Highlights
- Customize your own guided tours of Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Gothenburg
- Dine in Scandinavia's best restaurants, including Michelin-starred options
- Get into craft beer culture at a trendy microbrewery visit in Copenhagen
- See Stockholm's spectacular Drottningholm Palace on a boat trip
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Copenhagen (Denmark) | Copenhagen |
| Day 2 | Coffee Collective Visit, West End Gourmet Tour & Evening Gourmet Stroll | Copenhagen |
| Day 3 | Museums of Copenhagen, Nyhavn Canal Cruise & Segway Tour | Copenhagen |
| Day 4 | Transfer to Stockholm (Sweden), Free Afternoon & Dinner | Stockholm |
| Day 5 | Drottningholm Palace Boat Tour, Stockholm Old Town Walk | Stockholm |
| Day 6 | Train to Gothenburg, Free Afternoon | Gothenburg |
| Day 7 | Gothenburg Customized Private Tour | Gothenburg |
| Day 8 | Train to Oslo (Norway), Free Afternoon | Oslo |
| Day 9 | Driving Tour Around Oslo, Food Tasting City Tour | Oslo |
| Day 10 | Depart Oslo |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Copenhagen (Denmark)
Welcome to Copenhagen, the epitome of Scandi cool. Green, clean, and practically crime-free, Denmark's capital city regularly tops the ranks for quality of life. After checking into your hotel, head out to explore at your own pace. A great place to begin is Nyhavn, a 17th-century waterfront district known for its colorful townhouses and vibrant bars and cafés. From here, stroll along the canal for 20 minutes to see The Little Mermaid—a bronze and granite statue inspired by Hans Christian Anderson's fairy tale character.
As you wander, treat yourself to Scandi snacks such as smørrebrød, a traditional open-face sandwich, or a fresh-from-the-oven sticky Danish pastry. If you're a fan of craft beer, there's no better place for variety and quality than Copenhagen. Pop into the popular microbrewery, Mikkeller, for a tasting. Launched by a beer-loving math and physics teacher, his recipes skyrocketed from humble homebrew to global brand. In the evening, enjoy a meal at one of Copenhagen's excellent restaurants: the city claims no less than 15 Michelin-starred eateries, more than any other Scandinavian capital.
Day 2: Coffee Collective Visit, West End Gourmet Tour & Evening Gourmet Stroll
Kick-start your day with a visit to Copenhagen's slick coffee micro-roastery, The Coffee Collective, in the Jægersborggade district. Natural Scandi interiors with soft lighting set a relaxing tone as you sip on coffee blends such as cardamom or kombucha. Then, head to Christiania, a self-proclaimed autonomous neighborhood founded in 1971 when a group of people cut a hole in the fence of a military barracks in Bådmandsgade. True to its renegade roots, the area's now known for its relaxed view of psychedelics and unique architecture, eco-restaurants, workshops, galleries, and music venues.
Later on, take a "gourmet tour" of Copenhagen's West End, including the historic meatpacking district of Kødbyen. Experience the youthful side of Denmark's culinary scene as you discover how old factories have been transformed into some of the city's most exciting restaurants. The tour ends at a microbrewery near City Hall, where you will have the chance to taste craft beer exclusive to the venue.
Day 3: Museums of Copenhagen, Nyhavn Canal Cruise & Segway Tour
Take your pick of Copenhagen's museums this morning. Visit the ARKEN Museum of Modern Art to see works by Damien Hirst and Ai Weiwei at a modern gallery on the Ishøj beach. Or, dive into Copenhagen Contemporary, an international center of installation art from stars and emerging talent alike. The National Museum is Denmark's showstopping national history museum, while the Open Air Museum, just north of Copenhagen, is one of the world's oldest and biggest open-air museums.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 4: Transfer to Stockholm (Sweden), Free Afternoon & Dinner
Herring served with seasonal salad at Sillkaféet
Catch the train from Copenhagen and cross the border to Stockholm, Sweden's stylish capital. Built across a 14-island archipelago, where Lake Mälaren meets the Baltic Sea, the city's nickname is the "Venice of the North." Style runs through Sotckholm's veins, from minimalist interiors to its fashion-forward locals. It's also known for its innovation, as the home of Spotify and Skype, and furniture behemoth IKEA.
Stockholm is a trailblazer of the New Nordic food scene (high-concept food using local, seasonal ingredients often sourced from the wild) and one of the culinary capitals of Europe. In fact, it's the European Capital of Gastronomy for 2023. After checking into your hotel, the rest of the day is at your leisure to graze your way around the city.Day 5: Drottningholm Palace Boat Tour, Stockholm Old Town Walk
Set sail from the city to the idyllic Drottningholm Palace, which was built in the 1600s and became Sweden's first UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991. Sweden's royal family calls the south wing home, while the rest of the palace and grounds are open to the public year-round. As the palace is situated on the island of Ekerö, on Lake Mälaren, a pleasure boat allows you to take in the views in style while snacking on refreshments from the onboard café. Those interested in learning more about the history and significance of Drottningholm Palace can choose to join a guided tour.
