Best of Scandinavia - Norway Cruise & 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 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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Spend the early part of your day exploring the village of Flåm by strolling around the village. At noon, 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 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.

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.

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. One of the many highlights on this journey is Þingvellir National Park, a place of great historical and geological significance that is also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Þingvellir is the site of the country’s first parliament and is located along the edge of the great rift created by the drifting of the Eurasian and American tectonic plates.

Other attractions include the impressive 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 from the bowels of the earth. You will then stop at Friðheimar tomato farm to allow you to grab lunch (not included) before finishing the day at the Kerið crater.

Spend the night in Reykjavík.

Enjoy a guided group tour along the striking south coast of Iceland. Start your journey with 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.

Next you’ll stop by the graceful, 60-metre-high (197-foot-high) Skógafoss waterfall to enjoy the beautiful surroundings and pose for the perfect picture. You will then continue towards the town of Vík, with views of the vast glacier Sólheimajökull, before stopping at Reynisfjara, a hauntingly beautiful black sand beach. Later, you’ll return to Reykjavík.

Spend the night in Reykjavík.

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.

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).