Scandinavian Tales

Covering the city districts of Södermalm, Gamla Stan, Norrmalm, Östermalm, Kungsholmen and Djurgården each with its own special character, this tour gives an excellent introduction to the Swedish capital. Look forward to a stop at Fjällgatan with its impressive views of the city and medieval Old Town, “Gamla Stan”.

Continue past the Royal Dramatic Theatre along Strandvägen to the island of Djurgården, regarded as Stockholm’s amusement and recreation centre with great parklands and beautiful gardens. The island is also home to many cafés, restaurants and popular locations. Continue through Östermalm, a fashionable neighbourhood of stately apartment buildings, to the modern shopping and business areas around Sergels Torg. On the island of Kungsholmen view the City Hall, renowned for its architecture, mosaics and for being the site of the annual Nobel Prize Banquet. Proceed south via the Western Bridge to the Södermalm district before returning to your ship.

Additional Information

Please note: Most of the sightseeing on this excursion is from your tour vehicle. Further walking during your short stop is at your discretion.

Your tour begins with a scenic drive to the Polish Baltic Philharmonic concert hall. From here you can take in views of Gdansk Old Town. The city’s 1,000 years of history have left a rich collection of buildings and monuments designed in a splendid mix of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles.

Although the Old Town of Gdansk is not as old as it might seem, since over 80% of the buildings were rebuilt after the devastation of World War II, it has been completely and lovingly restored to its’ previous glory. Continue to Solidarity Square where you will pause to see the Monument to the Fallen Shipyard Workers. The monument provides a memento to the dramatic events from December 16th and 17th 1970, when 44 people died on the streets of Gdansk and Gdynia during the workers riots against the Communist regime. The three crosses symbolise three shipyard workers who died outside the shipyard’s gate.

Finally, arrive at Oliwa Cathedral – Located on the grounds of an old Cistercian monastery, the Oliwa Cathedral dates back to the 13th century. When the Gothic interior was extremely damaged in a 1577 fire it was replaced with the Baroque fixtures that we admire today for their beauty and intensity. The façade is a striking composition of two slim octagonal Gothic towers with a central Baroque portion wedged between them.

Additional Information

Please note: Due to traffic restrictions the coach is unable to drive through the Old Town. There will be a total of approximately 400 yards of walking during this excursion. You will be able to use the wc facilities at Oliwa Cathedral, but not spend time inside the cathedral.

A choice between two included excursions is offered during your visit to Copenhagen – please select your place on just one of these excursions. It is not permitted to book both option 1 and option 2 and doing so will result in the automatic cancellation of one excursion.

Begin with a stop at one of the most famous sights in Copenhagen: The Little Mermaid statue. This creation was completed in 1913 and was erected to express gratitude to Hans Christian Andersen for his well-known fairytales. Continue past Amalienborg Palace, home to his Majesty King Frederik the 10th of Denmark. Your guide will tell you about the palace and surrounding area, which has played a significant role in Danish history. You will also see the idyllic Christianshavn district. Finally, stop at the King's Garden which is set beside the Rosenborg Palace. Enjoy a short stroll in this delightful green area which is popular with locals and visitors alike. 

Return to your awaiting ship after your city exploration.

Additional Information

Please note: Most of the sightseeing is from your tour vehicle. You will spend approximately 30 minutes at the King's Garden. Walking of approximately 400 yards is required for a good exploration but this is entirely at your discretion.

A choice between two included excursions is offered during your visit to Copenhagen – please select your place on just one of these excursions. It is not permitted to book both option 1 and option 2 and doing so will result in the automatic cancellation of one excursion.

Explore Copenhagen by sea on this one-hour private canal cruise. Embark your canal boat together with your fellow travellers, just a short walk away from your ship. After safety instructions, set off on your cruise through the inner harbours and canals of Christianshavn with its picturesque old buildings. During your cruise, you will see some of the city’s major sights such as Holmen’s Church, the old naval base at Holmen and some of the interesting new experimental architecture along the harbour front, such as the new Royal Library. 

Also sail by Nyhavn, the colourful and lively waterfront district which was once the favourite haunt for sailors dating back to the seventeenth century. Today the canal district is lined with gabled houses, pavement cafes and bars and the fairy tale author Hans Christian Andersen lived at three different addresses along the Nyhavn canal. Try to spot the most cherished landmark of Copenhagen, the famous Little Mermaid statue, watching over the port of Copenhagen. 

End your cruise back at your starting point and walk back to your ship.

Additional Information

Please note: The distance to walk between your ship and the sightseeing vessel will depend on the mooring locations on the day. We estimate this to be approximately 300 yards in each direction with 14 steps to negotiate and you will need to embark and disembark the canal boat independently. Your sightseeing vessel has a covered top but with open sides.

Despite Gothenburg’s reputation for being very walkable, this excursion introduces you to the laidback city by tour vehicle, spotting several of its main sights. 

Begin with a short photo stop at the 17th-century Gustav Adolph Square, which features a statue of King Gustav II Adolf, founder of the city. Back on your tour vehicle, you then continue past the post-modern, angular opera house to arrive at ‘Klippan’, a once-bustling industrial district that is today a heritage centre. Learn about the old quarters of Majorna and Masthugget – where sailors and those working in the docks used to live – before spending some time to marvel at the view across the city: we suggest keeping your camera at the ready! Driving back to the city centre, you will pass Slottskogen, Gothenburg’s green and pleasant park. 

On your way back to the ship you will also see the famous ‘Poseidon’ statue created by Carl Milles, rising above the famous square known as Gotaplatsen. It is located at the end of ‘Avenyn’, Gothenburg’s main boulevard, and marks the end of this introductory sightseeing tour.

Additional Information

Please note: Most of the sightseeing is from your tour vehicle and any walking during short stops is entirely at your discretion. The order of this tour may change depending on traffic and timings.

Join a scenic tour of Skagen for an introduction to this idyllic town and the unique beauty of its protected landscape. 

Begin with a drive through the town to reach Grenen, a sandy spit on Denmark's northern tip, where two seas meet. Although your coach cannot reach the point to see the two seas collide, you will enjoy a short stop at Grenen, which provides the opportunity to admire Skagen’s natural beauty. Perhaps take a short stroll through the sand dunes and take in the coastal view or pick up a souvenir or refreshment from the small shop.

Continue to Old Skagen, where you will pass the fashionable seaside hotels and the characteristic yellow Skagen houses during a drive along the coast. Make a stop at the Skagen Harbour Hotel where you can look forward to a cup of coffee and a slice of the ‘cake of the day’. 

The excursion concludes with a drive through Skagen town and along the marina before ending back at the cruise pier. If time allows, you can choose to remain in Skagen town at the end of the excursion and return to the ship later using the complimentary shuttle bus service.

Additional Information

Please note: At Grenen, there will be a stop of approximately 30 minutes. Walking is at your discretion here and will involve uneven and sandy terrain and gradients. The small souvenir shop and WC facilities are easily accessible via a paved and flat surface.

