn the Art of making a Danish Pastry

  After breakfast, a grand day trip around Copenhagen
  
  It's all castles and cathedrals. Head out of Copenhagen for the day on this guided small-group tour, visiting UNESCO World Heritage-listed Kronborg Castle, the sitting for Shakespeare's Hamlet, and then Frederiksborg Castle, the largest Renaissance-era castle in Scandinavia.
  
  After a tour of the fortresses head to stunning Roskilde Cathedral, the burial spot for numerous kings and queens.
  
  Finally, finish the tour at the Viking Ship Museum. This small-group tour is limited to just 16 people or fewer.
  
  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.
  
  We also encourage you to take up our offer to experience - The Art of Baking a Danish Pastry - Master the art of making an iconic sweet treat during a Danish pastry baking class in Copenhagen. Ideal for food lovers, this experience comes with the knowledge of a professional pastry chef, and gives you the chance to meet other like-minded travelers. Plus, a short duration makes this experience ideal for time-pressed travelers.
  
  Evening at leisure
  
  Overnight at Copenhagen

• Day 5

  Copenhagen to Oslo, Norway by Cruise

  After breakfast, explore Copenhagen on your own
  
  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 late 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
  
  Overnight onboard Cruise

• Day 6

  Arrival Oslo - City Tour

  Enjoy the views of the Oslo Fjord during breakfast as the ship sails into port
  
  Surrounded by mountains and sea, this compact, cultured and fun city has a palpable sense of reinvention.
  
  Natural Pleasures - Oslo's skyline might be crowded by cranes but this rapidly growing urban metropolis is also one of the world’s most overwhelmingly green cities. It has earned the honour of being named European Green Capital for 2019, via one of the lowest carbon footprints in the world, excellent and well-patronised public transport, and a real commitment to sustainable food production and green space. The city is blessed with a large number of bucolic parks, and the Oslofjord’s waterways and islands are just minutes away from the centre, as are the ski slopes and forests of Nordmarka.
  
  Culinary Capital - Once known only for hot dogs and high prices, Oslo’s culinary scene is currently enjoying a Neo Nordic moment in the sun, and has become a culinary destination in its own right. This delicious change takes in everything from the most northern three-Michelin-starred restaurant in the world (Maaemo) to its deservedly hyped neighbourhood coffee scene and fabulous fusion cuisine.
  
  Cracking Nightlife - Has Oslo become Scandinavia's late-night party hot spot? Wander Møllegata on a Wednesday and you might be convinced it is. Whether it's working your way through a list of the latest natural wine from Burgenland or Sicily, getting your hands in the air with local DJ acts or an international indie band, drinking a local beer or sipping cocktails made from foraged spruce or Arctic seaweed, you'll notice that, with a grungier, wilder, realer edge than Copenhagen or Stockholm, this is certainly a city that knows how to have fun.
  
  As you disembark, you‘ll be met by our guide who ll lead you straight into exploring the Norwegian capital.
  
  You will go 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 City Hall and Viking Ship Museum, before being transferred back to your hotel
  
  Evening at leisure
  
  Overnight at Oslo

• Day 7

  Oslo to Trondheim by Train - Day at leisure

  After breakfast, transfer to Oslo Central Station to board the half-day (6.5 hours) 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.
  
  Upon arrival, transfer to Trondheim hotel for check in
  
  With its colourful warehouses, waterways and wooded hills, Norway's third-largest city is without doubt one of its most photogenic. Trondheim, the country's historic capital, is a pleasure to explore, with wide streets and a partly pedestrianised heart. Great cafes, restaurants and museums compete for attention, while Europe's northernmost Gothic cathedral doesn't need to try. Fishing boats putter around the harbour, gulls wheel and screech overhead, and beyond the city's outskirts there's a wealth of wilderness to explore.
  
  Spend the afternoon discovering Trondheim, including Bakklandet, an idyllic neighbourhood full of history and culture, Nidaros Catherdral, as well as other attractions such as the Ringve museum and gardens, Munkholmen and the Old town bridge
  
  Overnight at Trondheim

• Day 8

  Exploring the Coastline of Norway / Cruise from Trondheim to Bergen

  After breakfast, today, you will embark on a cruise that will have you discovering the maritime 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.
  
  Later in the evening, the boat will dock at the city of Kristiansund and the town of Molde.
  
