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Nordic Cities Explorer with Gothenburg

Copenhagen, Gothenburg, Stockholm & Helsinki
 
Discover the great Nordic cities of Copenhagen, Gothenburg, Stockholm and Helsinki on this journey by rail and boat, including an overnight Baltic Sea cruise. You stay in good-quality, well-located hotels and can follow our self-guided walking tours to explore.
Nordic Cities Explorer with Gothenburg. 9 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
Nordic Cities Explorer with Gothenburg. 9 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
 

Holiday information

 

A touring holiday from Copenhagen to Helsinki

It’s not difficult to see why the Nordic countries are officially the happiest in the world – life here is a joyful blend of the relaxed and the innovative, with truly uplifting landscapes at every turn. Even the cities are greener than elsewhere, and their attractive waterfront districts, imaginative architecture and increasingly exciting gastronomy only serve to increase our admiration. As does the region’s commitment to the environment and clean living; something that makes this one of the most refreshing – and inspiring – corners of Europe to explore.
To travel here, then, is to experience life at its contented best, and this holiday takes you by train and boat between four of the finest cities that northern Europe has to offer. Copenhagen oozes ‘cool’ from every pore, and is perhaps the most bike-friendly city in the world. Next comes gastronomic Gothenburg, Sweden’s stylish second city; then its capital – beautiful, waterborne Stockholm, where you have time to enjoy the relaxed vibe amid its 14 islands, before boarding an overnight Baltic Sea cruise ship bound for Helsinki. A morning arrival the next day gives you almost two full days to explore Finland’s capital – an intoxicating blend of east and west, where the renowned Design District showcases trendsetting brands of great style and substance.
 
Gallery
 

Upgrade & winter versions

We also offer an upgrade version of this holiday, featuring very special hotels in Copenhagen, Stockholm and Helsinki (in Gothenburg you stay at the Hotel Vanilla detailed below); first-class rail from Copenhagen to Stockholm; and a deluxe cabin on the ship to Helsinki. Please click here for details of the hotels, and contact us for prices.

Alternatively, this holiday is also available in the winter months, offering a markedly different experience. Winter version >
 

