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Blue Lagoon in winter ©bluelagoon

Best of Scandinavia & Iceland - Winter

Train, Cruise & Minibus

(14 days / 13 nights)

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NESTLED IN THE NORDICS

This 14-day tour introduces you to the beautiful capitals of Scandinavia -- Oslo, Stockholm, and Copenhagen, as well as breathtaking Nordic nature of Norway and Iceland. Explore these modern, yet historical cities by land and sea as you cruise from Copenhagen to Oslo and explore these enchanting cities by foot. The tour also includes the popular Norway in a Nutshell® train journey over the mountains to Bergen, along with time in idyllic Iceland, touring the Golden Circle and scenic South Coast.

Looking for the summer version of this tour?

14 days / 13 nights

Price p.p. from

The amount will be charged in EUR

Approx 4566 EUR

— Why book with Nordic Visitor

  • Hassle-free & seamless travel experience
  • Tailored tour options
  • Quality & value for your money
  • Trusted local travel experts
  • Great customer reviews
  • Carbon offsetting included

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— Book With Confidence

  • Optional cancellation insurance
  • Affordable deposits from 10%

Terms and conditions apply

Tour Highlights

  • Explore the colourful capitals of Iceland, Norway, Sweden & Denmark
  • Search for majestic northern lights in Iceland
  • Board the Norway in a Nutshell® tour for breathtaking wintry landscapes
  • Discover the Golden Circle and black sand beaches in Iceland
  • Cruise from scenic Stockholm to captivating Copenhagen
  • Stroll through Norway’s grand capital, Oslo and visit charming Bergen
  • Walk through the small and charming capital, Copenhagen
  • Enjoy the cascading waterfalls of Seljalandsfoss & Skógafoss in Iceland
  • Relax by Copenhagen’s harbour at Nyhavn and visit the Little Mermaid
  • Enjoy exploring the capitals at your own time and joining optional guided tours of the cities

Travel style

Independent Tours i

Interest

Classic i, Culture and History i, Fjords i, Northern Lights i

Season

Oct - Apr

Departure

Daily

Interest

Classic i, Culture and History i, Fjords i, Northern Lights i

Itinerary

A day-by-day plan to guide your Nordic adventure.

  • Day 1: WELCOME TO SWEDEN

    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.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 2: THE CHARMS OF SWEDISH CULTURE

    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 churches, 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.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 3: TRAVEL FROM STOCKHOLM TO LOVELY COPENHAGEN

    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.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 4: A DAY IN CAPTIVATING COPENHAGEN

    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.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 5: SET SAIL FOR NORWAY

    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.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 6: ENJOY ENCHANTING OSLO

    After the cruise ship docks, get ready to see the best of Oslo. The city is quite walkable and we 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 MuseumRoyal PalaceAkershus Fortress, and Oslo City Hall.

    Spend the night in Oslo.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 7: THE CAPITAL OF THE FJORDS

    In the morning you will board the train to Bergen. On the way, you can relax while taking in some of the world’s most beautiful scenery. Despite being an international city, 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 views over the city or a cable car up Mt. Ulriken. Bergen is also known for its museums dedicated to history about trade and fisheries, architecture, music and contemporary art. 

    Spend the night in Bergen.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions
  • Day 8: NORWAY IN A NUTSHELL BY LAND AND SEA

    Today will be a an especially scenic day with a lot of travel throughout majestic landscapes. From Bergen, the early Bergensbanen train transports you to Voss, where you will then board a bus bound for Gudvangen. Upon reaching Gudvangen, you will embark on a scenic 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 winter village, where you will spend the afternoon and evening.

    It is recommended to join an optional tour to the Stegastein viewpoint. The viewing platform extends about 30 metres from the cliffside and 650 metres above the fjords, offering extraordinary and unbeatable views of the winter landscape.

    Spend the night in Flåm.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 9: THE FLÅM RAILWAY EXPERIENCE IN WINTER

    In the morning, you'll experience the famous Flåm Railway firsthand 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 carries you over the mountainous snowy rooftops of Norway. This ride, voted one of the best railways in the world, 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.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions
  • Day 10: IDYLLIC ICELAND & NORTHERN LIGHTS EXPLORATION

    This morning, enjoy some last-minute shopping, visit one of Oslo‘s many museums or relax at a café, before heading to Oslo-Gardemoen Airport for your included flight to Iceland. On arrival to Keflavik International Airport, you will be greeted by a professional driver who will take you to your accommodation in Reykjavík. After settling in, the rest of the day is free for you to explore Reykjavik.

