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The Railway Touring Company · Escorted rail tour

Steam in Denmark and Northern Germany

10-day escorted steam railway tour through Denmark and northern Germany from Copenhagen

Illustration of Steam in Denmark and Northern Germany

The Railway Touring Company's 10-day Steam in Denmark and Northern Germany tour is an escorted journey for heritage railway enthusiasts, combining authentic steam locomotive experiences with city sightseeing and vintage cruises. The tour departs London with flights to Copenhagen, where guests spend six nights as a base for day excursions to Danish museums and heritage railways: the roundhouse at Odense housing the working 1846 steam locomotive Odin, the Skjoldenaesholm Tramway Museum, the Maribo-Bandholm railway with early 20th-century tank engines, and the narrow-gauge Hedelands line near Roskilde. A round-trip train journey crosses the nearly 8km Oresund Bridge to Malmo, Sweden. The group then travels by direct EuroCity train to Hamburg for three nights, where highlights include Miniature Wonderland (the world's largest model railway), a private dinner cruise aboard the vintage 1876 steamboat St. Georg, and a charter ride on the Angelner railway hauled by a Swedish 2-6-4 tank engine near the Danish border. A Tour Manager accompanies the group throughout, and included meals, public transport passes, and all heritage rail fares remove logistical burden. The pace alternates between structured rail and museum experiences and free time in both cities.

What to know before you look closer

  • Only one confirmed departure listed for August 2026; confirm availability and dates with The Railway Touring Company before planning.
  • The Ground Only option (from £2,580) excludes flights and first/last-day hotel transfers; those traveling from outside the UK or arranging onward travel should factor this in.
  • Days 2, 4, 8, and 10 include substantial leisure time in Copenhagen and Hamburg; the tour is not continuously escorted.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Copenhagen

    Arrive in Copenhagen

    Direct flight from London to Copenhagen, transfer by train to a hotel near the main railway station. Welcome dinner at the hotel.

  2. Day 2overnight: Copenhagen

    Sightseeing cruise and leisure in Copenhagen

    Open-top canal boat cruise through Copenhagen's waterways past famous landmarks. Rest of the day free using the public transport pass.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Copenhagen

    Danish Railway Museum; tramway museum at Skjoldenaesholm

    DSB Intercity train to Odense to visit the Danish National Railway Museum, featuring the working 1846 steam locomotive replica Odin. Coach on to the Danish National Tramway Museum at Skjoldenaesholm for heritage tram rides, then Intercity train back to Copenhagen for dinner.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Copenhagen

    Train trip to Malmo over the Oresund Bridge

    Round-trip train journey over the nearly 8km Oresund Bridge to Malmo, Sweden, with free time before returning to Copenhagen for a leisure afternoon and evening.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Copenhagen

    Steam at the Maribo heritage railway

    DSB train to Lolland to visit the preserved Maribo-Bandholm railway, worked by early 20th-century tank engines, with photo stops and a look inside the engine shed. Lunch included; return to Copenhagen via Nykobing.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Copenhagen

    Steam at the Hedelands narrow-gauge railway

    DSB train to Hedehusene near Roskilde for the full 5.3km journey on the 700mm gauge Hedelands railway, operated by steam tank engines, followed by lunch and return to Copenhagen.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Hamburg

    To Hamburg; evening dinner cruise on steamboat St. Georg

    Direct EuroCity train from Copenhagen to Hamburg via Flensburg. Evening cruise aboard the historic 1876 steamboat St. Georg with buffet dinner, viewing Hamburg's canals and historic districts.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Hamburg

    Miniature Wonderland; River Elbe cruises

    Visit Miniature Wonderland, the world's largest model railway attraction, then views from the Elbphilharmonie terrace. Inclusive rover tickets allow unlimited public transport and River Elbe ferry travel.

  9. Day 9railovernight: Hamburg

    Steam at Germany's northernmost preserved railway

    DB service train north to the Baltic seaside near the Danish border for a charter on the Angelner railway, hauled by a 1952 Swedish 2-6-4 tank engine, from Kappeln to Suderbrarup (15km standard gauge), with run-pasts. Lunch included; return to Hamburg for a free evening.

  10. Day 10

    Hamburg at leisure and return to London

    Free morning in Hamburg before the S-Bahn to the airport for the flight back to London.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3At the Danish National Railway Museum in Odense, view and photograph the working 1846 steam locomotive replica Odin in the roundhouse; then ride heritage trams at Skjoldenaesholm Tramway Museum.
  • Day 4Round-trip train journey over the nearly 8km Oresund Bridge connecting Copenhagen to Malmo, Sweden.
  • Day 5Ride early 20th-century tank engines on the Maribo-Bandholm heritage railway in Lolland with photo stops inside the engine shed.
  • Day 7Direct EuroCity train from Copenhagen to Hamburg via Flensburg, followed by an evening cruise aboard the historic 1876 steamboat St. Georg with buffet dinner viewing Hamburg's canals.
  • Day 9Charter on the Angelner railway near the Danish border, hauled by a 1952 Swedish 2-6-4 tank engine, traveling 15km from Kappeln to Suderbrarup with designated run-pasts for photography.

Included

  • Flights from London to Copenhagen and Hamburg to London
  • All train, heritage rail travel and lake cruises as detailed in the itinerary
  • 9 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast
  • 3 lunches
  • 3 dinners
  • Included public transport rover tickets in Copenhagen and Hamburg, including Hamburg River Elbe ferry rover
  • The services of a Tour Manager

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price?
Yes. The from-price of £2,695 includes flights from London to Copenhagen and Hamburg back to London, all train, heritage rail, and cruise elements as detailed in the itinerary, 9 nights' hotel accommodation with breakfast, 3 lunches, 3 dinners, public transport rover tickets in both cities, and a Tour Manager.
Is the tour escorted or independent?
It is an escorted tour with a Tour Manager throughout. However, Days 2, 4, 8, and 10 include free time to explore at your own pace using the included public transport rover tickets.
What heritage railways are visited?
The itinerary includes the Danish National Railway Museum (Odin locomotive) in Odense, Skjoldenaesholm Tramway Museum, Maribo-Bandholm heritage railway with early 20th-century tank engines, Hedelands narrow-gauge railway (700mm gauge, 5.3km), and the Angelner railway in Germany hauled by a 1952 Swedish 2-6-4 tank engine.
Which hotels are included?
Six nights in Copenhagen near the main railway station and three nights in central Hamburg. All accommodation includes breakfast.
When does the tour run?
One departure is confirmed for August 2026. Confirm with The Railway Touring Company whether additional dates are scheduled.
What cruises are included?
Day 2 features an open-top canal boat cruise through Copenhagen's waterways. Day 7 includes an evening charter cruise aboard the 1876 steamboat St. Georg on Hamburg's River Alster with a buffet dinner. Day 8 offers unlimited River Elbe ferry travel via the rover ticket.

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