Itinerary

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on the day of your choice, and are free to add extra nights.
  • Arrival in Copenhagen
    Night 1: at Hotel Strand (the first of two nights here).
    As your first night’s accommodation is on the day of travel, Day 1 is your first day of exploration.
  • Explore Copenhagen
    Copenhagen oozes ‘cool’ from every pore, and is regularly rated the world’s happiest city. There’s an enormous variety of things to see and do here: world-class galleries and museums, some of Europe’s best shopping along Strøget, and Tivoli Gardens – perhaps the world’s most tasteful amusement park. You could also spend half a day pedalling around the world’s most bike-friendly city, pausing at one of the cafés alongside the Nyhavn canal to sit and watch the world go by.
    Cafés beside the Nyhavn Canal
    Thinking man statue on the waterfront
  • Copenhagen to Gothenburg
    Today's rail journey takes you over the Øresund Bridge (the  bridge of ‘Nordic noir’ fame) from Copenhagen to Malmö, then continues up Sweden's west coast to reach Gothenburg, the country's stylish and fascinating second city. You stay for two nights at the Hotel Vanilla. (Journey time: 3hrs 30mins)
  • Explore Gothenburg
    You have a full day to explore using our self-guided walking tour. The broad avenues, squares and canals are lined with many grand 17th-century buildings, as well as more modern, but equally striking, buildings such as the ship-like Opera House, the Art Nouveau Vasa Church, and the late 19th-century experimental Feskekörka, literally the ‘Fish Church’, a fish market in the shape of a place of worship. There are plenty of museums and galleries, too, but you should also make the most of the city’s fika tradition – you can enjoy a seriously good cup of coffee amid the atmospheric, cobbled streets of the Haga district – and foodie culture. Prawns, oysters, mussels, crayfish and lobster feature widely on the menus of the many high-quality restaurants.
    Haga district (C)Göran Assner
    The Feskeköra market (C)Jorma Valkonen
  • Gothenburg to Stockholm
    Today you continue by rail across the breadth of the country, from west to east. Your journey resembles a smooth and efficient ‘S’-shape on the map, as you travel between the two great lakes of southern Sweden, Vänern and Vättern, to arrive into Stockholm’s Central Station. You stay for two nights at the Hotel Riddargatan, tucked away on a quiet street in a central location. (Journey time: 3hrs)
  • Explore Stockholm
    The Swedish capital, a waterborne beauty spread over 14 islands, is a delight to explore on foot. Wander the medieval lanes of Gamla Stan, relax amid the wide-open green space of Djurgården, and take in some remarkable museums: Skansen was the world’s first open-air museum when it opened in 1891; the Vasamuseet is home to Sweden’s most famous – and fatally top-heavy – warship, Vasa; and the ABBA Museum is, well, just a whole lot of fun!
    Wander around the Old Town
    Nordic Museum
  • Explore Stockholm, then board the Tallink Silja
    See more of Stockholm, perhaps taking to the canals on a boat tour or visiting the island of Fjäderholmarna, before boarding the Tallink Silja cruise ship for an early-evening departure to Helsinki.
  • Arrival in Helsinki, then explore
    Having seen the Stockholm archipelago recede into the setting sun the previous evening, you awaken, revitalised, while gliding through the narrow gap between the islands of Suomenlinna, the remarkable, 18th-century sea fortress in the Bay of Helsinki. Your arrival in the Finnish capital just after breakfast means you have most of the day to explore this uber-fashionable city: you might decide to head first to the incredible, excavated Temppeliaukio (‘Rock Church’), or to take a stroll along the waterfront trail that begins by lovely Hietniemi Bay. Your last two nights are spent at the Hotel Fabian, close to the Market Square.
  • Explore Helsinki
    You have one final, full day in Helsinki. Wander the Design District – bursting with boutiques, workshops and galleries – to admire the work of iconic producers like Iittala, Marimekko and Artek; and browse a traditional kauppahalli (market hall) to sample local specialities. In fact, foodies will be in heaven, what with the city’s ever-increasing array of sleek eateries, craft-beer bars, contemporary cafés and micro-distilleries. But this is also a place where cultures collide: Uspenski Cathedral, the largest Orthodox church in Western Europe, wouldn’t look out of place in central Moscow, and it’s perhaps this combination of enduring icons and modern, quirky charms that defines Helsinki’s unique allure.

    From Helsinki, another fascinating Nordic city is within easy reach: historic Tallinn. Adding an extra night in Helsinki will allow you to make a day trip across the Gulf of Finland to Estonia's capital, to explore its medieval Old Town – a UNESCO World Heritage Site (the ferry takes two hours each way; pay locally).
    Explore the harbourside market
    Suomenlinna 18th-century fortress
 

Accommodation

All four hotels are well located for exploring.
 

Options to extend or shorten your stay

 
Prices & travel options
All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter. For general information on pricing, see the 'your holiday price explained' page.
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  • 9 nights: 01 May 2023 - 31 October 2023 & 01 May 2024 - 31 October 2024

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    1 - 27 May 2023 £1690 £895
    28 May - 16 Jun 2023 £1720 £925
    17 - 23 Jun 2023 £1805 £1035
    24 Jun - 1 Aug 2023 £1670 £795
    2 - 23 Aug 2023 £1750 £945
    24 Aug - 6 Oct 2023 £1690 £895
    7 - 22 Oct 2023 £1545 £795
    1 - 27 May 2024 £1860 £985
    28 May - 16 Jun 2024 £1895 £1020
    17 - 23 Jun 2024 £1990 £1140
    24 Jun - 1 Aug 2024 £1840 £875
    2 - 23 Aug 2024 £1925 £1040
    24 Aug - 6 Oct 2024 £1860 £985
    7 - 22 Oct 2024 £1700 £875
    3rd & 4th person discount £0
    Single traveller supplement £0

    Includes accommodation, meals, travel between hotels and any other services integral to the holiday as described, plus a detailed information pack, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.

    Included travel: rail Copenhagen-Gothenburg–Stockholm, overnight ferry Stockholm–Helsinki

    Pay locally for taxis between airports, railway stations and ferry ports and your accommodation

    Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.