Begin with a scenic drive through the town of Skagen and enjoy the picturesque setting with narrow, winding alleys framed by the characteristic yellow washed houses. Your first stop is at Skagen’s famous Buried Church. The church, named after Saint Lawrence, was roughly built in the second half of the 1300s and was the largest church in the region. During the 1500s, the sand drift period began and the sand reached the church at the end of the 1700s. The struggle against the sand drift continued until 1795 when the church was closed by royal decree. 

Today, only the tower of the ancient church is visible. Continue to Grenen, located at Denmark’s northernmost point. Here you will board the ’Sandworm’, a tractor pulled bus, which brings you to the uttermost point of Denmark where the seas of Skagerrak and Kattegat meet. Enjoy some time to appreciate this unique location as the tides collide and perhaps take the opportunity to stand with one foot in each sea. 

Finally, the tractor will bring you back to your coach for the return drive to your ship.

Additional Information

Please note: There will be a walk of approximately half a mile at the church. There are five steep steps with a handrail to board the tractor-bus. The tractor-bus ride can be quite bumpy. Further walking at the beach is at your discretion.

Skagen is a historic port, with red wooden warehouses along the waterfront and old wooden fishing boats that bear witness to its traditional way of life. A shuttle bus takes you from the ship into the old town, where a walking tour with a local guide introduces you to the architecture of Skagen. Stroll past the Skagen Museum, Michael and Anna Ancher's house and Brøndums Hotel, all of which are connected by the story of the world-famous Skagen Painters – an artists' colony in Skagen that flourished from 1830 to 1930 and produced some of the finest masterpieces of the Danish Golden Age. Hear about the hundreds of shipwrecks that have occurred off the coast, and walk to Beacon Hill to view the town's lighthouses. 

From here, your guide will lead you back via the pedestrian precinct to see Skagen's parish church, before returning to the port. Designed by the leading 18th-century Danish architect Christian Frederik Hansen, the present simple but attractive church replaced a medieval building south of the town centre that was abandoned in 1795 as it was regularly buried by drifting sand.

Additional Information

Please note: You should expect to walk up to three miles in total, and climb approximately 15 steps. A shuttlebus will be used for the transfer to the town centre at the start of the tour, but you will walk back to the ship.

Northern Denmark played an important role in Hitler’s huge defence system that was known as the Atlantic Wall. This tour takes you to some of the fascinating remains of this wall in the Skagen area, built to repel allied attacks.

Your first stop is at the Skagen Bunker Museum, where you can explore a genuine German wartime bunker, now laid out as a modern war museum. Inside the bunker, you will find a doctor’s surgery, military uniforms, weapons and much more. From here, a short drive along the east coast brings you to Bangsbo Fort. Part of a range of fortifications set up to defend Frederikshavn port, this fort is now a museum that shows how the soldiers lived while they were stationed here. After 1945 it was used by the Danish Navy during the Cold War. It has 80 separate concrete gun emplacements, many of which still have their original guns in place.

Before heading back to the port, you make one last stop at the Jutland Resistance Museum. This poignant museum tells the story of the Danish resistance movement and the everyday life of Danes during the occupation.

Additional Information

Please note: You should expect to walk approximately three-quarters-of-a-mile, much of which is over uneven ground and gravel, with occasional flights of steps. It will also be necessary to remain standing for extended periods of time while the guide gives a commentary.

Explore Skagen and further understand the unique and protected landscape that surrounds the town at Denmark’s northern tip. Begin with a scenic drive, passing the Hulsig Heath, a landscape internationally protected for preservation and one of the largest dune heaths in Europe.

Your tour continues to Raabjerg Mile, the largest migrating sand dune in Northern Europe. Originally, this dune was formed on the West coast in the 16th century. Enjoy a short stop here before you pass the seaside hotels of Kandestederne; here, the Danish author Karen Blixen worked on her famed novel ‘Out of Africa’. Then it’s time to head through to Old Skagen and pass by the fashionable seaside hotels and yellow Skagen houses.

Afterwards, your coastal drive will bring you to one of Skagen’s most popular attractions, the local art museum. Here, you will find a collection of art created by the artists who formed the colony named ‘The Skagen painters’ at the end of the 19th century. Enjoy an introduction by your local guide before you have time to explore the museum on your own. A highlight of the museum is the ‘Brøndum’s dining room’, the central gathering point for the artist’s colony, which they also helped to decorate. Finally, a short drive will bring you back to the port.

Additional Information

Please note: You will need to walk approximately 300 yards at the Raabjerg Mile. Walking at the Art Museum is entirely at your discretion but should total no more than 200 yards.

Travel south from Skagen to your destination, Voergaard Manor, an enchanting, moated manor house steeped in history, and home to priceless art treasures and royal antiques. Voergaard’s decoration and furnishings are just as its last owner, Count Oberbech-Clausen, left them.

It was he who created the large collection of furniture, antiques, paintings, porcelain and silverware from his possessions in France, including treasures from Louis XIV, Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette's personal effects as well as works by Rubens, Raphael, Goya and El Greco. The Count had made his fortune in France by marrying into wealth and inherited most of the manor house’s extensive art collection. Many of the items were previously owned by the French Royal family and were purchased following the French Revolution. Returning to Denmark in the 1950s, the Count bought Voergaard Manor and installed this extensive collection. In 1963 Oberbech-Clausen died and Voergaard was converted into a family trust, the aim of which is to preserve the building and keep the art collection open to the public in perpetuity.

Enjoy a guided tour of the manor with time to appreciate the vast collection. Afterwards, a scenic drive through the north of Jutland brings you back to Skagen.

Additional Information

Expect to walk a little under one mile in total during this excursion. There are two staircases to negotiate inside the manor and you will encounter some uneven surfaces throughout the tour. A good level of mobility is required to fully explore the manor house.

The Hanseatic city of Visby is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the best-preserved medieval cities in northern Europe. Travel by coach to the former medieval harbour of Almedalen, where you can enjoy views of the medieval walls, houses and church ruins of the old town.

You’ll continue your drive along the outside of the city wall to Galgberget, just north of Visby town. This high limestone cliff provides far-reaching views of the ocean and the outskirts of Visby. At the end of the cliff there are three stone pillars standing in a circle, which are the remnants of a gallows.

You’ll return to the centre of Visby and alight your coach for a short stroll. Cross the moat surrounding the town and continue through the Dalmans Gate to the viewpoint above St Mary’s Cathedral. If time allows you can explore this pretty area further. After returning to your coach, you’ll drive back to the ship.

Additional Information

Please note: There will be approximately 500 yards of essential walking, some of which will be on uneven and cobbled ground. At each stop you will have the option to walk further, but this is at your own discretion.

