Compare Scandinavia 2021 by Tauck vs Sweden & Norway in 10 days - Nordic Peninsula - Charm by Exoticca

Day 1 Arrive Stockholm

Tour begins: 5:30 PM, Sheraton Stockholm Hotel. A transfer is included from Stockholm's Arlanda Airport to the Sheraton Stockholm Hotel in the heart of Sweden's historic capital city. Late afternoon, join us for a visit to Stockholm's Vasa Museum, featuring the impressive Vasa, an ornate royal warship that sank in Stockholm's harbor following its launch in 1628 and was raised in 1961. The day concludes with a welcome dinner at a local Stockholm restaurant.

MEALS : D

LODGING : Sheraton Stockholm Hotel

PORTOFCALL : Stockholm, Sweden

Day 2 A City Built on Islands

Begin today's discovery of Sweden's capital with sightseeing including a guided visit to Stockholm's iconic City Hall, where the annual Nobel Prize award festivities take place. You'll see the Council Chamber; the Gold Room, whose walls are sparkling with 18 million pieces of gold mosaic and glass depicting events in Swedish and world history; and the famous Blue Room, misnamed because the architect changed his mind and left its beautiful red-brick walls intact. Stockholm sightseeing continues with a panoramic lakeside drive over bridges that crisscross between Stockholm’s small islands, offering views of Gamla Stan (Old Town) and a skyline of 17th- and 18th-century buildings, the Baltic Sea, Lake Malaren, the elegant Strandvagen waterfront, the inner harbor, the Royal Palace, the Cathedral and Parliament. The rest of the day is free to explore as you wish – perhaps take a canal tour, or walk through the cobbled streets of medieval Gamla Stan.

MEALS : B

LODGING : Sheraton Stockholm Hotel

PORTOFCALL : Stockholm, Sweden

Day 3 Fly from Stockholm to Copenhagen

Take a morning flight from Stockholm's Arlanda Airport to Copenhagen, Denmark. After lunch at a local Copenhagen restaurant, embark on a city tour that includes a visit to one of Denmark's beautiful castles. If you wish, we've included admission to celebrated Tivoli Gardens, which you can visit at your leisure this evening with tickets provided by your Tauck Director. This city-center, 160+-year-old amusement park is set within a 20-acre garden; from thousands of blooms to a lakeside beer garden, fireworks, a roller coaster and evening music, it’s a Danish experience unto its own.

MEALS : B, L

LODGING : Radisson Collection Royal Hotel, Copenhagen

PORTOFCALL : Copenhagen, Denmark

Day 4 A Private Tour of a Danish Palace

Head out from the city this morning to North Zealand, a region of woodlands, villages, lakes, royal parks and castles. You'll enjoy Tauck's early-entry, private visit to 17th-century Frederiksborg Palace, built atop three islands in a small lake, and considered one of the finest examples of Dutch Renaissance architecture. After a Danish family-style lunch in a local restaurant in North Zealand, return to "wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen." The afternoon and evening are free to explore as you wish, perhaps discovering the historic Nyhavn area and strolling along the Stroget, Copenhagen's main street; dinner is at a local restaurant tonight. 

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Radisson Collection Royal Hotel, Copenhagen

PORTOFCALL : Copenhagen, Denmark

Day 5 The Home of a Composer for the Ages

Board a flight this morning from Copenhagen to Bergen on Norway's west coast. Upon arrival, have lunch at a local restaurant, then head to Troldhau­gen, the beloved Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg’s former lakeside villa, today a living museum and concert center; Norway's foremost composer is perhaps best known for his musical score for the play Peer Gynt. Return to Bergen and check into your hotel on Bergen's historic Bryggen waterfront, and enjoy the evening as you wish.

MEALS : B, L

LODGING : Clarion Collection Hotel Havnekontoret

PORTOFCALL : Bergen, Norway

Day 6 A Stave Church Guarded by Dragons

Today, join your local guide for a morning tour of Bergen, known for its centuries-old maritime legacy as well as a reputation as an important hub for the arts. Your tour includes a visit to Fantoft Stave Church, a 1990s reconstruction of an original 12th-century stave church that was destroyed by fire in 1992. Many centuries ago, the construction of traditional, iconic Norwegian wooden stave churches began with the slotting of posts (staves) into the ground to support thousands of skillfully crafted timber parts, which included carved portals and dragons' head carvings on the roof. Following an afternoon at leisure, ride a ferry to dinner at a local restaurant, before returning to your hotel close to Bryggen, the city's old wharf district. Featuring traditional wooden buildings and a medieval atmosphere, Bryggen was founded in 1070 during the days of the Hanseatic League; one of the oldest large trading ports in Northern Europe, it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

