Compare Four Scandinavian Capitals by Road Scholar vs Northern Capitals (2024, Classic Group) by Insight Vacations

Day 1
In Transit to Program
In Flight

Day 2
Arrive, Check-in, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Copenhagen D Scandic Palace Hotel
Activity note: Check-in available from 3:00 PM.

Dinner: Hotel dining room. Please note that water is included in the program cost at all meals.

Evening: Orientation and getting to know one another. Your Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the program theme, the up-to-date Daily Schedule and any changes, discuss safety guidelines, emergency procedures, roles and responsibilities, and answer any questions you may have. Indicated times are approximate. Program activities, schedules, and personnel may need to change due to local circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Day 3
Museum of Art & Design, Canal Field Trip, Christmas Dinner
Copenhagen B,L,D Scandic Palace Hotel
Activity note: Walking about 3 miles, and walking/standing at the museum.

Breakfast: Hotel dining room. On this program, breakfasts will offer a typical European style breakfast buffet with breads, cheeses, cold-cuts, yogurt, fruit, cereals, juice, milk, coffee, tea and water.

Morning: Our morning lecture on “Copenhagen’s Past and Present” will teach us about the capital’s history and prepare us for our walking excursion through the medieval quarters of Copenhagen, and our short orientation excursion by bus. Walk through a maze of narrow streets to admire this bustling neighborhood’s charming old houses, unique shops, cafes and delis.

Lunch: At the Danish Museum of Art and Design.

Afternoon: After lunch, we will begin our afternoon activities with an expert-led excursion of 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 culminates with an expert-led field trip on the canals of Copenhagen as we drift past Amalienborg Castle, The Black Diamond, The Little Mermaid, Christianshavn, the Parliament building, and the Christiansborg Castle.

Dinner: Enjoy a traditional Danish Christmas dinner of pork, potatoes, cabbage and rice pudding at the charming Kobenhavnercafeen restaurant.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 4
Christiansborg Castle, Glyptotek, Tivoli
Copenhagen B,L,D Scandic Palace Hotel
Activity note: Walking up to 2.5 miles.

Breakfast: Hotel dining room.

Morning: Our morning lecture will enlighten us on "Denmark, Danes and Democracy." Learn about Denmark today; the country's social welfare system, politics, and the Danes as a people.

Lunch: Hotel dining room.

Afternoon: 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.

Dinner: Dine at Restaurant Paafuglen, one of the oldest and most original Tivoli restaurants, with decorated mirrors dating back to the 19th century. Enjoy your dinner in cozy surroundings, with a view of the Tivoli Gardens.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 5
Denmark's Golden Age
Copenhagen B,L Scandic Palace Hotel
Breakfast: Hotel dining room.

Morning: 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.

Lunch: Enjoy our lunch at Jensens Bøfhus.

Afternoon: Free afternoon to enjoy as you please. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities, which can be found in the first Information Packet. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions and give directions.

Dinner: Explore local fare on your own.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 6
Kronborg Castle, Louisiana
Cruise ship B,L,D DFDS cruise ship
Activity note: 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.

Breakfast: Hotel dining room.

Morning: Depart in the morning to visit Kronborg Castle, known by many also as "Elsinore," the setting for much of William Shakespeare's famous tragedy Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Our journey will then take us to Louisiana, Scandinavia’s leading museum of contemporary art.

Lunch: At a restaurant at Kronborg Castle.

Afternoon: Transfer to board overnight cruise ship to Oslo.

Dinner: Enjoy a traditional smörgåsbord in the ship’s dining room.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 7
Frognerparken, National Opera House
Oslo B,L,D Hotell Bondeheimen
Activity note: Walking about .5 miles.

Breakfast: In the cruise ship's dining room.

Morning: Welcome to Oslo! Our short, expert-led sightseeing excursion by bus through the city, including a stop at the brand new Opera House, will precede an introduction to Norway's great sculptor, Gustav Vigeland. Contemplate 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. Take a walk through the entire park.

Lunch: Delight in lunch with a view as we dine at the Frognerseteren restaurant. This destination will afford you a great vista of the city.

Afternoon: Stop at the Holmenkollen ski jump arena and at a viewpoint of the city. We travel to our hotel to settle in. Later in the afternoon we will convene for a short welcome session with information about the Oslo portion of our journey.

Dinner: At the Kaffistova Restaurant at the hotel.

Evening: The evening is at your disposal. Enjoy your first night in Oslo as you wish.