From the pier, travel south by coach towards the district of Roma, the sight of an old monastery ruin, and today also home to an open-air theatre. Here you will board a vintage narrow-gauge train. The old carriages take you through quiet pastoral scenery, passing through Tule and ending at Dalhem station. Enjoy a traditional Gotland speciality at the Old Railroad cafe, such as saffron pancake with cream and jam. Of course, a cup of tea or coffee will accompany your snack.

Rejoin your coach for the return journey to Visby, passing through coastal, agricultural and wooded landscapes. Back in Visby, before returning to your ship, enjoy a short walking tour to see the highlights of this medieval town. Walk through Dalmans Gate to the Cathedral of Santa Maria, built by German merchants in the late 11th century. Continue on foot through the main square to Almedalen, the old medieval harbour, where your coach will be waiting to take you back to your ship.

Additional Information

Please note: You should expect to walk approximately half-a-mile: the walking tour of Visby includes cobbled streets with multiple steps. As a result, this excursion may not be suitable for those with walking aids. The railway carriages are old-fashioned and are accessed by two or three steps. Station platforms are low and there may be a wide gap between the platform edge and the carriage door. Trains are normally hauled by a heritage diesel locomotive.

Gotland’s history is extensive, to say the least. Evidence of habitation stretches back to the Bronze Age, 3000 years ago, and beyond. Its past has been shaped by the unparalleled access to the Baltic Sea and Sweden’s mainland, as well as tensions rising between the powerhouse town of Visby and those living beyond its medieval wall. Embark on a tour that explores many of Gotland’s key moments in history, while also experiencing a Swedish everyday tradition – ‘fika’. As you leave Visby and enter the surrounding countryside, stop at one of the island’s many medieval churches. Continue to Gnivards Skeppssattning (Gnisvard’s Stone Ships), a bronze age burial site thought to date from between 1100 and 500 BC. The site consists of several upturned stones in the shape of a ship, to send the chief that is buried here on his voyage to the afterlife. 

After your visit to the stone ships, pass through Gnisvard, a fishing village established during the 15th century before arriving at Stelor Hotel for your ‘fika’ break. Taken literally, fika means a coffee and a cake break, but to Swedes, it’s so much more than that: it’s making time for friends while sharing a hot drink and something delicious to eat. On this tour, you will be treated to tea or coffee, accompanied by homemade buns in the garden or inside (depending on the weather) of Stelor, a renovated farmhouse. 

After perhaps realising the importance of fika, take a tour of Visby’s city wall, a UNESCO World Heritage site, built in the 13th century to protect citizens of the trading town from Gotland farmers, before returning to the port.

Additional Information

Please note: Expect to walk approximately half a mile in total during this excursion, with some cobbled and uneven ground at each stop.

A short coach transfer will bring you to the eastern areas of the walled city of Visby. From here, you’ll continue on foot across the bridge, through the Dalmans Gate into the UNESCO World Heritage city. The alleyways lead to a great viewpoint above the Cathedral, which offers a panoramic view over the rooftops, Sankta Maria Cathedral and across the sea.

Your walk continues downhill through winding narrow lanes, and passes church ruins and stately houses, before arriving at the ‘Big Square’ in the main street where you’ll hear about Visby’s history as a trade city. From here you’ll walk through the Fisherman’s Gate to the botanical gardens, which is famous for its variety of roses and rare, exotic trees that thrive here thanks to the mild climate. Your walk ends at the former medieval harbour of Almedalen, and a short coach transfer will take you back to your ship.

Additional Information

Please note: There are approximately one-and-a-quarter miles of walking on this excursion, some of which will be over grass, gravel and cobblestones with multiple steps to negotiate along the way. A good level of physical fitness is required to participate.

Often referred to as “the Beauty on Water”, Stockholm is perched at the estuary of the Baltic Sea and Lake Mälaren and is built across 14 islands and the mainland. Water plays an important role in everyday life in the city and a cruise along the waterways provides you with an alternative perspective to explore this.

Your sightseeing boat will take you under bridges and past many highlights of the city, including the Old Town and the Royal Palace, the National Museum and the Bay of Nybroviken with the Strandvägen boulevard flanked by boats, restaurants and cafés. On Djurgården island, you will pass many residential homes before disembarking your boat.

Then it’s time for a short walk to the Abba Museum, dedicated to the sights and sounds of Sweden’s most famous musical export. On arrival, you are free to explore the interactive exhibits at your own pace. Admire the glitz and glamour of the group’s stage outfits and step back in time to 1974 in Brighton, the location of Abba’s famous Eurovision win. You will have approximately one-and-a-half hours to spend inside the exhibition. Then, you make the scenic drive back to your ship by coach.

Additional Information

Please note: There are approximately 150 yards to walk from the pier to the boat embarkation platform. Please be aware that the boat does not actually enter Lake Mãlaren. Expect to walk approximately 500 yards at the museum. There are some steps but a lift is also available. A guide will accompany you on the boat trip and provide a running commentary. At the museum and on your coach journey, you will be accompanied by a tour escort, but not a guide.

Situated where the Baltic Sea meets Lake Mälaren, Stockholm is built across 14 islands and the mainland. Referred to as ‘the Beauty on Water’, its waterways play an important role in everyday life, which you can see during a sightseeing boat tour.

You will travel under bridges, and past many of the city’s highlights, including the Old Town, Royal Palace, the National Museum, the Bay of Nybroviken and the Strandvägen Boulevard, which is flanked by boats, restaurants and cafés. On Djurgården Island you’ll pass many beautiful houses as you make your way to the Vasa Museum, where you’ll disembark for a guided visit. Built as a symbol of Sweden’s naval power during the 17th century, the Vasa sank within one nautical mile of its maiden voyage. The ship remained undisturbed for more than three centuries, until amateur archaeologist Anders Franzen discovered waterlogged oak as he was dragging the harbour. The vessel was brought up from the seabed and is now on display in a multi-tiered museum.

Your visit will reveal more about what life would have been like on board, and how the ship was preserved. After your visit, you’ll return to your ship by coach.

Additional Information

Please note: There is approximately 150 yards to walk from the pier to the boat embarkation platform. Please be aware that the boat does not enter Lake Mälaren. You will need to walk approximately 500 yards at the museum. There are some steps, but a lift is available.

Discover a trio of Stockholm’s most popular locations, while connecting with the history, traditions and culture of the Swedish capital.

Begin with a scenic sightseeing drive as your local guide introduces you to Stockholm, before arriving at the beautiful setting of City Hall, nestled by the shores of Lake Mälaren. Explore inside with your guide and discover two of the most splendid banquet rooms. The Blue Hall is home to the yearly celebratory banquet of the Nobel Prize and the Golden Hall is renowned for its splendid gold mosaics. Returning to your tour vehicle, continue to Djurgården island, Stockholm’s recreation island and home to the Vasa Museum. Built as a naval symbol of Sweden’s 17th-century power, the Vasa sank within one nautical mile of starting its maiden voyage and remained undisturbed for 328 years. Today, this incredible vessel is fully displayed in a multi-tiered museum.

