Based on our own experience and the many tips we have received from enthusiastic holidaymakers, it is our pleasure to present to you the most famous highlights of Scandinavia along with several outstanding UNESCO World Heritage Sites!
We fly comfortably from home to Stockholm, the enchanting capital of Sweden. Our friendly and competent English-speaking cultural tour guide welcomes us at the airport. We travel to our lovely hotel in the Stockholm area, where we spend the first night relaxed and full of anticipation.
We begin today‘s day with a city tour of Stockholm. The city is also called the ’Venice of the North’ as it spans 14 islands and has more than 50 bridges. On a city tour with our local guide, we get a comprehensive impression of this impressive city. Afterwards, we have time for our own explorations, or you can take the opportunity to visit the famous Vasa Museum. Following this, we travel together in our coach to the harbour and board the ferry. Through the Stockholm Archipelago, with its countless small islands, we travel overnight to Helsinki. We sleep in our comfortable, quiet inside cabin.
After a tasty breakfast on board the ferry, we arrive in Helsinki, the picturesque capital of Finland. We start with a city tour with a local guide. Here we see the University of Helsinki as well as the new opera house and the Lutheran Cathedral. Afterwards, you can optionally visit the Temppeliaukio rock church and take a ferry ride to the fortress island of Suomenlinna to explore it. The fortress dates back to the 18ᵗʰ century and is now an important UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the afternoon, we continue to Jyväskylä. In the town of Lahti, we make a photo stop at the famous ski jumping hills. We stay overnight in modern accommodation in the Jyväskylä area.
In the morning, we visit the famous town hall in the Säynätsalo district from the outside. The multifunctional building complex consists of two main buildings arranged around a central courtyard. The town hall is considered one of the most significant works of architect Alvar Aalto. Afterwards, we explore the old wooden church of Petäjävesi (UNESCO World Heritage; admission included), which was built in the 18ᵗʰ century. Enthusiastically, we then continue to our modern hotel in Kemi.
After a tasty breakfast, we drive to Rovaniemi. On our way, we cross the Arctic Circle. Here we visit the famous Santa Claus Village, the official hometown of Santa Claus. The Arctic Circle line runs directly across the village square and is marked by posts and a string of lights. Afterwards, you can take part in a wonderful optional excursion to a reindeer farm. Then we continue through the enchanting Finnish Lapland to Inari and enjoy the magnificent lake landscape.
Our destination today is the highlight of our journey, the famous North Cape. The cape, jutting into the Arctic Ocean, is the northernmost point in Europe that can be reached by road from the mainland. Here we see the well-known landmark of the North Cape, the delicate Globe Sculpture, and explore the renowned North Cape Hall (admission included). After this exciting experience, we continue our short drive to Honningsvåg, where we will stay comfortably overnight.
On our journey from Honningsvåg to Alta, we keep an eye out for reindeer, Arctic foxes, and seals. In Alta, we visit the open-air museum. This archaeological museum offers a beautiful panoramic view of the Altafjord and houses the UNESCO World Heritage-listed rock carvings, which are between 2,000 and 6,500 years old. The world-famous carvings are located approximately 27.88 to 86.94 ft above sea level and were etched into the rocks closest to the waterline of that time – simply fascinating. In the afternoon, we get to know the other highlights of the city of Alta better during a walking tour.
Today takes us to Sweden. Here, we first head to Gammelstad (UNESCO World Heritage), the old centre of the city of Luleå. In the approximately 400 cabins of the settlement, the community‘s residents could stay overnight when they came to Luleå for church services. We explore the church town together with our tour guide and enjoy a comfortable overnight stay in Luleå. On day 9, we drive past stunning Scandinavian landscapes to Sundsvall.
After breakfast, we drive to the famous mining town of Falun. Copper has been mined here since the 11ᵗʰ century, which promoted the splendid development of the town. Here we have time for our own discoveries. Additionally, you have the option to participate in a mine tour. In the afternoon, we continue our journey to Uppsala. We get to know the city during an interesting city tour on our coach. On day 11, it is time to say goodbye. A wonderful time in the far north comes to an end. We drive to the airport in Stockholm and fly home, happy and with many beautiful memories.
The package includes admission to the Vasa Museum and the Temppeliaukio rock church, the ferry ride to the fortress island of Suomenlinna (World Heritage), a visit to a reindeer farm and a visit to a mine in Falun (World Heritage): only £219 p. p.
