Compare Four Nordic Capitals by Road Scholar vs Norway & Denmark in 10 days - Land of the Vikings - Charm by Exoticca

Day 1 In Transit to Program In Flight

Day 2 Arrive, Check-in, Orientation, Welcome Dinner Copenhagen

Check-in available from 3:00 PM.

After checking in to the hotel, we’ll have some time to relax and settle in to our rooms before meeting in the lobby at 5:30 p.m. ahead of our welcome dinner and Orientation meeting.

Orientation: The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. After our Orientation meeting, the rest of the evening is at leisure.

At the hotel we’ll have a 3-course plated and served meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Day 3 Museum of Art & Design, Canal Field Trip, Christmas Dinner Copenhagen

Walking about 3 miles, and walking/standing at the museum.

We’ll begin the morning with a lecture at the hotel on Copenhagen’s past and present, followed by a walking field trip through Copenhagen’s medieval quarters. We’ll walk through a maze of narrow streets to admire this bustling neighborhood’s charming old houses, unique shops, cafes and delis. After our walk we’ll take a short panoramic motorcoach ride to familiarise ourselves with more of central Copenhagen.

We’ll begin our afternoon activities with an expert-led field trip to the Danish Museum of Art and Design. The building was once a part of the former Royal Frederik Hospital, which was constructed from 1752 to 1757 under King Frederik V. It was restored in the 1920s to house the collections of the museum, which consist mostly of European decorative and applied art from the Middle Ages to the present, arranged in chronological order. Our afternoon will culminate with an expert-led field trip by boat along the canals of Copenhagen, drifting past Amalienborg Castle, The Black Diamond, The Little Mermaid, Christianshavn, the Parliament building, and the Christiansborg Castle.

At leisure.

In the hotel dining room, the typical European style breakfast buffet features a variety of breads, cheeses, cold-cuts, yogurt, fruit, cereals, juice, milk, coffee, tea and water.

At the Danish Museum of Art and Design.

We’ll enjoy a traditional Danish Christmas dinner of pork, potatoes, cabbage and rice pudding at the charming Kobenhavnercafeen restaurant, with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Day 4 Christiansborg Castle, Glyptotek, Tivoli Copenhagen

Walking up to 2.5 miles.

At the hotel, a lecture on “Denmark, Danes and Democracy” will enlighten us about the country's social welfare system, politics, and the Danes as a people. We’ll then set out on foot to explore more of Copenhagen with our Group Leader.

You may choose to visit Christiansborg Palace or the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek Art Museum. Christiansborg Palace is the home of Denmark's three supreme powers: the executive power, the legislative power, and the judicial power. Christiansborg Castle is the only building in the world which is the home of all the supreme powers of a nation. The Glyptotek Museum is an art collection, an architectural monument and a cultural institute. One of the most popular art museums in Denmark, Glyptotek houses a vast collection of Danish art from the 19th and 20th centuries.

At leisure.

Hotel buffet.

At a local restaurant we’ll have a 2-course plated and served meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

We’ll dine at Restaurant Paafuglen, one of the oldest and most original Tivoli restaurants, with decorated mirrors dating back to the 19th century. We’ll enjoy a 3-course plated and served dinner (with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase) in cozy surroundings, with a view of the Tivoli Gardens.

Day 5 Denmark's Golden Age Copenhagen

Denmark's Golden Age for art, literature and architecture took place from 1800 to 1850. Our morning lecture will introduce us to two famous Danes, Soren Kirkegaard and Hans Christian Andersen, Denmark's literary giants in the Golden Age.

Free time. This block of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

At leisure.

Hotel buffet.

At a local restaurant we’ll have a 2-course plated and served meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Day 6 Kronborg Castle, Louisiana Cruise ship

Walking about 1.1 miles, and walking/standing at sites. Due to limited space in the cabin on the overnight ferry to Oslo, your luggage will be kept in storage. Therefore, please bring a smaller bag to pack your essentials in for the ferry overnight.

After checking out of the hotel, we’ll board a motorcoach for a field trip to Kronborg Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which is perhaps better known as Elsinore, the setting for much of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. From the UNESCO inscription: “Located on a strategically important site commanding the Sund, the stretch of water between Denmark and Sweden, the Royal castle of Kronborg at Helsingør (Elsinore) is of immense symbolic value to the Danish people and played a key role in the history of northern Europe in the 16th-18th centuries. Work began on the construction of this outstanding Renaissance castle in 1574, and its defences were reinforced according to the canons of the period's military architecture in the late 17th century. It has remained intact to the present day.” After our field trip to Kronborg Castle, we’ll board the motorcoach and ride to Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, located on the coast to the north of Copenhagen with a view across the sea to Sweden. The museum’s founder, Knud W Jensen, intended it to be a home for Danish modern art when it opened in 1958. However, he quickly broadened his geographical scope and the museum now holds a significant international collection, making it Scandinavia’s leading museum of modern art.