After this half-day excursion, you'll join a small group for a two-hour guided walk of the Old Town, formerly known as "The Town between the Bridges." Here, you'll take a stroll around the medieval square of Stortorget and see the Stockholm Stock Exchange Building, which is now home to the Nobel Prize Museum. You'll also discover the fascinating history behind the Royal Palace and how a gym owner and reality TV star became royalty.
In the evening, treat yourself to dinner at one of Stockholm's fine-dining restaurants. Ranked as one of the world's top 10 restaurants, three Michelin-starred Frantzén serves contemporary Nordic cuisine that showcases the best local ingredients (think scallops, sea urchins, blue lobster, and quail prepared in innovative ways). Cozy one Michelin-starred Ekstedt focuses on fire, so expect smoky flavors and caramelization. Your local expert can help you make a choice and arrange a reservation.
Day 6: Train to Gothenburg, Free Afternoon
Take the four-hour train to Gothenburg, Sweden's second-largest metropolis, and cool little sibling to Stockholm. Here, you'll find elegant neoclassical architecture and, in the summer, al fresco bars and cafés along the canal. Visit the Gothenburg Museum of Art, which features works by Rembrandt, Rubens, and other masters, or shop in the boutiques of the creative Haga district, renowned for its half-timbered buildings.
You could also explore the jewel in Gothenburg's crown: one of Northern Europe's biggest botanical gardens, spread over 40 acres (16 ha) and with 12,000 species of flora. Strolling through the gardens reveals a series of themes, including a kitchen garden, an herb garden, a Japanese glade, a rhododendron valley, and a rock garden complete with a mini waterfall.
An array of private tours are also available to book. On a food tour, you'll taste your way around the city with a local guide, learning about Gothenburg's culinary traditions as you go. Or, mix things up with a photo tour; led by a professional photographer, you'll learn new techniques as you move around the city's best views.
Day 7: Gothenburg Customized Private Tour
Meet your guide this morning and set off on a private customized tour. With a rich history from the 17th century, Gothenburg offers a mix of historic and modern attractions. You could request a boat tour along the Göta Canal, a 19th-century waterway that spans the width of the country. Or, go on a longer seafaring adventure with a ferry out to one of the 20 islands of the Gothenburg archipelago.
Get to know the food scene with a trip to Feskekörka, which translates as "Fish Church"—a seafood market in a striking 19th-century building said to resemble a place of worship. Counters are loaded up daily with fresh fish, shellfish, and crustaceans, as well as ready-to-eat snacks. Later, you could dine at the waterfront restaurant Sjömagasinet to experience chef-prepared fruits of the sea, from shellfish platters to grilled fish.
Day 8: Train to Oslo (Norway), Free Afternoon
Say goodbye to Sweden this morning and cross the border to Norway. A 3.5-hour train ride will deliver you to Norway's capital, Oslo—a city of grand palaces, genteel parks, striking contemporary architecture, world-class museums, and innovative restaurants. On the outskirts, colorful houses are hugged by green spaces, lending a relaxed and liveable feel to the metropolis. After checking into your hotel, the afternoon is free for you to explore.
Make the most of the city's vibrant street food scene, with food trucks and stalls offering a variety of international and local dishes. You'll also find plenty of fine-dining options, such as Maaemo and Kontrast, internationally renowned for their modern takes on traditional Norwegian cuisine. Try 26 North for modern dishes such as "Nordic tacos," as well as vegan options. At Vaaghals, you can order tapas-style Nordic meals or go for a hearty reindeer steak in the rustic and modern interior of Stock.Day 9: Driving Tour Around Oslo, Food Tasting City Tour
Join a local guide to see Oslo's highlights on a private driving tour. You'll tick off the Opera House, Akershus Fortress, and the Royal Palace, plus Vigeland Park with its 200 sculptures. A winding drive up the mountain will bring you to Holmenkollen Ski Jump, which attracts the world's best ski jumpers during its annual competition. You'll then move on to the peninsula of Bygdøy and its history museums, including the Viking Ship Museum and Norsk Folkemuseum, an open-air museum with 160 historic buildings.
After, you can choose to go on a walking tour that combines the city's green credentials with its food scene. Follow the Akerselva River and learn about Oslo's underground culture, and finish in the Vulkan district. Learn how Vulkan has been regenerated with innovative eco-friendly architecture. At the food hall here, nibble on traditional Norwegian produce, including cheese, cured sausages, reindeer, salmon, lingonberries, and flatbread.
Day 10: Depart Oslo
Enjoy a final morning walking around Oslo's neighborhoods, relaxing in cafés, and maybe grabbing one of the hot dogs for which the city is so well-known. Finally, your Scandi adventure has come to an end, and you'll take the easy 20-minute train to the airport to catch your flight. Safe travels!
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