NORTHERN CAPITALS
10 days from Copenhagen to Helsinki
PACKAGE: 5 Nights/6 days
Summary
Detailed Itinerary
Day 01
Welcome to Copenhagen! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel.
Day 02
Morning sightseeing with a Local Guide features the Church of Our Savior and the Stock Exchange on the way to Christiansborg Palace, where you visit the elegant ROYAL RECEPTION ROOMS. Drive past the National Museum and the Royal Theater, and stop for pictures of Amalienborg Palace with its lovely flower gardens, and of the wistful LITTLE MERMAID. In the afternoon, exciting optional excursions are available. Tonight, visit TIVOLI GARDENS (mid-April to mid-September), the city’s colorful amusement park.
Day 03
From Elsinore beneath Hamlet’s Kronborg Castle, board your FERRY for Helsingborg. Then, drive to Gothenburg, Sweden’s thriving second-largest city. Admire its beautiful parks, botanical gardens, and well-kept canals during your orientation tour. Highlight is a visit to [LF] Gothenburg’s famous indoor FOOD MARKET to taste local snacks at some of the stalls. In the afternoon, continue along the Skagerrak coastline to Norway. Evening arrival in Oslo
Day 04
Norway’s capital is a study in farsighted urban planning, seeking growth in harmony with nature. Your Local Guide will take you to the National Theater, Parliament, and the Royal Palace. Stroll through magnificent FROGNER PARK, with Gustav Vigeland’s 200-plus extraordinary bronze and granite sculptures, and visit the modern CITY HALL. Optional excursions are available for the afternoon and evening.
Day 05
Trace the King’s Road, an ancient trade link between the northern capitals connecting Oslo, Stockholm, Turku, Helsinki, and St. Petersburg. Cross the Swedish border to scenic Värmland, beautifully described in Selma Lagerlöf’s Gösta Berlings Saga, on the way to Karlstad on Lake Vänern. Pass the ancient garrison town of Örebro and modern Eskilstuna, known for its stainless steel, and proceed to Stockholm.
Day 06
Stockholm, scene of Stieg Larsson’s Millennium, is settled on 14 islands between Lake Mälar and the Baltic Sea. Your included morning sightseeing with a Local Guide features the Royal Palace; Riddarholm Church; the festive blue and gold chambers in the CITY HALL, where the annual Nobel Prize banquet is held; and a walk through the OLD TOWN. Later, choose from our exciting optional excursions to make the most of your stay.
Day 07
Morning at leisure. Why not join an excursion to Uppsala? Later, board your ship for [LF] the overnight BALTIC SEA CRUISE to Finland, and enjoy a traditional Smörgåsbord dinner.
Day 08
Guided sightseeing of Helsinki features the City Hall and Parliament House, the Presidential Palace, the monumental railroad station, the great LUTHERAN CATHEDRAL, the Olympic Stadium, and the SIBELIUS MONUMENT. Browse for souvenirs in Helsinki’s local arts and crafts OPEN-AIR MARKET.
Day 09
A full day at leisure offers the opportunity to join an optional excursion to Tallinn, capital of Estonia, known as one of the “Pearls of the Baltic” countries. Tonight, a farewell dinner awaits at your hotel.
Day 10
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
THE SCANDINAVIAN
14 days from Copenhagen to Oslo
PACKAGE: 13 Nights/14 days
Welcome to Copenhagen! At 6 pm, meet your traveling companions for a welcome dinner with wine at your hotel.
Sightseeing with a Local Guide features the Church of Our Savior and the Stock Exchange on the way to Christiansborg Palace, where you visit the elegant ROYAL RECEPTION ROOMS. Drive past the National Museum and the Royal Theater, and stop for pictures of Amalienborg Palace and at the LITTLE MERMAID statue. In the afternoon, exciting optional excursions are available. Tonight, visit TIVOLI GARDENS, the city’s colorful amusement park.
Drive across one of the world’s largest suspension bridges, constructed off-shore to the fairytale island of Funen. Visit HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN’S HOME at Odense, then cross the Little Belt waterway to Jutland. Arrive in Arhus and visit DEN GAMLE BY, a fascinating collection of completely furnished old Danish townhouses. [LF] A special dinner with wine awaits you this evening at a local restaurant to try out local specialties.
From the naval town of Frederikshavn, cross beautiful Kattegat by FERRY to Sweden’s largest port city, Gothenburg. See its landmarks during an orientation drive and enjoy time on your own in this charming city.
Drive through the “breadbasket” of the country, miles of fertile farmland strewn with tidy farms, followed by industrial towns like Huskvarna and Norköping, a major Baltic seaport. Arrive in Stockholm, scene of Stieg Larsson’s Millennium
Sightseeing with a Local Guide features the Royal Palace, Riddarholm Church, and the blue and gold chambers in the CITY HALL, where the annual Nobel Prize banquet is held, then enjoy a walk through the OLD TOWN. Choose from our exciting optional excursions to make the most of your stay.
Arrive in Uppsala, seat of the Archbishop of the Church of Sweden, for a visit to its CATHEDRAL, where several coronations of Swedish monarchs took place. The cathedral dates back to the late 13th century and was built in French-Gothic style. Enter Dalarna County and see the Great Pit at the Falun Mine, the former copper mine and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, before arriving at your hotel.
A scenic day! Continue into Dalarna County and stop at [LF] Nils Olsson’s DALA HORSE WORKSHOP to learn how these famous horses are made. On via Lake Mjøsa to Lillehammer. Enjoy a guided visit of the fascinating MAIHAUGEN OPEN-AIR MUSEUM.
Majestic mountains, dark-pine forests, sparkling lakes, and silvery trout streams abound on your leisurely journey today. Before arriving in Flåm, stop for pictures at Borgund’s stave church, famous for its beautiful exterior. Later, you may wish to join an exciting optional Flåm train ride.
Embark at Flåm for a leisurely CRUISE on the spectacular Sognefjord and Nærøyfjord. Land at Gudvangen and drive to Stalheim. Here, [LF] a dazzling panoramic view over Nærøydalen Valley and coffee with a pastry await you. Early afternoon arrival in picturesque Bergen, the most characteristic of all Scandinavian towns. On your orientation tour you will hear about its 11th-century origins and its association with the Hanseatic League. Visit the colorful fish market, and stroll through the narrow lanes of ancient Bryggen.
Day 11
Meet the family that has owned the Steinstø farm for eight generations. While you taste their APPLE CIDER, they will tell you all about their history and how cider is made. Cross the Hardanger bridge before ascending to Vøringfoss, Norway’s most celebrated and mightiest waterfall. Continue across the Hardangervidda mountain plateau to the ski resort of Geilo
Day 12
In Torpo, admire a STAVE CHURCH, symbol of Norwegian heritage. Continue along the scenic road between the Steinsfjord and the ice-blue Tyrifjord and arrive in Oslo.
Day 13
Sightseeing with a Local Guide features the National Theater, Parliament, and the Royal Palace. Highlight visits: FROGNER PARK with Gustav Vigeland’s famous stark sculptures and the ornate CITY HALL. The afternoon is free, with a chance to join an optional excursion to the relics of a glorious seafaring past. Tonight, enjoy a special farewell dinner with wine at your hotel.
Day 14