We’ll transfer by motorcoach to Copenhagen’s port, where we’ll board the cruise ship that will take us overnight to Oslo in Norway.

At leisure.

Hotel buffet.

At a local restaurant we’ll have a 2-course plated and served meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

We’ll have a buffet dinner in the ship’s dining room.

Day 7 Frognerparken, National Opera House Oslo

Walking about 1 mile.

Welcome to Oslo! Once ashore, we’ll board a motorcoach for a panoramic field trip through the city, including a stop at the recently built Opera House. We’ll then have an introduction to Norway's great sculptor, Gustav Vigeland, contemplating this artist's talents as we view the Vigeland sculpture park, Frognerparken. This wonderful park's architect was Vigeland himself, and it is home to 212 sculptures that depict the life of man from birth to death. We’ll take a walk through the entire park.

We’ll continue our transfer by motorcoach to the hotel, stopping at the Holmenkollen ski jump arena for another great viewpoint across the city. Once we arrive at the hotel, we’ll check in and have some time to relax and unpack before dinner.

After dinner we’ll convene for a short welcome session with information about the Oslo portion of our journey, and the rest of the evening is at leisure.

In the cruise ship's dining room.

We’ll delight in lunch with a view as we dine at the Frognerseteren restaurant. This destination will afford us a great vista of the city.

At the hotel we’ll have a 3-course plated and served meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Day 8 National Museum of Art, City Hall Oslo

Walking about 1.8 miles, and walking/standing at sites.

We’ll begin the morning with a short lecture at the hotel on Norway’s past and present. After the lecture, we’ll board a motorcoach and ride to the Edvard Munch Museum, where we’ll hone our artistic eyes during an expert-led field trip.

After lunch we’ll have a field trip to City Hall, where the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony takes place. We’ll enjoy a talk and expert-led walk through part of this magnificent building, then visit the Nobel Peace Center before returning to the hotel on foot.

At leisure.

Hotel buffet.

We’ll enjoy lunch at Vinterhaven (Winter Garden) restaurant in Hotel Bristol, across the street from our hotel. Vinterhaven is a timelessly classic restaurant that is the "heart" of Hotel Bristol. Since 1920, politicians, authors, musicians, and actors have found inspiration between these hallowed walls. The ambience is an experience in itself; a spot that truly lives and breathes its long history.

We’ll dine at the Hereford Steakhouse restaurant, across the street from our hotel.

Day 9 Oslo Museums Oslo

Walking up to 1.5 miles with some uneven terrain, and walking/standing at the museum.

We’ll begin the day with a short briefing at the hotel about today’s program, followed by a lecture on Norwegian literature, with an emphasis on modern works. We’ll then board a motorcoach for a field trip to Bygdøy. The Bygdøy peninsula hosts several great museums, and our field trip will take us to see some of the most important ones. We’ll marvel at one of Scandinavia's greatest archaeological treasures, the Oseberg ship, at the Viking Ship Museum. This richly ornamented 19m-long dragon ship is the burial chamber of a Viking queen and her slave. We’ll look for the Oseberg's animal-head post and four-wheeled cart, and the elegantly carved sleigh used by Viking royalty.

After lunch we’ll make a short ferry journey (approximately 3 minutes) to the Bygdøynes pier. We’ll then have some free time to explore the nearby museums, including the Kon-Tiki Museum centered around Thor Heyerdahl’s famous raft, the Norwegian Maritime Museum, and a museum dedicated to the late 19th-century polar exploration ship Fram. We’ll return to central Oslo at the end of the afternoon on another ferry.

At leisure.

Hotel buffet.

A short walk will take us down to the Lanternen restaurant overlooking Frognerkilen Bay, where we’ll be able to enjoy the sea breeze and the scenery while we eat.

At a local restaurant we’ll have a 3-course plated and served meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Day 10 Transfer to Stockholm Stockholm

Getting on/off a motorcoach; total driving about 330 miles, approximately 8 hours, not including breaks.

After checking out of the hotel, we’ll board a motorcoach for our transfer to Stockholm in Sweden.

We’ll continue our motorcoach transfer to Stockholm, stopping en route at the city of Örebro. Upon arrival in Stockholm, we’ll check in to our hotel and have some time to relax and unpack before dinner.

After dinner, we’ll have a brief orientation session to prepare us for our time in Stockholm. The rest of the evening is at leisure.

Hotel buffet.