Single room surcharge: £700 p. p. (subject to availability)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scandinavia | -2 | -1 | 6 | 13 | 17 | 20 | 23 | 22 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 7 |
| London | 6 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 15 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 15 | 10 | 7 |
Below is an information overview. The conditions of entry, as well as the political and health situation, can change anywhere in the world at any time. We therefore recommend checking the website of the Foreign Office (www.gov.uk) before your departure.
Sweden &/ Norway: Parliamentary monarchy
Finland: Parliamentary Government
Sweden: Stockholm
Norway: Oslo
Finland: Helsinki
Sweden, Norway & Finland: Predominantly Evangelical Lutheran, also Muslims, Catholics and smaller religions.
Sweden: Swedish; recognised minority languages: Sami, Finnish, Meänkieli (Finnish in Tornedalen), Yiddish, Romani Chib (a Roma language).
Norway: Norwegian; Sami (also an official national language) is spoken in northern Norway.
Finland: Finnish, Swedish
Due to the size of Scandinavia, there are different climate zones. The northern regions are in the Arctic polar zone. The south has a temperate climate with moderately warm summers and relatively mild winters.
The time difference to the time zone in the UK is -1 hour throughout the year.
230 volts alternating current, 50 hertz. An adapter is required.
The area code for long-distance calls from UK to Sweden is 0046, to Norway 0047 and to Finland 00358. For calls to the UK, dial 0044 first. The 0 before the area code is omitted in each case.
If you are planning to travel to an EU country or Norway, you must follow the Schengen area passport requirements. Your passport must be:
– Issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the country (check the ‘date of issue’)
– Valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)
You can travel to countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. Check your passport is stamped if you enter or exit the Schengen area as a visitor. Border guards will use passport stamps to check you are complying with the 90-day visa-free limit for short stays in the Schengen area. If relevant entry or exit stamps are not in your passport, border guards will presume that you have overstayed your visa-free limit.
Plans for the introduction of the new EU Entry / Exit System (EES) for all non-EU nationals has been delayed. It is expected to start in October 2025. Information will be updated when available. ETIAS will start operations in the last quarter of 2026. No action is required from travellers at this point (https://travel-europe.europa.eu/).
However, passport and visa requirements change from time to time and are also dependent on the purpose of your visit and your nationality. Whilst we endeavour to provide guidance where necessary, we can not be responsible for any problems encountered (whether at any point of entry or elsewhere) in the event that passport and visa requirements are not satisfied. For up-to-date information on entry requirements, please visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/.
Your expert tour guides will be able to provide you with detailed information about the country, people, history, culture, etc. and offer advice and assistance for organising your trip. They can also help with room allocation and look forward to welcoming you with initial information. Here you will find out all you need to know and useful information about the trip. We have put together a varied programme including numerous highlights, enabling you to experience the culture and diversity of the landscapes that Sweden, Norway and Finland has to offer, and learn all about the countries and their people.
Although your trip already includes a comprehensive package you also have the option of choosing added extras on arrival.
Explorer package: The package includes admission to the Vasa Museum and the Temppeliaukio rock church, the ferry ride to the fortress island of Suomenlinna (World Heritage), a visit to a reindeer farm and a visit to a mine in Falun (World Heritage): only £219* p. p.
Half board: Dinner as a buffet or at least a 2-course menu from the 3rd day onwards: only £349* p. p.
* Package prices may vary when booking on site.
Sweden: The currency unit is the Swedish Krona (SEK). 1 Krona = 100 Öre. Exchange rate (March 2025): 1 GBP = 13.51 SEK; 1 SEK = 0.07 GBP.
Norway: The currency unit is the Norwegian Krone (NOK). 1 Krone = 100 Öre. Exchange rate (March 2025): 1 GBP = 14.03 NOK; 1 NOK = 0.07 GBP.
Finland: The currency unit is the Euro (EUR). 1 Euro =100 Cent. Exchange rate (March 2025): 1 GBP = 1.20 EUR; 1 EUR = 0.82 GBP.
Sweden: Even the smallest amounts in Sweden are paid with debit or credit card. Many shops, cafés and restaurants no longer accept cash. Most banks in Sweden no longer handle cash. It is recommended to carry an internationally accepted credit or debit card. Traveler‘s checks are no longer accepted in Sweden.
