Northern Explorer Christmas & New Year

Arrive in Amsterdam and meet up with the tour leader at the hotel this morning. Begin with a trip to a local farm and learn how Dutch cheese and clogs are crafted before enjoying a welcome lunch in Amsterdam. Afterwards, set out on a canal cruise! Then, join the optional trip to three charming Dutch towns.

Wave Amsterdam farewell and embark on a scenic countryside drive to Hamburg, Germany. At this time of year, Hamburg is filled with glorious Christmas markets. Explore the inviting stalls along the Town Hall Square. Grab a mug of glühwein, spiced hot wine, to warm your heart and body as you explore all the sights. After, head north to tonight’s hotel.

Cross the border into Scandinavia and travel towards Copenhagen, crossing over Øresund Bridge - Europe's longest bridge! Arrive in Denmark’s capital and embark on an orientation tour to see highlights like the Little Mermaid statue and Rosenborg Castle and discover what makes Copenhagen one of the world’s most liveable cities! Afterwards, enjoy free time to wander around Copenhagen’s beautiful Christmas market.

Set off at dawn towards the port of Helsingør. Enjoy views of Kronborg Castle, the setting of Shakespeare's Hamlet, aboard a ferry to Sweden. Then, travel through rural Swedish scenery filled with lakes and forests towards Gothenburg, Sweden’s second city, for an orientation tour. Then, cross the border into Norway, arriving in Oslo, the capital for a free evening.

Grab breakfast before joining a locally-guided tour of Oslo! See some of Oslo’s top attractions such as Akershus Castle, the Royal Palace and the Oslo Opera House. The rest of the day is free. Get to know more about this captivating Scandinavian city on the Oslo+ optional excursion. Explore the Vigeland Sculpture Park, the Fram Museum and more!

Return to Sweden today. Leaving Norway behind, travel through diverse landscapes towards Örebro. Wander through its historic and lively centre, admire its stunning castle and enjoy free time to grab lunch. Finally, continue to Stockholm, the capital! After checking into the hotel, enjoy a delicious group dinner and soak up the city’s festive atmosphere.

Embark on a guided tour this morning before enjoying a free afternoon to explore Stockholm! Discover the Royal Palace, the AF Chapman ship and the historic Gamla Stan. After, the day is free to spend as you wish! Learn about Sweden’s nautical and royal history on the Royal Stockholm optional excursion, including a visit to the fascinating Vasa Museum.

This morning, visit Sigtuna, Sweden’s oldest town, for an orientation tour. See highlights including Stora Gatan, Sigtuna’s main street.  In the evening, begin the journey towards Finland! Take an overnight ferry, enjoy a buffet dinner on board and spend Christmas Eve admiring the views from the water. Wake up in Helsinki, Finland’s capital, tomorrow, on Christmas morning!

Merry Christmas or hyvää joulua! Arrive in Helsinki and set off on a city tour with a local guide. Discover the many architectural and design delights of Helsinki and see top attractions such as the Helsinki Cathedral and Senate Square. The afternoon is free to experience the Finnish Christmas spirit! This evening, look forward to a memorable festive dinner.

Bid farewell to Finland and head to the Baltic States! Board a ferry and cross the Gulf of Finland to Tallinn, Estonia’s magical capital. Explore the city’s highlights with a local guide! Tallinn is one of Europe's most enchanting cities, with an exceptionally well-preserved medieval Old Town. Tonight, choose to enjoy a festive meal at a historic restaurant.

Travel towards Riga, Latvia’s capital. On the way, stop over in Pärnu in Estonia. Then, learn about Latvian history at the Latvian Military Cemetery, dedicated to the soldiers who fought in WWI. Later, embark on an orientation tour of Riga to seek out the city's exquisite Art Nouveau architecture and impressive landmarks such as its massive central market.

This morning, hit the road to Lithuania. The first stop is the Hill of Crosses. This famous pilgrimage site features 100,000+ crosses, the first of which were placed here in 1831 after a local rebellion. Continue to Vilnius, Lithuania’s capital. Arrive and enjoy an orientation tour followed by free time to explore Vilnius’s cathedrals, churches, artist republics, and more!

Depart Vilnius and travel towards Warsaw, Poland’s capital. Along the way, stopover in Trakai. Have your cameras ready to snap unforgettable photos of Trakai Castle, a 14th-century fortress in the middle of Lake Galvė. Back on the coach, look forward to a driving tour en route to Warsaw. Arrive and check into the hotel before enjoying a group dinner.

Explore Warsaw’s charming Old Town this morning with a local guide. See the market square which dates back to the 13th century, admire the Royal Castle, the Presidential Palace and more. Afterwards, make the most of your free day in Warsaw. Join one of the exciting optional excursions on offer to experience Warsaw’s royal history, culture and cuisine!

Head west, stop in Ponzań, Poland. Grab lunch in the historic old town. Continue on to Germany and bustling Berlin! Take an insightful driving and walking tour and see famous sights like the Brandenburg Gate and Checkpoint Charlie. Check into the hotel and get ready to ring in the new year with dinner at a Bavarian-style beer hall!

Wake up to a brand-new year in the heart of Berlin. Today is yours to explore as you wish. Join the optional Berlin+ guided tour to journey into the past. Discover the Eastside open-air gallery along the Berlin Wall and visit the exceptional museum in the old Jewish Quarter. This guided trip is the best way to explore Berlin!

Say Auf Wiedersehen to Berlin as the tour leaves Germany for the Netherlands. Enjoy the scenery as the coach travels through various landscapes. Later, arrive back in Amsterdam. After checking in to the hotel, choose to celebrate the last night of this magical and festive tour with an optional farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

After an incredible 18 festive-filled days, your Northern Explorer Christmas & New Year tour comes to an end after breakfast. Swap contact details with your new tour mates so you can share photos and memories after returning home! We hope to see you back aboard an Expat Explore coach soon!