Copenhagen to Helsinki Christmas & New Year - From £2,235

Today kicks off this unmissable Scandinavia Christmas and New Year tour! After arriving in Copenhagen, Denmark, meet your tour leader and new travel companions at the hotel. After settling in, meet up with an expert local guide for a walking tour to see the top sights of Denmark's capital city. After the walking tour, enjoy the rest of the day as you wish. Why not see the Tivoli Gardens? Your tour leader will be able to offer advice on things to see and do. End the first exciting day on tour with an included dinner where you can mingle with your fellow travellers. Are you ready for 13 days of exploring Scandinavia?

Enjoy a full free day to explore the very best of Copenhagen at leisure! For the best immersion into the city's culture, embark on today's optional excursion to uncover the rich history of Copenhagen. Don't miss out on this unforgettable experience, including a tour of Freetown Christiana, a visit to Christiansborg Palace and lunch at a local restaurant! There's no better way to explore the city. Alternatively, explore on your own at a leisurely pace. Consider visiting the Tivoli Gardens if you didn't yesterday, or the must-see astronomical observatory, the Rundetaarn, for fantastic city views and to see the famous equestrian staircase. Whatever you choose today, it's sure to be adventure-filled!

This morning, the tour begins the scenic journey to the coastal treasure of Hirtshals. En route, the first stop of the day is Odense, Denmark's third-largest city that's famously known for being the birthplace of fairytale novelist, Hans Christian Andersen. Upon arrival, embark on an orientation tour around the town's top attractions before enjoying free time to wander. Up next is the city of Aarhus, the second-largest in Denmark. This must-see city is home to many unmissable attractions, such as an old town open-air museum, contemporary artwork and buildings, Viking museums and more! Get acquainted with the city on an orientation tour before continuing on to Hirtshals. Upon arrival, board the overnight ferry to Bergen, Norway!

Norway is calling, and ready to be explored this Christmas Eve! Upon arrival in Bergen, hop on an orientation tour of the city. Bergen is not only the second-largest city in Norway but also serves as the gateway to the famous Norwegian fjords. "The city among the seven mountains" is home to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Bryggen Quay and the fjords are just a short boat ride away. Most say that seeing the fjords is a highlight of visiting Norway! Enjoy an orientation tour of Bergen before some more time to explore and wander on your own. Or, why not choose to celebrate Christmas Eve by experiencing Norway’s historic fishing villages on this afternoon's optional excursion?

Spend Christmas Day discovering the beautiful Bergen and its surroundings on a full free day! For a hassle-free and in-depth exploration, join today's Festive Bergen+ optional excursion. Embark on an unforgettable excursion as you explore Bryggen on a guided tour, take the Fløibanen funicular to the top of Mount Fløyen for sweeping views, and indulge in a cocktail at the otherworldly Magic Ice Bar! This is the ultimate way to see Bergen at its festive best. Alternatively, explore on your own, marvel at medieval architecture, visit a Christmas market or even a Gingerbread town! This evening, sit down for an included festive Christmas dinner with the group.

Spend Boxing Day taking a deep dive into the scenic heart of Norway. Leave Bergen behind en route to the village of Gudvangen, which is located at the end of Nærøyfjord, one of the most spectacular fjords in Norway! Here, embark on an unmissable local experience by joining today's optional excursion. Visit a Viking village and hop on a sightseeing cruise on the Nærøyfjord and Aurlandsfjorden fjords to Flam. There, meet up with the coach again and marvel at the crystal-clear waters, towering cliffs and majestic waterfalls. After some free time, travel to tonight’s accommodation in Gudvangen. Look forward to an included dinner before settling in for the evening.

Leave Gudvangen after breakfast for Oslo! En route, stop to admire the stunning Gol Stave Church. Arrive in Oslo and embark on a captivating, locally-guided walking tour of the Norwegian capital. Learn all about this fascinating capital city where the Norwegian royal family resides. Along with your local guide, discover some of the city's highlights, such as Akershus Castle and the Royal Palace. Then, enjoy some free time wandering the streets and exploring at leisure. This evening is free to explore and grab dinner.

There's more of Sweden to see today! Journey from Oslo to Karlstad this morning. Upon arrival in Karlstad, located precisely between Oslo and Stockholm on the shores of Lake Vänern, enjoy a variety of stunning attractions and mouthwatering local cuisine. Continue to Sweden's capital city, Stockholm. Enjoy an included dinner of traditional Swedish meatballs this evening before settling into the hotel.

This morning, set out on an expertly guided tour of the city, seeing the top sights like the Royal Palace, the AF Chapman ship and Gamla Stan (Stockholm’s Old Town). The rest of the day is free to explore Stockholm your way. As the city is made up of various islands, it offers incredibly picturesque walks. Be sure to stroll through the Djurgården and check out the Skansen, the Swedish open-air museum. Or, join the Royal Stockholm optional excursion and look forward to a historic tour of the Royal Palace and the world-renowned Vasa Museum. Today is guaranteed to be a memorable one!

The exploration continues today as the coach heads towards Helsinki, Finland. But first, stop in the medieval town of Sigtuna and head out on a picturesque orientation tour. Then, enjoy free time to explore a town founded in 970 AD, making it Sweden’s oldest! Then, the journey continues to the port, where the group will take an overnight ferry to Helsinki. Have a ball with the onboard entertainment before settling in for the night.

This morning, Finland says "Happy New Year's Eve" as the group arrives in Helsinki. This vivacious coastal city is known for its stunning islands and beautiful parks. Upon arrival, embark on a guided tour of the city before settling into your harbourside hotel and meeting up with a local guide this afternoon. Discover the city's top attractions with the expert local guide, including Esplanadi, Havis Amanda, Senate Square, Helsinki Cathedral and more! Spend the rest of the day as you wish until this evening's included dinner to celebrate New Year's Eve. Ring in the new year with your fellow travellers and make this one to remember.

Hyvää uutta vuotta!What better way to spend New Year's Day than exploring Helsinki, a capital city with a knack for design, culture and architecture? Not to mention the delicious seasonal treats! Soak up the last bits of the festive atmosphere around the city. Warm up in a sauna or relax at a cosy café! Or, join today’s optional excursion to explore Suomenlinna Island. Take a short ferry ride from the harbour, explore the 18th-century Suomenlinna Fortress and delight in a local lunch!

Say goodbye to Scandinavia after almost two weeks of seeing the best seasonal sights and ticking the top attractions off of your travel bucket list. After the final group breakfast, remember to exchange contact information with your new travel friends if you'd like to stay in touch. Expat Explore hopes you've had a magical festive tour. See you on the road again soon!