Capital Cities of Scandinavia: A Tailor-Made Journey

Arrive in Copenhagen, where you’ll meet your driver for the transfer to your centrally located hotel. After time to settle in, join a small group for a cycling tour of this famously bike-friendly city. The 2.5-hour ride includes many of the city’s most important landmarks and will help you get your bearings. Try out one of the city’s delightful restaurants during an evening at leisure.

A private guide joins you this morning for a tour of  Christiansborg Slot, a beautiful royal palace that now houses the Danish parliament and Supreme Court. Learn about the history of the site as you explore its towers, medieval ruins, and expansive grounds.  The rest of the day is yours to get to know Copenhagen and its inviting neighborhoods. You might join an architecture tour for a closer look at the remarkable buildings that have made the city a design capital. Perhaps take a walk to Langelinie Pier to see the iconic Little Mermaid statue or meander along the picturesque waterfront at Nyhavn. If you wish, visit the Round Tower, a 17th-century observatory that offers panoramic city views. (B)

Take a day trip to nearby Roskilde, a fjord-side city that served as an important Viking port and a spiritual center of northern Europe. At the Viking Ship Museum, see original 11-century Viking ships excavated from the Roskilde port in the 1960s and visit a working boatyard. Then set off to discover the town’s other historic sites and museums at your own pace. Stroll its lively walking streets and don’t miss the brick Roskilde Cathedral, a World Heritage site that contains the tombs of many generations of Danish monarchs. Return to Copenhagen by train at the end of the day. (B)

Board a train for Sweden, crossing the Øresund strait on one of the longest bridges in Europe. Take in the scenery of southern Sweden as the train wends its way to Stockholm. Make your way to your hotel on arrival. Considered one of Europe’s most beautiful capitals, Stockholm is a city defined by water, set on a series of islands between a lake and a bay. Experience the city from a unique perspective on an afternoon cruise along its waterways. (B)

Set with a private guide on a walking tour of Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s beautifully preserved Old Town. Stroll through Stortorget, the historic central square, and see key landmarks including the baroque Royal Palace,  Storkyrkan Cathedral, and City Hall. The remainder of the day is yours to explore the city on your own. Consider a visit to the legendary Royal Vasa Warship, which sunk on its maiden voyage in 1628 and was only raised from the bottom of the Stockholm harbor some 300 years later.  Or head to Drottningholm Palace, a World Heritage site just outside of the city. (B)

Travel west to Oslo by train, a scenic journey of around seven hours. Upon arrival in the capital of Norway, transfer to your hotel on your own. You have the rest of the day to relax or explore the city. (B)

Get acquainted with the Oslo—and Norwegian cuisine—on a private gastronomic walking tour. You'll learn about traditional dishes and visit the city's best eateries, trying delicacies such as homemade cheese, cured meat, waffles, and local beer along the way. Enjoy a free afternoon to visit one of Oslo’s excellent museums or meander among the sculptures of Vigeland Park. (B)

Head out of Oslo with your private driver-guide to visit Oscarsborg Fortress, situated on two islands in the narrowest part of Oslofjord.  The fortress was built in the 19th century and played a key role in preventing the Germans from reaching Oslo during World War II. After exploring the grounds and museum at the fortress, continue to the Drøbak, a 19th-century waterfront resort town known for its picturesque wooden architecture—and, in local tradition, Santa’s Post Office. Return to Oslo this afternoon. (B)

Today, your private driver will escort you to the airport in time for your international flight home. (B)