Begin with a guided tour and then enjoy some free time to browse the exhibits further at your own pace. Finally, a short drive brings you to Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s Old Town. Enjoy the atmosphere as you take a guided stroll through narrow, twisting alleys. Admire the historic Royal Palace, cathedral and colourful façades among other intriguing sites before returning to your tour vehicle and your ship.

Additional Information

Please note: This active excursion will involve approximately two-and-a-half miles of walking and extended periods of standing. You will encounter steps and uneven, cobblestone terrain in the old town. There are multiple steps inside the City Hall and Vasa Museum, however a lift is available. A high level of fitness and mobility is required to participate in this excursion.

Often referred to as ‘Beauty on Water’, and built across 14 islands as well as the mainland, Stokholm has embraced water as an ingrained part of its culture. A short stroll from your ship will bring you to your sightseeing vessel for a guided cruise along Stockholm’s waterways – where Lake Malaren meets the Baltic Sea. As much of Stockholm’s finest architecture faces the water, you can admire sights such as the cathedral and royal palace in the Old Town before gliding past the islands of Skeppsholmen, Kastellholmen and Djurgarden, home to the Vasa Museum and Grona Lund – a popular amusement park. This attractive area forms part of the city’s ‘Eco Park’, the world’s first Royal National City Park. 

Before returning to your ship, see the residential area of Hammarby Sjostad, providing a modern contrast to the historic Old Town.

Additional Information

Please note: Depending on the berth locations on the day, there may be a walk of up to 150 yards between your ship and the sightseeing boat, and the same on the return. Most of the seating on the boat is inside, but there are also a small number of seats in an open-sided section at the rear of the vessel. The boat has basic WC facilities and is not wheelchair accessible.

Drive to Drottningholm, located in a charming setting on an island in Lake Mälaren to the west of Stockholm.

Drottningholm Palace was the first place in Sweden to be listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, and is one of Europe’s most enchanting royal residences. It has been the permanent home of the present King and Queen of Sweden since 1981, and is just as impressive as Versailles or Nymphenburg, with its magnificent interiors and its formal Baroque gardens, mainly laid to lawn, with their statues and fountains. Built in the 17th century, the palace was perhaps the greatest achievement of the father-and-son architects, Tessin, and originally served as the summer residence for the Swedish court.

On this tour you visit the resplendent State Apartments and stroll through the French and English-style landscaped gardens.

Additional Information

Please note: There is an unavoidable 250-yard walk from the coach to the palace, and approximately 60 steps inside, with no handrails. Further walking in the gardens, along gravel pathways, is at your discretion. The palace may be closed by the authorities at any time without prior notice. This excursion involves a coach drive of approximately 45 minutes in each direction.

If you have been lucky enough to visit Stockholm previously, you may like to head outside of the city for a guided exploration of Sigtuna, the oldest town in Sweden. Founded in AD 980, the town was a royal stronghold for some 250 years and the first Swedish coins were minted here. St Mary's, built in the 13th century, remains largely intact. This Dominican monastery played an important role in Sweden during the middle ages, and provided the country with several archbishops and other important church officials. Sigtuna was still only a small town with a population of about 600 at the end of the 19th century, but since then its population has grown to about 8,500, mainly as a result of the development of Arlanda Airport, only ten miles away. Despite this increase in size, Sigtuna remains largely a picturesque medieval town with restaurants, cafes and small shops. 

On your tour you will see the red-brick Gothic St Mary’s Church, the ruins of St Olaf’s Church and Sorga Gatan, the old main street. Stroll along the delightful little streets with their wooden houses and shops, and see the town hall, the smallest in Scandinavia. A stop for refreshments is included at a cafe located in one of the town’s oldest buildings. You also have free time to explore on your own before heading back to the ship.

Additional Information

Please note: You should expect to walk approximately half a mile, partly on cobblestones. There are three steps at the cafe. Additional walking during your free time is at your discretion. The coach journeys between the port and Sigtuna take approximately one hour each way and both journeys are via the same road.

After a short coach transfer from your ship, join a small group exploration of Stockholm’s oldest and cosiest quarter, the Old Town (Gamla Stan). Despite its compact size, Gamla Stan is a bustling cultural hub filled with colourful buildings. Here, witness the historic elegance of the exterior of the dominating Royal Palace and enjoy a stroll along the narrow, twisting alleys and cobblestone streets. Experience the medieval intimacy of what is today a living historical monument of international renown. 

As you wander with your guide, savour the romantic atmosphere and sense of antiquity in buildings dating from the sixteenth to the nineteenth centuries with baroque doorways and regal coats of arms. See the historical Stortorget, also known as the Great Square and the hub of the Old Town. It is the oldest square in Stockholm and is dominated by the old Stock Exchange, now home of the Nobel (Prize) Museum and the Swedish Academy, whose members every year decide the laureate of the Nobel Prize for Literature. After your walk, return to your ship by coach.

Additional Information

Please note: Expect to walk approximately one mile along relatively level ground with some cobblestones. This excursion is not recommended for guests with limited mobility.

It is often said that the Stockholm Metro is the longest art gallery in the world. Replica statues and colourful walls flank long corridors connecting the 68 miles, featuring pieces created by 150 artists. During the 1950s, the everyday, mundane commute was transformed into a world of wonder. 

Today, explore this subterranean world for yourself, stopping at several stations along the way. Your guide will accompany you during your shuttle bus ride into the city, where your first destination can be found – Kungstradgarden. Here you will take the escalator down to the station hall and begin your underground exploration. 

After making several stops, arrive at Ostermalmstorg where, above ground, you will find the Östermalmshallen market hall – a gourmet treasure trove. Enjoy some time in the market before walking with your guide through the charming Östermalm and the bay at Nybroviken. You will then hop back onto the shuttle bus back to your ship.

Additional Information

Please note: You should expect to walk over a mile on this tour, across terrain which may at times be uneven. There will also be several steps to negotiate. The metro stations that you visit will be confirmed on the day of your tour. This excursion is not recommended for guests with limited mobility. As this excursion involves using the shuttle bus service, there may be a short wait to return to the ship at the end of the tour.

Turku, in the south-western corner of Finland, is the country's oldest city and the original capital. This panoramic excursion introduces you to Turku's highlights from the comfort of your tour vehicle, with little walking required. The name Turku originates from a Slavic word 'torg' – meaning a marketplace. The architect Carl Ludvig Engel introduced a new town plan and some stately buildings to Turku after most of it was destroyed during a great fire in 1827. You will see the Orthodox church, the Swedish Theatre and an observatory building on the Vartiovuori Hill. 

