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Euroventure · Backpacker group tour

Fika, Fjords & Fairytales Group Tour

Scandinavia and Baltic capitals by rail, coach, and ferry with a group.

Illustration of Fika, Fjords & Fairytales Group Tour

Euroventure's Fika, Fjords and Fairytales is a 16-day group tour for backpackers, beginning in Copenhagen and ending in Vilnius. The route links eight major cities across Scandinavia and the Baltics: Copenhagen, Oslo, Gothenburg, Stockholm, Helsinki, Tallinn, Riga, and Vilnius. You travel by train, coach, and overnight ferry, staying in hostels and accompanied by a tour leader who coordinates all activities and logistics. Days blend walking-tour exploration of medieval Old Towns and colourful neighbourhoods with included signature experiences: riding unlimited rides at Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, sailing Oslo's fjords, sipping fika in Stockholm's Gamla Stan, taking an Estonian cooking class in Tallinn, and visiting Trakai Castle from Vilnius. The 17-hour overnight ferry from Stockholm to Helsinki offers onboard nightlife. This tour suits first-time rail travellers, solo journeymen who value group structure, and budget-conscious explorers; maximum 20 travellers per departure.

What to know before you look closer

  • Meals and drinks are not included except breakfast in some hostels depending on availability; plan daily food costs.
  • Public transport within each city is not covered; buy local transit tickets separately.
  • Hotels are hostels, not private rooms; this is a social backpacker trip, not a traditional rail holiday.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Copenhagen

    Copenhagen (3 nights)

    Meet your tour leader and fellow travellers in Copenhagen. Explore creative neighbourhoods like Norrebro and Vesterbro, capture colourful photos in Nyhavn, and witness the changing of the guards at Amalienborg Palace. Included Activity: Tivoli Gardens entry with unlimited rides. Suggested: Nyhavn, Amalienborg Palace, the Church of our Saviour's spiral staircase. Coach to Oslo - 8 hours.

  2. Day 4railovernight: Oslo

    Oslo (2 nights)

    Visit a floating sauna across from the Oslo Opera House, the Fram Museum's polar ship, and the National Museum's Edvard Munch collection. Included Activity: Fjord Sightseeing Cruise by Sailing Ship past Hovedoya, the Dyna Lighthouse and the Opera House. Suggested: Frogner Park's Vigeland Sculptures, Mathallen Food Hall. Train to Gothenburg - 3.5 hours.

  3. Day 6rail

    Gothenburg (day trip)

    An early train from Oslo brings a relaxed afternoon in Gothenburg's historic Haga district, with cobbled streets, boutiques and cinnamon buns. Suggested: the Haga District, Gothenburg Museum of Art. Train to Stockholm - 3.5 hours.

  4. Day 6overnight: Onboard the overnight ferry to Helsinki

    Stockholm (2 nights)

    Wander the cobbled streets of Gamla Stan, visit the Vasa Museum and Abba Museum, and see the Royal Palace's changing of the guard. Included Activity: Secrets of Gamla Stan Guided Tour with Fika. Suggested: Vasa Museum, Stockholm Archipelago boat trip, Drottningholm Palace. Night ferry to Helsinki - 17 hours.

  5. Day 8

    Helsinki (day trip)

    Arrive in Helsinki after the overnight ferry. Included Activity: the Helsinki SkyWheel and a guided walking tour past the neoclassical Helsinki Cathedral and the waterfront market square. Ferry to Tallinn - 2.5 hours.

  6. Day 9overnight: Tallinn

    Tallinn (3 nights)

    Explore the Rotermanni Quarter, step through the Viru Gate into the UNESCO-listed medieval quarter, and climb Toompea Hill to the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. Included Activity: Estonian Cuisine Cooking Class. Suggested: Tallinn Old Town, Toompea Hill, Balti Jaam Market. Coach to Riga - 4.5 hours.

  7. Day 12overnight: Riga

    Riga (2 nights)

    Explore the historic centre, Riga Cathedral, St Peter's Church tower, and the Art Nouveau district along Alberta iela. Included Activity: entrance ticket to the House of the Black Heads with ticket and coffee. Suggested: Riga Old Town, Central Market, Art Nouveau District. Coach to Vilnius - 4 hours.

  8. Day 14overnight: Vilnius

    Vilnius (2 nights)

    Explore the Old Town, climb Gediminas' Tower, and cross into the quirky republic of Uzupis. Included Activity: half-day tour to Trakai, exploring Insular Castle and Lake Galve. Suggested: Vilnius Old Town, Uzupis, Gediminas' Tower.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Day 1: Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen with unlimited rides included; explore Nyhavn and Amalienborg Palace.
  • Day 4Day 4: Fjord sightseeing cruise by sailing ship in Oslo past Hovedoya, the Dyna Lighthouse, and the Opera House.
  • Day 6Day 6: Secrets of Gamla Stan guided tour in Stockholm's Old Town, with fika (a traditional Swedish coffee break).
  • Day 8Day 8: Overnight ferry from Stockholm to Helsinki with 17 hours of onboard nightlife; arrive the next morning.

Included

  • Travel Disruption Protection - alternative travel included if there is a strike or similar disruption
  • All train and coach tickets between cities in the itinerary
  • All possible seat reservations on high-speed trains
  • Accommodation in top-rated hostels - tested by us
  • Guided to and from the hostels, included activities and train stations by a Tour Leader
  • Included activity in each city: Copenhagen - Tivoli Gardens; Oslo - Fjord Sightseeing Cruise; Stockholm - Secrets of Gamla Stan Guided Tour with Fika; Helsinki - SkyWheel & Walking Tour; Tallinn - Estonian Cuisine Cooking Class; Riga - House of the Black Heads; Vilnius - Trakai Half Day Tour
  • The option to do additional sightseeing, pub crawls and other activities
  • Breakfast in some hostels (depending on availability)
  • A Tour Leader to travel with you and coordinate your trip throughout

Not included

  • Meals/Drinks
  • Public transport tickets in each location
  • Towel/Toiletries, though towels can be rented at hostel reception
  • Airport transfers
  • Transport to starting point or back home
  • Visas
  • Any optional activities

Questions travellers ask

Is all the train travel included?
Yes. All train and coach tickets between cities, plus seat reservations on high-speed trains, are included. The overnight ferry from Stockholm to Helsinki is also included.
Is this an escorted or independent tour?
It is fully escorted. A tour leader travels with you throughout, guides you to and from hostels, included activities, and train stations, and coordinates all logistics.
What trains and ferries are used?
The itinerary specifies train journeys of 3.5 to 8 hours between Oslo, Gothenburg, and Stockholm, plus a 17-hour overnight ferry from Stockholm to Helsinki and a 2.5-hour ferry from Helsinki to Tallinn. Coach is used for the Oslo-Copenhagen leg (8 hours) and between the Baltic cities.
What kind of accommodation?
Top-rated hostels throughout, tested by Euroventure. Breakfast is included in some hostels depending on availability. Towel rental is available at hostel reception.
How much walking is involved?
You should be able to walk for up to 30 minutes with your backpack. Included activities involve city walking tours and exploration of Old Towns.
What is not included?
Meals and drinks beyond some breakfasts, public transport tickets within each city, airport transfers, transport to your starting point or home, visas, and optional activities like pub crawls.

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