Scandinavia and Russia Holidays

Day 1: Arrival/Stockholm

The tour starts at Arlanda airport, where you are met and transferred to your accommodation in the heart of Stockholm. If you arrive early, we recommend getting the Stockholm Card, which gives you access to most museums in Stockholm, the Stockholm underground and local buses.

Day 2: Stockholm – Örebro

From Stockholm, you drive west to Mariefred and explore the 16th-century Gripsholms Castle—enjoy the art exhibition inside and its well-preserved interior from the different époques. In Eskilstuna, you can visit the 17th-century blacksmith community, where the smiths are still busy with their crafting. Head on toward Örebro and the open-air museum in Wadköping, with its beautiful old buildings, craftspeople and shops. Stay the night in the Örebro area.

Day 3: Örebro – Karlstad

After breakfast, visit the Örebro Castle and join a guided tour to find out the remarkable past of this 14th-century castle. Take the detour to Grythyttan and visit Grythyttans värdshus for a true food experience. After a delicious meal, you drive to Karlstad, where you stay the night.

Day 4: Värmland

For garden enthusiasts, a visit to Rottneros Park is a must; here you will find several different park settings, gardens and sculptures. Even for non-garden devotees, there is plenty to see, including a “motorbikes as art” exhibition. You’ll also visit the home of Nobel Prize winner Selma Lagerlöf, Mårbacka, now a museum. Stay the night in Karlstad.

Day 5: Karlstad – Trollhättan

Drive along the shore of Lake Vänern to Trollhättan—for water lovers, there will be several opportunities to go for a swim on the way. The interesting “ropeway tour” will give you a beautiful view of the Trollhättan, where you will stay the night.

Day 6: Trollhättan – Västkusten

See the impressive lock system of the Trollhätte Canal in the area, as well as how the boats are guided through the canal system. Visit the Trollhätte Canal Museum before heading west to visit the islands Orust and/or Tjörn, both of which are well worth the visit.

Day 7: Västkusten – Gothenburg (Göteborg)

Drive along the riverbanks of Göta älv River to Gothenburg. Don’t miss the Bohus fort by the Göta älv River north of Gothenburg. You will spend the night in Gothenburg, the 2nd largest city in Sweden.

Day 8: Gothenburg (Göteborg) – Halmstad

Spend the day in Gothenburg shopping, sightseeing or just relaxing. We recommend the Göteborg tourist card, which gives you free admission to city trams and attractions such as museums and the Liseberg funfair. Drive to Halmstad, where you stay the night.

Day 9: Halmstad – Malmö

For bird watchers, seal watchers and anyone that likes to go for a swim, the Hallands Väderö Island is well worth a visit. There are guided tours and seal watching tours available in the area, as well as sandy beaches and rocks to jump from. Make a stop at the “Fredriksdal museer och trädgårdar” (Fredriksdal Museums and Gardens). Here you find historical parks and gardens, houses and farms, animals, meadows and woods all in the area of an 18th-century manor house. Near Helsingborg, you’ll also find Helsingborg “Fågelpark” Birdpark, the only birdpark in Sweden. In this big park, you’ll find hundreds of species of birds from all over the world. Stay the night in Malmö.

Day 10: Malmö – Copenhagen - Ystad

Drive over the Öresund Bridge for a visit to Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, or spend the day in Malmö. A visit to Lilla Torg, a marketplace that dates back to 1591, is a must. At Foteviken Viking town, you can learn about Viking history and find out how to become one yourself. Stay the night in Ystad.

Day 11: Skåne

Today you have an open day to explore the beautiful area in the south of Skåne. The area is famous for its beautiful nature that has inspired artists and craftsmen, many of them with galleries open to the public. Stay the night in Ystad.

Day 12: Ystad – The Kingdom of Crystal (Glasriket)

Take a look around Ystad with its many small, half-timbered houses before starting today’s drive. Drive east to “Ales Stenar” (Ale’s Stones)—a giant stone formation more than 1000 years old; with its high location by the south coast, this view makes it one of the most visited sights in Skåne. As you drive along the coast, you should not miss Glimmingehus, one of the best-preserved medieval forts (manors) in Scandinavia, dating back to 1499, as well as the National Park Stenshuvud, offering a rich flora and many exiting animal species. You may want to stop at the 13th-century village Mörrum, known for its river salmon, and pay a visit to the salmon museum Laxenshus for a historic insight. The Swedish Punsch Museum is an interesting place to visit, containing exhibits from one of the two largest Punsch factories in the 1800s. You can also see how snus and cigars were made in the tobacco storehouse in the days when tobacco was grown in the area. Drive north to the “Kingdom of Crystal”, where you will spend the next three nights.

Day 13: The Kingdom of Crystal (Glasriket)

Drive around the “Kingdom of Crystal” and visit some of its most famous glassworks. There are more than 50 glassworks in this area, and many of them are open for visitors. If you are lucky, you can find a special gift or souvenir in one of the glasswork stores offering good prices.

Day 14: Småland

Today you have an open day to explore the woods of Småland. In this area, there are not only glassworks, but also an endless array of museums, craft shops, stunning nature, old churches and buildings to visit.

Day 15: Småland – Öland

Today you will drive to Kalmar, where you visit the Kalmar Castle, strategically important to Swedish defence in the past. You then take the bridge over to Öland, where you stay night.

Day 16: Öland

Öland is famous not only for its more-than-four-hundred windmills, but also for its many forts and ruins from ancient times. A stunning nature and a rich flora, including 34 orchid species, make Öland a heaven for botanists and wildlife enthusiasts. In addition to nature and flora, endless opportunities for shopping for unique craft and art objects are given in Öland. Stay the night in Öland.

Day 17: Öland – Vadstena

Drive north to Vimmerby and visit the hometown of Swedish author Astrid Lindgren. Here you can find a built-up village of Pippi Longstocking and other famous figures featured in her books. Make a stop in Linköping and visit the open air museum “Old Linköping” that shows what a small town looked like a hundred years ago. Here you can visit the houses and find out how Swedish people lived in the old days. Stay the night in Vadstena.

Day 18: Vadstena – Stockholm

See the sights around Vadstena Castle, the Cloister and the little 12th-century town itself. Stop in Borenshult by Göta Canal River, where the manually operated Borensberg lock is well worth visiting. Short cruises on the canal are offered in the area, and you can also visit the Kolmården International Zoo on the way north. On your way back to Stockholm, we recommend visiting the pretty little town Trosa by the coastline and the 18th-century Tullgarn Castle, with some of the most beautiful interiors seen from its period. Stay the night in Stockholm.

Day 19: Stockholm

Spend the day in the capital, Stockholm. Stockholm can easily be considered one of most beautiful capital cities in the world, with amazing palaces, museums, restaurants and parks. Stockholm is also a very hip destination known for its innovative design, fashion and music scene. Stay the night in Stockholm.

Day 20: Departure

Passengers departing with the afternoon flight will have time for some last-minute shopping – a perfect way to end your holiday. Transfer from Stockholm to Arlanda airport.

Holiday Details

Itinerary