We’ll stop for lunch in Karlstad en route, where we’ll have a 2-course plated and served meal at a local restaurant with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

At the hotel we’ll have a 3-course plated and served meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Day 11 Stockholm City Hall Stockholm

Walking about 1.5 miles.

At the hotel, we’ll begin the day with a lecture teaching us about the unique qualities of Swedish culture and the economy today in light of its historical roots.

We’ll set out on an expert-led field trip by motorcoach. Most attractions of Stockholm are within a few miles’ walking distance from the central station, and during our field trip we will see all of them. We’ll make a special stop at the Stockholm City Hall. This remarkable building, inaugurated in 1923, combines many architectural and ornamental styles into a unique structure that is the pride of Stockholm. Many people worldwide have seen the magnificent Nobel Prize gala dinner taking place in the “Blue Hall” of City Hall.

At leisure.

Hotel buffet.

At a local restaurant we’ll have a 2-course plated and served meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

At a local restaurant we'll have a 3-course plated and served meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Day 12 Stockholm’s Old Town, Vasa Ship Museum Stockholm

Walking about 3 miles, plus walking/standing at museums.

At the hotel, we’ll gather for a lecture on “Sweden Today,” in which an overview of the political landscape of Sweden will give us an understanding of a system which has given the Swedish citizens an exceptionally high standard of living across the board. Today the "Swedish model" is rapidly changing. After the lecture, we’ll set out on foot to explore Stockholm’s Old Town.

We’ll take a short boat ride from the Old Town to the museum island of Djurgården, where we will visit the Vasa Ship Museum. This outstanding museum features the full body and ornamentation of a war ship that sunk on its maiden voyage in Stockholm in 1628 and was salvaged 333 years later. The prime condition of this ship has made it internationally unique. An expert-led excursion through the museum will include a 30-minute film showing the complex salvage operation of the ship. The rest of the afternoon is free time for independent exploration. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions and give directions. Within easy walking distance (or a short bus ride) from the Vasa museum you will find several interesting museums and art collections. Further choices include The Nordic Museum, The Kaknas Tower, The Modern Museum of Art, Liljevalch's Art Gallery, and the Museum of Photography.

We'll attend a cultural event. The date and time are tentative, until further details are available. These will be confirmed during the program.

Hotel buffet.

At a local restaurant we’ll have a 2-course plated and served meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Hotel dining room.

Day 13 Drottningholm Palace Stockholm

Walking about 2 miles, walking/standing at sites.

We’ll board a motorcoach for a field trip to the UNESCO site, Drottningholm Palace. We’ll enjoy an expert-led exploration of most of the Palace, as despite being the permanent home residence of the King and Queen of Sweden much of it is open to the public. The portrait gallery and exquisite furniture are prime examples of Swedish craft and art from the 18th and 19th centuries. Stockholm was built on water and its waterways offer a convenient means of transportation. The journey by boat from the present residence of the royal family takes an hour as we pass residential communities along the way back to the city.

Once we return to central Stockholm, we’ll have some time to explore and relax before dinner.

At leisure.

Hotel buffet.

Aboard the boat from Drottningholm we’ll have a 2-course meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Tonight we will have dinner in the Old Town.

Day 14 Skansen Open Air Museum, Millesgården Statue Park Cruise ship

Walking about 2 miles, walking/standing at field trip sites. Due to limited space in the cabins on the overnight ferry to Helsinki, your luggage will be transported via bus to the hotel in Helsinki. Therefore, please bring a smaller bag to pack your essentials in for the ferry overnight. You will receive your luggage at 3:00 PM on Day 15, after our visit to the National Art Gallery of Finland.

After checking out of the hotel, we’ll board a motorcoach for a field trip to Skansen Open Air Museum, begin with a talk and demonstration teaching us about Swedish art and craft traditions and history, followed by an expert-led walk through the world's oldest open air museum. Skansen is comprised of historical buildings from different social and geographical areas of Sweden, including farmland, herb gardens and both domestic and wild animals.

After lunch we’ll proceed to the spectacular Millesgården Sculpture Park. This was once the home of the most important 20th-century Swedish sculptor, Carl Milles. Today it displays replicas of his most famous sculptures in an attractive setting in the inlet to the city. Milles was a long-time US resident and is also represented in many major US cities. After our field trip we’ll proceed by motorcoach to the Silja Line Terminal, and board our cruise ship destined for Helsinki. Hours after our departure, we will pass through one of the densest and richest archipelagos in the world.

At leisure.

Hotel buffet.

Explore local fare on your own at one the cosy restaurants and cafés at Skansen.

Aboard the ship, we’ll enjoy a traditional smörgåsbord in the dining room.

