The cuisines of Norway, Sweden and Finland possess many similarities yet retain their own gastronomic traditions inspired by the Nordic climate. Meat dishes mainly consisting of beef, veal and pork meatballs are one of the main elements of most Scandinavian dishes. Herring is also popular, as are other types of fish. Cooking is typically seasonal and uses a lot of mushrooms and berries. You will also find a large variety of vegetables (especially potatoes) featuring prominently in many dishes. Dairy products, including cheeses and creams, are heavily used here too.

Breakfasts are usually continental with a choice of eggs

Dinner is the main meal of the day; we usually stop en route for a hot lunch at a restaurant or cafe

Desserts are plentiful and varied with each country having unique sweets and cakes

The beer is renowned for its quality and taste, all countries visited on the trip also offer good wines and local spirits

Worth knowing

Ferry dinner: If you’d like the buffet dinner on the overnight ferry (Day 7), please book and pay for this in advance, preferably through your sales representative before the adventure begins, to ensure the best availability.

Vegetarians and other dietary requirements can be catered for, but there may not be the same variety as you have at home. Please advise us upon booking.

Meet your tour leader and fellow travellers at a hosted group dinner in Norway’s fjordside capital. Share a table, get to know the people travelling with you and hear what to expect from the journey through Norway, Sweden and Finland.

The gathering offers a Nordic welcome in Oslo and a chance to ask questions before exploring the region together. It is a social introduction rather than a formal sightseeing tour.

Explore Oslo’s bays and islands by boat, seeing the Norwegian capital from the water that has long shaped its character. Watch the shoreline unfold as the route passes sheltered inlets and islands within the Oslofjord.

This scenic trip reveals a quieter side of a busy capital: open water close to the city centre, with shifting views of its waterfront. It is a distinctive introduction to Oslo’s close relationship with the fjord.

Join a leader-led tour of Gothenburg and pause at Café Husaren for a traditional Swedish fika. The café is known for its oversized cinnamon buns; seating is not guaranteed, but the stop offers a taste of a cherished everyday ritual.

Fika means more than coffee and pastry. It is time set aside to slow down and talk, making this city tour a way to experience Gothenburg’s social culture as well as its streets.

Explore Vrångo with a local guide, discovering the beaches and protected nature reserves of the Gothenburg archipelago’s southernmost island. A ferry journey across the coastal waters brings you to a small island with a longstanding fishing community.

Walk through a landscape where shoreline and open sea are never far away. The guided visit offers a closer look at island life and the natural areas that make Vrångo a contrast to central Gothenburg.

Walk into Stockholm’s old town with your tour leader on an introductory city tour. Get your bearings on foot while taking in the capital’s distinctive setting of islands, waterways and historic streets.

Gamla Stan’s medieval street pattern provides a tangible link to Stockholm’s early history. This orientation is an opportunity to understand the city’s layout and atmosphere, with a knowledgeable leader to help bring the surroundings into focus.

Take a short ferry to Djurgården, Stockholm’s museum island, and visit the Vasa Museum. Stand before the remarkably preserved 17th-century warship that sank on its maiden voyage in 1628 and was raised from the harbour in 1961.

The ship’s scale and intricate decoration offer a close view of Sweden’s maritime ambitions. A morning museum visit is planned to help avoid the largest crowds at one of the country’s most popular historic sites.

Cruise through Stockholm on a scenic boat tour, taking in the inner city, the old town and Djurgården’s green shoreline from the water. The passing views show why waterways are central to the Swedish capital’s character.

From this vantage point, historic waterfronts and leafy parks form a panorama that is difficult to grasp from the streets alone. Sit back and watch the city’s architecture and island setting come into view.

Discover Turku with a local guide on a walk that takes in the Aura River waterfront and Old Great Square. Visit Turku Cathedral, one of Finland’s most significant historic monuments, and enjoy a guided tour of medieval Turku Castle.

These places trace the story of Finland’s oldest city through its religious, civic and defensive landmarks. The riverside setting ties them together, offering a sense of Turku’s longstanding role as a centre of trade and culture.

Sample beer at a local Turku brewery housed in a historic building, accompanied by your tour leader. A tasting offers an introduction to the city’s brewing scene and the character of beers made locally.

The experience also includes a typical Finnish meal, bringing regional food traditions to the table. Together, the tasting and dinner make this a chance to explore Finnish flavours in a convivial setting, rather than simply stopping for a routine meal.

Explore Helsinki with a guide on an orientation tour introducing the Finnish capital’s historic sights and food culture. Get a feel for the city’s streets and waterfront while learning how its past and present sit side by side.

Helsinki’s distinctive architecture and culinary traditions offer different ways into Finnish culture. This guided introduction provides local context and practical bearings for anyone keen to look more closely at the capital.

Take the ferry from Helsinki to Suomenlinna and explore the sea fortress spread across six islands. Walk among its buildings and defensive walls, with views back across the water towards the Finnish capital.

Construction began in the 18th century, and the fortress is now a UNESCO World Heritage site open to the public. Its extensive fortifications reveal the strategic importance of these islands in the Baltic Sea.

Relax in a floating sauna on Vrångo, surrounded by the waters of the Gothenburg archipelago. For those who wish, a dip in the sea adds a brisk contrast to the sauna’s warmth.

Sauna bathing is a familiar part of Nordic life, and this island setting gives the ritual a strong connection to the coast. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour, subject to local availability; payment is made locally.