Scandinavian Gems

Helsinki is the only city in our collection where a visit to a sauna is one of our recommended highlights. Saunas are to the Finns what pubs are to the Irish, and the capital has several saunas that are open to the public, some of them incorporating great views of the scenery around town, one even with an outdoor deck and sea-side restaurant. At all of them, it’s a great opportunity to chat with the locals.

Once you are dressed again, head for the city’s Design District, with more than 200 shops, studios, museums and art galleries showcasing the very best of modern Finnish design. The most unique architecturally sight in Helsinki has to be the Rock Church that was quarried out of the natural bedrock and then topped with a copper dome.

Wherever you go in Helsinki, you are always close to the sea. It is one of the most characterizing elements of the city, and the Helsinki Archipelago consists of over 300 rocky outcroppings and islands.

Helsinki is the only city in our collection where a visit to a sauna is one of our recommended highlights. Saunas are to the Finns what pubs are to the Irish, and the capital has several saunas that are open to the public, some of them incorporating great views of the scenery around town, one even with an outdoor deck and sea-side restaurant. At all of them, it’s a great opportunity to chat with the locals.

Once you are dressed again, head for the city’s Design District, with more than 200 shops, studios, museums and art galleries showcasing the very best of modern Finnish design. The most unique architecturally sight in Helsinki has to be the Rock Church that was quarried out of the natural bedrock and then topped with a copper dome.

Wherever you go in Helsinki, you are always close to the sea. It is one of the most characterizing elements of the city, and the Helsinki Archipelago consists of over 300 rocky outcroppings and islands.

Early evening you board the most luxurious cruise ferry in Scandinavia and set sail across the Baltic. The Silja Line vessel features numerous restaurants, including a gourmet offering. But don’t stay up too late: You’ll want to be up for sunrise and watch the entire four-hour voyage through the Stockholm archipelago.

This impossibly picturesque, seemingly endless sweep of rocky isles presents a wonderland of deep forests, fields of wildflowers, red cottages and bobbing yachts. The huge archipelago of 30,000 islands is unique in Europe and one of the highlights of your journey.

Upon docking in Stocking, you will be met by your private guide who will escort you to your waiting chauffeured car and join you for the ride to your four-star hotel. Then, she will invite you on a privately guided two-hour city walk. As a local insider, they have an excellent idea of what to show you. But remember This your private guide, so feel free to mention anything you would like to experience on the walk.

Several European cities optimistically refer to themselves as the ‘Venice of the north’, but in Stockholm’s case it is not without merit. Spreading idyllically across a Baltic Sea archipelago of fourteen islands, it seems as if wherever you look, your gaze is met by water.

Stockholm was officially founded in 1252. The most embarrassing event in the city’s history happened on a summer’s day in 1628 when the Swedish Navy’s new flagship was launched and proceeded to capsize and sink five minutes into her maiden voyage, right in the middle of the harbour. Today, the Wasa has been raised and returned to close-to-mint condition, making her dedicated museum an incredible experience.

Stockholm is easy to get around on foot or public transport, and numerous charming ferries ply the natural harbour. Various districts have their own unique vibes – the island of Södermalm has a laid-back air and is a draw for the creative set, while Östermalm is the picture of refined elegance. Nestling between these two areas, Norrmalm is a busy and vibrant downtown spot. For most visitors, the most time is spent in the charming Old Town that includes the royal palace.

Board a comfortable Intercity train for the six-hour journey to Oslo. The train has a casual bistro with hot and cold meals. Try to catch a glimpse of Vattern, one of the largest lakes in all of Europe.

Upon arrival at Oslo, you will be met by your private guide who will escort you to your waiting chauffeured car and join you for the ride to your four-star hotel. Then, she will invite you on a privately guided two-hour city walk. As a local insider, they have an excellent idea of what to show you. But remember: This your private guide, so feel free to mention anything you would like to experience on the walk.

Oslo may be a small capital, but its setting is second to none. Located at the edge of the long and narrow Oslo Fjord, and nestled against steep hills, the city is an all-year outdoor destination. In summer, locals relax on the waterfront promenade or take a swim at one of the city centre’s artificial beaches. In winter, they take the tram up the hills and go skiing.

A few years ago, the centre of Oslo was unequivocally the elegant Karl Johans Gaten boulevard leading all the way to the royal palace, but recently city planners have spent a good chunk of their oil money on rejuvenating the waterfront. This includes a spectacular opera house shaped like an iceberg and with trails leading to its roof. Next to it, the new Munch Museum is where you can confront his slightly disturbing Scream.

Norway has three railways that are routinely rated as some of the most spectacular in the world, and Flåm Railway is the jewel in the crown. The most interesting statistic about the Flåm Railway is not its diminutive length of just 20 km, but the dramatic 800 altitude meters it plunges down from the high plateau to the shore of the Aurland Fjord.

You arrive at the Flåm Railway’s starting point at Myrdal, a stop on the Bergen Railway. For the past few hours you have already been suitably impressed (this journey was, after all, also on Norway’s three-best list), but the main event lies ahead of you. Along the way from Myrdal to Flåm, your nose will remain constantly pressed against the window as the train passes waterfalls, deep gorges, ferocious rivers, and small farm desperately clinging to the steep hillsides.

In tiny Flåm, a transfer would be ridiculous. Simply make your way the few steps to your hotel.

Flåm is a paradise for those who seek unique and spectacular experiences in nature. Wonderful as hiking around Flåm is, the high point of your visit will be a fjord cruise on one of the most beautiful fjords in Norway. Included in your itinerary, this cruise through the narrow and dramatic Nærøy fjord offers non-stop stunning views of waterfalls, snow-capped peaks and charming villages.

Norway has three railways that are routinely rated as some of the most spectacular in the world, and Flåm Railway is the jewel in the crown.

Departing from Flåm at the edge of the fjord, your train will ascend 800 dramatic altitude meters over the next just 20 km. Along the way, your nose will remain constantly pressed against the window as the train passes waterfalls, deep gorges, ferocious rivers, and small farm desperately clinging to the steep hillsides.

The train terminates at the small Myrdal train station where you will change to the Intercity train to Bergen. Here you will be met by your private guide who will escort you to your waiting chauffeured car and join you for the ride to your four-star hotel. Then, she will invite you on a privately guided two-hour city walk.

Charming and picturesque Bergen is the second-largest city in Norway but seems much smaller. Maybe that’s because Bergen is dwarfed by the grand scenery all around her. In just a few minutes, a funicular can whisk you from the city centre to the top of one of the local mountains, where you can rent a mountain bike and explore the trails. From the highest of the local peaks – reachable by cable car – you can see not only the city, but also the Atlantic Ocean, the fjord, and the surrounding mountains.

Let us hasten to add that Bergen itself also has much to admire. Narrow cobblestoned alleys and the old wooden buildings on the waterfront promenade all invite for a stroll. Afterwards, visit the city’s famed fish market, in operation since the 13^th century, and still a great place to sample the fine local cuisine in one of the many seafood restaurants that are crowded around it.