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12-Day Tours in Scandinavia

Explore Scandinavia in 12 days and uncover the stunning scenery and distinctive cultures of the region. Hop between Denmark, Norway and Sweden in one unforgettable trip, crafted by the Scandinavia travel experts at Nordic Visitor.

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ITINERARY IDEAS FOR 12 DAYS IN SCANDINAVIA

If you’re looking for inspiration on how to spend 12 days in Scandinavia, we can help with that.

At Nordic Visitor, our Stockholm-based Scandinavian travel consultants specialise in creating bespoke itineraries to Norway, Sweden and Denmark.

They can arrange a 12-day tour of Scandinavia to perfectly match your interests. They’ll also secure travel arrangements according to your preferences, whether you want to journey by car, train or cruise. You could join a guided small group tour, take the wheel on a self-drive trip, or opt for an independent experience of the region.

Plus, your 12-day Scandinavia itinerary by Nordic Visitor will come with quality-checked accommodation, transportation reservations and much more. Regardless of the type of tour you book, you’ll enjoy the personal service of your own dedicated travel consultant, who can advise you on any possible customisations.

Keep browsing below to explore trip ideas for your 12 days in Scandinavia.

 

— WHY US?

Why book with Nordic Visitor

  • Experts in tailor-made Scandinavia tours
  • Based in Sweden, Iceland & Scotland
  • Local staff with first-hand Nordic travel experience
  • Dedicated to providing personalised, quality service

EXPERIENCE SCANDINAVIA IN 12 DAYS

A Scandinavia itinerary of 12 days means you can take your time to explore Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo, but you could also add on destinations like Bergen and the fjords, Gothenburg, or Helsinki and Tallinn.

Norway, Sweden, 2 more ...
Best seller
Independent Tours
12 days / 11 nights
Oct - Apr

Best of Scandinavia & Finland Cruise - Winter

Train & Cruise

2919EUR

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Best seller
12 days / 11 nights
Oct - Apr

2919EUR

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Norway, Sweden & Denmark
Save up to 480 EUR
Self-drive
12 days / 11 nights
May - Sep

Scandinavian Road Trip & Gothenburg

3078EUR

2838EUR

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Save up to 480 EUR
12 days / 11 nights
May - Sep

3078EUR

2838EUR

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Norway, Sweden, 2 more ...
Save up to 760 EUR
Guided Groups
12 days / 11 nights
May - Sep

Highlights of Scandinavia & Finland Cruise

Finland, Sweden, Denmark & Norway

Pace Level Level 2 (Classic)
Activity Level Level 2 (Moderate)

5924EUR

Eur

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Save up to 760 EUR
12 days / 11 nights
May - Sep

5924EUR

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Norway, Sweden, 3 more ...
Independent Tours
12 days / 11 nights
May - Sep

Capitals of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland & Estonia by Train and Cruise

2849EUR

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12 days / 11 nights
May - Sep

2849EUR

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STAY LONGER & SEE MORE OF SCANDINAVIA

Spend more than 12 days in Scandinavia and you could venture further afield to Northern Norway or Iceland. These extended itineraries are a fantastic way to experience the wider Nordic region in one incredible trip.

Norway, Sweden & Denmark
Save up to 480 EUR
Best seller
Independent Tours
14 days / 13 nights
May - Sep

Best of Norway Fjord Cruise, Sweden & Denmark in 14 days

4585EUR

4345EUR

Eur

View map
Save up to 480 EUR
Best seller
14 days / 13 nights
May - Sep

4585EUR

4345EUR

EUR

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Iceland, Norway, 2 more ...
Best seller
Independent Tours
14 days / 13 nights
Oct - Apr

Best of Scandinavia & Iceland - Winter

Train, Cruise & Minibus

4592EUR

Eur

View map
Best seller
14 days / 13 nights
Oct - Apr

4592EUR

EUR

Close map view
Norway, Sweden & Denmark
Save up to 480 EUR
Self-drive
14 days / 13 nights
May - Sep

