Get Social: Northern & Eastern Europe Highlights 2023

Amsterdam! See you in 17 days: this morning there’s no hanging around. Say hallo to your legendary trip mates and pile in the coach – Germany’s calling! With more bridges than Venice and Amsterdam combined, no skyscrapers (shook) and the first zoo with no enclosures (amen to that!), Hamburg is one of the hippest cities in Europe. Trust us. Get past the kinda grey first impression and you’ll uncover a city teeming with fascinating culture, a strong beer hall scene and more quirky cafes than you can order a matcha latte at. Take a stroll with your expert Trip Leader to tick off St Nikolai Church, the Rathaus, Chilehaus and Miniatur Wunderland. Then: it’s time for our first group dinner. Prost to the adventure ahead!

Thinking of relocating? Today we’re going to find out why Copenhagen keeps popping up among the Top 5 Most Liveable Cities in the World. After a short jaunt in a ferry across the Baltic Sea, we’ll tick off the likes of Tivoli Gardens, Christiansborg Palace and star-shaped Kastellet fortress on a driving tour. Then: take a stroll along the waterfront, hear the REAL story of the Little Mermaid (her statue is here) and hum Under the Sea while you hunt down a not-too-’spennie restaurant for dinner.

When in doubt, do as the locals do – hire a bike and explore this chilled-out Scandi city on two wheels. Check out the rainbow-coloured houses along Nyhavn waterfront. Tuck into a smorgasbord of Nordic cuisine. Take a dip in the clean canals (clothing optional). Discover the city’s thriving craft beer scene. Or swing by Tivoli Gardens – not only the second oldest theme park in the world, but also the most beaut (according to us). Time it right, and take in the sunset from the top of the giant chair swing. Cue: goosebumps. And for dinner? Head to Gasoline Grill – the definition of ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’.

No lies, today is an early start. Settle in, bust the tunes, get to know your trip mates better and allow your expert Trip Leader to fill your head with Scandi fun facts. Oh, and make sure you snag a window seat – the views from Øresund Bridge are once-in-a-lifetime. Get your bearings on a walking tour – ticking off the likes of the Royal Palace, Parliament, Oslo Cathedral and the National Theatre. Then? Gather the fam and check out Mathallen Food Hall for alllllll the dinner options (you WILL need to support the Geminis and Librans with decisions).

Topdeckers to mission control, requesting more time to explore. Permission granted. Today is 100% up to you. But if you need suggestions, make a beeline for Bygdøy (aka Museum Island). We’re talking the Kon-Tiki Museum, Fram Polar Ship and Norsk Folkemuseum. Get the ferry back to Oslo port in your own time – then head to a local haunt for some pølse (a hot dog, all cosy in a tortilla) or hunt down Illegal Burgers for the best one you’ve ever had. Period.

More than just meatballs and ABBA (though there’s plenty of both), today we’re making tracks to the iconic Scandi city of Stockholm. Fun fact: this place is built on an archipelago of 14 islands where Lake Mälaren flows out to the Baltic Sea. Cool, right? Check off Gamla Stan, Parliament House, Riddarholmen Church and the Royal Palace on a walking tour – then the evening is up to you. If your budget's got a lil’ stretch, Restaurant Pelikan boasts some seriously drool-worthy traditional food. Or head to Meatballs for the People – ‘nuff said.

What’s that? A free day to experience everything this firecracker of a city has to offer? YES please. Grab a kanelbullar for the road and take a wander around the boutique stores in Gamla Stan. Snap a pic at Stortorget and watch the changing of the guard at the Palace. Take the ferry across to Djurgården and hit up the Vasa Museum (a must for maritime fans) or the ABBA Museum (a must for Mamma Mia! lovers). There’s even a guided tour of City Hall on offer, if you’re keen. And tonight? Round up the gang and swing by Nya Carnegiebryggeriet – a waterfront microbrewery where the beers are easier to drink than the name is to say.

Today = MORE of Stockholm’s best bits. Get the gang together and turn those knuckles white at Gröna Lund amusement park. Hop on a boat and soak up the sights on a canal tour. Go all futuristic with a gondola ride around the Ericsson Globe (the world’s biggest spherical building, FYI). Or head to hipper-than-hip Södermalm for indie boutiques, vintage stores and trendy bars galore. This evening: it’s all aboard the overnight ferry. Crack open that new pack of UNO and settle in for the night. When you wake up – you’re in Finland! Magic.