Day 8
National Museum of Art, City Hall
Oslo B,L,D Hotell Bondeheimen
Activity note: Walking about 1.8 miles, and walking/standing at sites.

Breakfast: Hotel dining room.

Morning: Our morning begins with an information session about today's program and a short lecture on "Norway, Past and Present." Next, we hone our artistic eyes during our expert-led excursion of the National Museum of Art and its special Edvard Munch room.

Lunch: 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.

Afternoon: Next we embark on an excursion to City Hall, where the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony takes place. Enjoy a talk and expert-led walk through part of this magnificent building. Optional: then visit the Nobel Peace Center on your own before returning to the hotel. It is a 15-minute walk back to the hotel.

Dinner: Dine at the Hereford Steakhouse restaurant, across the street from our hotel.

Evening: Enjoy the evening as you wish. You may take part in an informal city walk and get to know the downtown area.

Day 9
Oslo Museums
Oslo B,L,D Hotell Bondeheimen
Activity note: Walking up to 1.5 miles with some uneven terrain, and walking/standing at the museum.

Breakfast: Hotel dining room.

Morning: Our morning begins with an information session about today's program. Next, we will hear a lecture on Norwegian literature, with an emphasis on modern literature. Following the lecture, a coach will take us out to Bygdøy. The Bygdøy peninsula hosts several great museums and our excursion will take us to see some of the most important ones. 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. Look for the Oseberg's animal-head post and four-wheeled cart, and the elegantly carved sleigh used by Viking royalty.

Lunch: A short walk will take us down to the Lanternen restaurant overlooking Frognerkilen Bay. Enjoy the sea breeze and the scenery while you eat.

Afternoon: The afternoon is at your disposal to explore more sights or simply to enjoy the city. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities, which can be found in the first Information Packet. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions and give directions. One very interesting option is to take the ferry (3 min) to Bygdones, where you can use your admission to visit many different museums.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 10
Transfer to Stockholm
Stockholm B,L,D Scandic Park Hotel
Breakfast: Hotel dining room.

Morning: We depart for Stockholm by private coach.

Lunch: En route.

Afternoon: We arrive at our hotel in Stockholm. Check-in at the hotel and have some time at leisure to rest.

Dinner: Hotel dining room.

Evening: Introduction to Stockholm program. An evening orientation will provide an overview of the program and of the city in preparation for tomorrow's excursion.

Day 11
Millesgården Statue Park
Stockholm B,L,D Scandic Park Hotel
Activity note: Walking about 1.3 miles, and use of public transportation.

Breakfast: Hotel dining room.

Morning: Lecture: "Sweden Yesterday." Learn about the unique qualities of Swedish culture and the economy today in light of its historical roots.

Lunch: Hotel dining room.

Afternoon: Expert-led bus excursion. Most attractions of Stockholm are within a few miles walking distance from the central station. During our excursion, we will see all of them. A special stop will be made at the Millesgården Statue 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 a most attractive setting in the inlet to the city. Milles was a long-time US resident and is also represented in many major US cities.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 12
The Vasa Ship Museum
Stockholm B,L,D Scandic Park Hotel
Activity note: Walking about 2.8 miles, walking/standing at the museum, and use of public transportation.

Breakfast: Hotel dining room.

Morning: Lecture: "Sweden Today." In this lecture, an overview of the political landscape of Sweden will give 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.

Lunch: We will explore the old town by foot and have our lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: A short boat trip from the Old Town takes us 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 at your disposal. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities, which can be found in the first Information Packet. 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 options include The City Hall Tower, The Kaknas Tower, The Modern Museum of Art, Liljevalch's Art Gallery, and the Museum of Photography.

Dinner: Hotel dining room.

Evening: Attend a cultural event. The date and time are tentative, until further details are available.

Day 13
Morning Lecture, Skansen Open Air Museum
Stockholm B,D Scandic Park Hotel
Activity note: Walking about 2.5 miles, walking/standing at the museum, and use of public transportation.

Breakfast: Hotel dining room.

Morning: Enjoy a field trip and behind-the-scene insider's access to the Costume's Center at the Skansen Open Air Museum, to hear and see about Swedish art/craft traditions and history, followed by an expert-led excursion of Skansen. 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.

Lunch: Explore local fare on your own.

Afternoon: Continue your morning excursion.

Dinner: Tonight we will have dinner in the Old Town.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 14
Stockholm City Hall, Drottningholm Palace
Cruise ship B,D Tallink Silja Line
Activity note: Walking about 2 miles, walking/standing at sites, and use of public transportation. 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 your visit to the National Art Gallery of Finland.