Turku is home to several theatres and hosts cultural events, including the Turku Music Festival and rock festival Ruisrock, which are among Scandinavia’s longest running music events. Pass by Turku Castle, a unique, grey stone fortress which has stood guard at the mouth of the River Aura since the 13th century. Then stop at Turku Cathedral, where you will have the opportunity to visit inside. This iconic Lutheran church was fully restored after the great fire and features impressive frescoes and three organs. 

After seeing the main sights of Turku you will return to the ship or, time permitting, you can remain in the city centre to explore further at leisure, returning to the ship via the complimentary shuttle service at your convenience.

Additional Information

Please note: Most of the sightseeing on this excursion will be from your tour vehicle. At Turku Cathedral there will be approximately 300 yards of walking, some uneven surfaces and up to 20 steps to negotiate.

As part of a small group, meet your local guide on the pier and begin with a scenic drive through Turku, Finland’s first capital, passing the most interesting sights such as the Rettig Palace, university of Turku and the city centre. Next, stop at Turku Market Hall and step inside for an introduction to Finnish food culture. Stroll with your guide through the alleys of the Market Hall while learning about the local food scene, pausing along the way to taste some delights. 

Enjoy some free time to explore the Market Hall further at your own pace before continuing on foot to visit Turku Cathedral. This iconic Lutheran church was fully restored after the great fire of 1827 and features impressive frescoes and three organs. After your visit, head on foot to a nearby cafe. This venue is focused on sustainability and reducing food waste and you can enjoy a local pastry and cup of coffee or tea. Finally, return to your tour vehicle for the short drive back to the ship, pausing en route to take in the view of Turku Castle.

Additional Information

Please note: This excursion will involve just over a mile of walking which will include some uneven surfaces in places and steps at the cathedral. You will enjoy some small food tastings, but not a full meal. The tastings will be dependent on the options available on the day, but may include local bread, chocolate, meat and cheese. This excursion is not recommended for guests with limited mobility.

Enjoy a tour of the highlights of Turku, Finland’s oldest city and the country’s first capital, and discover the national treasure of Turku Castle and Luostarinmäki Open Air Museum. Begin with a sightseeing drive, passing the Orthodox Church, the Swedish Theatre and an observatory building on the Vartiovuori Hill. Your tour will also pass Turku Cathedral, considered to be one of Finland’s most important religious buildings.

Continue to Turku Castle for a guided visit. This unique grey stone castle has stood guard at the mouth of the River Aura since the 13th century. The castle is part of Finland's national heritage and has witnessed many great events, including weddings, funerals and wars. During the rule of Duke Johan in the 16th century, the Renaissance King and Queen Halls were built, along with other features. See the prison cell where Duke Johan held his brother, the ousted King Erik XIV, and hear the story from your guide.

After exploring the castle you will visit the Luostarinmäki Open Air Museum. When the great fire of Turku destroyed much of the town in 1827, Luostarinmäki was spared, and the area remains in its original condition. The museum is comprised of around thirty workshops from the pre-industrial era. Enjoy a guided tour, visiting many of these workshops to learn about days gone by in Turku.

Finally, return to the port and your ship.

Additional Information

Please note: This excursion will involve approximately two-and-a-half miles of walking in total with uneven ground and multiple steps. You will spend approximately one hour at both the castle and the museum.

Departing from the pier by coach, begin with a scenic drive through Turku.

This historic city was the original capital of Finland, and your guide will point out many of the key sights including Turku Cathedral and Turku Castle. There will be a short stop at the castle to capture the view of this 700-year-old medieval monument. After hearing from your guide about the city’s interesting history, it's time to turn your focus to the maritime heritage of Turku and Finland. The Forum Marinum Maritime Centre is a lively and versatile centre for maritime activities and a cultural heritage preservation site. During your visit, step on board the Suomen Joutsen (Finnish Swan) – a full-rigged sailing vessel, and hear the vessel’s story during a guided tour around the ship. 

After a hot drink and a serving of the local ‘archipelago bread’ you have time to explore the maritime museum’s exhibitions independently before rejoining your coach for the return journey to your ship.

Additional Information

Please note: This excursion will involve just under a mile of walking for a good exploration of the museum. The visit on board the sailing ship will involve approximately 20 steps and a good level of mobility is required to access the ship’s interior.

Board a coach for the short journey to Ruissalo Island National Park, just outside the centre of Turku. On this tour you will become acquainted with the Ruissalo area, which incorporates both modern and historic sites, as well as the natural side of the island. Explore Ruissalo on foot with your guide and see the attractive wooden villas which are considered to be both culturally and historically valuable. During your time here, you will also visit the Botanical Garden of the University of Turku, where the outdoor plant collection comprises several thousand different species and varieties such as roses, meadow flowers, rock plants, water lilies and exotic trees and shrubs.

After experiencing the fine Finnish nature, you will stop at an old wooden villa where you can enjoy a local pastry and a cup of tea or coffee. Sit back and relax before travelling by coach back to the ship.

Additional Information

Please note: Approximately two miles will be covered at a leisurely pace. The walk will involve some uneven surfaces and gradients. This excursion is not recommended for guests with limited mobility.

Travel outside of the city of Turku to visit a private home and get up close to Finnish nature.

Stentorp is a small sheep farm not far from Turku, located on a hill beside the sea. The owners will welcome you inside their typically Finnish country home, a large villa with stables in the yard. The farm is home to sheep with wool of various shades of brown, black and white. The fine Finn-wool yarn is carefully uncoloured and prepared on the premises, without the use of chemicals. During your visit you will hear more about the wool production and general life on the farm. The owners will then give a sheepdog demonstration before inviting you back inside for a cup of coffee and a local pastry. You will be introduced to some of the handicrafts produced here, such as sweaters, hats and shawls, with the opportunity to purchase these if you wish. Then, rejoin your coach for the return journey back to Turku.

Drive through the city centre and enjoy a commentary from your guide as you pass the highlights, including Turku Cathedral and the Rettig Palace. There will be a short stop at Turku’s medieval castle to capture the view on your camera, before returning to your ship.

Additional Information

Please note: Expect to walk just under a mile in total at the farm, which will involve uneven terrain and several steps. Outdoor clothing and footwear are highly recommended. A good level of physical mobility is required to participate.

Step back in time on this captivating full-day tour from Turku to Old Rauma, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its charming wooden architecture, cobbled streets, and rich cultural heritage.

On arrival, join your local guide to walk through the historic alleys, passing the well-preserved wooden houses of Old Rauma. Your guide will share stories of the town’s maritime past, local legends, and centuries-old traditions that continue to shape the community. Visit the Marela Museum and explore the elegant 19th-century home of a wealthy shipowner. Marela offers a glimpse into bourgeois life in Rauma during its heyday as a bustling seafaring town.

In contrast, your next visit is to the Kirsti Museum which highlights the life of working-class townspeople. The museum is housed in a small, authentically furnished home that was home to generations of lace makers and sailors’ families. During your tour you will also step inside the Rauma Lace Society to learn about the town’s unique lace-making tradition. Enjoy a short demonstration and admire intricate handmade lace that reflects centuries of craftsmanship. Then, enjoy a hearty Finnish soup lunch at a cozy local restaurant, served with bread and a dessert.

