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9 days | Independent tour | May-Oct | Stockholm to Bergen
Classic Standard – This is a new itinerary that has the same thoughtful route design, trusted local partnerships and carefully paced experiences that define our travel style, with accommodation centred on comfortable 3-star hotels in convenient locations.
Discover the very best of Scandinavia on this nine-day self-guided tour, taking in the three great capitals of Oslo, Stockholm and Copenhagen, with the added drama of a cruise along the Nærøyfjord, one of the narrowest and most spectacular fjords in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We take care of all the details, booking your hotels, arranging a guided walking tour in each city to get you oriented and inspired, and handling all travel between destinations by rail and ferry, including your journey into the heart of Norway's fjord country. After that, your time is your own, free to explore, eat, wander and discover at your own pace.
Oslo punches well above its weight for a capital city, offering an exceptional combination of world-class museums, cutting-edge architecture and immediate access to stunning natural scenery. From the iconic Viking Ship Museum and the thought-provoking Nobel Peace Center to the bold waterfront regeneration of Bjørvika and the buzzing food halls of Mathallen, there is far more to Norway's capital than many visitors expect. Compact and easy to navigate, Oslo also sits at the gateway to some of Norway's most celebrated landscapes, making it the perfect starting point for your Scandinavian journey.
Stockholm is one of Europe's most beautifully situated capitals, built across fourteen islands where Lake Mälaren meets the Baltic Sea, giving the city a rare and constantly shifting relationship with light and water. From the cobbled medieval lanes of Gamla Stan to the world-class museums of Djurgården and the effortlessly cool neighbourhoods of Södermalm, Stockholm rewards curious travellers at every turn. Clean, walkable and deeply design-conscious, it is a city that feels both easy to explore independently and endlessly rewarding.
Copenhagen is a city that feels genuinely effortless to fall in love with, combining grand royal heritage with some of Europe's most innovative food, design and architecture. From the colourful waterfront of Nyhavn and the grandeur of Rosenborg Castle to the world-famous restaurants and buzzing street food markets of Vesterbro, the Danish capital rewards every kind of traveller. Flat, compact and famously cycle-friendly, Copenhagen is a city best absorbed at a gentle pace, making it a perfect final chapter to your Scandinavian adventure.
As a Certified B Corporation, 50 Degrees North has designed this tour using handpicked local hoteliers and suppliers who share our ethos of delivering services and activities of high social and environmental standards.
The CO2-e per person per day of all tours is carefully measured following each season. We fully offset all emissions of our tours on your behalf, and we constantly look at ways to reduce emissions where possible.
Local bus, trains and boat/ferry
Welcome to Stockholm, one of Scandinavia's most beautiful and captivating capitals. Spread across fourteen islands where Lake Mälaren meets the Baltic Sea, this is a city of water, light, and history in equal measure. Settle into your hotel and spend the rest of the day exploring at your own pace, taking in the waterfront, the cobbled lanes of the old town, or simply watching the city go about its business.
In the morning, join a small group walking tour through the heart of Stockholm, uncovering the city's most celebrated landmarks alongside its lesser-known secrets. A knowledgeable local guide will lead you through Gamla stan, Stockholm's remarkably preserved medieval centre, past the oldest square of Stortorget and down the city's narrowest street, weaving together stories of Swedish kings, Viking heritage, and the customs and traditions that have shaped this remarkable city over centuries. The rest of the day is yours to continue exploring at your own pace.
Board the train and head south through the Swedish and Danish countryside, crossing into Denmark as you make your way to Copenhagen. The journey itself is a pleasure, with the iconic Øresund Bridge carrying you across the strait between the two countries. Settle into your hotel and spend the evening discovering one of Europe's most charming and liveable capitals.
Get to know Copenhagen with an expert local guide on a small group walking tour through the city's historical and cultural highlights. You will wander past the colourful canal-side houses of Nyhavn, take in the medieval square of Amagertorv, and visit Christiansborg Palace, home of the Danish parliament, before venturing off the tourist trail into the city's quieter and lesser-known districts. The afternoon is free to explore further, whether that means the famous Tivoli Gardens, the contemporary food scene, or simply cycling through the streets as the locals do.
This evening, board the overnight ferry from Copenhagen to Oslo. A classic Scandinavian experience in itself, the crossing takes you through the waters of the Oslofjord as you sail through the night, arriving refreshed and ready to discover Norway's capital.
Overnight on board.
Arriving into Oslo, the day is yours to settle in and begin discovering the city at your own pace. The waterfront, the Aker Brygge harbour district, and the leafy streets of the west end are all within easy reach. With over 1,000 years of history woven into its streets and some of Europe's finest museums within walking distance, there is plenty to explore before the journey continues tomorrow.
In the morning, get under the skin of Oslo on a three-hour small group walking tour through the city's iconic landmarks and quieter backstreets. A local guide will lead you from the grand Royal Palace to the striking Opera House, sharing the stories, contrasts, and everyday rhythms that give this city its character, from its Norse heritage and royal history to its reputation as one of Europe's most forward-thinking and sustainable capitals. The rest of the day is yours to linger over what has caught your eye.
Today brings one of Norway's most celebrated journeys, travelling west from Oslo through the dramatic high mountain scenery of the Hardangervidda plateau on the Bergen Railway, before descending to Myrdal where you switch to the Flåm Railway, one of the steepest standard-gauge railway lines in the world, winding down through waterfalls and steep mountain gorges to the village of Flåm at the water's edge. From here, a fjord cruise carries you along the Aurlandsfjord and into the narrow, UNESCO-listed Nærøyfjord, before a bus and final train leg bring you into Bergen. This iconic rail and fjord corridor is operated as Norway in a Nutshell® by Fjord Tours, and all transport runs like clockwork. Simply sit back and let Norway unfold around you. For a full explanation of how the route works, read our Norway in a Nutshell® by Fjord Tours Explained guide.
After breakfast, your journey through Scandinavia draws to a close in one of Norway's most beloved cities. Bergen's colourful Bryggen wharf, bustling fish market, and the funicular up to Mount Fløyen are all worth a final morning visit before you continue your journey home. If you would like to extend your stay, we would be delighted to help with ideas.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Weather conditions may occasionally affect certain activities, and as a result, the schedule may be adjusted to ensure the best possible experience for all guests. For multi-activity stays, often the order of the activities will be confirmed locally on arrival. Activities might vary slightly in their duration or location due to the weather and local conditions. Any activities that are unable to be re-scheduled due to weather conditions will be refunded as a general practice, as determined by the activity provider.
Five destinations, one unforgettable region. Whether you are drawn to Norway’s fjords, Iceland’s volcanic landscapes, Sweden’s archipelagos, Finland’s forests or Denmark’s coastal towns, the Nordic countries offer a rare combination of natural beauty, safety and calm. This guide explores what makes Scandinavia and the Nordics stand apart as travel destinations.
Quiet moments beside waterfalls, views of the Flåm Railway threading through the valley, and time to unwind surrounded by fjord landscapes define this journey.
This guide brings together a carefully curated selection of annual Nordic summer events, presented in seasonal order and paired with practical planning notes to help travellers align their journey with the rhythm of the region.