MEALS : B, D

LODGING : Clarion Collection Hotel Havnekontoret

PORTOFCALL : Bergen, Norway

Day 7 Norwegian Fjord Country

Journey northward today along the Norwegian coast, through photo-worthy landscapes that vary from wide-open fjords to green hills, icy glaciers and massive mountain ranges, as you set out from Bergen, ferry across part of the Songefjord from Oppedal to Lavik, and wind your way through the countryside to Loen, from which you'll explore Norway's inspiring fjordlands during a two-night stay at the venerable Hotel Alexandra, operated since 1884 by five generations of the Loen family. Enjoy a barbecue dinner tonight at the hotel.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Hotel Alexandra

Day 8 Briksdal Glacier & a "Troll Car" Ride

Travel today to one of Norway’s most inspirational natural wonders – Briksdal Glacier, set between roaring waterfalls and mountain peaks at the end of one of the Nordfjord's three branches. Meltwater from the glacier has created three emerald-green lakes in the valley; a ride on a "Troll Car" past thundering waterfalls and a short hike to the foot of the glacier lead to views of absolutely stunning scenery. Enjoy a three-course lunch in Briksdal, then return to your resort to take advantage of its many amenities (some at additional cost) or explore Loen as you please.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Hotel Alexandra

Day 9 Vistas From Dalsnibba

Your tour continues with a morning of unforgettable views — including some of the incomparable Geirangerfjord, one of the longest, deepest, and most scenic fjords in the world — as you drive from Loen to Oye, a serene alpine village on the Hjorundford, where you'll have lunch at the Hotel Union Oye, in operation since 1891 and a favorite retreat among the elite for decades. Continue on to Ålesund for a two-night stay; have dinner at your hotel tonight.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Hotel Brosundet

Day 10 Art Nouveau in Ålesund

The most important fishing harbor in Norway today, picturesque Ålesund is situated on seven islands on the Atlantic coast, linked by an intricate network of tunnels, carved out of granite. Join your local guide for a tour of the city, whose wealth of historic Art Nouveau (Jugenstil) structures were largely constructed between 1904 and 1907, after a fire had destroyed many of the community's buildings – making Ålesund one of Norway's leading repositories of Jugenstil architecture today. After a private lunch at a local restaurant, return to your hotel and spend the rest of the day and evening as you please in Ålesund.

MEALS : B, L

LODGING : Hotel Brosundet

Day 11 Life on Skis

Fly this morning from Ålesund to Norway's capital city of Oslo for a two-night stay. After lunch, visit Oslo's Holmenkollen Ski Museum & Tower – featuring a ski jump complex whose history goes back more than a century, and the world's oldest museum (founded in 1923) dedicated to the sport of skiing, built into the mountain below the ski jump itself. Check into your hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day and evening as you please in Oslo.

MEALS : B, L

LODGING : Grand Hotel Oslo

PORTOFCALL : Oslo, Norway

Day 12 Vigeland Sculptures & Viking Ships

A city orientation tour of Oslo offers views of the city's striking modern opera house and downtown City Hall. With a local guide, take in the Vigeland Sculpture Park, with its 212 life-sized granite and bronze sculptures by famed Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland (1869–1943), who devoted his career to the project; spotlighting many works that carry a humanistic message, the park is a popular Oslo destination. Next up, view skillful Norwegian works of a mariner’s kind during a guided visit to the nearby Viking Ship Museum, featuring three well-preserved Viking ships dating to 800 AD, found in royal burial mounds with fascinating artifacts – representing some of the best-preserved Viking ships in the world.  Following a free afternoon in Oslo, please join us this evening for a farewell reception and dinner in the heart of the city.

MEALS : B, D

LODGING : Grand Hotel Oslo

PORTOFCALL : Oslo, Norway

Day 13 Journey home

Tour ends: Oslo. Fly home anytime. A transfer from Grand Hotel Oslo to Oslo Airport is included. Please allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in at the airport.

MEALS : B

PORTOFCALL : Oslo, Norway

Day 1: US - Night on board

Ready to discover the spectacular landscapes and scenic fjords of Scandinavia? Arrive at your departure airport to catch a flight to Stockholm.* Night on board. * Important: If your outbound flight leaves at dawn (before 04:00 a.m.) you must arrive at the airport the night before the selected departure day.

Day 2: Stockholm

Arrival in Stockholm the capital of Sweden and the biggest of the country. It’s an archipelago composed by 14 islands that are connected by around 50 bridges in the Märlaren lake. It’s a very cosmopolitan city as you will find an Scandinavian modern architecture with metal and bronze buildings or fairy tails towers and a very charm old city centre. Self-transfer* to the hotel and overnight in Stockholm. * Possibility to book private transfer in the next step of the booking.

Day 3: Stockholm

Breakfast at the hotel. Explore Stockholm from a different perspective on a boat tour along its iconic waterways, through its locks and underneath its 12 historic bridges! Pass by the most emblematic sights in the city, from the urban centre to the Old Town and the greenery of Djurgården, on a relaxing journey through the heart of the Swedish capital! Ovevrnight in Stockholm. Note: tansfer is not included, you will have to make your own way to the meeting point.