Scandinavian Road Trip at Leisure

3403EUR

3163EUR

Eur

View map
Save up to 480 EUR
14 days / 13 nights
May - Sep

3403EUR

3163EUR

EUR

Close map view
Norway, Sweden, 2 more ...
Save up to 480 EUR
Self-drive
14 days / 13 nights
May - Sep

Scandinavian Road Trip & Finland Cruise

3419EUR

3179EUR

Eur

View map
Save up to 480 EUR
14 days / 13 nights
May - Sep

3419EUR

3179EUR

EUR

Close map view

Scandinavian travel experts

As a travel agency based in the Nordic region, Nordic Visitor knows how to make the most of your time in Scandinavia. We offer a variety of tours — both independent and guided — that include the must-see attractions as well as lesser-known highlights that are hand-picked by our own Scandinavian travel experts. To ensure a stress-free trip, we handle all the local details for you — accommodations, activities, rental car (for self-drive tours), cruise/train tickets and other services.

Oh, and we can customise your itinerary! If you decide you want to add extra nights at a certain location, for example, your personal Nordic Visitor travel consultant will be happy to make suggestions and modify your itinerary.

What do our customers say?

The reviews speak for themselves. See what Nordic Visitor travellers said about their experience with us.

Douglas, United States
Best of Scandinavia & Finland Cruise - Winter, October 2023

Relaxing and fun journey

The Scandanavian winter tour package and it's connections made it very easy to see the 4 capital cities and Bergen. There were plenty of suggestions for things to see and do. There was a great mix of cruise and rail segments between cities giving us a chance to see other parts of each country. Staff reserved an extra rail and overnight for us as soon as we asked about it. All in all a very relaxing and fun journey.

Cecilia, United States
Highlights of Scandinavia, July 2023

Just what we wanted

The plan was just what we wanted and the actual trip delivered just that. Nice balance of scheduled events and free time in the cities visited. Hotel locations were excellent and our tour guide was always available and helpful for additional questions and suggestions.  

Hazel, United Kingdom
Best of Norway, Sweden & Denmark in 10 days, September 2023

Very easy process

We found the whole process very easy. The instructions and information provided was clear and made it easy to find hotels and transport links. The hotels were centrally located, close to transport links but were not noisy. Our personal travel consultant was very helpful and friendly. We liked the recommendations suggested in the daily itinerary.

William, United States
Capitals of Norway, Sweden & Denmark by Train & Cruise, June 2023

Thoroughly recommend Nordic Visitor

We would recommend Nordic Visitor to anyone considering an introductory tour of Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo. Basics of logistics where well-stated. It was easy to commute from one capital to the next. Itineraries were clear yet flexible. We thought moving from one country to the next would be a challenge - it was not. Nordic Visitor arranged all that was needed, yet gave us the flexibility to do more or otherwise should we want. Again, we thoroughly recommend Nordic Visitor. We look forward to our next excursion in Scandinavia through Nordic Visitor.

Richard, United States
Highlights of Scandinavia, September 2023

Excellent vacation

We had an excellent vacation through Nordic Visitor. The expertise of our tour guide and small group size of 16 enhanced our experience. We had a good blend of free time and tour related programs. We did arrive 2 days early to Stockholm and stayed an additional 2 days in Bergen. We found this time beneficial to explore the areas more. 

John, United States
Best of Norway, Sweden & Denmark in 10 days, May 2023

A pleasure to work with

Working with Nordic Visitor, and specifcally Irja, was a pleasure. She did an excellent job presenting the information. It was nice to see her enthusiasm as she discussed activites the staff liked in each city. She responded to our questions promptly and in detail. The paperwork, itinerary, written day-by-day descriptions, vouchers, and tour info was all very well-thought-out and presented.

Manuela, Germany
Scandinavian Road Trip & Finland Cruise, August 2023

Very well planned

The tour was great and very well planned. We had enough time to explore the cities and the Swedish countryside. It was fun to drive and take the ferries as well.

