Best of Scandinavia & the Baltics Christmas & New Year

Your Best of Scandinavia and the Baltics Christmas tour begins today in wintery Copenhagen! Meet up with your tour leader at the hotel before joining an expert local guide to discover Denmark’s enchanting capital. Tick off some of the city’s top sights including the Little Mermaid Statue and the picture-perfect Nyhavn Waterfront. This evening, enjoy a group welcome dinner.

Look forward to a free day in Copenhagen! This charming city is full of colour and creativity. Join today’s optional excursion and experience a canal cruise, learn more about Denmark’s history with a visit to the National Museum and enjoy free time for lunch at a local market. This is the best way to experience Copenhagen’s local culture.

Today’s first stop is Odense, famously the birthplace of fairytale author Hans Christian Andersen. Next stop is Denmark’s second-biggest city, Aarhus. Embark on an orientation tour of this buzzing city which offers a blend of contemporary architecture and Viking history. Finally, arrive at the Hirtshals ferry port and settle in for an overnight ferry towards Bergen, Norway!

Hei Norway! Wake up and admire the beauty of Norway’s nature while cruising towards Bergen. Upon arrival, embark on an orientation tour. See the UNESCO-listed Bryggen Quay, decorated with sparkling Christmas lights, and the picturesque city centre. This afternoon, join an excursion to some quaint fishing villages near Bergen for a glimpse into local life and a Christmas Eve lunch.

Merry Christmas! Or, “God Jul”. Enjoy a free day to experience this magical city in all its festive glory. Join the ever-popular Bergen+  optional excursion. Embark on a guided Bryggen tour and a ride on the Fløibanen funicular up Fløyen mountain! End this festive day with a drink at Bergen’s incredible Magic Ice Bar before an included Christmas dinner.

After breakfast, head to today’s first stop, Gudvangen, a breathtaking village at the end of Nærøyfjord - one of Norway’s most spectacular fjords. Embark on an exciting optional excursion to a Viking village followed by a fjord cruise through the Nærøyfjord and Aurlandsfjorden fjords! Enjoy free time in Flam before heading to tonight’s accommodation. Dinner is at the hotel tonight.

Today, travel to Oslo, Norway’s effortlessly cool capital city. En route, stop at the fascinating Gol Stave Church and snap some pictures of this unique structure! Upon arrival in Oslo, set off on a walking tour of this compact city. Admire the Royal Palace and Akershus Castle. The rest of the afternoon is free to explore at your own pace.

Travel to Sweden today! Halfway between Oslo and Stockholm lies the city of Karlstad. Sitting on the shores of Lake Vänern, Karlstad is beloved for its natural beauty. In the evening, arrive in Stockholm, Sweden’s captivating capital, and check into the hotel. Traditional Swedish meatballs are on the dinner menu tonight!

God morgon, Stockholm! Today is free to experience this captivating city as you wish. But first, join a local guide for a tour of Stockholm’s most iconic sights including the Royal Palace and Gamla Stan (the old town). Later, join an optional excursion, which includes a tour of the historic Royal Palace and a visit to the fascinating Vasa Museum! 

Leaving Stockholm this morning, travel to Sigtuna. Discover Sweden’s oldest town on an orientation tour. This afternoon, hop aboard the overnight ferry from Sweden to Helsinki. Enjoy a range of onboard entertainment and admire the views as you cruise. Tonight, why not indulge in an optional Swedish buffet dinner?

Welcome to Helsinki, the seaside capital city of Finland. Set off on a walking and driving tour with a knowledgeable local guide. Discover some of the many highlights of Helsinki including Senate Square, the towering Helsinki and Upsenski cathedrals and Havis Amanda. Tonight, sit down for a group dinner and celebrate the last night of the year together!

After last night’s celebrations, enjoy a free day to wander around the city, relax or sightsee. Join the Helsinki+ excursion to visit the nearby Suomenlinna island, the interactive Helsinki City Museum and a local café! Finland consumes more coffee than any other country. Be sure to try out some beloved brew at one of the city’s many cafés!

Depart Helsinki this morning and catch a ferry to Tallinn, Estonia’s enchanting capital city. Arriving in the afternoon, soak up Tallinn’s unmatched medieval atmosphere with lunch at a historic restaurant in the Old Town square. Then, join a local guide on a walking tour of this fairytale city’s striking spires, colourful houses and incredible viewpoints.

This morning, head to Pärnu, a resort city home to picturesque houses and creative street art. Then, travel to Riga, Latvia. First stop is the Latvian Military Cemetery, a national monument honouring over 2,000 Latvian soldiers. After hotel check-in, enjoy an orientation tour through Riga’s Old Town which is renowned for its exceptional Art Nouveau architecture.

The last (but certainly not least) of the Baltic states awaits! Cross the border into Lithuania and visit the mysterious Hill of Crosses. Later, arrive in Vilnius, Lithuania’s beautiful capital. Set off on an orientation tour. Discover the UNESCO-listed Old Town and exquisite Baroque architecture. Enjoy free time to explore before sitting down for dinner at a traditional restaurant.

Before leaving Lithuania, travel to Trakai, a quaint town home to a magnificent island castle which is particularly magical in winter. Then, relax as the coach crosses the border into Poland. Arrive in Gdansk, a charming and scenic port city, this evening. Marvel at Gdansk’s blend of architectural styles on an orientation tour before tonight’s included dinner.

Begin the day with a locally guided walking tour of this beautiful city. Experience the gorgeous Old Town and Long Market Square. The rest of the day is free to spend however you wish. Take a stroll along the Motława riverside, admire the ornate interior of Gdansk Town Hall or take in the views from the Amber Sky ferris wheel!

Say goodbye to Gdansk and take a trip to the UNESCO-listed Malbork Castle, the world’s largest! Embark on a guided tour of this awe-inspiring 13th-century castle and fortress. The next stop is the medieval town of Toruń, yet another UNESCO site! Here, enjoy an interactive gingerbread demonstration! Then, head to Warsaw and check into the hotel for the evening.

Witam Warsaw! Discover Poland’s historic and enigmatic capital city this morning with a local guide. The rest of the day is free to explore or to join the Warsaw Cultural Highlights optional excursion. Dive deep into Warsaw’s delicious cuisine and Jewish history on this unmissable tour. Celebrate the last night on tour with the Evening in Warsaw excursion!

After a jam-packed 20-day festive journey through Scandinavia & the Baltics, the tour comes to an end this morning after breakfast. Don’t forget to exchange content details with your newfound travel buddies before travelling onwards to your next destination. Expat Explore wishes you a safe trip home and cannot wait to see you on tour again with us soon!