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PTG Tours · Escorted tour

Steam in Denmark and Northern Germany

Twelve-day first-class rail tour from Cologne through Denmark and Germany, featuring preserved railways and

Illustration of Steam in Denmark and Northern Germany

PTG Tours operates this 12-day escorted rail journey from Cologne to Hamburg, combining first-class Eurostar and German ICE high-speed trains with a network of heritage railways and museums across Denmark and northern Germany. You depart from your local UK station via London St Pancras on Eurostar, travel through Brussels to Cologne, then follow an itinerary that takes in the Gothic city centre of Rostock on the Baltic coast, narrow-gauge railway rides on the Isle of Rügen, a ferry crossing to Denmark, Copenhagen's guided tour and canal boat, Danish railway museums, a paddle steamer cruise on Lake Silkeborg, and Hamburg's famous Miniature Wonderland model railway before returning to London by train. The tour is escorted throughout by Tour Manager Kevin; days blend structured activities (museum visits, harbour tours, heritage train rides) with free time to explore at your own pace. An Interrail pass covering travel from your home UK station is included. This tour suits repeat rail travellers who enjoy heritage railways, history enthusiasts drawn to museums and medieval architecture, and those who prefer guided comfort with first-class accommodation and transport.

What to know before you look closer

  • Only one departure is listed: June 2026 at GBP 2390; confirm current availability with PTG Tours before booking.
  • The from-price covers the escorted tour and first-class rail within the itinerary. The Interrail pass from your home station adds value but requires separate validation; check PTG's terms for pass activation and any additional costs.
  • Day 9 dinner in Aarhus is not included; you arrange your own meal after returning from the Bryup-Vrads railway.
  • Hotel names list 'or similar', meaning your final accommodation may differ from those named depending on city tier and availability.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Cologne

    London to Cologne

    Eurostar from London St Pancras to Brussels (dep 11:04), a lunch break in Brussels, then ICE train to Cologne for a welcome dinner in a local restaurant. Interrail pass starts a day early, allowing free travel to London the day of or before departure.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Rostock

    On to Rostock

    Late-morning ICE train to the coastal city of Rostock, checking in for three nights. Explore the historic centre, including the Gothic Rathaus, Marienkirche and Petrikirche, and the cultural museum in the former Saint Catherine's monastery, with views of the Baltic Sea from the harbour.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Rostock

    Mollibahn narrow-gauge railway

    Local train to Bad Doberan to ride the Mollibahn narrow-gauge railway, notable for its street-running section.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Rostock

    Racing Roland, Isle of Rügen

    A longer train journey to Putbus on the Isle of Rügen to ride the entire line of the 'Racing Roland' narrow-gauge railway, stopping at the seaside town of Göhren, before returning to Rostock.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Copenhagen

    Baltic ferry to Copenhagen

    Transfer to the Scandlines ferry terminal for the two-hour crossing to Gedser in Denmark. Bus to Gedser Remise, a preserved railway roundhouse with standard-gauge locos, then the Danish tramway museum (similar in concept to the UK's Crich museum), before arriving in Copenhagen for a three-night stay.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Copenhagen

    Denmark's longest narrow-gauge steam railway

    Short suburban train to Hedehusene, home to Denmark's longest narrow-gauge steam railway, with a visit to the collection and a train ride before returning to Copenhagen with free time.

  7. Day 7overnight: Copenhagen

    Copenhagen guided tour

    Guided walking tour of Copenhagen's sights followed by a boat tour of the city's harbour and canals; the rest of the day free.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Aarhus

    Odense and on to Aarhus

    Luggage travels by bus while the group takes an intercity train to Odense, home of the Danish National Railway Museum. Time to visit the old town, the house of Hans Christian Andersen, or ride the local tramway, before continuing by train to Aarhus for a two-night stay.

  9. Day 9railovernight: Aarhus

    Silkeborg paddle steamer and the Bryup-Vrads railway

    Coach to Silkeborg in the Danish lake district to board the 1861-built coal-fired paddle steamer 'Hjejlen' for a three-hour cruise. After a lunch break, coach to the Bryup-to-Vrads preserved railway, claimed to be Denmark's most scenic train ride. Return to Aarhus (dinner not included).

  10. Day 10railovernight: Hamburg

    On to Hamburg

    Free morning in Aarhus (option to ride the trams), then a lunchtime train to Hamburg for a two-night stay. Option to fly back to the UK from Hamburg today, or take a train to Cologne to join PTG's separate Midnight Sun tour of Scandinavia.

  11. Day 11railovernight: Hamburg

    Miniature Wonderland

    Visit to Miniature Wonderland, claimed to be the world's largest model railway. Rest of the day free to explore with the transport pass provided; optional ferry trip along the Elbe past Övelgönne historic harbour.

  12. Day 12rail

    Return to London

    Early ICE train via Cologne to Brussels for the Eurostar home to London, arriving 17:47. Interrail pass usable to travel onward to your home station the same day.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3Ride the Mollibahn narrow-gauge railway from Bad Doberan, notable for its street-running section through the town.
  • Day 4Travel the entire Racing Roland narrow-gauge line on the Isle of Rügen from Putbus to the seaside town of Göhren.
  • Day 5Board the Scandlines Baltic ferry for a two-hour crossing from Rostock to Gedser, Denmark, then visit Gedser Remise, a preserved railway roundhouse.
  • Day 9Cruise Lake Silkeborg aboard the Hjejlen, a coal-fired paddle steamer built in 1861, followed by a ride on the Bryup-to-Vrads preserved railway.
  • Day 11Explore Miniature Wonderland in Hamburg, claimed to be the world's largest model railway, with optional ferry trip along the Elbe River.

Questions travellers ask

Is all the train travel included?
Yes. First-class Eurostar, ICE high-speed trains between cities, and rides on heritage railways (Mollibahn, Racing Roland, Danish narrow-gauge steam railway, Bryup-to-Vrads) are all included. A seven-day Interrail pass valid from your UK home station to London and back is also included, allowing free travel on those legs.
Is this an escorted tour?
Yes. PTG Tours provides a Tour Manager, Kevin, and includes a guided walking tour and boat tour in Copenhagen. Most days are structured; some afternoons and Day 10 morning in Aarhus offer free time.
What hotels are included?
PTG includes one night in Cologne, three nights in Rostock, three in Copenhagen, two in Aarhus, and two in Hamburg. Hotels listed are Kummerz Hotel Köln, Intercity Hotel Rostock, Profilhotels Copenhagen Plaza, Hotel Oasis Aarhus City, and Hotel Fürst Bismarck, each marked 'or similar'.
When does the tour run?
The only published departure is June 2026.
What is not included?
Dinner on Day 9 in Aarhus after the paddle steamer cruise is not included. Flights to and from the UK are not included unless you book separately via Cologne gateways (Heathrow, Stansted, Manchester, or Edinburgh). Meals beyond those stated are not included.
How much walking is involved?
The tour includes guided walking in Copenhagen and free time to explore cities on foot. There are no high-altitude hikes or extended treks. Coach and train transfers handle longer distances between destinations.

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