  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 Cruise Ship

• Day 9

  Arrival Bergen - Day at leisure

  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
  
  Surrounded by seven hills and seven fjords, Bergen is a beguiling city. During the early Middle Ages, it was an important seaport and a member of the Hanseatic League, as well as Norway's capital – a heritage that can still be glimpsed in the beautifully preserved wooden buildings of Bryggen, now protected as a Unesco World Heritage site. Chocolate-box, clapperboard houses creep up the hillsides, ferries flit around the fjords, and a cluster of excellent art museums provide a welcome detour, and not only in case Bergen's notoriously fickle weather sets in. Meanwhile, a large student population ensures the city has a buzzy bar scene and nightlife, and easy access to nature means you're minutes away from complete tranquillity.
  
  Here you will disembark early in the afternoon to enjoy some leisure time as you wish.
  
  Despite being an international city, 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.
  
  Overnight at Bergen

• Day 10

  Bergen - City Tour

  After breakfast, a tour of beautiful Bergen today
  
  Despite being Norway’s second largest city, Bergen – the Fjords capital – still has all the charms of a small town.
  
  You‘ll experience its beauty and character first-hand as a local guide will lead the group on a walking tour 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.
  
  Overnight at Bergen

• Day 11

  Norway in a nutshell & Flam

  After breakjfast, it will be an especially scenic day with a lot of travel.
  
  From Bergen, the early Bergensbanen train transports you to Voss, where you’ll be transported by bus down Stalheimskleiva, Northern Europe’s steepest stretch of road.
  
  After a thrilling ride around 13 hairpin bends, you will continue to Gudvangen. There, you will embark on a scenic2-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.
  
  At the head of Aurlandsfjorden, Flåm sits in a truly spectacular setting beside Sognefjord. The main attraction here is the stunning mountain railway that creeps up into the surrounding peaks and offers truly eye-popping panoramas. Unfortunately it's far from a well-kept secret, and on the busiest summer days the tiny village can find itself swamped by several thousand visitors – it's probably best left for the quieter seasons of spring and autumn, or early summer at a push. The popular Norway in a Nutshell tour also stops here.
  
  Overnight at Flam

• Day 12

  Flam Sightseeing

  After breakfast, explore scenic Flam
  
  Spend the day exploring the beauty of the Flåm and its surroundings. There are many well-maintained hiking paths for those want to explore the beauty of the region by foot.
  
  You also get free admission to the Flåm Railway Documentation Centre, where you can learn about the construction of this railway, which has earned the title of one of the world’s steepest railway lines.
  
  An optional activity to Stegastein viewpoint is recommended. The viewing platform extends about 30 metres from the cliffside and 650m above the fjords, to offer unbeatable views.
  
  For those who want to explore the fjords even further, you can enjoy an optional fjord safari or a kayaking tour
  
  Overnight at Flam

• Day 13

  Flam Railway Experience / Travel to Oslo

  After breakfast, spend the early part of your day exploring the village of Flåm by following one of the many hiking trails in the mountains around the village.
  
  Later in the afternoon, you’ll get to 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 carries 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.
  
  Overnight at Oslo

• Day 14

  Departure from Oslo

  After breakfast, morning at leisure
  
  For transportation to Oslo-Gardermoen Airport, you can take the Flytoget express train from Oslo Central Station or book a private transfer through us that will take you to the airport directly from your hotel
  
  If your flight is later in the day, then take the opportunity to do some last-minute shopping, visit one of Oslo’s museums or just relax at a cafe reflecting on your Scandinavian holiday

Notes

Round the Year Destination ... Extension recommended for Northern Lights & Mid-night Sun Tour + St Petersburg & other destinations across Russia ... Details available on our website

Hotels

Copenhagen Marriott Hotel

Copenhagen

Radisson Blu Hotel Oslo Alna

Oslo

Radisson Blu Royal Hotel Bergen

Bergen

Hotel Norge by Scandic Bergen

Bergen

Clarion Hotel Stockholm

Stockholm

Elite Hotel Adlon Stockholm

Stockholm

Scandic Front Hotel Copenhagen

Copenhagen

Radisson Blu Royal Garden Hotel Trondheim

Trondheim

Hurtigruten Cruise - Trondheim to Molde

Trondheim

Thon Hotel Opera Oslo

Oslo

Fretheim Hotel Flam

Flam

Zander K Hotel Bergen

Bergen

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