TAILOR-MADE TOUR Three Scandinavian capitals by rail
11 NIGHTS / 12 DAYS
This rail holiday takes you from London to the three capitals of Scandinavia and back by train : Copenhagen , Oslo and Stockholm . Spend three nights in each city and travel out and back by rail with stops in Hamburg and Hannover . Experience the similarities and differences between these three ancient yet modern , very attractive and appealing cities .
DAY-BY-DAY Day 1 London to Hamburg by train Travel to Hamburg via Brussels and Cologne . Check in to your hotel for one night . Hamburg has a wide range of attractions which display its prominence as an important cultural and commercial centre . Start your time here by exploring the warehouses and canals of the Speicherstadt , now UNESCO World Heritage Site . Another major attraction is the Museum Mile , home to five major galleries including the Kunsthalle , which displays artwork ranging from Rembrandt to Picasso . You can take in the sights of the Elbphilharmonie concert hall and the HafenCity , a new waterside quarter .
Day 2 Hamburg to Copenhagen by train After one night in Hamburg it is time to travel into Scandinavia . The journey to Copenhagen takes just under 5 hours and you arrive about 13.30 hrs , giving you plenty of time to explore after you check in to your hotel for the next two nights .
Day 3 In Copenhagen Copenhagen straddles the two coastal islands of Zealand and Amager and is characterised by its canals and laid-back atmosphere . You may want to start your time here by visiting the Amalienborg Palace which has been the residence of the Danish royal family for centuries . The museum housed within the palace features exhibits on the lives of the monarchy with its well-preserved interiors and houses the Danish crown jewels . Copenhagen has a large number of museums , the most famous of which is the SMK National Gallery , which displays a huge range of Danish and foreign art dating from the 14th century to the present day . The National Museum ’ s exhibits stretch back to the Stone Age , whilst the Glyptoteket art museum displays ancient and modern artwork in unique surroundings . Perhaps spend some time exploring the peaceful botanical gardens in the centre of the city which display more than 13,000 species of plants . Copenhagen is also known for being one of the most cycle-friendly cities in the world . Perhaps finish your day with a visit to Nyhavn , the historic harbour with its painted houses and many bars and restaurants .
Day 4 Copenhagen to Oslo by train Today you travel from Copenhagen to Oslo , a journey of roughly eight hours with a change in the Swedish city of Gothenburg . Check in to your hotel in Oslo for the next three nights .
Days 5 and 6 In Oslo The capital of Norway , Oslo , sits on the country ’ s southern coast at the head of the Oslofjord . Explore the national museums located in the Bygdøy Peninsula : the Fram Museum , the Norwegian Folk Museum , the Norwegian Maritim Museum , the Viking Museum and the Kon-Tiki Museum . The Fram Museum displays the strongest wooden ship ever built which still holds the record for sailing farthest south and the farthest north . The Norwegian Folk Museum is an open-air attraction showcasing the diverse wooden architecture and history of the country and its traditions . For a further insight into the history of Oslo , visit Akershus Castle and Fortress . Completed during the 1300s , this mediaeval castle ’ s strategic location at the end of the headland enabled it to withstand every siege throughout the ages . At the castle is also the poignant Norwegian Resistance Museum . Oslo is also known for its green spaces , the most famous of which is Frogner Park , home to Vigeland Sculpture Park . This features more than 200 sculptures in bronze , granite and iron and is one of Norway ’ s top tourist attractions . Housed in some beautiful gardens of its own , the Royal Palace is the official seat of the Norwegian King and Queen .
Day 7 Oslo to Stockholm by train The third capital on this tour , Stockholm , can be reached by direct train from Oslo . The journey takes about 5 hours and 30 minutes with departures about 7.30 or 11.40 in the morning . Check-in to your Stockholm hotel for three nights .
Days 8 and 9 In Stockholm Sweden ’ s capital encompasses 14 islands and more than 50 bridges on an extensive Baltic Sea archipelago . Ferries and sightseeing boats shuttle passengers between the islands . Stockholm is home to more excellent museums , in particular the Vasa Museum , which is now the most visited museum in Scandinavia . It displays the only preserved 17th-century ship in the world and a unique art treasure . More than 95 % of the ship is original and it is decorated with hundreds of carved sculptures . It sank on its maiden voyage in 1628 and was salvaged 333 years later in 1961 . Five of the city ’ s other museums can be found within the Royal Palace , official residence of the King of Sweden . This glorious building contains over 600 rooms and was built largely during the 18th century in the Italian Baroque style . As well as Queen Kristina ’ s silver throne you can see Gustav III ’ s Museum of Antiquities , the Tre Kronor Museum and the Treasury . For those interested in architecture , Stockholm ’ s City Hall is one of the country ’ s leading examples of national romanticism architecture . It features three Golden Crowns ( the Swedish national coat of arms ) and its tower offers fantastic views of the city . We also highly recommend spending some of your time in Stockholm exploring the Gamla Stan ( Old Town ) which dates from the 12th century and is one of the best-preserved mediaeval city centres in Europe .
Day 10 Stockholm to Copenhagen by train Today you travel back to Copenhagen for one more night . Perhaps spend your time here sampling some of the city ’ s excellent cuisine in one of its many fine restaurants on the waterfront .
Day 11 Stockholm to Hannover by train Leave Scandinavia to spend one more night in Germany on your way home , this time in Hannover . You will have the late afternoon to explore the city ’ s beautiful gardens , in particular the Berggarten , which is now one of the world ’ s leading botanical gardens . The New Town Hall resembles a palace and offers incredible views from its 93.5 metre-high observation deck . Opposite this is the Lower Saxony State museum , housed in a splendid Neo-Renaissance style building . This displays a collection of 11th to 20th century art , as well as natural history artefacts and a huge vivarium .
Day 12 Hannover to London by train On your final day you leave Hannover at about 10:30 in the morning for Brussels , with a change of train in Cologne . Check in to your Eurostar service in Brussels and arrive back in London St Pancras in the evening .
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