Seventeen days through the Nordic capitals and the Baltic coast, timed for midsummer when the light barely leaves the sky.
There is a reason we picked late June. This far north, midsummer means daylight that stretches past ten and eleven at night, and cities that come alive because of it. People are out. Cafes stay full. The whole region feels like it is making up for winter all at once.
This is our longest trip on the calendar at seventeen days, and it is built that way on purpose. The Nordic capitals and the Baltic coast are spread out, and rushing them turns a great trip into a blur of airports and hotel lobbies.
Expect harbor cities, old towns that survived centuries mostly intact, design and architecture that changed how the rest of the world builds, and countryside between them that is worth the window seat.
This is a bigger commitment than most of what we do, in time and in cost, and it should be. If you have been saving a trip for something, this is a good candidate.
Harbor cities at midsummer
Waterfront cities where the harbor is the center of everything. Design, architecture, and food that punches far above the size of these countries, all under a sun that refuses to go down.
Medieval old towns
Cobbled old towns, city walls, and squares that have been the middle of things for six or seven hundred years. Compact, walkable, and remarkably well preserved.
Our adventure begins in the air on an overnight transatlantic flight. Settle in and try to sleep. Scandinavia will be there in the morning.
We land in Copenhagen and meet our Tour Manager for the transfer to our hotel near the airport. This evening, a Welcome to Scandinavia dinner where you get acquainted with your fellow travelers over good food.
A local guide introduces us to Copenhagen this morning, including Amalienborg Palace where the royal family lives, Frederiks Kirke, known as the Marble Church, and the city's trademark statue of the Little Mermaid. Afterward, the Nyhavn district is a perfect setting for lunch on your own among the colorful townhouses and old wooden ships along the canal. The afternoon is free. This evening we have an included visit to Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen's famous amusement park and pleasure garden, with dinner on your own at one of the park's restaurants.
Denmark is made up of the Jutland Peninsula and more than four hundred islands. We travel west from Copenhagen to Funen across the eleven-mile Storebælt Fixed Link, two bridges and a tunnel. By late morning we reach Odense for an included visit to the Hans Christian Andersen Museum. Born in 1805, Andersen went from humble beginnings to enormous fame for The Ugly Duckling, The Princess and the Pea, and The Emperor's New Clothes. We continue north to the port of Hirtshals to board an overnight cruise to Bergen, with dinner served on board.
Wake to the North Sea and arrive in Bergen's harbor by midday. Bergen is one of Europe's oldest port cities, a center of trade since the twelfth century. Its old wharf, Bryggen, is a reminder of the town's place in the Hanseatic League. Wander among the historic row houses where you will find potters, jewelers, and leather crafters alongside cafes. Then the drive to our hotel in Stalheim, and before dinner there is time to explore the grounds and take photographs of one of the more remarkable hotel settings anywhere.
Spectacular views all day. We ride the Flåm Railway for an hour past mountains, waterfalls, and landscapes that do not look quite real. The railway is an engineering marvel, descending 2,844 feet on the way to Flåm. There is time in Flåm for lunch on your own and the village shops or the railway museum. This afternoon we board a fjord steamer for a two-hour cruise through the Aurlandsfjord and the Nærøyfjord, the narrowest fjord in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We disembark at Gudvangen and return to Stalheim for dinner.
This morning we visit the Borgund Stave Church. Built of wood and coated in a natural tar, stave churches dotted the Norwegian countryside through the Middle Ages. Borgund dates from around 1180 and is exceptionally well preserved, one of the most distinctive still standing. From there the journey to Oslo takes us past wooded hills, lakes, and resort villages, with an afternoon stop before we reach our hotel for check-in and dinner.
A local guide joins us for insight into Oslo's waterfront, its fjord-dominated setting, and Norwegian culture. The Vigeland Sculpture Park is included in the orientation tour, along with the Parliament building, the Royal Palace, and Oslo City Hall, where the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded. The rest of the day is yours. Aker Brygge, the revitalized waterfront district, is a pleasant spot for lunch on your own. You might spend the afternoon at Akershus Fortress, the Munch Museum, the Fram, or the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History. Dinner is independent this evening.
A full day of travel from Oslo to Stockholm, through rich farmland, pine forest, rustic country, and clear lakes. We stop for lunch on your own in one of the small towns along the way. Dinner is served after check-in at our Stockholm hotel.