Breakfast: Hotel dining room.

Morning: Check-out of the hotel before taking a field trip to 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.

Lunch: Explore local fare on your own.

Afternoon: Outside City Hall we commence the boat excursion to Drottningholm Palace. Stockholm was built on water and its waterways offer a convenient means of transportation. The journey to the present residence of the royal family takes an hour as we pass residential communities along the way. We enjoy an expert-led exploration as most of the Palace is open to the public. The portrait gallery and exquisite furniture are prime examples of Swedish craft and art from the 18th and 19th century. Later in the afternoon we will travel by bus 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 archipelagoes in the world.

Dinner: Enjoy a traditional smörgåsbord in the ship’s dining room.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 15
Ateneum, the National Art Gallery of Finland
Helsinki B,L,D Sokos Hotel Presidentti
Activity note: Walking about 1.45 miles, and walking/standing at the gallery.

Breakfast: In the cruise ship's dining room.

Morning: We arrive in Helsinki and enjoy an expert-led bus excursion, including Sibelius Monument and Senate Square, before arriving at our hotel.

Lunch: Savor your first lunch in Helsinki at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: After lunch, take an expert-led field trip at the Ateneum, the National Art Gallery of Finland. Contemplate some of the Ateneum's most famous and interesting paintings. There is also time to explore the Ateneum on your own. (It is 3 blocks from the hotel.)

Dinner: Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 16
Musiikkitalo
Helsinki B,L Sokos Hotel Presidentti
Activity note: Walking up to 1 mile, and walking/standing at the music hall.

Breakfast: Hotel dining room.

Morning: We will hear a lecture covering a "Short History of Finland." Follow Finland’s history from the early years to the present as we focus on Finland’s relations with the world and especially with the U.S. Then learn about "Daily Life in Finland" as we catch a glimpse into the everyday life of a typical Finnish citizen.

Lunch: Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: After lunch we will have an expert-led excursion of the Musiikkitalo Music Hall. The newest highlight in Helsinki, it is the most modern music center in Finland as well as an architectural landmark.

Dinner: Explore local fare on your own.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 17
Ainola, Jean Sibelius' Home Museum, Hvitträsk
Helsinki B,L,D Sokos Hotel Presidentti
Activity note: Walking/standing at sites.

Breakfast: Hotel dining room.

Morning: We travel by chartered bus 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. Afterwards we will enjoy a cup of coffee and cinnamon rolls, and then take a look at a museum exhibit on Lotta Svärd, a voluntary national defense organization for women in the 1920s through the 1940s. Next we 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.

Lunch: Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant in Järvenpää.

Afternoon: This afternoon we 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 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.

Dinner: Our last evening ends with a farewell dinner in a charming local restaurant.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 18
Departures
Helsinki B
Breakfast: Hotel dining room.

Morning: Departure by chartered bus for Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL). This concludes our program. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures.

Day 1: Welcome to Berlin

Welcome to the vibrant city of Berlin. In the afternoon, perhaps visit the KaDeWe department store - the shopping center of West Berlin which during 40 years of division, became the shop window of the West. In the evening, join your Travel Director and travel companions for your Welcome Dinner with wine.

Hotel NH Collection Berlin Mitte am Checkpoint Charlie, Berlin.

Dinner with Wine

Day 2: The Spirit of Berlin Relaxed Start

In the morning, sightseeing with a Local Expert takes you along the Unter den Linden, past the Humboldt University and Opera House. Stop a while on Museum Island before passing Brandenberg Gate, a symbol of the reunification. See Norman Foster’s glass dome which crowns the Reichstag building before embarking on a journey through the Tiergarten. Spend the afternoon exploring at your leisure or relaxing at your hotel.

Hotel NH Collection Berlin Mitte am Checkpoint Charlie, Berlin.

Breakfast

Day 3: Across the Sea to Copenhagen

Depart Berlin and continue through northern Germany to Rostock for the sea crossing to Denmark. A peaceful journey through the Danish countryside brings you to the capital, Copenhagen. In the evening, delight in the enchanting atmosphere of the famous Tivoli Gardens.

Radisson Blu Scandinavia Hotel, Copenhagen.