Day 4: Stockholm

Breakfast at the hotel. Today you will have a free day to enjoy on your own. You can take profit of the time to go shopping or visit some emblematic sites. We recommend the optional excursions Stockholm Archipelago Tour*. Overnight in Stockholm. * Optional excursion Stockholm Archipelago Tour: historic cruise tour throught the Stockholm archipelago. Lunch included.

Day 5: Stockholm - Oslo

Breakfast at the hotel. Self-transfer* to the Stockholm airrport to take a flight to Oslo. Arrive at Gardermoen airport and transfer to the hotel.** Oslo is the capital of Norway and a great place to discover the local culture and cuisine. The city is known for its cosmopolitan atmosphere, its green spaces and its numerous museums, many of which are dedicated to the country's Viking heritage. Overnight stay in Oslo. * Possibility to book private transfer in the next step of the booking. ** Transfers are provided by a regular Flybuss Service.

Day 6: Oslo - Oppland

Breakfast at the hotel. This morning enjoy a fascinating panoramic tour of Oslo including Frogner Park which houses the Sculptural Ensemble of Vigeland, the Town Hall, the Royal Palace, and the Modern Opera House. Afterwards, set off for Lillehammer, the city famous for the Olympics of '94, which is situated on the shores of Lake Mjøsa. Admire its tiny picturesque streets. Here you have the option to visit the Maihaugen Open-Air Museum.* Continue through the Oppland region and check-in to your hotel. Dinner and overnight stay in Oppland. * Optional Maihaugen Open-Air Museum: Maihaugen is Norway’s largest open-air museum outside of Oslo. The museum offers more than 200 buildings from different eras, superb cultural experiences and numerous exhibitions. You may find a cheaper price at the destination, but it is recommended that you book through Exoticca to secure your place in advance.

Day 7: Oppland - Sogn og Fjordane

Breakfast at the hotel. An exciting day awaits as you set off for Briksdal Glacier. On the way, stop for a brief visit to the beautiful Lom Church.* Located inside the Jostedalsbreen National Park, the Briksdal Glacier is set within the breathtaking Briksdalen Valley, rising to a height of 1200 metres. Enjoy some free time in Briksdal to admire the unbelievable views, take photos, explore the valley and have lunch (at your own expense). Afterwards, head to the Førde region, to check in to your hotel. Dinner and overnight stay in Sogn og Fjordane. * Optional Entrance to Lom Church: Enjoy entrance to Lom Stave Church where you can admire the beautiful Romanesque architecture of this 12th-century site, one of the largest churches in Norway.Please note: You may find a cheaper entrance ticket price at the destination, but it is recommended that you book through Exoticca to secure your place in advance.

Day 8: Sogn og Fjordane - Sognefjord - Bergen

Breakfast at the hotel. Set off into the landscapes of the land of fjords, and enjoy a panoramic cruise through the beautiful Sognefjord, one of the most famous and beautiful in the whole of Norway. Admire the Nærøy Fjord and the Sognefjord with its high mountains, waterfalls and breathtaking landscape, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Afterwards, continue to Gudvangen to enjoy some free time in this quaint village, nestled at the base of the Angosto Fjord. We recommend taking an optional excursion to the fascinating Viking Museum here.* Afterwards, continue to Voss where you can explore at your leisure until finally arriving in Bergen the 'capital of the fjords'. Transfer to the hotel and get settled in. Overnight stay in Bergen. * Optional Viking Museum Visit: Visit Gudvangen's Viking Museum to learn more about this important period in Norwegian history. The Viking Museum is home to impressive Viking-style buildings, re-enactments and brilliant insights into Norway's Viking heritage.

Day 9: Bergen

Breakfast at the hotel. Set off on a fascinating panoramic tour of Bergen for an overview of its sights and history. Visit the Fish Market, famous for its busy atmosphere and excellent produce, and the Hanseatic Neighbourhood or Bryggen, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, filled with traditional buildings, museums, restaurants and cafes. The afternoon is free at your leisure. We recommend an optional Funicular Ride to Mount Floyen.* Overnight stay in Bergen. * Optional Mount Floyen Funicular Ride: Ride to the top of Mount Floyen for exceptional views of Bergen and the surrounding fjord-lands. You may find a cheaper price at the destination, but it is recommended that you book through Exoticca to secure your place in advance.

Day 10: Bergen - Hardangerfjord - Oslo

Breakfast at the hotel. Set off early towards Oslo and on the way travel across the mighty Hardangerfjord. On the shores of this fjord you can watch the various different farming communities, many of them dedicated to fish farming. After admiring the glistening fjord, head to the Hardangervidda Plateau, home to large herds of wild reindeer. Continue to Olso and watch the changing landscapes and natural beauty of the Buskerud region pass by. Transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay in Oslo.

Day 11: Oslo - US

Breakfast at the hotel. At the indicated time, transfer to Gardermoen airport for your return flight back to the US.* Arrive in the US and end your trip. * Transfers are provided by a regular Flybuss Service.