Is train travel included?

Yes. The package includes 1st and Standard Class rail travel on local networks, with the main rail segment crossing the Øresund Bridge from Copenhagen to Stockholm. The flight from Stockholm to Riga, ferry from Tallinn to Helsinki, and coach transfers between other cities are also included.

Is the tour escorted?

Yes. A Tour Manager accompanies you from arrival in Copenhagen through the end of Day 11 in Helsinki, guiding city tours and managing logistics.

What hotels are included?

The Square in Copenhagen (2 nights), Scandic Continental Hotel in Stockholm (3 nights), Nordic Forum Hotel in Tallinn (2 nights), and Radisson Blu Aleksanteri in Helsinki (2 nights). All are four-star properties.

What meals are included?

Breakfast each day, one lunch (traditional smørrebrød in Copenhagen on Day 2), and five dinners (group dinner in Copenhagen, dinners in Stockholm, Riga, Tallinn, and Helsinki).

When does the tour run?

The operator does not publish specific departure dates in the evidence provided; contact Vacations By Rail directly to confirm availability.

How much walking is involved?

Guided tours of each capital involve walking through city centers and historic districts. The mobility rating is 4, indicating moderate activity. Three full days (Stockholm, Tallinn, Helsinki) are free to explore at your own pace.

No longer offered

Vacations By Rail has withdrawn this trip from sale. We keep the page for reference and comparison. Live alternatives are under Similar journeys below.

Vacations By Rail · Escorted tour

Highlights of the Baltics & Scandinavia

Twelve-day rail and ferry journey through five Nordic and Baltic capitals

Vacations By Rail operates this 12-day escorted journey through five Nordic and Baltic capitals, departing Copenhagen and concluding in Helsinki. The Tour Manager accompanies you the entire way, guiding city explorations and coordinating travel between countries. You spend two nights in Copenhagen, three in Stockholm, one in Riga, two in Tallinn, and two in Helsinki, staying in four-star hotels with breakfast daily and five included dinners. The route combines rail, ferry, coach, and one flight: the main rail segment crosses the Øresund Bridge from Copenhagen to Stockholm, then you fly to Riga, coach to Tallinn, and ferry to Helsinki. The pace is relaxed, with guided tours of each capital's landmarks, Amalienborg Palace, Gamla Stan's Royal Palace, Riga's Old Town, Tallinn's medieval streets, and Helsinki's Senate Square, plus three free days to explore independently. This suits couples, first-time rail travellers seeking a structured introduction to multi-country rail travel, history lovers drawn to medieval and royal sites, and guided-comfort seekers who prefer a manager to handle logistics.

What to know before you look closer

International flights to and from Helsinki are not included in the from-price; only the Stockholm-to-Riga flight is included.
Day 12 departure is unguided; you make your own way to Helsinki airport after breakfast.
Days 5 and 9 and 11 are free days; the itinerary does not include organized activities, though optional visits are suggested.

Day by day

Day 1overnight: Copenhagen
Arrival in Copenhagen
Arrive independently and check into a hotel overlooking City Hall near Tivoli Gardens; group dinner.
Meals: Dinner
Day 2overnight: Copenhagen
Discovering the Danish capital
Guided tour of Copenhagen including Amalienborg Palace and the Little Mermaid statue, then a Nyhavn Canal cruise; lunch of traditional smørrebrød.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 3railovernight: Stockholm
Copenhagen to Stockholm via the Øresund Bridge
Train across the Øresund Bridge (Europe's longest combined road/rail bridge) through Sweden's interior to Stockholm, for a three-night stay.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4overnight: Stockholm
Uncovering the old-world beauty of Stockholm
Guided coach tour of Stockholm including the Royal Palace in Gamla Stan and City Hall (Nobel Peace Prize venue).
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5overnight: Stockholm
Day at leisure in Stockholm
Free day to explore Stockholm independently (museums on Djurgården island, ABBA Museum, Skansen).
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6overnight: Riga
Across the Baltic Sea to Riga
Flight from Stockholm to Riga, Latvia; check into a four-star hotel near the Old Town.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7overnight: Riga
Stepping into history on a tour of Old Riga
Three-hour coach tour of Riga's Old Town, including the House of the Black Heads and the 13th-century cathedral.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8overnight: Tallinn
Along the Gulf of Riga to Estonia's charming capital
Coach along the Gulf of Riga to Tallinn, Estonia; guided sightseeing tour including Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the Toompea district.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9overnight: Tallinn
Discovering the medieval sights of Tallinn
Free day exploring Tallinn's Old Town (Master's Courtyard, Kiek in de Kök tower, Bastion Tunnels).
Meals: Breakfast
Day 10overnight: Helsinki
Ferry across the Gulf of Finland to Helsinki
Morning ferry across the Baltic Sea to Helsinki; guided coach tour including Senate Square and Temppeliaukio Church.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 11overnight: Helsinki
Free time to explore Helsinki
Free day; optional visits to the Suomenlinna Maritime Fortress or Katajanokka's Uspenski Cathedral.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 12
Homeward bound
Tour concludes after breakfast; make your own way to Helsinki airport.
Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

Day 2Guided tour of Copenhagen includes Amalienborg Palace and the Little Mermaid statue, followed by a Nyhavn Canal cruise with lunch of traditional smørrebrød.
Day 3Train crosses the Øresund Bridge, Europe's longest combined road and rail bridge, through Sweden's interior to Stockholm.
Day 8Coach journey along the Gulf of Riga to Tallinn with sightseeing tour of Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the Toompea district.
Day 10Morning ferry across the Baltic Sea to Helsinki; guided coach tour includes Senate Square and Temppeliaukio Church.

Included

Expertise of a Tour Manager from start to finish
11 nights' 4-Star hotel accommodation
1st & Standard Class rail travel on local rail networks
All rail, ferry and coach travel throughout your tour
Flight from Stockholm to Riga
Breakfast each day, 1 lunch, 5 dinners
Group luggage transfers between hotels from Copenhagen to Stockholm
All guided tours and excursions

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour but can be arranged
Flights and Airport transfers not included

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?: Yes. The package includes 1st and Standard Class rail travel on local networks, with the main rail segment crossing the Øresund Bridge from Copenhagen to Stockholm. The flight from Stockholm to Riga, ferry from Tallinn to Helsinki, and coach transfers between other cities are also included.
Is the tour escorted?: Yes. A Tour Manager accompanies you from arrival in Copenhagen through the end of Day 11 in Helsinki, guiding city tours and managing logistics.
What hotels are included?: The Square in Copenhagen (2 nights), Scandic Continental Hotel in Stockholm (3 nights), Nordic Forum Hotel in Tallinn (2 nights), and Radisson Blu Aleksanteri in Helsinki (2 nights). All are four-star properties.
What meals are included?: Breakfast each day, one lunch (traditional smørrebrød in Copenhagen on Day 2), and five dinners (group dinner in Copenhagen, dinners in Stockholm, Riga, Tallinn, and Helsinki).
When does the tour run?: The operator does not publish specific departure dates in the evidence provided; contact Vacations By Rail directly to confirm availability.
How much walking is involved?: Guided tours of each capital involve walking through city centers and historic districts. The mobility rating is 4, indicating moderate activity. Three full days (Stockholm, Tallinn, Helsinki) are free to explore at your own pace.

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