Nordic Capitals & Fjords 13N/14D

Arrival in Helsinki according to your own itinerary. The Finnish capital is a modern cultural city, which throughout 450 years of history, has existed in the crosscurrents of the East and West. The colourful layers of history can be seen everywhere; a walking tour of the city centre or of the magnificent Suomenlinna Maritime Fortress will open your eyes to a fascinating past. Sights of interest are the historical centre, Senate Square, the Parliament building, Finlandia Hall, the Sibelius Monument and Temppeliaukio Church (Rock Church). Accommodation in Helsinki.

Breakfast at Hotel. Day free to explore the city on own
Overnight in Helsinki
Recommended attractions:
Helsinki Cathedral
Sibelius Monument
The Rock Church
Finlandia Hall
Suomenlinna Maritime Sea Fortress

Breakfast at the hotel. Day free
Later depart in the afternoon with a cruise ferry from Silja Line.
Accommodation onboard

Breakfast onboard. Morning arrival in Stockholm. The capital of Sweden is built on 14 islands and you are never far from the water. Well-preserved medieval buildings stand alongside modern architecture, and just outside the city, the archipelago of 24 000 islands is waiting to be explored. Sights of interest include the Vasa Museum, Skansen Open Air Museum, City Hall, the Old Town (Gamla Stan) and much more.
Accommodation in Stockholm

Breakfast at the hotel. Today take the Cruise to Drottningholm Palace at 10 AM from Stadshusbron
Step aboard a boat from the turn of the last century and take a trip to the pearl of Lake Mälaren, Drottningholm Palace, the residence of the Swedish royal family. Drottningholm is set in luxuriant landscaped grounds and Drottningholm Palace Theatre is a piece of genuine Swedish cultural history, the Chinese Pavilion a work of art constructed by the hands of master craftsmen.
Drottningholm was named after John III who constructed the palace for his wife Katarina Jagellonika. The palace burned down in the end of the 15th century and the construction as we see it today was continued by Hedvig Eleonora’s architect Nicodemus Tessin in 1661. Many royalties have since then contributed with their unique touch to the palace. The palace is on UNESCO’s World Heritage List; it is Sweden’s best-preserved palace built in the 16th century representing European royalties and architecture from that era.
Price: EUR 45,- per adult, EUR 23,- per child (6-15 years). Children below 6 years free of charge
Includes: Roundtrip fare from Stockholm to Drottningholm. Entrance to Drottningholm Palace and public guided tour
Accommodation in Stockholm.

Breakfast at the hotel, transfer to station from train to Copenhagen. Arrive in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark. In the charming city of Copenhagen one thousand years of history awaits you in the medieval streets; the same streets walked on by every generation of the world’s oldest royal family, the same streets and canals which have inspired artists for centuries and been home and workplace to meticulous craftsmen and famous designers. Accommodation in Copenhagen

Breakfast at the hotel. Today explore the city at own pace.
You will pass all the major attractions of Copenhagen. Enjoy the insights and the fascinating facts about Copenhagen given to you in your own language by headphones. Discover the unique buildings from the past to the present from the panorama bus and enjoy the amazing view. See the numerous statues and landmarks Copenhagen offer to its visitors such as the Tivoli, Amalienborg Palace, The Royal Danish Opera, The Danish Parliament Christianborg, Islands Brygge and the Little Mermaid. You can enjoy the 30 minutes stop at Amalienborg Castle, experiencing the changing of the Royal guards. Additionally there will be a few photo stops along the excursion.
Accommodation in Copenhagen.

Breakfast at the hotel. This day is at your own leisure in Copenhagen, before departing in the afternoon with a cruise ferry from DFDS Seaways. Accommodation on board.

