Day 1: Start of tour in Amsterdam
Arrive in Amsterdam and get ready for 18 days of festive adventure! Meet up with the tour leader at the hotel this morning. The Christmas tour adventures begin with a trip to the gorgeous Dutch countryside. Visit a local farm and learn how Dutch cheese and iconic Dutch clogs are crafted. Afterwards, choose to continue exploring the Dutch countryside on the Volendam & Zaanse Schans optional excursion or return to the city. This evening, set out on a canal cruise of the city! Drift along Amsterdam’s picturesque canals and drink in the sights from the water as you hear interesting stories and facts from the onboard commentary. Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner before free time to explore Amsterdam’s festive atmosphere after dark!
Day 2: Amsterdam - Hamburg - Northern Germany
Wave Amsterdam farewell and travel to Hamburg. Settle in for a scenic drive through the countryside of the Netherlands and North-Western Germany. Arrive in Hamburg and get ready to do some exploring! At this time of year, the city is filled with glorious Christmas markets. Take some time this afternoon to explore the inviting stalls along the Town Hall Square. Grab a mug of glühwein, spiced hot wine, to warm your heart and body as you explore all the sights. This is where German Christmas spirit comes alive! After a few hours in Hamburg, head north to our hotel for the night.
Day 3: Northern Germany - Copenhagen
Cross the border into Scandinavia and travel towards Copenhagen this morning. Drive through forested Denmark and cross over Øresund Bridge - Europe's longest bridge! Today’s final destination is Denmark’s capital city, Copenhagen. Arrive and check into the hotel for the evening. Then, embark on an orientation tour with your tour leader. See highlights like the Little Mermaid statue and Rosenborg Castle and discover what makes Copenhagen one of the world’s most liveable cities! Afterwards, enjoy some free time to wander around Copenhagen’s beautiful Christmas market. Marvel at the twinkling lights, pay Santa a visit and indulge in delicious local festive treats.
Day 4: Copenhagen - Helsingør - Gothenburg - Oslo
Farvel Copenhagen! Get ready to visit three countries today: Denmark, Sweden and Norway! Set off at dawn towards the port town of Helsingør. Enjoy views of Kronborg Castle, the setting of Shakespeare's Hamlet, from the water aboard a ferry to Sweden. Back on dry land, travel from the port of Helsingborg through beautiful rural Swedish scenery filled with lakes and forests towards Gothenburg. Arrive in Gothenburg, Sweden’s second city and enjoy an orientation tour with your tour leader before finding a lunch spot. Then, cross the border into our third and final country of the day, Norway! Arrive in Oslo, the capital city. Discover the stunning scenery, cultural attractions and unique architecture with a free evening in the city.
Day 5: Oslo: Free Day
Grab some breakfast before joining a locally guided tour of Oslo! Norway’s capital city seamlessly blends modern city life with easy access to extraordinary nature. See some of Oslo’s top attractions such as Akershus Castle, the Royal Palace and the Oslo Opera House. Once the city tour is over, the rest of the day is free to spend however you wish! Get to know more about this captivating Scandinavian city on the Oslo optional excursion and see some of Olso’s top attractions including the Vigeland Sculpture Park, the Fram Museum and more! Alternatively, wander around and admire the architecture and enjoy the festive atmosphere. Be sure to taste some local cuisine for lunch or dinner, Norwegian salmon anyone?
Day 6: Oslo - Örebro - Stockholm
Say adjø to Norway as the tour returns to Sweden today! Travel through incredible natural beauty and diverse landscapes on the way. Drive through the city of Karlstad located on the shores of Lake Vänern, Sweden’s largest lake, before stopping in Örebro for some free time. Wander through the beautiful historic city centre, catch a glimpse of the stunning castle and grab lunch before hopping back on the coach. Next, the tour continues onwards to Stockholm, the capital of Sweden! Arrive and enjoy a walking and driving tour with a local guide. Tonight, enjoy an included group dinner in this incredible modern yet historic city.
Day 7: Stockholm: Free Day
Enjoy a full free day to explore Stockholm! Choose to learn about Sweden’s nautical history and enjoy a winter cruise on today’s optional excursion. A visit to the fascinating Vasa Museum and a sightseeing cruise around Stockholm’s inner archipelago are included in the optional. Alternatively, soak up the history in Gamla Stan or wrap up warm and stroll through one of the city’s many outdoor spaces. Be sure to try the local cuisine today. You’ll find many delicious options at one of the city’s Christmas markets! Get into the Christmas spirit, do some last-minute Christmas shopping or simply enjoy the festive atmosphere. Warm up with a glass of glögg, Swedish mulled wine, and gingerbread!
Day 8: Stockholm - Sigtuna - Helsinki (Overnight Ferry)
This morning, it’s time to visit another fantastic Swedish destination! Travel through the countryside to Sigtuna, Sweden’s oldest town. Arrive and enjoy an orientation tour to see Sigtuna’s highlights including Stora Gatan, Sigtuna’s main street. Afterwards, make the most of free time to spend as you wish. In the afternoon, get ready to travel towards a brand new country, Finland! Take an overnight ferry, enjoy a buffet dinner on board and spend Christmas Eve admiring the views from the water. Arrive and wake up in Helsinki, Finland’s capital city tomorrow, on Christmas Morning!
