BEST OF SCANDINAVIA & ICELAND – WINTER

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.

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 churches, 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.

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.

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.

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.

After the cruise ship docks, get ready to see the best of Oslo. The city is quite walkable and we 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.

In the morning you will board the train to Bergen. On the way, you can relax while taking in some of the world’s most beautiful scenery. 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. We recommend riding the Fløibanen Funicular to Mount Fløyen to enjoy the panoramic views over the city or a cable car up Mt. Ulriken. Bergen is also known for its museums dedicated to history about trade and fisheries, architecture, music and contemporary art. Spend the night in Bergen.

Today will be a an especially scenic day with a lot of travel throughout majestic landscapes. From Bergen, the early Bergensbanen train transports you to Voss, where you will then board a bus bound for Gudvangen. Upon reaching Gudvangen, you will embark on a scenic 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 winter village, where you will spend the afternoon and evening. It is recommended to join an optional tour to the Stegastein viewpoint. The viewing platform extends about 30 metres from the cliffside and 650 metres above the fjords, offering extraordinary and unbeatable views of the winter landscape. Spend the night in Flåm.

In the morning, you'll experience the famous Flåm Railway firsthand 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 snowy rooftops of Norway. This ride, voted one of the best railways in the world, 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.

This morning, enjoy some last-minute shopping, visit one of Oslo‘s many museums or relax at a café, before heading to Oslo-Gardemoen Airport for your included flight to Iceland. On arrival to Keflavik International Airport, you will be greeted by a professional driver who will take you to your accommodation in Reykjavík. After settling in, the rest of the day is free for you to explore Reykjavik. 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 four nights in Reykjavik.

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.

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.

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.

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).