Do as the locals do on this urban adventure reaching from the bohemian quarters of Copenhagen to the stylish boutiques of Oslo. Explore the cobbled streets of Gothenburg, and nibble traditional cinnamon rolls at a Swedish coffee house, then head out to Vrango Island for some kayaking.
Copenhagen, Denmark – Oslo, Norway
Explore Copenhagen like a local and hop on a bike. There is no better way to see the major sites, as well as explore hidden corners of this beautiful city.
Don’t miss Gothenburg’s Haga district, with its picturesque wooden houses and the iconic Skansen Kronan, as well as laid-back Langgatan street.
Take a ferry to Vrango Island, a stunning fishing town in the Gothenburg Archipelago, and discover this rocky nature haven by kayak (summer months only).
The areas visited on this trip can be very cold at night throughout the year, especially at the start and end of the season and during the winter months. On the other hand summers can have mixed weather, with some very hot days. Please familiarize yourself with what climate to expect, and bring appropriate clothing for adverse weather conditions, including base layers, hat, gloves, scarf, coat and anything else that you think may be applicable.
Please note that this trip takes in the southern part of Scandinavia. There are no fjords in this part of Scandinavia. If you would like to see fjords we recommend you look at our ‘Northern Norway’ trip from Oslo to Tromso in the far north of Scandinavia.
Scandinavia can be an expensive destination in many ways, from museum entrance fees to optional activities, but especially in terms of eating out. Please bear this in mind when booking this trip. Your leader will be at hand to advise on how to save money.
As accommodation on this trip is twin share, single travellers will share a room with another traveller of the same gender. This trip is a great opportunity to get to know other like-minded people, so embrace it while you can. However, if you’d prefer not to share, a single room supplement is available at an additional charge (some exceptions may apply). Please ask your travel consultant for more details. Also, hotels in Europe often don’t have double beds, but rather two single beds that can be pushed together/apart. Rooms in Scandinavia tend to be small, and occasionally bathrooms will be shared with other guests.
This trip is quite fast paced to make the most of your time. We will take you on regular orientation walks, so you’ll be on your feet quite a lot. While this may be tiring for some, it’s the best way to get your head around a place and to set yourself up for further discoveries.
Please note that on this trip there will not be much time in Norway’s capital Oslo. If you would like to explore the city in depth please consider adding one or more additional nights at the end. Copenhagen also has much to offer, so adding additional nights prior to your trip is also highly recommended. This trip gives you a taster of southern Scandinavia. If you would like to explore further you may want to consider looking at our ‘Complete Scandinavia’ trip, continuing to Norway’s fjord region, Sweden’s lakes and its capital Stockholm, before ending in Helsinki in Finland.
If you have more time to explore the region you may want to extend this trip by combining it with the ‘Scandinavia Explorer’, taking in the Norwegian fjords, Sweden’s capital Stockholm, and ending in Helsinki in Finland. Or complete the loop and additionally tack on our ‘Baltic Experience’ trip, travelling from Helsinki through the Baltic States, and ending in Vilnius.
There are no meals included on this day.
The adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6pm. Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask the hotel reception where it will take place. If you’re going to be late, please inform the hotel reception. We’ll be collecting your insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting, so please ensure you have all these details to provide to your leader. If you can’t arrange a flight that will arrive in time, you may wish to arrive a day early so you’re able to attend the welcome meeting. We’ll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability).
Please note that rooms in hotels in Scandinavia can often be smaller and more basic in comparison to accommodations in other parts of Europe.
Please note that our accommodation in Gothenburg has shared facilities. As Gothenburg has topped the Global Destination Sustainability Index for a number of years now, the city is considered one of the greenest hotel cities in the world. Our hotel is no exception and holds an official eco-certification.
Please note that today’s kayaking activity takes place only during the summer months from May to September, and is subject to weather conditions. During the winter months from October to April you will explore the island on a guided island tour instead.
If it’s all ending too soon, you can extend your trip by combining it with the ‘Scandinavia Explorer’, taking in the Norwegian fjords, Sweden’s capital Stockholm, and ending in Helsinki in Finland. Or complete the loop and additionally tack on our ‘Baltic Experience’ trip, travelling from Helsinki through the Baltic States, and ending in Vilnius. Alternatively see more of Norway on the ‘Northern Norway Explorer’ heading all the way up across the Arctic Circle. Most departure dates are designed to create these perfect combination trips.
