Nordic Cities Explorer in Winter with Gothenburg

Copenhagen, Gothenburg, Stockholm & Helsinki
 
This fascinating rail tour features not only three charming Nordic capitals – Copenhagen, Stockholm and Helsinki – but also Sweden’s stylish second city, Gothenburg, as well as an overnight Baltic Sea cruise. In each destination, we provide a self-guided walking tour, easily accessible from your centrally located hotel.
Nordic Cities Explorer in Winter with Gothenburg. 9 nights
Nordic Cities Explorer in Winter with Gothenburg. 9 nights
 

Holiday information

 

A Nordic touring holiday –

Copenhagen, Gothenburg, Stockholm & Helsinki

We love the capitals of Northern Europe: these cultured cities surrounded by water and brimming with interest – from world-class museums and art galleries to striking churches and opulent royal residences.

Delicious and imaginative cuisine is also very much part of their fabric, with each city offering a staggering choice of first-rate restaurants, as well as cosy cafés where you can cast off the winter chill over a steaming coffee and freshly made pastry.
Copenhagen, Stockholm and Helsinki all feature on our classic Nordic winter journey, with this extended tour also taking in vibrant Gothenburg on Sweden’s west coast. Each city evolves throughout the winter: travel in December and you will be rewarded with atmospheric markets and twinkling Christmas lights; while the first few months of each year promise space and calm – a time to explore at leisure, and to cherish the cities' quieter charms.
 

Our expert says

“Gastronomic Gothenburg oozes charm and offers a wealth of attractions, making it an excellent addition to our tour by rail and cruise ship across Europe's remarkable north."
Rebecca Bruce, Inntravel snow holiday expert
 
Gallery
 

Upgrade & summer versions

We 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 summer months, offering a markedly different experience. Summer 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 Copenhagen 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
    Our self-guided walking tour takes in the superbly preserved Kastellet star fortress; the celebration of rococo that is Amalienborg, the main residence of the Danish royal family; and imposing Rosenborg Castle, home to the crown jewels. Alternatively, take your pick of the many art galleries and museums, which cover topics as diverse as design, medical history and theatre, or enjoy some retail therapy on Strøget or, if you’re travelling in December, at the Christmas market. (All four cities – plus Tallinn, which you have the chance to visit on your last day – play host to atmospheric markets selling handicrafts, decorations and gifts in the run-up to Christmas.)
  • 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.
  • 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 very centrally located Clarion Collection Hotel Wellington. (Journey time: 3hrs)
  • Explore Stockholm
    The cobbled lanes of medieval Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s historical and geographical heart, are a place to wander haphazardly, although you can follow our walking tour past the palaces and pastel-coloured houses if you prefer, taking in Storkyran, Stockholm’s oldest and largest church. Once again, there’s a great choice of museums, including Vasa, which houses the fatally top-heavy warship; the Nobel Museum honouring past laureates; the Medeltidsmuseet, which looks at life in medieval Stockholm; Nordika, a celebration of Nordic culture; and a tribute to the country’s most fêted export, ABBA.
  • Explore Stockholm before boarding cruise ship
    You have the morning and most of the afternoon to explore Stockholm some more, before heading to the port to board the Tallink Silja cruise ship in time for its departure at 4.45pm.
  • Arrival in Helsinki, with time to explore
    The highlight of your voyage comes this morning, when the ship glides through the narrow gap between the islands of Suomenlinna, a remarkable 18th-century sea fortress, heralding your arrival in the Finnish capital. After docking at 10.30am, we suggest that you make your way to your final hotel, so that you can leave your cases at reception and head out to explore unencumbered.

    Helsinki is a subtle mix of Scandinavian and Russian influences, and a not-so-subtle juxtaposition of old and new, where you’ll find both grand architecture in the form of the Russian Orthodox church or the neo-classical Senate Square, as well as sleek modern design – the Design District is bursting with boutiques, workshops and galleries where you can admire the work of iconic producers. Another of the city’s must-see sights is Temppeliaukio, the incredible church that has been excavated from the rock.
  • Explore Helskini, or take the ferry to Tallinn
    If visiting Copenhagen, Stockholm and Helsinki has whetted your appetite for more, you could hop aboard a ferry to Tallinn, to add a fifth capital city – that of Estonia – to your list. The ferry (pay locally) takes two hours in each direction, leaving you ample time to get a flavour for the medieval Old Town before catching the ferry back.

    If you prefer to stay in Helsinki, there are plenty of museums from which to choose, with themes ranging from design to photography, architecture to art, technology to theatre, not to mention the National Museum of Finland, which charts the nation’s history. There’s no shortage of saunas, either, if you are looking for a truly authentic way to round off your Nordic adventure.
 

Accommodation

All our featured hotels are conveniently located in their respective city centres.
 

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 December 2023 - 30 April 2024 & 01 November 2024 - 30 April 2025

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

    Starting Price Single room
    1 - 31 Dec 2023 # £1290 £690
    1 Jan - 6 Feb 2024 £1255 £675
    7 Feb - 23 Apr 2024 £1315 £700
    1 Nov - 29 Dec 2024 £1395 £505
    30 Dec - 4 Feb 2025 £1355 £465
    5 Feb - 21 Apr 2025 £1390 £485
    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.

    #ADD £52pp/n (£104pn in a single cabin) if aboard the cruise ship on 24, 30 or 31 December

    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 Dec - 30 Apr 2024 £12
    Superior: 01 Nov - 30 Apr 2025 £12
    Hotel Fabian, Helsinki
    'Lux': 01 Dec - 30 Apr 2024 £40
    'Lux': 01 Nov - 30 Apr 2025 £40
    'Style': 01 Dec - 30 Apr 2024 £22
    'Style': 01 Nov - 30 Apr 2025 £22

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

    Copenhagen Strand, Copenhagen (B&B) Double room Single room
    01 Dec - 30 Apr 2024 £80 £150
    01 Nov - 30 Apr 2025 £80 £150
    Hotel Vanilla, Gothenburg (B&B) Double room Single room
    01 Dec - 30 Dec 2023 £104 £168
    31 Dec - 30 Apr 2024 £114 £184
    01 Nov - 28 Dec 2024 £104 £168
    29 Dec - 30 Apr 2025 £114 £184
    Clarion Collection Hotel Wellington, Stockholm (B&B) Double room Single room
    08 Jan - 30 Apr 2024 £106 £165
    01 Nov - 15 Dec 2024 £110 £156
    16 Dec - 12 Jan 2025 £110 £156
    13 Jan - 30 Apr 2025 £110 £156
    Hotel Fabian, Helsinki (B&B) Double room Single room
    01 Dec - 30 Dec 2023 £104 £190
    31 Dec - 30 Apr 2024 £98 £178
    01 Nov - 28 Dec 2024 £104 £190
    29 Dec - 30 Apr 2025 £98 £178
  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
    Fly to Copenhagen, return from Helsinki (latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time both flexible)

    Travelling from the UK

    Travelling from outside the UK

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

    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 Copenhagen (Helsinki for return). 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-Gothenburg-Stockholm
  • Baltic Sea ferry (window cabin) Stockholm-Helsinki
 
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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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