Day 9: Helsinki (Christmas Day)
Merry Christmas or hyvää joulua! Wake up in Helsinki, Finland’s gorgeous capital city and get ready for a festive Christmas Day on tour! After arriving in the late morning, set off on a city tour with a local guide. Discover the many architectural and design delights of Helsinki and see top attractions such as the Helsinki Cathedral and Senate Square. The afternoon is free to spend as you wish. Finns are a festive bunch and there will be an abundance of Christmas spirit in the air! Wander around and admire the creative Christmas decorations or visit a local Christmas market. This evening, look forward to a memorable, included festive dinner with the group!
Day 10: Helsinki - Tallinn
After making many festive memories, it's time to bid farewell to Finland and head to the Baltic States! Take an included transfer to the port, and board a ferry to Tallinn, Estonia. Cross the Gulf of Finland and arrive in Tallinn, Estonia’s magical capital. Transfer to your hotel and check in. Then, explore the city’s highlights with a local guide! Tallinn is one of Europe's most enchanting cities, with a strong medieval influence contrasting with its more modern buildings. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Tallinn’s Old Town offers intriguing history while also managing to be a shopper's paradise. See top attractions such as Town Hall Square, St Olav’s Church and the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.
Day 11: Tallinn - Pärnu - Latvian Military Cemetery - Riga
It's time to leave Estonia behind and travel to a new country - Latvia! Travel towards Riga, Latvia’s capital city. On the way, stop over in Pärnu in Estonia. Then, learn about a piece of tragic Latvian history at the Latvian Military Cemetery, dedicated to the soldiers who fought in WWI. Later, get ready to encounter all that the vibrant Baltic city of Riga has to offer! Drink in the buzzing atmosphere and energy of its citizens and admire its incredible Art Nouveau architecture. Embark on an orientation tour of Riga with your tour leader to seek out the city's most famous sights and landmarks such as its massive central market.
Day 12: Hill of Crosses - Vilnius
This morning, hit the road and travel to Lithuania. The first stop of today is the Hill of Crosses in northern Lithuania. This famous pilgrimage site features 100,000 crosses, the first of which were placed here in 1831 after a local rebellion. Continue on towards Vilnius, Lithuania’s capital city. Arrive and enjoy a brief orientation tour of Vilnius with your tour leader followed by free time to explore the city as you wish. The Lithuanian capital offers plenty to see and do - castles, cathedrals, churches, artist ghettos, and more!
Day 13: Trakai - Warsaw
Depart Vilnius and travel towards Warsaw in Poland today. Along the way, make a stopover at Trakai Historical National Park. Have your cameras ready to snap unforgettable photos of Trakai Castle, a 14th-century fortress in the middle of Lake Galve. Afterwards, hop back aboard the coach and travel onward to Warsaw. Listen in and look around at the amazing sites as your tour leader guides a driving tour en route to Warsaw. Arrive in Warsaw, Poland’s cultural hub which is an enticing and eclectic mix of old and new. Check into the hotel before grabbing dinner with the group at the hotel. Tomorrow the group will explore the old town - it’s set to be another bumper day of inspiring exploration!
Day 14: Warsaw: Free Day
Explore Warsaw’s charming Old Town this morning with a local guide. The Old Town is the beating heart of Warsaw. See the market square which dates back to the 13th century, admire the Royal Castle, the Presidential Palace and more. After the walking tour, make the most of your free day in Warsaw. Make your way to one of the city's epic museums - there are almost too many to choose from! Visit museums that exhibit the history of this incredible city. Wander around the Chopin Museum or the Museum of the History of Polish Jews. Marvel at the extensive collections of the National Museum. Visit the Royal Palace, and perhaps there’ll be a market or free music concert in Lazienki Park.
Day 15: Poznan - Berlin (New Year’s Eve)
Spend the last day of the year heading west to Berlin with a stopover in Ponzan, Poland. Take some free time to grab lunch in the historic old town of the coronation city of the early Polish kings. Continue on to Germany and bustling Berlin! Take an after-dark driving tour through the city upon arrival and see famous sights like the Brandenburg Gate and Checkpoint Charlie. Settle in at the hotel and get ready for dinner at a Bavarian-style beer hall in the city centre. Tonight it’s time to ring in the new year, German style!
Day 16: Berlin: Free Day
Wake up to a brand-new year in the heart of Berlin. Today is yours to explore as your wish. Lace up your walking shoes and go exploring on your own, or join the optional Berlin guided tour of the city. Your guide will lead you on a journey into the past to discover Berlin's most sought-after visitor destinations. Check out the Eastside open-air gallery along the Berlin Wall and make your way to the exceptional museum in the old Jewish quarter. There is so much to explore, and this guided trip of Berlin will make the most of your time in the city.
Day 17: Berlin - Amsterdam
Say Auf Wiedersehen to Berlin as the tour leaves Germany for the long trip back to the Netherlands. Enjoy the scenery as the coach travels through various landscapes. Later, arrive back in Amsterdam. After checking in to the hotel for the final time, choose to celebrate the last night of this magical and festive tour with an optional group dinner featuring delicious Dutch pancakes in a beautiful setting with all your travel friends around you.
Day 18: End of tour in Amsterdam
After an incredible 18 festive-filled days, your Northern Explorer Christmas & New Year tour comes to an end after breakfast today. Swap contact details with your new tour mates so you can share photos and memories after returning home! We hope to see you back aboard an Expat Explore coach soon!