Sally, United States
Scandinavian Road Trip at Leisure, April 2023

The best vacation we've ever had!

This was the best vacation we've ever had and I'm planning a Norway trip for August 2024 as we speak. Thanks for a phenomenal time!

Getting to Scandinavia

Many of Nordic Visitor’s tours of Scandinavia begin in Stockholm, Sweden’s capital and largest city. Stockholm Arlanda Airport is the main gateway for international air travel in Sweden and is served by dozens of airlines. Furthermore, it serves as a major hub for SAS (Scandinavian Airlines) and Norwegian Air.

Here are examples of other airlines that fly to Stockholm Arlanda: United Airlines, British Airways, Air France, EasyJet, Lufthansa, KLM, Icelandair, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways

We recommend checking airline websites directly for flight availability and timetables. You can also use an airfare search engine, such as Skyscanner, Dohop or Kayak, for example.

Flights are not included in Nordic Visitor packages, but all of our itineraries can be customised with extra nights in Stockholm, or another arrival city in Scandinavia, if you’d like to rest up after your air journey.

Different ways you can experience Scandinavia

We have tours for all varieties of travel styles and interests. See our options for exploring Scandinavia below.

WHAT TO SEE ON A 12-DAY TOUR OF SCANDINAVIA?

Scandinavia is a region of Northern Europe covering Sweden, Denmark and Norway. Visiting all three countries in one trip makes perfect sense as they are well-connected via modern motorways, railways and waterways.

A classic, much-loved route in this part of Europe is a city-hopping trip around the Scandinavian Triangle, the capitals of Sweden, Denmark and Norway. With 12 days in Scandinavia, you could really get to know Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo by spending 4 days in each city.

Additionally, a 12-day tour of Scandinavia gives you plenty of time to venture beyond the Scandinavian Triangle too. You might like to visit other Nordic and Northern European destinations such as Helsinki and Tallinn, the capitals of Finland and Estonia respectively.

Another option is to see more of Norway, travelling from Oslo to Bergen to see the famous fjords. Or you could drive through southern Sweden and the trendy city of Gothenburg.



Here’s one of our suggestions for a 12-day Scandinavia itinerary:

Day 1 - Arrive in Helsinki, Finland
Fly into Helsinki Airport and head to your hotel in the city centre. Try tasty Finnish cuisine at a local restaurant, and see some of the capital’s top sights such as Senate Square, Uspenski Cathedral, and the Old Market Hall.

Day 2 - Baltic cruise to Sweden
Enjoy more downtime in Helsinki to visit attractions like Sibelius Park, Finlandia Hall, the Finnish National Opera House, and Parliament House. Then, head to the port and embark on your Baltic cruise to Stockholm, an overnight journey with restaurants, shops and cafés on board to keep you entertained.

Day 3 - Arrive in Stockholm, Sweden
In the morning, enjoy breakfast while watching the scenery all around you as the vessel navigates through the Stockholm Archipelago, made up of around 30,000 islands. After your cruise docks, spend some time walking through Gamla Stan (The Old Town), and enjoy a fika (a Swedish coffee break) with a nice pastry at one of the local cafés in this medieval neighbourhood.

Day 4 - The highlights of Stockholm
Spend a full day in the Swedish capital, discovering the city’s attractions and districts. You could join a walking tour to see the best of Stockholm in a day, taking you to must-see spots like City Hall, Royal Palace and the trendy Södermalm quarter.

Or, a ferry ride will whisk you off to the island of Djurgården, home to the Vasa Museum and Skansen, the world’s oldest open-air museum. Meanwhile a day trip to the Stockholm Archipelago is a great option in the summer.

Day 5 - Fly to Copenhagen, Denmark
Head to Stockholm Airport after breakfast and board the plane to Copenhagen. Once in Denmark’s capital, take a walk down the city’s popular Strøget street for a bite to eat, or go check out the fun and games at the old fashioned Tivoli Gardens amusement park.