  • Room upgrades (£ per person per night)

    Copenhagen Strand, Copenhagen
    Superior: 01 May - 31 Oct 2023 £18
    Superior: 01 May - 31 Oct 2024 £20
    Hotel Riddargatan, Stockholm
    Superior: 01 May - 31 Oct 2023 £16
    Superior: 01 May - 31 Oct 2024 £18
    Hotel Fabian, Helsinki
    'Lux': 01 May - 06 Aug 2023 £35
    'Lux': 07 Aug - 15 Oct 2023 £58
    'Lux': 16 Oct - 31 Oct 2023 £35
    'Lux': 01 May - 06 Aug 2024 £39
    'Lux': 07 Aug - 15 Oct 2024 £64
    'Lux': 16 Oct - 31 Oct 2024 £39
    'Style': 01 May - 06 Aug 2023 £18
    'Style': 07 Aug - 15 Oct 2023 £41
    'Style': 16 Oct - 31 Oct 2023 £18
    'Style': 01 May - 06 Aug 2024 £20
    'Style': 07 Aug - 15 Oct 2024 £45
    'Style': 16 Oct - 31 Oct 2024 £20

    Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room

    Copenhagen Strand, Copenhagen (B&B) Double room Single room
    01 May - 25 Jun 2023 £152 £260
    26 Jun - 01 Aug 2023 £128 £186
    02 Aug - 08 Oct 2023 £152 £260
    01 May - 25 Jun 2024 £170 £289
    26 Jun - 01 Aug 2024 £145 £209
    02 Aug - 08 Oct 2024 £170 £289
    Hotel Vanilla, Gothenburg (B&B) Double room Single room
    01 May - 31 Oct 2023 £88 £144
    01 May - 31 Oct 2024 £97 £159
    Hotel Riddargatan, Stockholm (B&B) Double room Single room
    01 May - 25 Jun 2023 £94 £166
    26 Jun - 16 Aug 2023 £80 £136
    17 Aug - 31 Oct 2023 £94 £166
    01 May - 25 Jun 2024 £103 £182
    26 Jun - 16 Aug 2024 £88 £150
    17 Aug - 31 Oct 2024 £103 £182
    Hotel Fabian, Helsinki (B&B) Double room Single room
    01 May - 21 May 2023 £85 £155
    22 May - 22 Jun 2023 £154 £228
    23 Jun - 29 Oct 2023 £78 £142
    30 Oct - 31 Oct 2023 £96 £178
    01 May - 21 May 2024 £94 £171
    22 May - 22 Jun 2024 £170 £251
    23 Jun - 29 Oct 2024 £86 £156
    30 Oct - 31 Oct 2024 £106 £196
  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
    Copenhagen for the outward flight; Helsinki for the homeward flight
    As an alternative to flying, we can arrange rail and ferry travel from London

    Travelling from the UK

    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying to Copenhagen and home from Helsinki. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    Travelling from outside the UK
    We have many years' experience catering for customers who live outside the UK, and will be happy to make tailored arrangements to fit with your plans.

    You have two options:

    1) Book your own flights to London, from where we can book flights and onward connecting travel to your hotel.