Wave farewell to the ferry – this morning we’ve got our sights set on Helsinki. Hell. Yes. When we roll in, our in-the-know Trip Leader will point out the city’s hot spots. Then: the arvo is free for ALL the fun. Jump on an old-school tram for retro vibes. Show off your mad bartering skills (or not) at Market Square. Or drop into Helsinki Bryggeri to check out the local craft beer scene. And tonight? Track down some karjalanpiirakka rice pies, grillimakkara sausages, or mashed potato and reindeer (sorry Rudolph...).

*Good news klaxon*: you’ve got 24 hours of free time today. So don’t muck around! Keen to find out why the Finns are some of the happiest people in the world? Swing by a sauna and let the löyly hot steam work its magic. Experiencing this the real way means kissing goodbye to your swimmers, BTW. Clothing a bit of a deal-breaker? Take the ferry over to Suomenlinna island fortress for epic views. Or head to Hakaniemi Market Hall for all your snack and souvenir needs. This evening: quiz your Trip Leader on where to find the best leipäjuusto – the squeakiest cheese in the kingdom.

After a group brekkie, you’ve got another morning to do whatever the hel(sinki) you want. Top up your culture fix at Kiasma modern art museum. Unleash your inner hipster in uber-cool Kallio’s coffee shops and vegan bistros. Or embrace another round of sauna sweats. We salute you. This afternoon, we’re hopping on a ferry bound for Tallinn. Prepare for some red-hot facts about this stunner-of-a-city on a walking tour with our Trip Leader. And then? Get exploring the fairytale Old Town (seriously – this place looks like it’s dropped straight out of Disney) and dig into some classic Estonian eats. Pirukas – doughy pastries of dreams – is where it’s at.

Say nägemist (see ya!) to Estonia – it was short, but it sure was sweet. Press your nose to the coach window and soak up all the beaut views racing past as we make our way to mega-medieval Riga. When we jump off, get pumped to discover the iconic sights on another Grade A walking tour. We’re talking: Riga Cathedral, the Freedom Monument, Laima Clock and House of the Blackheads (a fancy Gothic building – doesn’t need a charcoal mask). Later: dust off your broomstick and drop into Black Magic bar for a sip of black balsam – a traditional Latvian liqueur. Harry Potter, eat your heart out.

Shake off that magic potion and shut your spellbook for now: this morning we’re plugging Vilnius into the GPS. Blast the Trip Song and swap stories of the adventure so far – it sure ain’t over yet! When we pull up in Vilnius, our Trip Leader’s ready to point out all the who’s who of Lithuania’s crazy-gorgeous capital. And then? We know you’ve got a thing for Old Towns now – and this one’s a beauty. Go get it. Afterwards, gather the fam and hunt down some steaming potato pancakes. Be sure to leave room for grybukai – mushroom-shaped cookies – for afters. Super Mario would go wild for these babies.

Tums full after another group brekkie, today we’re heading to our tenth country in two weeks. HECK yes. When we roll up in Poland's beating heart, we’ll take in the main sights the laziest way poss – by driving tour. Those calves need a rest: we got you boo. Then, time to take Fleetwood’s advice and go your own way. Discover the devastating impact the Nazi occupation left on this proud city. Wander the streets and gawp at the grand palaces. Or just embark on a mish to find Warsaw’s best pierogi. We believe in you.

*Ding ding!* This morning it’s time for Germany: Round 2 as we make tracks for Berlin. Prep yourself for currywurst and more hipsters per capita than anywhere else. We'll drive you around the main sights including (what's left of) the Berlin Wall, Museum Island, the Holocaust Museum and Alexanderplatz. Then: hunt down a pretzel the size of your face and some Berliner Pfannkuchen – the doughnut’s German cousin. Mmm...

A city exploding with culture, history and bloody good food – you’ve got 24 hrs to make the most of it. Our advice? Opt in for a historic walking tour that’s actually interesting. You’ll get a local insight into what the city was like under Nazi rule and tick off the likes of the Reichstag, Checkpoint Charlie and Brandenburg Gate. Plus, all the insider tips on how to spend the rest of your free day. Or put those elastic waistbands to the ultimate test on a locally-led food tour. We’re talking kebabs, pastries, more currywurst, pierogi and local Pilsner beer. Whatever you choose to do, make sure you’re back in time for tonight’s group dinner – we’re going to give this adventure the send-off it deserves!

This is where we leave you #Topdeckers. Swap Insta handles – you’ll need them to organise next year’s reunion. But who said the adventure has to end here? London’s only a train ride away... Race you to the Eurostar!