Day 15 Ateneum, the National Art Gallery of Finland Helsinki

Walking about 1.5 miles, and walking/standing at the gallery.

Once we arrive in Helsinki, we’ll board a motorcoach for a panoramic field trip to familiarise ourselves with some of the city’s key landmarks, including Sibelius Monument and Senate Square, finishing at our hotel.

After lunch, we’ll take an expert-led field trip to the Ateneum, the National Art Gallery of Finland. We’ll contemplate some of the Ateneum's most famous and interesting paintings, followed by time to explore the Ateneum independently. We’ll return independently to the hotel, three blocks away from the Ateneum.

At leisure.

In the cruise ship's dining room.

At a local restaurant we’ll have a 3-course plated and served meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

At a local restaurant we’ll have a 3-course plated and served meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Day 16 Musiikkitalo Helsinki

Walking up to 1 mile, and walking/standing at the music hall.

At the hotel, we’ll gather for a lecture providing us with a short history of Finland. We’ll follow the country’s story from the early years to the present as we focus on Finland’s relations with the world and especially with the U.S. We’ll then learn about daily life in Finland with a glimpse into the everyday life of a typical Finnish citizen.

After lunch we’ll explore the Musiikkitalo Music Hall on an expert-led field trip. This music center is Finland’s most modern, and is home to the Sibelius Academy, the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, and the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra. We’ll then have some free time for independent exploration. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

At leisure.

Hotel buffet.

At a local restaurant we’ll have a 2-course plated and served meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Explore local fare on your own.

Day 17 Ainola, Jean Sibelius' Home Museum, Hvitträsk Helsinki

Walking/standing at sites.

We’ll board a motorcoach and ride to the Lotta Museum in Tuusula, where a musician will give us insight into Finnish Music and delight us with the sounds of a kantele, a traditional Finnish instrument. We’ll then take a field trip to Ainola, Jean Sibelius’ Home Museum. Here we will see the composer’s home as it was while he lived there with his family, as well as the graves of the composer and his wife.

After lunch we’ll take an expert-led field trip to Hvitträsk, one of Helsinki’s architectural highlights. The former studio home of famous Finnish architects Eliel Saarinen, Armas Lindgren, and Herman Gesellius, Hvitträsk was built of logs and natural stone in the early 1900s and ranks among the most remarkable architectural creations of its time. The artistic unity of the house with its forest surroundings was a remarkable achievement.

At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure tomorrow.

Hotel dining room.

At a local restaurant in Järvenpää we’ll have a 2-course plated and served meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

At a charming local restaurant, we’ll have a 3-course plated and served farewell dinner with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends.

Day 18 Departures Helsinki

We’ll transfer by motorcoach to Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL). This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys.

Hotel buffet.

Day 1: US - Night on board

Ready to discover the spectacular landscapes and scenic fjords of Norway? Arrive at your departure airport to catch a flight to Oslo.* 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: 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. * Transfers are provided by a regular Flybuss Service.

Day 3: 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 4: 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 5: 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 6: 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 7: 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 8: Oslo - Copenhaguen

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer* to the airport to take flight to Copenhguen. Arrival in Copenhagen. Upon arrival, transfer on your own** to the hotel in the city center. The rest of the day at leisure, we suggest walking the streets and exploring the city of the Royal family and the main street Strøget, with many shops, bars, and coffee shops. Overnight in Copenhaguen. * Transfers are provided by a regular Flybuss Service. ** Possibility to book private transfer in the next step of the booking.

Day 9: Copenhaguen

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a trip through the classic channels of Copenhaguen. Discover some of the churches and castles, appreciate the old hanging houses and the new buildings at the same time you sail through the most popular channels: Nyhavn and Ved Stranden. Overnight in Copenhaguen.

Day 10: Copenhaguen

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 one of the two optional excursions: Hop-on Hop-off tourist bus or the entry to the Tivoli Park. Overnight in Copenhaguen. * Optional excursion Hop-on Hop-off in Copenhagen: touristic bus trip through the principal sites of Copenhagen. You can decide where to stop and where to continuo your trip. The tickets are valid for 72 hours and you can use to move around the city. During the trip you will have audioguide service. * Optional excursion Tivoli Park: entry to the Tivoli theme Park. Enjoy the time in the one of the oldest theme parks of the world. It was opened in 1843 with only a carousel and a small roller coaster, and now is one of the most important places in the city. This was a source of inspiration for Walt Disney and his creation.

Day 11: Copenhaguen - US

Breakfast at the hotel. At the indicated time, self-transfer* to the airport for your return flight back to the US.* Arrive in the US and end your trip. * Possibility to book private transfer in the next step of the booking.