After lunch, take some time to explore Rauma at leisure. Perhaps browse some of the local boutiques or simply soak up the peaceful atmosphere of this historic town. Finally, return to your tour vehicle for the drive back to Turku and your ship.

Additional Information

Please note: Expect to walk just over one mile during your tour with further walking at your discretion during free time. You will encounter uneven terrain and some steps at the venues. This excursion involves a coach drive of approximately one hour and thirty minutes in each direction. A light lunch is served during this excursion. Please advise the Explore Ashore team on board at least 48 hours prior to the excursion if you have a dietary request.

Your tour of Gdansk begins with a visit to the Gothic St Mary's Church, the pride of the city and the largest brick church in the world. With its 30 decorated chapels, ancient tombs and 15th-century astronomical clock, this medieval church can accommodate 25,000 worshippers. From St Mary’s, continue on a guided tour of the old town with its gabled buildings and quaint shops. During the walk, pass the Town Hall, Long Market and the 15th-century Palace of Artus Court, before pausing at the Neptune Fountain, a symbol of the town’s Hanseatic past. 

From here, continue to the European Solidarity Centre. In the 1980s Gdansk’s shipyard workers, led by Lech Walesa, created the Solidarity movement that led to the first cracks in the Communist regime. Learn about the history of Solidarity through the exhibits, including a Soviet-era prison cell and a typical Polish family living-room, shops of the period as well as original documents and posters. Following your visit, view the Solidarity Square Monument, dedicated to the events of December 1970.

Additional Information

Please note: You should expect to walk about two miles, with occasional steps in the Old Town. Upper levels of the European Solidarity Centre can be reached by a lift. Access to the church interior may be restricted in the unlikely event of our visit clashing with a religious service. The order of sites visited may vary. This excursion is not recommended for guests with limited mobility.

Begin this tour with a drive into the Polish countryside to the site of Stutthof Concentration Camp, which was opened on the second day of World War Two as the first concentration camp outside Germany. The camp initially consisted of eight barrack blocks for the inmates and a huge building for the SS. In 1942, the SS began to build a new camp: 30 further barrack blocks were constructed, and in 1943 the Nazis added a crematorium and a gas chamber. The gas chamber had a maximum capacity of 150 people at one time. The camp was not liberated until May 9, 1945. 

Following your visit, return to the city of Gdansk for lunch in a local restaurant, followed by a guided tour of the Old Town. See the Golden Gate, a grand ornamental archway that once allowed access through the medieval city's defensive walls. Pass the Town Hall, the Long Market and the beautiful 14th-century Artus Court. Stop to visit St Mary's Church, the pride of Gdansk. Situated in the centre of the Old Town, this medieval church took 159 years to build and its deceptively plain brick exterior hides a bright, spacious interior with large windows and more than 30 beautifully decorated chapels.

Additional Information

Please note: This tour involves walking approximately two-and-a-half miles, with about 15 steps and some cobblestones. Access to the interior of St Mary’s Church may be restricted if a service is in progress. Your lunch will consist of three courses and will include one glass of beer, wine or a soft drink. Dietary requests must be made to the shore excursion manager on board ship at least 72 hours prior to arrival. This excursion is not recommended for guests with limited mobility.

Gdansk is perhaps most famous to westerners as the birthplace of Lech Walesa’s Solidarity movement, and the shipyards are the most prominent feature of the city. Yet the city is so much more than a working port. Gdansk is a beautiful town of cobbled streets and graceful architecture reminiscent of Amsterdam, and walking through its historic district is like stepping back into the 16th century. This revealing tour starts with the Old Town, where most of the attractions lie and where history has left its mark. 

Pass through the Green Gate, a grand ornamental arch that leads to the Royal Way, which is lined with impressive buildings with elaborate façades. Admire the towering Gothic town hall, the beautiful Neptune Fountain and Artus Court - a great 14th-century hall that was used as a meeting place for the city’s merchants. Wander along picturesque St Mary’s Street, which is lined with 17th-century houses and quaint shops, and visit St Mary’s Church - the world’s largest brick church - which took 159 years to build. See the 30 beautifully decorated chapels, the 46 foot-high astronomical clock. A testament to the city’s shipbuilding industry is the 15th-century Zuraw Crane, the biggest medieval crane in Europe, which was used for installing masts on ships and for handling heavy goods. 

Your final stop is Oliwa Cathedral. A mixture of the Gothic and baroque styles, the cathedral is famous for its 18th-century Rococo organ. Enjoy a musical performance on the organ before returning to your ship.

Additional Information

Please note: You will need to walk approximately two miles on this tour, with a total of 13 steps. In addition, you will need to remain standing for quite long periods while your guide gives a commentary. Access to the interiors of St Mary’s Church and Oliwa Cathedral may be restricted if a service is in progress. Refreshments are not included during this excursion, but there will be some free time in the Old Town to purchase these. Alternatively, a packed lunch can be requested from the ship.

Begin with a drive to Gdansk Old Town where you will take a walking tour of the colourful streets- accompanied by a knowledgeable local guide. Although the Old Town of Gdansk is not as old as it may seem, since over eighty percent of the buildings were rebuilt after the devastation of World War Two, it has been completely and lovingly restored to its previous glory. To get a flavour of this ancient city, enjoy a guided walk through the old town at a leisurely pace. Upon arrival at the Neptune Fountain, the symbol of Gdansk, you will have some free time to explore further at your leisure. 

Finally, to see the city from a different perspective, take to the water on board a replica seventeenth century galleon. From your grand vessel, your informative guide will highlight such sights as the shipyard and Wistoujscie Fortress – a sixteenth century fortification. On arrival at Westerplatte you will disembark and return to your ship by coach.

Additional Information

Please note: You will be required to walk just under one mile during this excursion, much of which will be on cobbled streets. Further walking during your free time is at your discretion. Access to the Galleon is via a sloped gangway and there are multiple steps on board. This excursion may operate in reverse with the Galleon cruise first, followed by the old town walk.

Join an in-depth exploration through the farmlands of the tiny Baltic Island of Bornholm. Travelling by coach, enjoy the coastal scenery on route to Gudhjem – a charming old fishing village. On arrival here take a short stroll through the narrow winding streets. Continue across the island through one of the largest forest areas in Denmark, Almindingen, before making a short stop at Østerlars Roundchurch – one of the four round churches to be found on Bornholm. 

Next, make a stop at Hammershus, an old fortress ruin on the northern tip of Bornholm and the largest castle ruins in Northern Europe. The oldest part was built in the early 12th century to consolidate the power over the island held by the Archbishop of Lund-obtained through an agreement with the Danish King, Svend Grathe. Hammershus was rebuilt and expanded on several occasions. In 1743 the castle was finally abandoned as a stronghold. 

