Capitals of Scandinavia

Hans Christian Andersen would have been right at home in 21st-century Copenhagen. The Danish capital hasn't lost any of its fairy-tale charm over the centuries, as you'll come to discover on your first day exploring this colourful city. On arrival, transfer to your Stays With Stories accommodation, the historic Phoenix Hotel in the heart of Copenhagen’s most elegant district. Discover the hotel’s rich history from the late 17th century, through both World Wars and up to the present day, restored to its former glory. Start your Scandinavian adventure with a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience in Amager Faelled. Then spend your free time strolling through the happiest city in the world before joining your Travel Director and fellow travellers at 17:00.

Connect with the heartfelt hygge of your Danish hosts when you join a Local Specialist this morning for a sightseeing tour that will reveal all the highlights of Copenhagen’s Old Town. See the distinctive dragon-tail spire of the 17th-century Børsen (Stock Exchange), Christiansborg Palace and the Little Mermaid, demurely seated on a rock overlooking Langelinie Promenade. See the home of Denmark’s beloved royal family, Amalienborg Palace, then spend the rest of the day exploring Copenhagen your way. Enjoy a cold øl overlooking the colourful façades of Nyhavn or perhaps join an Optional Experience to the Danish Riviera, past ancient fishing villages to the 17th-century Frederiksborg Castle.

For now, it’s a fond farvel to Copenhagen and a bright and cheery hej to Sweden, as you cross the Øresund by ferry and wind your way north, through the Swedish countryside past Gothenburg to Norway. You’ll want to keep your camera at the ready to capture the scenic landscapes that line your route to Oslo, Norway’s modern buzzing capital, where the Norwegian philosophy of friluftsliv can be felt along the flower-lined boulevards and bustling waterfront promenades.

Tread in the footsteps of the Vikings this morning as you join your Local Specialist for a sightseeing tour that will reveal Oslo’s long-standing seafaring heritage. See the medieval fortress of Akershus, the elegant Royal Palace and Oslo Opera House, which seems to rise up from the water in all its marble, granite and glass glory. Visit a wonderland of Norwegian sculptures left behind by Gustav Vigeland in his sculpture park, then enjoy a free afternoon to explore the city on your terms. You could choose instead to embark on an Optional Experience to learn about Norwegian explorers.

Enjoy a scenic drive south through Norway’s lush forest landscapes to Sweden, bound for its enchanting capital. Journey past Lake Vänern, the largest lake in Sweden, before stopping in the countryside to Connect With Locals at a special Be My Guest lunch. Husband and wife team Niklas and Anna will welcome you to their renovated 19th-century church and explain their philosophy of using local produce to delight all your senses. Later, arrive in Stockholm and indulge in a free evening to explore ‘Beauty on Water’. Consider joining an Optional Experience to the first Ice Bar in the world.

Style and substance are qualities Stockholm has in abundance, as you’ll discover when you join your Local Specialist for a sightseeing tour this morning. See Stockholm’s historic mother church, Storkyrkan, the Royal Palace and the Swedish Parliament, then Dive Into Culture on a visit to the City Hall, home to the annual Nobel Prize banquet. This afternoon perhaps join an Optional Experience to explore the maritime heritage of the city, or simply do as the locals do and indulge in fika (coffee and cake), embracing the Swedish philosophy of lagom. Tonight consider an Optional Experience to cobbled Gamla Stan to admire its medieval history on a walking tour, followed by a traditional Swedish meal in a local restaurant.

A leisurely start to your day could see you embark on some last-minute souvenir shopping or savouring steaming sweet Swedish cinnamon rolls in Stortoget. Consider an Optional Experience to Drottningholm Palace. The cool capital of Finland beckons as you board your overnight cruise to Helsinki, passing through Stockholm’s archipelago across the Baltic Sea.

Continue your cruise across the Baltic, arriving in Helsinki in time to join your Local Specialist for a sightseeing tour of all the city’s highlights, its Swedish and Russian heritage and some hidden gems. Stop for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at an inclusive café. See the modern marble façades of Finlandia Hall, the Senate and the colourful stalls in Market Square. This evening, join your fellow travellers for a Farewell Dinner to raise a glass of aquavit and toast your epic adventure across the capitals of Scandinavia. Kippis!

Today is yours to explore Helsinki at leisure or perhaps consider joining a full-day Optional Experience to cruise to the beautiful capital of Estonia, Tallinn. With its walled, cobblestoned Old Town, you will feel like you've stepped into the pages of a fairytale.

After a memorable journey exploring the history and culture of four Scandinavian nations, all that’s left is to say a fond farewell to your new friends and prepare for your return journey home. Find out more about your free airport transfer at trafalgar.com/freetransfers.