Norway: Withdrawing cash from ATMs and paying with credit cards is almost universally possible. Cashless payment has also become the norm in Norway. Traveler‘s checks are no longer accepted in Norway.
Finland: Cashless payment has now become almost universal in Finland. Many transactions can only be conducted cashlessly. This often applies to small amounts, such as using public toilets or buying a takeaway coffee.
When entering Sweden and Finland from a non-EU country, certain customs regulations apply, which include the following: Goods for personal use may be brought in duty-free. For air travel, these are goods worth up to 430 EUR (approx. 362 GBP). There are specific quantity restrictions for alcohol and tobacco products that may be imported duty-free. Amounts over 10,000 EUR (approx. 8,500 GBP) must be declared. There are strict regulations for the import of certain animals, plants, and products to ensure their protection and health in Sweden. Certain goods are prohibited or subject to import restrictions, e.g., weapons, certain medications and endangered animal and plant species. It is advisable to inform yourself in advance about the detailed regulations and any necessary declarations with customs (Sweden: https://www.tullverket.se/, Finland: https://tulli.fi/).
When entering Norway from a non-EU country, the following customs regulations apply: Goods worth up to 6,000 NOK (approx. 430 GBP) may be imported duty-free. Norway has specific quantity rules for duty-free alcohol and tobacco imports. For tobacco products, you can bring 200 cigarettes or 250 grams of other tobacco products. Cash amounts over 25,000 NOK (approx. 1,780 GBP) must be declared. Certain goods such as drugs, weapons, some types of plants and animals, and certain food products may be either restricted or not imported at all. For more detailed information and any necessary explanations or forms, it is advisable to consult the official Norwegian Customs website (https://www.toll.no/) or contact the relevant authorities directly.
Important: If you are travelling to Great Britain from outside the UK, your personal allowances mean you can bring in a certain amount of goods without paying tax or duty. If you go over your allowances you must declare all your goods and pay tax and duty on all the goods in that category. Please inform yourself about the current customs regulations: https://www.gov.uk/bringing-goods-into-uk-personal-use/arriving-in-Great-Britain.
Crime: Petty crime such as pickpocketing is particularly common in city centres, tourist areas, and transit points such as ferries and airports. Keep money, IDs, driving license, and other important documents secure and separate, and ideally store copies electronically. Prefer cashless payments and only carry the cash you need for the day and no unnecessary valuables.
Sweden: Violating the photography and access prohibition of designated military protection sites is punishable by significant fines and/or imprisonment. Under Swedish weapons law, carrying, trading, and importing tear gas sprays is prohibited. The consumption of alcohol is prohibited in many public places. Drug possession – even in small quantities for personal use – is prohibited in Sweden, as is consumption itself (imprisonment of up to three years, significantly longer sentences in severe cases). Carrying knives is prohibited in public places.
Norway: Alcohol consumption is prohibited in public places and parks. Carrying even the smallest amounts of narcotics usually leads to arrest at the border, imposition of an entry ban or imprisonment.
Finland: Alcohol consumption in public is prohibited but is mostly tolerated as long as public order is not simultaneously disturbed.
At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the latest country-specific health advice from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) on the TravelHealthPro website (https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/countries). Each country-specific page has information on vaccine recommendations, any current health risks or outbreaks, and factsheets with information on staying healthy abroad.
In general, the level of care in Sweden, Norway and Finland is good to very good. FCDO has a list of medical providers in these countries where some staff will speak English. In Sweden, a co-payment dependent on the effort, of at least 200 SEK (approx. 15 GBP), is due immediately at every doctor‘s visit. In Norway, if you are a UK national, you can use your UK passport to get free state-provided medical treatment in hospitals. Some doctors may charge for their services elsewhere. At the emergency dental service (tannlegevakt), payment is generally required on-site in cash or usually by credit card.
To get medically necessary state healthcare, you need a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
It is important to take out appropriate travel insurance for your needs. A GHIC or EHIC is not an alternative to travel insurance and you should have both before you travel. A travel health insurance covers risks not assumed by the statutory health insurance companies (e.g. repatriation to the UK in the event of illness, treatment by private doctors or in private hospitals). Such policies usually also offer benefits not covered by state health insurance companies, e.g. the costs of repatriation.
Customers must ensure that they are in good physical and mental health in line with the trip in question. Customers must enquire about the physical mobility and psychological autonomy required for this trip.
All information is subject to change / Last updated: March 2025
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