Finally, a drive along the western coast of Bornholm will bring you back to Rønne and your ship.

Additional Information

Please note: Expect to walk approximately half a mile during this excursion, some of which will be on uneven terrain. There are two flights of steps to negotiate at Hammershus. The order of visits of this excursion may vary.

Your excursion begins with a drive to the northwest tip of the Island. Here you will find the ruins of Hammerhus Castle, dating from the 13th century. Pause for a short stop and take in the fine view over the Baltic Sea before you continue to your next stop, the quarry of Vang. Granite has been quarried in Vang for more than 100 years and has supplied stone for German rivers, the Great Belt bridge connecting Denmark and Sweden, and the large expansion of Copenhagen in 1900. Today, the quarry has been transformed into a habitat, where birds are thriving, and visitors can enjoy the unique nature while learning more about the former industry of the island. Continue to Kultippen, a man-made landscape unlike any other on the island. Here, learn about how this area was formed as a result of coal mining nearby, almost a century ago.

After a short walk, continue to the middle of the island, where you will find Kræmmerhuset, a property with a unique history and delightful gardens. The building dates back to 1886 and once served as a school. It is surrounded by a unique old garden consisting of several sections. Today, the school functions as a place of craft and design, and the works are displayed throughout the garden. You have a chance to meet the owner and ceramicist Anina Kofod, who has created a beautiful little gem here. Browse the shop which is filled with local produce, before you reboard your coach for the journey back to your ship.

Additional Information

Please note: There will be approximately one mile of walking on this excursion, with some uneven surfaces at each location and some steps and gradients in the garden. A good level of physical fitness is required to participate.

See the sights of Bornholm from the comfort of your tour vehicle, with very little walking involved. 

Your tour begins with a drive through the capital of Rønne, perched on the shore of the Baltic Sea. This danish city is renowned for its yellow buildings of the Old Quarter, interesting squares and impressive nature. This route takes you northeast along the coast road where you’ll see how the coastline slowly changes from a flat sandy landscape in the south to the more rugged, rocky hills and cliffs in the north of the island. There will be a short photo stop at Hammershus Castle ruins, which date back to 1255 and are among the largest in Northern Europe. This medieval fortification was abandoned in 1743 and the oldest part was built to consolidate the power over the island held by the Archbishop of Lund – obtained through an agreement with the Danish King, Svend Grathe. 

Then continue along the east coast road, through charming small villages and towns before crossing the island to enjoy the farmland and the lovely drive through Almindingen, one of the largest forests in Denmark. It covers approximately 23 square miles, making it the third-largest forest area in Denmark with several marsh areas with rich plant and birdlife.

Additional Information

Please note: Most of the sightseeing is from your tour vehicle. Walking during your photo stop is at your discretion.

The island of Bornholm has battled centuries of extensive deforestation resulting in a grassy heath for grazing livestock up until 1800; after which trees were planted and the forest re-grown. Today, it covers approximately 23 square miles, making it the third-largest forest area in Denmark with several marsh areas, rich with plant and bird life. Travel by coach from the pier to Rytterknaegten in Almindingen – the highest point on Bornholm. The coach parks close to the viewing tower “Kongemindet” – a 72-foot-high observation tower built in honour of King Frederik VII. You can climb the tower to enjoy great views of the island.

Your walk then takes you through scenic landscapes to Ekkodalen, Echo Valley; it is the biggest and longest rift valley in Denmark, formed by ancient tectonic forces that split the rock apart and formed a valley. Listen for the nightingale and other members of the plentiful bird population and enjoy the lush scenery of this recreational area, now with many nature trails.

You then take a short coach ride to one of the famous Round Churches of Bornholm which are completely circular and also served as defensive structures in uncertain times during the eleventh and twelfth century. After, return by coach to the pier.

Additional Information

Please note: Expect to walk approximately three miles during this excursion, some of which will be over uneven ground. A good level of physical fitness is required to participate in this excursion.

The island of Bornholm has a thriving culinary scene, and this excursion introduces you to some of its produce. Begin with a scenic drive to reach Svaneke. This town, named after a swan, is said to be the culinary capital of the island, and among others is home to chocolate, ice-cream and caramel makers. Enjoy a stroll as your guide points out the many shops in the city square before you enter the local brew house. Sample some beer and learn more about the local production process. 

Return to your coach for a short drive along the coast to your next stop, at Denmark’s first organic sea buckhorn plantation. The venue is called HØSTET, which translates as harvested, and the owners Camilla and Mads pride themselves on clean ingredients and great taste. The delicious items produced here include a sea buckthorn marmalade, which pairs well with cheese or bread, a juice drink and a sea buckthorn gin. See the plantation that has grown to approximately 3500 plants, sample some of the sea buckthorn products, and hear about how the couple moved from a town north of Copenhagen to start a new life on Bornholm. 

After this personal tour and tasting experience it's time to head back to Rønne.

Additional Information

Please note: Expect to walk approximately one mile during this excursion, with some uneven surfaces, especially in the natural environment of the plantation.

Set off from your ship on foot to explore Rønne, passing through the industrial and new area of the harbour as your guide explains its importance. Continue along the narrow streets and hear about the city’s liberation after World War Two. A highlight of your tour will be Erichsens Gård, a well-preserved timber-framed building from the 19th century. It was once an old merchant house that was home to Thomas Erichsen, his wife Michelle, and their 12 children, and the house often appears in Danish art and literature as one of Erichsen’s daughters became the muse for poet Holger Drachman and painter Kristian Zahrtman. 

Enjoy a visit to the house and explore the garden before heading to the city centre where you can choose to take the coach back to the ship or explore independently.

Additional Information

Please note: Your walk will cover approximately two-and-a-half miles and will involve some cobbled surfaces and steps. This excursion is not recommended for guests with limited mobility.

The city of Copenhagen is filled with wonder: from enchanting tales to military symmetry and historical architecture. Begin your walking tour with a photo stop at the Little Mermaid – Copenhagen’s cherished landmark, based on the Hans Christian Andersen story. Hear how her sacrifice to become a human cost her almost everything. Despite the story’s sadness, the city’s mermaid continues to welcome visitors to Copenhagen. 

Continue along the waterfront to Gefion Fountain – a tiered water feature portraying the story of Gefion, the fabled creator of Zealand. Continue to Nyhaven, a colourful district full of Renaissance architecture. Your walk then brings you to Amalienborg Palace, the home to his Majesty King Frederick the 10th of Denmark. Your guide will tell you the story of the palace and the surrounding area that has played a significant role in the Danish history. 

Finally, take a leisurely walk back to the ship.

Additional Information

Please note: As this is a walking tour there will be extensive periods of standing and walking. You should expect to walk at least three miles on this tour. No inside visits are included during this excursion. This excursion is not recommended for guests with limited mobility.