We start with an overview of the city's landmarks by coach, followed by a walking tour through Gamla Stan, Stockholm's Old Town. Set on Stadsholmen Island and two islets, Gamla Stan dates to the thirteenth century and is a warren of medieval alleyways, cobbled streets, and well-preserved Gothic buildings including the Royal Palace, Stockholm Cathedral, and the Riddarholmen Church. For lunch on your own in Gamla Stan, try a Swedish smorgasbord. The afternoon is free, and this evening we return to the city center for dinner on your own.
Stroll along Stockholm's harbor and take your time over lunch at a nearby restaurant, or grab something quick and use the time for the ABBA Museum. By midafternoon we transfer to the harbor to board our overnight cruise to Helsinki. Settle into your private cabin and explore the ship before a lavish buffet dinner. The rest of the evening is yours for everything the ship offers, including tax-free shopping, music, and dancing.
Breakfast on deck as the island-dotted shores of Finland come into view. We dock in Helsinki by mid-morning and board the coach for the city center, where a local guide shares the Rock Church, Senate Square, Uspenski Cathedral, and Helsinki Cathedral. This afternoon we visit Helsinki's open-air markets, where local merchants sell traditional foods, handicrafts, and souvenirs. After check-in, continue exploring over an independent dinner.
We transfer to the Helsinki ferry terminal for a two-hour crossing over the Gulf of Finland to Tallinn. Tallinn's Old Town is one of the best-maintained medieval cities in Europe. A local guide walks us through the winding cobbled streets of this thirteenth-century city, divided into Toompea Hill, home to the gentry who ruled the countryside, and the Lower Town, where merchants traded on Town Hall Square. Dinner is independent this evening.
We depart Tallinn for Pärnu, a medieval city and the great Estonian summer destination. Take in the laid-back atmosphere, the sandy beaches, the spas and restaurants. Stop at a local market for picnic things along the beach promenade, or have lunch at one of the sidewalk cafes. This afternoon we continue to Riga, the capital of Latvia, where we will spend the next three nights.
Riga is the largest of the three Baltic capitals, with a skyline of Gothic spires and one of the world's richest collections of Art Nouveau architecture. A local guide points out the Castle, St. Peter's Church, and the Dome Cathedral. The rest of the day is at your leisure. For lunch, wind through the enormous Central Market for sausage, cheese, black bread, and smoked fish, or find a friendly bistro. You might try Riga Black Balsam, a traditional Latvian herbal liqueur. There is also an optional Museum of Occupation excursion with your tour manager. Riga's Old Town is within easy walking distance of the hotel.
A morning drive takes us over the border into Lithuania. Our first stop is the Hill of Crosses, a pilgrimage site thought to have been established in 1831 after an uprising during the Polish-Russian war. We continue to nearby Šiauliai, where a local guide introduces the history of the area. In your free time you might visit the Chocolate Museum, the Cat Museum, or the Šiauliai History Museum. We return to Riga this evening for a farewell dinner with your fellow travelers.
An early morning transfer to Riga Airport for the flight home, after seventeen days and seven countries.
This itinerary is rated active. Expect to walk an average of about three and a half miles a day, often over uneven surfaces, cobblestones, steps, and inclines. Highest elevation is 2,844 feet at Myrdal Station on the Flåm Railway.
Yes. This one is open to everyone.
No, but it is available as an optional add-on. You can add roundtrip air to your booking and I will handle it, or arrange your own flights if you would rather use miles or fly from a particular airport. Call me and we will work out which suits you better.
Yes, and that is exactly why it is seventeen days rather than eleven. Multiple nights in each base, fewer hotel changes, and free time built in. It is a long trip, not a fast one.
A fair amount. European old towns mean cobblestones and walking, and this trip has a lot of both. If you have concerns about pacing, call me and we will talk it through honestly.
Mild and long. Days generally 60 to 72 degrees, cooler by the water, with daylight running very late. Layers, a light jacket, comfortable walking shoes, and a sleep mask if you are a light sleeper.
Yes, valid for at least six months past your return date. You have time, but start early rather than late.
Now, if you are seriously interested. Long international departures need lead time, and knowing who is in helps me lock better pricing.
Use the Email for More Information button below or call me at 931-801-9900.
Land and cruise, per person. Airfare is available as an optional add-on.
$300 non-refundable deposit per person
Booking is handled securely through our Trips Unlimited reservation system. Prefer to talk it through first? Call me.
Passport required · Travel insurance strongly recommended · Open to everyone.
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