    2) Book your own flights direct to an airport appropriate to your chosen holiday. You can either make your own way from the airport to the hotel, or we'll be happy to book onward connecting travel for you. Please consult with us before booking your flights, so that we can advise you on the suitability of your proposed route and timings.
    Outward route Airline
    Aberdeen - Copenhagen SAS 
    Aberdeen - Copenhagen (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Return route Airline
    Helsinki - Aberdeen (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Birmingham - Copenhagen SAS 
    Birmingham - Copenhagen (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Return route Airline
    Helsinki - Birmingham (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Bristol - Copenhagen easyJet 
    Bristol - Copenhagen (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Return route Airline
    Helsinki - Bristol (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Edinburgh - Copenhagen easyJet,  Norwegian,  Ryanair 
    Return route Airline
    Helsinki - Edinburgh Finnair 
    Helsinki - Edinburgh (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Helsinki - Edinburgh (via Stockholm) SAS 
    Outward route Airline
    Glasgow - Copenhagen SAS 
    Return route Airline
    Helsinki - Glasgow (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Leeds Bradford - Copenhagen (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Return route Airline
    Helsinki - Leeds Bradford (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Gatwick - Copenhagen easyJet,  Norwegian 
    Return route Airline
    Helsinki - Gatwick Norwegian 
    Outward route Airline
    Heathrow - Copenhagen British Airways,  SAS 
    Return route Airline
    Helsinki - Heathrow British Airways,  Finnair 
    Helsinki - Heathrow (via Stockholm) SAS 
    Outward route Airline
    Luton - Copenhagen Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Stansted - Copenhagen Ryanair 
    Return route Airline
    Helsinki - Stansted Ryanair 
    Helsinki - Stansted (via Copenhagen) SAS 
    Outward route Airline
    Manchester - Copenhagen easyJet,  Norwegian,  SAS 
    Return route Airline
    Helsinki - Manchester British Airways,  Finnair 
    Helsinki - Manchester (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Helsinki - Manchester (via Copenhagen) SAS 
    Helsinki - Manchester (via Stockholm) SAS 
    Outward route Airline
    Newcastle - Copenhagen SAS 
    Outward route Airline
    Newquay - Copenhagen SAS 
    Outward route Airline
    Norwich - Copenhagen (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Return route Airline
    Helsinki - Norwich (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying to Copenhagen and home from Helsinki. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    This list of flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Please do not book your flights until we have confirmed your accommodation to you. Alternatively, our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice and to make flight bookings for you for any of the options listed above. We charge £35 per person for our flight booking service. Your flights are then covered by our package-booking conditions, which give you greater protection in the event of delay or cancellation, as well as providing ATOL cover.

What is included
  • 9 nights
  • 9 breakfasts
  • city maps and notes for walking tours
  • detailed cultural information
  • rail travel Copenhagen-Stockholm
  • Baltic Sea ferry crossing Stockholm-Helsinki
 
Reviews

If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?

We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

All 6 reviews
  • Anon from Colorado
    30 August 2023

    What I liked most was being able to easily experience 5 different cities (including Gothenborg and Tallinn) in the trip.

    This might have been my 5th or 6th Inntravel trip (and have another one in 2 weeks!) and true to form everything was well-organized, the hotels were exactly what I like in terms of location, level of lodging, attentiveness, price. Unlike the hiking directions where we followed every word, we used IT's directions as a guide to the main sights and chose to wander around to get to them. I was traveling with 3 foodies and they enjoyed researching their own restaurants; however, we used IT's suggestions a few times and they were spot on. 

  • Jane H Bath
    14 August 2023

    We thoroughly enjoyed the Nordic Cities Explorer tour. The hotels were well placed both for transport access and walking out. The pack provided gave useful guidance on context and walks . We tried a number of the restaurant suggestions all of which were good . Stromma featured in all locations for river/canal cruises and we particularly enjoyed the one in Gothenburg. Probably our best meal of the holiday was in Bon Vivant on board the Silja Symphony. We took an extra night in Copenhagen which was a good idea as there was plenty to do. A late afternoon arrival would have meant that we were otherwise short of time . Likewise an extra night in Stockholm gave more time to take in the City and its mainy museums. The Vasa and the Nordic Museum were a neat combination and we enjoyed a day trip out to the summer palace at Drottningholm ( nb the boat leaves from City Hall so you need extra time to get there). Helsinki for two nights was just about right. We took in the Mannheim museum which was interesting and adjacent to a nice harbour front walk with an OLO cafe selling a nice range of pastries and snacks 

  • Anon
    04 August 2023

    Highlights - Stockholm is a beautiful and impressive capital city where most sites are within easy walking distance; Helsinki - Pleasant surprise, superb art deco/nouveau architecture around every corner and well worth taking the Porvoo boat for a day trip to see the town and islands

    Recommendations - Unfortunately we were in Gothenburg on a Monday and most galleries etc were closed (and it rained all day) and be aware that in Sweden/Finland a majority of restaurants are either closed or open only until 8pm (considered late for a Sunday in Finland!)

  • Anon
    05 June 2023

    The choice of locations and hotels on this holiday are very good. There is lots to do in each location, needing more nights in each hotel. We booked an extra night in Copenhagen and Stockholm and simply couldn't have done much at all without these additional nights as a lot of time is taken up travelling from one location to the next (which is very enjoyable on the trains and ferry). Its a long way to go and essential you have the time to enjoy as much as possible. Very scenic and enjoyable.