Scandinavian breakfast buffet onboard before arriving in Oslo at 09:30 in the morning. The Norwegian capital is beautifully situated at the head of the Oslo Fjord and surrounded by forested ridges. Arable fields, vast forests and the untouched nature areas. The city’s surroundings provide recreational opportunities that are frequently taken advantage of by the city’s inhabitants, as well as increasingly by visitors.
Accommodation in Oslo

Today day free to explore city on own. Overnight in Oslo
Recommended attractions:
Vigeland Sculpture Park
Viking Ship Museum
Oslo Opera House
Kon-tiki Museum
Munch Museum

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning departure from Oslo by train. The 5-hour train journey from Oslo to Myrdal is part of the Bergen Railway, classed as one of the finest train journeys in the world. The train journey will bring you across Hardangervidda Mountain Plateau, with Finse as the highest train station at 1222 metres above sea level. In Myrdal you will change to the Flåm Railway, connecting the Bergen Line to the Sognefjord. You will pass through wild and beautiful mountain scenery with waterfalls and steep mountain sides before reaching the fjord village of Flåm. Flåm is Norway’s only fjord village with train connection. Afternoon at leisure to explore Flåm. The area also offers great hiking opportunities. Accommodation in Flåm.

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning at leisure in Flåm before you will depart on a 2-hour fjord cruise on the Nærøyfjord to Gudvangen. The Nærøyfjord is the narrowest fjord channel in Europe, and has recently been added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List. From Gudvangen the journey continues by bus through Nærøyfjord Valley and up the Stalheimskleiva, with its 13 steep hairpin bends (Stalheimskleiva is only open during the summer). The last part of the excursion will be by train from Voss to Bergen, Norway’s second largest city and the world’s only city surrounded by 7 mountains and 7 fjords. Accommodation in Bergen.

Breakfast at the hotel.
Today Join the Bergen – Hop-on / Hop-off – Bus tour including Ticket to the Fløibanen Funicular
This hop-on/hop-off sightseeing tour of Bergen gives you the opportunity to discover charming Bergen, called “The Gateway to the Fjords of Norway”. Bergen is Norway’s second largest city but has small-town charm and atmosphere. While strolling around old streets and alleyways you will see small wooden houses, cobbled streets with stone steps in the steepest parts and flowers everywhere. Bergen is a lovely and surprising city to explore!
The hop-on/ hop-off sightseeing bus will take you to:
– Bryggen Wharf on the UNESCO’s World Heritage List since 1979;
– The picturesque and lively Fish and Flower Market, one of Norway’s most visited markets, where you will also find fruit, vegetables, handicrafts, and souvenirs;
– Bergen Aquarium, where you can discover typical creatures from the Norwegian coastline as well as seals, penguins, tropical fish and animals;
– Bergen Museum, where you will find the Natural History Collections and the Cultural History Collections in a building from the 19th century, surrounded by the botanical garden and the city’s arboretum;
– The Grieg Hall, host to cultural events, trade exhibitions, conference, receptions and even banquets;
– The Fløibanen funicular, which runs up to the top of the mountain of Fløyen in 5-6 minutes and takes you 320 meters above sea level. The ride itself is spectacular and from the top of the mountain you will get a perfect view of the city and its surroundings;
– St Mary’s Church, one of the most outstanding Romanesque churches in the country and the oldest building in Bergen;
– The open air museum Old Bergen Museum, which is a reconstructed town with approximately 50 wooden houses from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries where you will discover private homes, objects, shops and workshops that bring the city’s history over the generations to life;
– and many other places.
• Departs from the Tourist Information by the Fish & Flower Market
Included: Ticket to Fløibanen Funicular
Special conditions: Ticket for Hop-on / Hop-off bus tour is valid 24 hours after its validation

Even though Bergen is the second largest city in Norway, it is rather a town with the charm and atmosphere of a small town; you can walk practically everywhere in only 20 minutes and instead of tall buildings you will find wooden houses and narrow streets. Take a stroll along Bryggen Wharf before heading to Mount Fløyen with Fløibanen funicular for a spectacular view of the city. Other sights of interest include Edvard Grieg’s home Troldhaugen, the Fish and Flower market, Bergen Aquarium and Gamle Bergen (Old Bergen Open Air Museum). Accommodation in Bergen.

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure from Bergen according to your own itinerary. Or perhaps you would like to combine this tour with our Hurtigruten cruise along the coast of Norway to Kirkenes