Day 6 - Discover Copenhagen
Soak up the charms of Copenhagen today, either on your own or as part of a guided tour. You might want to visit Rosenborg Castle, the Botanical Garden and Torvehallerne food market. We also recommend hopping on a boat tour to see Christiansborg Palace, the Royal Danish Opera House and the colourful Christianshavn Canal from the water.



Day 7 - Overnight cruise to Oslo, Norway
Ahead of your journey to Oslo, spend the day enjoying more of Copenhagen. Why not make like the bicycle-happy Danes and rent a bike?

You could check out the exquisite Amalienborg Palace, as well as the colourful Nyhavn harbour and the Little Mermaid statue. Later, head to the port for your cruise to Oslo.

Day 8 - Explore Norway’s capital city
After your ship arrives early in the morning, the whole day is yours to roam Oslo. Take a walk to the bustling Aker Brygge waterfront area and visit the Akershus Fortress. Or, head to the Bygdøy peninsula to explore historic museums.

If you love art, make sure to take a walk through the delightful Vigeland Sculpture Park. Don’t miss a visit to Oslo City Hall if you want to see where the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony is held.

Day 9 - Scenic train journey to Flåm
This morning, go to Oslo Central Station to begin your Norway in a Nutshell® experience – one of the most scenic rail journeys in the world. Look out the window to see picturesque landscapes and quaint villages like Gol and Geilo.

Change at Myrdal to board the Flåm Railway for one of the top highlights of the entire trip: a 900-metre (half-mile) descent to the picturesque village of Flåm, where you’ll stay for the night.

Day 10 - Norwegian fjord cruise
Prepare to witness breathtaking Norwegian scenery today, as you hop on a cruise that takes you through beautiful fjords. You’ll be able to admire the glittering waters, cascading falls and forested mountains of Sognefjord, passing through Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord.

Afterwards, it’s an exciting coach and train ride to Bergen.

Day 11 - Discover Bergen
Known as the gateway to the fjords, Bergen is Norway’s charming second city with plenty of its own attractions to uncover. You can visit the medieval houses of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bryggen, and take the funicular up Mount Fløyen for a panoramic view of the city and fjords.

There are also plenty of museums, shops and restaurants to check out on your last full day in Scandinavia.

Day 12 - Depart from Bergen, Norway
Fly back home from Bergen-Flesland Airport, having enjoyed 12 days discovering the many delights of Scandinavia.



What other ideas are there for a 12-day Scandinavia itinerary?

There are many other ways you could experience Scandinavia in 12 days. One alternative is to detour to Tallinn for 1 or 2 days after visiting Helsinki.

The Estonian capital is just 2 hours by ferry from Finland. Tallinn is awash with medieval architecture, such as the impressive Toompea Castle, the current seat of the Estonian Parliament.

Good to know: Most of our itineraries aren't set in stone, and there are many possibilities for customised routes! We can modify your tour if you'd prefer to arrive in a different city, spend more free time in one destination than another, or add other towns to your trip.

Just ask your Nordic Visitor travel consultant for advice.

How about an 12-day Scandinavia road trip?

On a self-drive tour in Scandinavia, you’ll have the freedom to pull the car over at any attractions that catch your interest.

The best part? You won’t have to worry about where you’re going or sleeping, because your Nordic Visitor travel consultant has already sorted those local arrangements for you. You’ll also have access to our 24/7 emergency helpline should you need to call us at any point.

Your 12-day Scandinavia road trip could encompass a convenient circular route, starting and ending in Stockholm, Sweden. After enjoying the first day of your trip in Stockholm, you would drive south to Copenhagen, Denmark. Break up the journey by stopping off at the charming Swedish towns of Kalmar and Ystad.

After exploring Copenhagen, you could drive up the Swedish west coast to Gothenburg. On the way, it’s well worth making a pitstop at Helsingborg to wander around the picturesque town and take in Kronborg Castle.

Gothenburg itself is a fantastic place to discover. Sweden’s “second city” is known for flower-laden streets, the Gothenburg Museum of Art, and plenty of places to enjoy a good fika.