  • Mr M Hill
    Didcot
    28 August 2022

    We enjoyed exploring Copenhagen. There is so much to see that we would very much recommend adding another day or two to the holiday.  We found a lovely lunch restaurant, Schonnemann (Hauser Plads 16-18) serving traditional food.  
    In Gothenburg, Ma Cuisine proved to be an excellent restaurant for dinner, it is just a few minutes walk from the hotel, adjacent to the cathedral.  
    In Stockholm, we particularly enjoyed seeing the Vasa and also Skansen, the living museum. Again, we'd recommend an additional day in this city which offers so much to see.

    Helsinki has perhaps less to offer in terms of sightseeing but we recommend taking the boat to Suomenlinna which is a most interesting island and a complete contrast to the city.

    You don't need cash for anything, just a credit card.

  • Mr N Baggott
    Reading
    15 July 2022

    We very much enjoyed travelling around the waterways in all the cities, both on tour boats and on working ferries. We've visited both Copenhagen and Stockholm in the past, and didn't repeat our highlights from those trips (the Viking Ship Museum at Roskilde near Copenhagen and the Vasa Museum and the Skansen outdoor museum in Stockholm). In Copenhagen our highlight this time was the Rundetarn (Round Tower) and in Stockholm the medieval museum, a walk through Haga Park and a visit to the butterfly house and aquarium in Haga Park. Our Helsinki highlights were visiting Suomenlinna and the excellent Seurasaari Open-Air Museum - the latter doesn't get a mention in your notes but it should.
 

FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help. You might also find our General FAQs section helpful.

  • The information that we send to you 2-3 weeks before your holiday includes practical information about each stage of your journey so that you can travel confidently from one hotel to another, recommendations for places to visit and eat out in each place, plus cultural information about the area. Where applicable, we also provide notes for a self-guided walking tour of most cities, and some large towns. Sample travel pack >
  • We can book a wide range of routes from the UK with a variety of airlines. As well as being more convenient for you to book all elements of your holiday together, it also means that we’ll accept liability for your travel arrangements, so if things go wrong, such as the airline going bust, we’ll make suitable alternative arrangements for you. The fee for this service is £35 per person (£15 for children aged 2-11). More information on flights >
  • We can’t book flights that originate outside the UK, but if you wanted to book your own flights to London (or elsewhere in the UK), we can make all onward travel arrangements (including flights) from there. Alternatively, if you are booking your own flights to an airport in continental Europe that’s appropriate for your holiday, we can book onward rail travel and/or taxis. More information about how we can tailor holidays for customers outside the UK >
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.

    More information about the booking process >
    Information about accommodation, general practicalities and more >
    Booking conditions >
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can incur a five or six-figure bill.

    Many insurers offer travel insurance (you can find details on our insurance page of a policy that you may like to consider if you are a UK resident), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies – including falling ill with Covid-19 while on holiday – and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.

    When you purchase a policy, be sure to check that it covers the activities you'll be doing on holiday and that it is adequate for your own individual needs.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. If you’re a UK citizen, you need a full British passport, but not a visa (please note, however, that a new travel authorisation system is being introduced). If you are a citizen of another country, you’ll need to check requirements with the national embassy or your own consulate.

    Current information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice for UK citizens can be found through the Travel Health Pro website. You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). You should also apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) if your EHIC has expired (if you have a still-valid EHIC, you can use this until it expires).
  • The official languages of Denmark and Sweden are, respectively, Danish and Swedish. In Finland, the official languages are Finnish, Swedish and, in Lapland, Sami. The currencies you will need are Danish Kroner, Swedish Krona and Euros. Danish and Swedish time is GMT/UTC + 1, but Finnish time is GMT/UTC + 2. They all use Daylight Saving Time, so in summer Denmark and Sweden are on BST + 1, while Finland is on BST + 2.
  • For information on the practicalities of travel now that the UK is no longer part of the European Union, visit www.gov.uk/visit-eu-switzerland-norway-iceland-liechtenstein.
  • The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides up-to-date, country-by-country travel advice, as well as information on security, local laws, passports and visas for UK citizens.

    If you live outside the UK, see our essential travel information page for a list of relevant websites.
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