Treasures of Germany and Scandinavia with Helsinki

Welcome to Germany! Upon arrival at Berlin International Airport, you will be transferred to your hotel. Later, your guide will give you an overview of the tour or you can check the informative panels in the hotel reception area.

Overnight in Berlin

The morning after breakfast, ease your way into the local culture with a guided tour of Germany’s incredible capital, Berlin. You will visit the historic center, Museum Island, the Reichstag, the Brandenburg Gate and the city’s magnificent parks. You will then continue your visit by stopping at the Holocaust Memorial and the Berlin Wall Museum. This visit can help you to understand the difficult situation the city experienced during the Twentieth Century. You will have free time to explore the city.

Overnight in Berlin

fter breakfast, you will travel to Dresden, a city on the River Elbe where you can admire its palace. Then, you will then continue to Bavaria and arrive in Bamberg, a very beautiful city full of life; do not miss Little Venice. Later, continue to Nuremberg, the second largest city in Bavaria and a city of great history where you are suggested to visit the place where Hitler’s Coliseum stood.

Overnight in Nuremberg

Today after breakfast, you will depart for Kelheim, located on the banks of the Danube. At Kelheim, you will board a boat for a short cruise along the Danube Valley passing through the scenic Danube Gorges leading you to Kloster Weltenburg, a beautiful Benedictine monastery founded in 1040. After a short tour of the monastery, you will continue to Landshut along narrow roads, one of the prettiest villages in Germany where you will have time to stroll and stop for lunch at your own expense. Afterwards, you will visit the Dachau Concentration Camp Museum. In this solemn and impressive place, you will reflect on the difficult time of Nazism and explore the complex. You will then arrive in Munich in the mid-afternoon for a visit to the impressive BMW WELT (BMW World) Complex, a modern facility featuring multifunctional exhibitions of the BMW Group, the prestigious German car manufacturer. From there, you will see the park where the architecturally stunning Olympia Stadium stands and where the famous 1972 Olympic Games were held. Winding up your day in Munich, you will have the evening free to enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of the typical beer houses.

Overnight in Munich

fter breakfast, today amidst alpine summits and stunning scenery, you will travel to Fussen and Neuschwanstein Castle. You will get on a bus to Maria Bridge and admire the fantastic views from this little bridge between the hills. You can either return on foot or by horse and cart, which is not included. After this, continuing along the romantic route, you will travel to Rothenburg, a very pretty city surrounded by walls, where you will visit the beautiful Christmas Museum, with entrance included. From there, you will continue to Frankfurt, Germany’s financial capital, arriving in the evening.

Overnight in Frankfurt

In the morning after breakfast, today, you will explore the historic Rhine and Moselle Valleys, both rich in history and dotted with charming villages. Your journey begins with a scenic cruise along the most picturesque stretch of the Rhine, between the villages of Rüdesheim and Sankt Goar. From there, you will travel to the Moselle River and stop in Cochem, a lovely village nestled along the Rhine and dominated by a magnificent castle over a thousand years old, where you will enjoy lunch. In the afternoon, you will continue to Cologne, where you will have the chance to visit its impressive Gothic cathedral, which at 154 meters held the title of the world’s tallest building until the late 19th century. You can also stroll along the Rhine and explore the bustling city center before heading to your hotel in Dortmund.

Overnight in Dortmund

Today after breakfast, you will set off on an enchanting journey, revisiting beloved childhood stories and movies as you travel through the towns that inspired the Brothers Grimm on the famous Fairy Tale Route. Your first stop will be the picturesque, walled village of Trendelburg, where you will explore its grand medieval castle and visit the renowned Rapunzel Tower, with admission included. You will continue along scenic roads, passing through forests that echo the story of Hansel and Gretel, and then reach Höxter, a lively town where you will enjoy lunch and tour Corvey Abbey, a 9th-century monastery and UNESCO World Heritage Site, with admission included. Afterwards, you will pause in Polle to capture photos of the ruins of Cinderella’s Castle before your journey leads you to Hamelin, celebrated for the tale of “The Pied Piper of Hamelin,” where you will follow the mouse tracks through town. From there, you will continue to Hanover, where you will have time to explore the city center and take a stroll by the old town hall.

Overnight in Hannover

Note: During fairs or conferences, accommodations may be arranged in a nearby city.

Today after breakfast, you will leave Hannover for Hamburg, where you will go around its lake and see its busy port full of life, with time for lunch. After lunch, you will travel to Flensburg, a pretty seaside village with a marina on the border with Denmark. From there, you will continue your journey to Aarhus, Denmark’s second-largest city, located in the center of Jutland.