    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 four nights in Reykjavik.

    Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 11: REYKJAVÍK CITY WALK & BLUE LAGOON

    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.

    Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 12: Exploring the Golden Circle

    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. You will start the day heading to Hveragerði where the bus will make a short stop before continuing on your journey.

    One of the many highlights you’ll see today is the impressive Kerið Crater. Other attractions include the magical 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 high into the air.

    The last stop of the day is Þingvellir National Park, a place of great historical and geological significance. It is also one of Iceland’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Þingvellir is the site of the country’s first parliament and is located along the edge of the great rift between the Eurasian and American tectonic plates.

    Spend the night in Reykjavík.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 13: The South Coast - Glaciers and Black Sand Beaches

    Enjoy a guided group tour along the striking south coast of Iceland on another day of adventures. Start your journey with a stop at the picture-perfect, 60-metre-high (197-foot-high) Skógafoss waterfall. Next you’ll stop at Reynisfjara, a hauntingly beautiful black sand beach. You will then continue towards the town of Vík where you’ll make a photo stop at the local church, which offers expansive views of the landscape.

    Then it is time to head back along the south coast. You will stop at Sólheimajökull glacier where you will learn everything about glaciers and the area. The last highlight of the day is 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. Later, you’ll return to Reykjavík.

    Spend the night in Reykjavík.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 14: DEPARTURE FROM ICELAND

    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).

    See Activities for this day

Optional extras

We recommend adding your extra activities to the tour now for the best booking experience and to secure your spot, as activities are likely to sell out.

Map

Here’s a map of your travel route, to help put things in perspective.

Reviews

We don’t like to brag, so we’ll let our happy customers do it for us.

Terrific

Fantastic tour that included the highlights for each country we visited. I really feel like we have seen the best of the countries with the time we had. The activities were terrific. I felt supported by my tour planner, Irja, as we travelled.

Accommodation

Sleep soundly, in the accommodation type of your choice, and wake up ready to enjoy another day of exploration.

Comfort Plus

Standard rooms in good quality and comfortable three-star hotels in combination with charming country hotels.

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Superior

Standard rooms in four-star hotels in combination with Superior rooms in premium three-star hotels.

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Price per person from

The amount will be charged in EUR

Approx 4566 EUR

Tour Information

We recommend that all Nordic Visitor travellers read through the following information about our self-guided tours, travelling with the DFDS ship, boarding flights or trains, weather information, and other useful information for your travels.

OUR SELF-GUIDED TOURS
This is an independent, self-guided tour. All accommodation, flight, cruise and ferry tickets and guided tours (as specified in the itinerary) will be pre-booked by Nordic Visitor, but travellers are ultimately responsible for getting to hotels and to any airport or ferry departure points by the specified times.

Please note, for each planned activity in Iceland, you can expect a different tour operator and guide, and you will have free time between activities. Nordic Visitor works with a small group of handpicked suppliers that are highly rated and deliver excellent service that meet our high standards.

DFDS CRUISE
The overnight cruise from Copenhagen to Oslo includes cabin accommodation (Comfort Plus or Superior cabin with windows) with private facilities, and breakfast is included. There are two ships operating the route, Pearl Seaways and Crown Seaways, and each ship can accommodate approx. 1800 passengers. On board you will find restaurants, bars and activities.

  • Departure from Copenhagen: 14:15
  • Arrival in Oslo: 09:15
     

FLIGHT FROM STOCKHOLM TO COPENHAGEN
Included in the package is a flight between Stockholm and Copenhagen. The direct flight takes approximately 1h10 min. Baggage allowance per person is 20kg per checked bag and 8 kg per carry-on bag. Most days offer flights at mid-day but in some cases, you may be booked on a morning or evening flight. Your travel consultant will book the best option for your travel dates. Please note that airport transfer from your hotel in Stockholm to the airport is not included nor the train from Copenhagen airport to the hotel. We recommend Arlanda Express Train, a short 18-minute train ride to the airport from city center.
 

