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Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Oslo, Stockholm & Copenhagen

Eight-day Nordic capitals tour via rail through Oslo, Stockholm, Copenhagen

Illustration of Oslo, Stockholm & Copenhagen

Great Rail Journeys operates this eight-day escorted tour linking Oslo, Stockholm, and Copenhagen by rail, flight, and boat. A UK Tour Manager accompanies you throughout. You fly from London Heathrow to Oslo, spend two days exploring the Norwegian capital's Opera House, Royal Palace, and Akershus Fortress on a guided coach tour, then travel by high-speed train through forests and alongside lakes into Stockholm. There you tour Gamla Stan, one of Europe's best-preserved medieval Old Towns, and cruise Stockholm's archipelago before boarding a train to Copenhagen via the Øresund Bridge. In Denmark's capital, you visit royal palaces and sail Nyhavn Canal before flying home. The pace is relaxed, with two free days to explore independently, and all hotels are four-star with breakfast included daily. This tour suits first-time rail travellers who prefer guided structure, couples seeking Scandinavian scenery and history, and anyone drawn to well-preserved medieval architecture and Nordic capitals.

What to know before you look closer

  • Single supplement is GBP 950 (USD 1,279), nearly 48% above half the base double price; confirm final hotel assignment for Copenhagen, as only Scandic Copenhagen is named.
  • Day 5 in Stockholm and the free afternoon on day 4 and morning of day 8 are unguided; independent exploration requires your own planning.
  • Maximum group size is 40 passengers; groups this large may reduce intimacy on guided walks and cruises.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Oslo

    Welcome to Oslo

    Your Nordic adventure begins at London Heathrow where you meet the Tour Manager before boarding the flight to Oslo. On arrival, transfer by rail to the centrally located hotel near Oslo Central station and its historic cathedral. Dinner at a nearby restaurant this evening. Regional departures are also available, in which case you would be met on arrival in Oslo.

    Meals: Dinner

  2. Day 2overnight: Oslo

    Guided coach tour of Oslo

    After breakfast, embark on a three-hour guided coach tour of Norway's capital, beginning at the modern Opera House. View the grand buildings of Karl Johans Gate including the Parliament building, National Theatre and Royal Palace, then head to Akershus Fortress. Afterwards, visit the National Museum, home to historic royal costumes and Edvard Munch's The Scream. The rest of the day is at leisure, optionally take a cruise around Oslofjord or visit the museums of Bygdøy. Free evening to dine independently.

    Meals: Breakfast

  3. Day 3railovernight: Stockholm

    Scenic rail journey from Oslo to Stockholm

    Return to Oslo Central station after breakfast and begin a scenic journey through inland Sweden to Stockholm. The high-speed train includes free Wi-Fi and a bistro car. The route winds alongside Norway's longest river, the Glomma, to Kongsvinger, then crosses into Sweden passing picturesque lakes and forests, skirting the vast Vänern lake. Arrive in Stockholm and check in to the central four-star hotel near the station. Three-course dinner at a local restaurant this evening.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  4. Day 4overnight: Stockholm

    Exploring Stockholm, the 'city between the bridges'

    Guided walking tour of Gamla Stan, Stockholm's Old Town, one of the best-preserved medieval centres in Europe. Admire the Storkyrkan Lutheran cathedral exterior and the Royal Palace (over 1,400 rooms). Visit the red-brick City Hall with its 347-foot tower topped by three golden crowns. Then take a peaceful cruise around the waterways and islands. Afterwards, stop for 'fika', coffee and cake. Free afternoon and evening to explore and dine at leisure.

    Meals: Breakfast

  5. Day 5overnight: Stockholm

    A free day in the Swedish capital

    Free day to explore Stockholm independently. Suggested visits include the Viking Museum, Vasa Museum (salvaged 1628 warship), Skansen open-air museum, and the ABBA Museum on the island of Djurgården. Free evening to dine independently, try Swedish meatballs, seafood, or the traditional Sámi dish renskav.