Overnight in Aarhus          

he morning after breakfast, you will travel to Hirtshals, where you will take a ferry crossing the North Sea to Norway, enjoying a three-hour voyage to Kristiansand. From there, you will continue along Norway’s southern coastline and take in its stunning landscapes. Your next stop will be Flekkefjord, a charming town with wooden houses and tiny restaurants along a fjord, before arriving at Stavanger, a small, picturesque town with an active port by the fjord.

Overnight in Stavanger

Note: Ferry operation hours vary depending on the month, and lunch is normally reserved on the boat.

After breakfast, upon leaving the city, you will stop at the ‘Swords in Rock’ monument, where you will be reminded of the Vikings, before continuing on a very scenic tour. You will follow a route that goes through tunnels and bridges and travel some stretches by boat along the fjord coast of Norway, including one of the world’s deepest undersea tunnels. This stage becomes more relaxed and spectacular with its two boat trips. You will arrive in Bergen at lunchtime and then take a funicular trip to Mount Floyen, which offers amazing views of the town and Bergen fjord. Later, you will have some leisure time to enjoy the capital city of fjords.

Overnight in Bergen

 

Today after breakfast, you will encounter Norway’s most breathtaking landscapes, including its fjords, glaciers, lakes, and forests. Your journey will lead you to Sognefjord, Norway’s largest fjord, with a pause along the way at the beautiful Tvindefossen Waterfall. From there, you will set off on a spectacular cruise from Gudvangen to Aurland, taking in the stunning views on this hour-and-a-half voyage. You will continue through snow-draped landscapes and the Aurland Tunnel, the world’s longest road tunnel, before stopping to admire the exterior of Borgund’s 12th-century wooden church, celebrated as Norway’s best-preserved medieval church. Finally, you will reach Oslo, where you will have free time to explore the port, stroll the main streets, and discover the sculptures in Frogner Park.

Overnight in Oslo

Enjoy your breakfast and begin your day with a sightseeing tour of the Norwegian capital with a local guide; this city combines vibrant modern architecture with classical buildings, magnificent scenery, and large parks with sculptures, and has been nominated the “European Green Capital.” After the tour, you can optionally visit the Vikings Museum. You will then depart for Sweden, enjoying landscapes filled with forests and lakes along the way. Your next stop will be Orebro, a town next to a beautiful lake with a castle and a charming historic center, where you will have time for a stroll and lunch. From there, you will continue to Stockholm, arriving in the evening.

Overnight in Stockholm

After breakfast, you will take a panoramic tour of this very beautiful capital city built on 13 islands joined together. You will see Gamla Stan, or the “City between the Bridges,” the old quarter full of life, with many monumental buildings such as the Nobel Museum alongside the main square of Stortorget, which pays tribute to the winners of the Nobel Prizes, as well as the Cathedral and the Royal Palace. Whenever possible, you will enjoy a pretty view from the Fjällgatan viewpoint. Afterwards, you will have leisure time, and it is recommended to visit the museums and parks. Optionally, you can visit the City Hall and the Vasa Museum.

Overnight in Stockholm

After breakfast, you will enjoy a free day of leisure in Stockholm. In the evening, you will board a modern ferry traveling overnight to Finland, with accommodation in double cabins featuring private bathrooms. The ferry offers a restaurant, bar, nightclub, casino, shops, and ample spaces to relax, and you can enjoy your time on the deck while taking in the views.

Overnight on-board the ferry

 

In the morning, as you arrive in Finland, it is recommended that you go to the ship’s deck for sunrise and enjoy the mesmerizing landscapes of the Aland Islands, hundreds of islands covered by forests. You will then disembark the ferry and have time to walk around Turku, a city with a strong Swedish influence, before continuing to the neighboring city of Naantali, a very picturesque town with wooden houses by the sea. From there, you will travel to Helsinki, arriving at lunchtime. In the afternoon, you will have leisure time to explore the city, including its old market, buildings with Russian influence, and churches.

Overnight in Helsinki

After breakfast, you will enjoy a boat trip to the Suomenlinna Islands, a group of islands featuring a great fortress that once protected the sea entry to the city and has been declared a World Heritage Site. You will have time to walk around, crossing the islands via small pedestrian bridges. In the afternoon, you will have free time to explore at your own pace.

Overnight in Helsinki

After breakfast, make your own way to Helsinki International Airport for your return flight home.