From Gothenburg, drive north to Oslo, Norway, then spend 2 nights in this capital city.

The final part of your journey would then involve driving east from Oslo back to Stockholm, stopping at lovely Örebro for a night en route. This would allow you to soak up the beautiful Swedish countryside, rural villages, and grand castles and manor houses in this corner of Scandinavia.

  • Day 1 – Arrive at Stockholm Airport.
  • Day 2 – Pick up rental car and drive through southern Sweden. Overnight in Kalmar area of Sweden.
  • Day 3 – Overnight in Ystad area of Sweden.
  • Day 4 – Overnight in Copenhagen, Denmark.
  • Day 5 – Overnight in Copenhagen, Denmark.
  • Day 6 – Overnight in Gothenburg.
  • Day 7 – Overnight in Gothenburg.
  • Day 8 – Overnight in Oslo.
  • Day 9 – Overnight in Oslo.
  • Day 10 – Drive back towards Stockholm. Overnight in Örebro area of Sweden.
  • Day 11 – Drop off rental car and spend the night in Stockholm.
  • Day 12 – Depart from Stockholm Airport.

If you want your Scandinavia road trip to include Helsinki, extend your visit a little longer and spend 14 days driving and cruising around this region of Northern Europe.

All of Nordic Visitor’s Scandinavia self-drive tour packages can be tailored by our local experts with extra nights at select locations or modified driving routes. If you have any particular attractions in mind, just contact us to ask. 



Interested in a guided tour of Scandinavia?

To see the region from a local’s point of view and make some new friends along the way, a guided small group tour of the Scandinavian capitals is an excellent option!

You’ll get an enriching experience of Scandinavia on a 12-day small group tour, or you could always extend your trip to see more of the area.

Our small group tours in Scandinavia allow you to get the most out of your trip thanks to the expertise of a local guide. What’s more, you’ll be travelling alongside 16 people at most, so the experience is still personal for you.



Prefer a self-guided tour of Scandinavia?

If you would like to discover Scandinavia on your own but prefer not to drive, then an independent tour is the perfect choice. Public transportation in Scandinavia is fast, reliable and punctual, so getting around by train and ferry is a great alternative to driving.

By opting for a 12-day train and cruise tour of Scandinavia, you’ll benefit from having your itinerary arrangements made for you but with the freedom to spend your days however you please. Nordic Visitor will book all your accommodation and travel tickets between destinations, and you can add on activities too.

Plus, by booking an independent tour of Scandinavia you’ll still be able to enjoy the usual Nordic Visitor benefits. These include access to our 24/7 helpline, a detailed personal itinerary, helpful travel guide and daily breakfast.

Scroll down to learn more about Nordic Visitor’s services.

 

— OTHER DESTINATIONS

See more of Northern Europe

  • Like raw nature? Discover Iceland’s jaw-dropping landscapes
  • Want more road trip ideas? Venture to Scotland and Ireland
  • Love winter scenery? Make for snowy Lapland
  • Keen to go off the beaten track? Explore wild Greenland and Svalbard

Our services

Whether you travel by train, cruise ship or car in your Nordic Visitor package, you can expect personal service from your own designated travel consultant and a tailor-made itinerary with quality travel documents. Our self-drive clients also receive a hand-marked map outlining the route, overnight stays and highlights along the way. Furthermore, we have long-standing professional relationships with trusted local tour operators, which are carefully selected by our staff for their high standards of service.

Book with Confidence

  • Protect your money & plans with our flexible booking terms  .
  • 97% of customers say they’d recommend us to friends.
  • We work closely with trusted, high-quality suppliers.
  • Enjoy personal service from Scandinavian travel experts.
  • Get peace of mind with a 24/7 helpline during your stay.
  • We’re here for you in case of unforeseen circumstances.

Contact us

We’re here to help, so get in touch with our friendly team to book your package or add extra nights and activities to an existing booking.

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