Scandinavian Perspectives: 8-Day Tour Stockholm and Helsinki

Day by day

1. Stockholm

   Arrival at Stockholm Arlanda, pickup by your Romanian-speaking guide and private bus. Transfer to your hotel for check-in. (earliest check-in is at 15:00) Meals: X/X/X Depending on what time they arrive, we can add a panoramic tour here if they want. Lunch and dinner on your own. Optional Viking dinner at Aifur restaurant (this is quite expensive, but worth it) Overnight: Scandic Alvik or similar https://www.scandichotels.com/en/hotels/scandic-alvik#overview Bus: Airport transfer Guide: Airport transfer

2. Stockholm

   Scandinavian breakfast buffet at the hotel. Pickup from your private Romanian-speaking guide, transfer for a full-day city tour, including entrance and guided tour of the City Hall - Stadshuset is the seat of Stockholm's city government. The massive, fortress-like red brick structure is crowned with a tower and dome topped by the three golden crowns of historic Sweden. Your tour includes the Blue Hall, the venue of the annual Nobel Prize banquet, and the Golden Hall, with its enormous mosaic illustrating Swedish history. The tour continues with a walk through the historic Old Town, an exterior view of the Royal Palace and the changing of the guard. The tour will take you through Kungsträdgården, one of the oldest public parks in Stockholm. The name, which roughly means "The King's Garden," originates from the area's royal history. Between 1643 and 1825, it was the site of the magnificent Makalös Palace and a beautiful French garden. After Makalös burned down, the site was used for military exercises. Finally, in 1875, the park came under the care of the Stockholm City Council, which in turn opened it to the public. The tour continues to one of the most impressive stations in Stockholm, which is unsurprisingly also one of the most photographed: Kungsträdgården. Located in the middle of central Stockholm. The tour will end at your hotel. Lunch and dinner on your own arrangement. Overnight stay: Scandic Alvik or similar Bus: NO Guide: full day (on public transport) day transport ticket is included. B/X/X

3. Stockholm - Uppsala - Sigtuna - Stockholm

   Scandinavian breakfast buffet at the hotel. Pickup from your Romanian-speaking guide and private bus for a full-day tour to Uppsala and Sigtuna. Uppsala, the "Cambridge of Sweden," is a vibrant university town located 35 minutes by train from Stockholm. Students from all over Sweden – and from the rest of the world – swell the city's population during the semester, giving it a youthful, international character. No trip to Uppsala is complete without learning more about former resident Carl Linnaeus, one of the most famous botanists and scientists in the world. His legacy – floral and otherwise – spreads across Sweden and beyond. Today, B/X/X Panoramic tour past Uppsala University, a beacon of knowledge since the 15th century. Continue exploring the historical depths of Old Uppsala and the royal mounds rooted in Scandinavia's rich heritage. Back in the vibrant city center, iconic landmarks beckon, from the magnificent Uppsala Cathedral, the resting place of Swedish royalty such as King Gustav Vasa, to the imposing Uppsala Castle and its vast grounds. Entrance and guided tour of the Gamla Uppsala Museum. Walk among the ancient burial mounds and discover the rich stories of Viking life at the Gamla Uppsala Museum – a gateway to one of Sweden's most fascinating ancient sites. Lunch and dinner on your own. After lunch, the tour continues to Sigtuna. Sigtuna is Sweden's first city, filled with the country's oldest pedestrian street and the largest number of runestones in the world. (a great place to learn more about the Vikings) The tour ends at your hotel. Overnight: Scandic Alvik or similar Bus: 6 hours Guide: 6 hours

4. Stockholm – Drottningholm - Stockholm

   Scandinavian breakfast with Swedish buffet at the hotel. Pickup by your Romanian-speaking guide and private bus transfer to Drottningholm by public transport. (bus) Arrival in Drottningholm. The palace has been the permanent residence of the current royal family since 1981. The rooms in the southern part of the palace are reserved for members of the royal family. In 1991, Drottningholm was the first Swedish attraction placed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Enjoy the tour of the royal garden, included entrance to Drottningholm and a guided tour of the castle. Lunch and dinner on your own. Overnight: Scandic Alvik or similar Bus: NO daily transport card Guide: 6 hours B/X/X

5. Stockholm – Helsinki

   Scandinavian breakfast buffet at the hotel. B/X/D Pickup from your Romanian-speaking guide and private bus transfer for entry and guided tour of the Vasa Museum, the best-preserved seventeenth-century ship in the world and a unique artistic treasure. More than 98 percent of the ship is original, and it is decorated with hundreds of carved sculptures. The warship Vasa, 69 meters long, sank on its maiden voyage in Stockholm harbor in 1628 and was salvaged 333 years later, in 1961. For nearly half a century, the ship has been slowly, deliberately, and painstakingly restored to a condition close to its original glory. The three masts on the roof of the specially built museum show the height of the ship's original masts. Free time for lunch and shopping. The tour ends at the port. Departure by night ferry to Helsinki and Finland. A dinner buffet will be served on board. Overnight: inside cabins on Silja Line Bus: 6 hours Guide: 6 hours

6. Helsinki

   Scandinavian breakfast buffet at the hotel. Arrival in Helsinki, pickup by your Romanian-speaking guide and private bus transfer for a full-day city sightseeing tour, including Senate Square, Helsinki Cathedral, the University of Helsinki, Market Square, Uspenski Cathedral, Kaivopuisto viewpoint, Observatory Park. Continues with Sibelius Park with its monument, the Olympic Stadium, an exterior view of the National Museum and the Parliament, with entry to the Temppeliaukio Rock Church. Lunch at your own arrangement. After lunch, transfer to the beautiful city of Porvoo. Head east toward this medieval town, the second oldest in Finland, and learn about its 14th-century origins and the people who shaped it as you explore. Take a walk through the cobblestone Old Town and admire the 15th-century cathedral, the old Town Hall, and the traditional red-painted warehouses along the river. Before returning to Helsinki, enjoy some free time to stroll, relax, and perhaps buy souvenirs in the charming craft shops. The tour ends at your hotel. Dinner at your own arrangement. Overnight: Scandic Grand Marina or similar. https://www.scandichotels.com/fi/hotellit/scandic-grand-marina Bus: 7 hours Guide: 7 hours B/X/X

7. Helsinki

   Scandinavian breakfast buffet at the hotel. Pickup by your Romanian-speaking guide, on foot and by public transport. Suomenlinna is a significant monument of military architecture. B/X/X The construction of the sea fortress on the islands right next to Helsinki in the mid-18th century was the most extensive construction project during Swedish rule. When completed, its military shipyard was one of the largest dry docks in the world and centers of expertise at the time. At the end of Swedish rule, the fortress was compared to the sea fortifications in Gibraltar. The 250-year-old fortress, which has been preserved due to its military use, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1991. Bus: NO Guide: 4 hours, public transport and ferry tickets. Lunch and dinner on your own. Free afternoon. Overnight: Scandic Grand Marina or similar.

8. Helsinki – Home

   Scandinavian breakfast buffet at the hotel. Free morning Pickup by your Romanian-speaking guide and private bus transfer to the airport. Departure with flight TBA Bus: hotel – airport Guide: hotel – airport Scandinavian Perspectives AB B/X/X Stockholm office: +46 8 545 281 80 (open Monday-Friday 09:00-18:00, Saturday-Sunday closed) Emergency phone: +46 70 421 66 36 (outside working hours)* *Call our emergency phone immediately to report: flight/train delay or cancellation, inability to find the bus/driver, additional services not included in the itinerary, etc. Compensation cannot be provided if we are not informed.