WOULD YOU RATHER TAKE THE TRAIN?
If you prefer to travel from Stockholm to Copenhagen by rail instead of flying, we would be happy to arrange that for you. The train tickets might not be bookable until 30 days prior departure. In the meantime, we will book the rest of the travel arrangements for you. Please select the train option during the booking steps online if preferred.

NORWAY IN A NUTSHELL® WINTER TOUR

This tour includes the famous Norway in a Nutshell® tour from Bergen to Oslo. This is one of Norway’s most iconic journeys. You’ll travel by train, bus and ferry, seeing beautiful landscapes of steep mountains, cascading waterfalls, shimmering fjords, charming villages and scenic coastline.

The first leg of the journey is from Bergen to Flåm. Then you’ll travel from Flåm to Oslo. The duration of both days will be around 6 hours. 

The connections will be announced and clearly explained in your travel documents. You will receive a ticket with all the information about transfer points and timings with your final travel documents.

There are places to store your luggage during each leg of your journey. Be aware that if you do not book luggage transfer in advance, you have to carry your luggage from train to bus to boat etc.

FLIGHT FROM OSLO TO REYKJAVIK
Included in the package is a flight between Oslo and Reykjavik. The direct flight departs in the afternoon and takes approx. 3hrs. Baggage allowance per person is one 20kg per suitcase and one 8 kg per hand luggage. Your travel consultant will book the best option for your travel dates. Please note that transfers to Oslo airport is not included.

THE BLUE LAGOON
Please note that your scheduled transfer to the Blue Lagoon can be on a coach bus, with up to 70 fellow travellers. The minimum age requirement for children at the Blue Lagoon is 2-years old. It is mandatory for children aged 2 to 8 to wear inflatable armbands while in the lagoon. These are provided free of charge. Please note that only two (2) children under the age of 10 can be admitted into the lagoon per guardian.

THE NORTHERN LIGHTS & DAYLIGHT IN ICELAND
The best months to experience the northern lights are October through April, with peak visibility from December through February. Please note that as the northern lights are a natural phenomenon, we cannot guarantee sightings even if the tour is operated. Please be advised that daylight is limited in Iceland during the winter months, with 4-5 hours of daylight from December to January.

AUTUMN & SPRING IN SCANDINAVIA
If you are travelling to Scandinavia during the spring (end of March - end of April), or autumn (mid-September – mid October) please be advised that the weather is much milder and you will get to experience warmer temperatures in Sweden and Denmark and more sunlight compared to the winter months. However, the weather can be a bit colder during these months in Norway.

WINTER TRAVEL IN SCANDINAVIA
Travelling in the winter season in Scandinavia is highly recommended and very enjoyable. You will get a chance to see the snow covered landscape during the deep winter months (December – February) and it‘s not as cold as one would think. Please be advised that northern lights in Scandinavia can only be seen from northern Norway, Iceland, Swedish Lapland & Finnish Lapland, which is not part of this tour package. Also, please note that there are limited opening hours during the Christmas and New Year‘s season throughout the countries. If you have any additional questions, please contact your travel consultant for further information.

WHAT TO PACK

  • If booking the additional luggage transfer - an overnight bag in Flåm
  • Warm outdoor clothing, including a thermal base layer
  • Warm socks
  • Waterproof jacket and pants
  • Hats and gloves
  • Sturdy hiking boots
  • Camera
  • Lip balm & moisturizer
     

CURRENCY RATE
All bookings are charged in Euros (EUR). Prices displayed in other currencies are indicative only and based on the daily exchange rate. Therefore, conversions from EUR to other currencies will fluctuate from day to day.

AFTER BOOKING WITH NORDIC VISITOR
After booking your package with Nordic Visitor, you will be contacted within two working days by one of our travel consultants, who will serve as your dedicated contact person for all of your travel needs before, during and even after your holiday. Your travel consultant will provide you with details about your booking and your remaining payment (if not paid in full). You will also receive more information about what to expect during your holiday.

CARBON OFFSETTING YOUR TOUR
Nordic Visitor is working on offsetting the estimated carbon footprint of your package. We’ve partnered with an environmental fund in Iceland to carbon offset all our tours. Carbon offsetting your international flights is not included, but we highly recommend you look into possibilities with your airline or directly through a local environment fund.

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