Breakfast

Day 4: Wonderful Copenhagen

Explore Copenhagen with a Local Expert, taking in the sights of Denmark's capital, the Christiansborg Palace seat of the Danish Government, Rosenborg Castle and Amalienborg Palace, home of the royal family. Visit the waterfront to admire Hans Christian Andersen’s Little Mermaid gazing across the harbor. Stroll through the old town and admire the colored houses with pretty squares and Copenhagen's 18th century cathedral designed by Christian Frederik Hansen. This is where King Frederik X of Denmark married Queen Mary and known for its neoclassical architecture. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Radisson Blu Scandinavia Hotel, Copenhagen.

Breakfast

Day 5: To Stockholm, City of Islands

Enjoy a view of Kronborg Castle, reputedly the Elsinore home of Hamlet, during the short ferry crossing to Sweden. Your journey then continues through fertile farmlands, dotted with neat farmhouses and barns. Travel along the shores of peaceful Lake Vättern to Stockholm, beautifully situated on an island studded bay.

Clarion Hotel Amaranten

Breakfast

Day 6: Stockholm and a Baltic Cruise

With a Local Expert, visit the imposing City Hall with its impressive Gyllene salen, the Golden Hall, covered with 18 million gilded mosaic tiles and the Blå hallen, the Blue Hall, is the venue for the Nobel Prize banquets. Cross the harbor to Gamla Stan, the medieval heart of the city to see the cathedral and the Royal Palace. In the afternoon, board your cruise ship for the overnight voyage to Finland. Enjoy dinner onboard and then take in the breathtakingly beautiful scenery from the comfort of your A-Class, sea-view cabin, while the northern sun hangs over the horizon, showing almost no sign of setting in mid-summer.

Serenade/Symphony—Tallink & Silja Line Ships.

Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 7: Fashionable Helsinki Relaxed Start

Disembark your Baltic cruise and explore Helsinki, the trendsetting city of top fashion and design, alongside a Local Expert. Wander through the aromatic stalls of a traditional food market and sample local produce like liquorice or smoked reindeer.

Klaus K Hotel, Helsinki.

Breakfast

Day 8: Finnish Countryside

Venture into the lush Finnish countryside and join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at Bosgård Organic Farm. Learn about their sustainable practices and try some authentic produce from the farm. Later, visit the picturesque town of Porvoo, one of the most photographed places in Finland. Spend the evening at leisure back in Helsinki.

Klaus K Hotel, Helsinki.

Breakfast

Day 9: Surrender to the Magic of Tallinn

This morning cross the sea to Estonia. Choose between a stroll with your Local Expert through the cobbled streets of the Old Town, a scene straight out of a fairy-tale and hear about Estonian arts and crafts. Or join your Local Expert to walk up Toompea Hill for panoramic views of the city and afterwards visit the market square with its old German weighing house, pharmacy and Town Hall. Enjoy free time this afternoon to browse Tallinn’s shops, famous for fine amber and silver jewelery.

Swissotel Tallinn.

Breakfast

Day 10: On to Riga Relaxed Start

Today you make your way to the Latvian capital of Riga. Explore Riga's Old Town with your Local Expert, including a visit to the old aircraft hangars that now house the Riga Central Market, one of the largest in Eastern Europe. Enjoy the vibrant colors and flavors when sampling some of the local delicacies as you wander through the maze of stalls.

Radisson Blu Elizabete Hotel, Riga.

Breakfast

Day 11: Explore Vilnius

Cross into Lithuania and visit the Hill of Crosses before arriving in the capital city of Vilnius.Walk along the streets of bohemian Užupis, a Vilnius neighborhood that proclaimed itself a republic in 2002. A member of the government introduces you to its quirky history and artistic flair.Choose from a hand-picked selection of local restaurants for your Dine-Around Evening.

Radisson Blu Hotel Lietuva, Vilnius.

Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 12: Rejuvenated Warsaw

Pass lakeside Augustow during a scenic journey through Masuria, a region blessed with a plethora of lakes and forests. Your destination will be the Polish capital, faithfully rebuilt after the devastation of World War II.

The Westin Warsaw.

Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 13: Exploring Warsaw Relaxed Start

Join a Local Expert for an exploration of the city. Pass the tiered Palace of Culture and stroll through Łazienki Park to the Chopin Memorial. Take a moment to reflect at the Monument to Ghetto Heroes, before walking to the Market Square in the Old Town. In the evening, join your newfound friends and Travel Director for a Celebration Dinner at a local restaurant and enjoy a fine selection of local dishes, with wine.

The Westin Warsaw.

Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 14: Depart Warsaw

Time to say goodbye to your new friends as your journey through Poland comes to an end.

Breakfast