WHAT TO SEE AND WHAT TO DO ON A TOUR OF SCANDINAVIA?
The best way to enjoy a trip to Scandinavia is to visit Sweden, Denmark and Norway on the same tour. Why? Because these countries share a similar cultural heritage and are well-connected via modern motorways, railways and waterways.
As such, we highly recommend the Scandinavian Triangle, a route that incorporates the capitals of Sweden, Norway and Denmark.
Travel between Stockholm, Oslo and Copenhagen via train, plane and ferry. Or you might prefer to do a road trip around the region. Spend your days enjoying walking tours, savouring delicious meals in Scandinavian restaurants, or cycling along the pedestrianised streets and bike lanes.
Opt for one of our Scandinavia tours and you’ll discover a land brimming with gorgeous scenery. Come in the summer to enjoy long daylight hours, wild swimming and al fresco dining. In the winter, expect a festive wonderland and smaller crowds at top attractions. You may even get a chance to spot the northern lights!
As a specialised tour operator in Scandinavian countries, Nordic Visitor organises trips to this beautiful corner of the world. We have many more ideas and travel tips to help you explore Scandinavia your way!
Here’s one of our suggestions for a Scandinavian countries tour 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 - At leisure in Helsinki
Enjoy more downtime in Helsinki to visit attractions like Sibelius Park, Finlandia Hall, the Finnish National Opera House, and Parliament House.
The capital of Finland is known for being a design hub, boasting its very own design district and “design tram route”. It’s also awash with gorgeous green spaces where you can enjoy a spot of people watching.
Day 3 - Ferry to Tallinn
Next up is the capital of Estonia, Tallinn, which is just 2 hours away by ferry from Helsinki. Soak up the medieval architecture and atmospheric streets of this Baltic city today. You could walk from the Upper Town (Toompea), or visit the Orthodox St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and striking Toompea Castle
Day 4 - Baltic cruise to Sweden
Enjoy another day getting to know lovely Tallinn, with its fascinating mix of Eastern and Western European influences. You might like to explore the Kadriorg district, Kadriorg Palace, or the Estonian Art Museum.
Later in the day, 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 5 - Arrive in Stockholm, Sweden
Enjoy breakfast this morning while watching 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 centrally located Old Town. Enjoy a fika (a Swedish coffee break) at one of the local cafés in this medieval neighbourhood.
Day 6 - 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 the City Hall, Royal Palace and 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 Drottningholm Palace on the outskirts of town is highly recommended.
Day 7 - Fly to Copenhagen, Denmark
Head to Stockholm Airport after breakfast and board a 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 8 - 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 9 - Overnight cruise to Oslo, Norway
Ahead of tonight's 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 overnight cruise to Oslo.
Day 10 - 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 11 - Scenic train journey to Flåm
This morning, go to Oslo Central Station to begin your Norway in a Nutshell® tour – 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 12 - 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 13 - 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.
Day 14 - Depart from Bergen, Norway
Fly back home from Bergen-Flesland Airport, having enjoyed 14 days discovering the many delights of Scandinavia.
What other ideas are there for Scandinavian tours?
There are so many more places to see in this part of Northern Europe. For example, you could delve deeper into the Nordic region, which is made up of Finland, Iceland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark.
One popular option is to travel further up the Norwegian west coast towards the Lofoten Islands in Northern Norway on a Havila or Hurtigruten cruise, for an exciting journey towards the Arctic Circle. You could even visit the remote Svalbard, also known as the kingdom of polar bears.
Another alternative is to explore more of rural Scandinavia. Discover natural gems like the breathtaking Norwegian fjords and mountains.
Like the sound of an odyssey to the far north of Europe? Then we recommend visiting Lapland – a remote region covering parts of Sweden, Finland and Norway. Come in winter for the chance to see the aurora borealis, soak up snowy landscapes, and meet Santa Claus.
Or hop on a plane and visit Iceland as part of your Nordic experience!
Good to know: Most of our itineraries aren't set in stone, and there are many possibilities to tailor your plans. 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 agent for advice.
Interested in guided tours of the Scandinavian countries?
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! These tours run from May to August, so you can enjoy summer travel in Scandinavia.
You’ll get an enriching experience on our escorted tours of the Scandinavian countries, getting under the skin of Sweden, Denmark and Norway in the company of like-minded visitors.
These tours allow you to get the most out of this region thanks to the expertise of a local guide and other perks such as private tours. 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 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.
How about a 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 Scandinavia road trip could encompass a convenient circular route, starting and ending in Stockholm, Sweden.
After enjoying the first couple of days of your trip in Stockholm, you would drive south to the charming Swedish towns of Kalmar and Ystad. Stop for 2 nights in each to explore the countryside at leisure.
Afterwards, drive over Öresund Bridge to reach Copenhagen, then take the overnight ferry to Oslo the next day. Soak up the delights of the Norwegian capital for 2 nights before driving east to Örebro in Sweden.
Enjoy the beautiful Swedish countryside, rural villages, and grand castles and manor houses of the region before you return to Stockholm for your final night.
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Day 1 – Arrive at Stockholm Airport.
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Day 2 – Overnight in Stockholm.
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Day 3 – Pick up rental car and drive through southern Sweden. Overnight in Kalmar area of Sweden.
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Day 4 – Overnight in Kalmar.
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Day 5 – Overnight in Ystad.
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Day 6 – Overnight in Ystad.
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Day 7 – Overnight in Copenhagen.
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Day 8 – Journey by ferry to Oslo.
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Day 9 – Overnight in Oslo.
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Day 10 – Overnight in Oslo.
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Day 11 – Overnight in Örebro area of Sweden.
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Day 12 – Overnight in Örebro area of Sweden.
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Day 13 – Drop off rental car and spend the night in Stockholm.
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Day 14 – Depart from Stockholm Airport.
If you want your Scandinavia road trip to include Helsinki, you could start in the Finnish capital and take a Baltic cruise to Stockholm from there. Or, drive from Oslo to Bergen and spend a few days discovering the world-famous fjords of Norway.
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.
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