    Meals: Breakfast

  6. Day 6railovernight: Copenhagen

    Across Øresund Bridge to Copenhagen by rail

    Leave Stockholm after breakfast and travel by rail to Denmark. Pass picturesque red wooden houses, deep forests and peaceful lakes through Sweden's inland. Near Norrköping, look out for Bråviken inlet. Cross the iconic Øresund Bridge, Europe's longest combined road and rail bridge, completed in 2000, from Malmö into Copenhagen. Arrive in the late afternoon and check in to the central four-star hotel. Free evening to explore and dine independently.

    Meals: Breakfast

  7. Day 7overnight: Copenhagen

    Discovering Copenhagen on a guided tour

    Guided tour of Copenhagen's most famous sights: Christiansborg Palace (seat of the Danish Parliament), Amalienborg Palace, and the Little Mermaid statue. Then board a cruise boat for a trip along the Nyhavn Canal, whose 17th-century waterfront features colourful buildings, bridges and historic boats. Free afternoon, optionally visit Tivoli Gardens. Dinner at a local restaurant this evening.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  8. Day 8

    Homeward bound

    After breakfast, free morning in Copenhagen. Transfer to the airport in the afternoon for the flight back to the UK. On arrival, the holiday concludes and guests make their own way home.

    Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3High-speed train from Oslo to Stockholm winds alongside Norway's longest river, the Glomma, then crosses into Sweden, passing lakes, forests, and the vast Vänern lake.
  • Day 4Guided walking tour of Gamla Stan, Stockholm's Old Town, with views of the 1,400-room Royal Palace and the City Hall tower topped by three golden crowns.
  • Day 4Peaceful cruise around Stockholm's waterways and islands, followed by fika (coffee and cake), a Swedish tradition.
  • Day 6Rail journey crosses the Øresund Bridge, Europe's longest combined road and rail bridge, connecting Sweden to Denmark near Malmö.
  • Day 7Cruise along Nyhavn Canal in Copenhagen past 17th-century colourful waterfront buildings and historic boats; visit to Christiansborg Palace (seat of Danish Parliament) and Amalienborg Palace.

Included

  • Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 7 nights' 4-star hotel accommodation
  • Standard class rail travel throughout
  • All rail, cruise and coach travel throughout the tour
  • Flights from London Heathrow to Oslo and Copenhagen to London Heathrow (regional departures also available)
  • Breakfast each day
  • 3 dinners
  • All guided tours and excursions

Not included

  • Cancellation and travel insurance
  • Excursions offered in each port (operated by Havila, optional, chargeable, bookable directly onboard)

Questions travellers ask

Is all train travel included in the price?
Yes. Standard class rail travel throughout is included: the high-speed train from Oslo to Stockholm, the train from Stockholm to Copenhagen via Øresund Bridge, and the airport rail transfer from Oslo Airport to Oslo Central.
Is this tour escorted or independent?
It is an escorted tour. A UK Tour Manager accompanies you from the start in London through the end of the tour. Guided tours are included in Oslo, Stockholm's Old Town, and Copenhagen; however, day 5 in Stockholm and portions of other days are free for independent exploration.
Which hotels will I stay in?
The evidence names only the Scandic Copenhagen (4-star) for Copenhagen. The itinerary mentions centrally located four-star hotels in Oslo and Stockholm near their central stations, but specific names are not published; confirm these with Great Rail Journeys before booking.
What meals are included?
Breakfast is included every day. Three dinners are provided: on day 1 in Oslo, day 3 in Stockholm, and day 7 in Copenhagen. Other meals are at your own expense.
When does the tour run?
Great Rail Journeys offers nine departures in 2026 and 2027: April, May, June, July, August, September, and October. Check their website for availability and booking.
How much walking is involved?
Day 2 includes a three-hour guided coach tour of Oslo, and day 4 features a guided walking tour of Gamla Stan in Stockholm plus time around harbourfront sites. Days include urban walking and stairs in City Hall, but no hiking or difficult terrain.

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