This scenic tour takes you to Dragoer, one of Denmark’s oldest and quaintest fishing villages. Set on Amager Island and lapped by the blue waters of the Øresund, Dragoer is well preserved and has retained its historic character due to the fact that conservation work was started as long ago as 1934.

In 1968, parking was prohibited in the entire old district, and in 1978 Dragoer became Denmark’s first ‘pedestrian town’, which is now protected by a local preservation plan. Historically, Dragoer was once an international trading post for Hanseatic merchants, and it became a thriving fishing port during the 16th and 17th centuries.

After the herring industry dwindled, the town survived as a major centre for shipping, and is now a friendly place with a fascinating history. Your guide will take you on a leisurely stroll through the cobbled back streets to the bustling harbour.

Then you have free time to explore: look around the village, browse for souvenirs in some of the small handicraft shops that line the main street or admire views of Øresund Bridge, which has connected Copenhagen with the Swedish town of Malmö since the year 2000.

Refreshments will be served at a hotel by the harbour before you travel back to Copenhagen and your ship.

Additional Information

Please note: You will need to walk approximately three-quarters-of-a-mile on this excursion, partly along cobbled streets. There are six steps to access the refreshment venue.

Leaving the quayside, you travel from Denmark to Sweden by crossing the Øresund Strait, which forms the border between the two countries.

Before making the crossing, a short stop allows you to capture photos of this impressive construction. It is the longest combined road and rail bridge in Europe. Apart from the main cable-stayed bridge, which is about six miles long, the crossing also includes a two-and-a-half-mile tunnel and an artificial island called Peberholm, which has an area of 325 acres.

After a drive of approximately one hour, you reach Malmö. The city has a wonderful contrast of old and new and your visit here will introduce both sides. Stop to take in the view of the towering Twisted Torso skyscraper, which stands beside the waterfront, and then enjoy a short city tour on your coach.

Afterwards, you have some free time to visit Malmö’s main square, Stortorget, and the picturesque, cobbled Lilla Torg or Little Square. Finally, return across the Øresund Bridge to Copenhagen.

Additional Information

Please note: This tour involves minimal essential walking, as most of the sightseeing will be from the coach. Walking during your free time in Malmö is at your discretion. You should note that there are some cobbled streets in Malmö. Please bring your passport, as you will be crossing an international boundary and there may be a check at the frontier.

Visit two historic but contrasting attractions during your time in the Danish capital. Begin with a visit to Christianborg Palace and enjoy a guided tour inside. It is the only building in the world to be the seat of all three supreme powers of a nation: the executive, the legislative, and the judicial. A visit is made to the Royal Reception rooms, used by the Danish Queen for entertaining VIP visitors and foreign heads of state. Of special interest are the tapestries, given to the Queen on her 50th birthday in 1990, to decorate the large banqueting hall.

Then continue to the world-famous Tivoli Gardens, which opened in 1843 as an amusement park and continues to wow visitors today. Take a guided stroll through the park before some free time to further explore at your leisure. See the 1914 wooden rollercoaster – still operated by a ‘brake man’ – or pass along ‘The Alley’, styled on a fantasy Danish market town. Alternatively, you may decide to admire the flower gardens or purchase a coffee and traditional Danish pastry.

On your drive back to the cruise pier, you will also have the opportunity to see the most cherished landmark of Copenhagen, the famous Little Mermaid statue, watching over the port of Copenhagen.

Additional Information

Please note: During the visit to Christianborg Palace, you should expect to walk approximately 600 yards and negotiate 80 steps. The palace is not wheelchair accessible. In Tivoli Gardens there will be approximately 200 yards of essential walking with further walking at your discretion. Access to rides and amusements inside Tivoli are not included in the price of this excursion. You will spend approximately one-and-a-half at Tivoli Gardens.

Begin your tour with a short coach drive to Kungsportsplatsen where you will embark one of the characteristic flat-bottomed boats known as ‘Paddans’ for a fifty-minute cruise around the city’s network of canals. These canals are reminiscent of the moats that surround castles and were constructed by Dutch engineers in the seventeenth century. The boat accommodates over 80 passengers and cruises past the sights of Lejontrappan, Lilla Bommen and Fiskekyrkan. See the old shipyards and fishing port, and pass under the notorious low bridge known as the ‘cheese slicer’ when you leave the canal system for a short cruise into Gothenburg Harbour, the largest in Sweden.

A local guide will provide an intriguing commentary during your journey. From the harbour your canal boat takes you back to the city centre. You then continue to the attractive Botaniska Trädgården – Gothenburg's Botanical Gardens, where you join your guide for a walk. Formerly a forest surrounding a castle, the park was created by August Kobb in the 1880s and has mature linden, oak, ash, maple and cypress trees, a rhododendron valley and a tropical greenhouse.

Additional Information

Please note: There are approximately three steps up and three steps down when embarking and disembarking the canal boat. The boat will be uncovered and regrettably is not wheelchair accessible. Expect to walk at least 400 yards in the Botanical Gardens, where you will be on your feet for about 45 minutes.

Begin your tour with a short coach drive to Kungsportsplatsen where you will embark one of the characteristic flat-bottomed boats known as ‘Paddans’ for a 50-minute cruise around the city’s network of canals. These canals are reminiscent of the moats that surround castles and were constructed by Dutch engineers in the seventeenth century.

The boat accommodates over 80 passengers and cruises past the sights of Lejontrappan, Lilla Bommen and Fiskekyrkan. See the old shipyards and fishing port, and pass under the notorious low bridge known as the ‘cheese slicer’ when you leave the canal system for a short cruise into Gothenburg Harbour, the largest in Sweden. A local guide will provide an intriguing commentary during your journey. From the harbour your canal boat takes you back to the city centre.

You then continue to Haga, a district renowned for its picturesque wooden houses and nineteenth-century atmosphere. Originally a working-class suburb, this district has gradually been transformed into a popular tourist destination, and many of its buildings were renovated or rebuilt in the 1980s. Enjoy a guided walking tour of Haga, before returning to your ship.

Additional Information

Please note: There are approximately three steps up and three steps down when embarking and disembarking the canal boat. The boat will be uncovered and regrettably is not wheelchair accessible. Expect to walk approximately 350 yards at Haga, including some over cobbled streets and slight inclines.

Your tour starts with a coach journey to Masthuggs Church, where you have a fine view over Gothenburg and its port. From here you drive to a tram stop for a fun ride in one of the city's historic museum tramcars. Gothenburg has a famous network of trams that covers most of the city. With almost 100 miles of track, it is the largest light rail network in Scandinavia. During the one-hour tram ride, your guide will point out the highlights as you pass through the city centre.

Returning to your coach, you drive past Götaplatsen, with the famous Poseidon Fountain, by Carl Milles, and also view the Museum of Fine Arts, the concert hall and the municipal theatre. Drive along Avenyn, the main street and the Grand Boulevard of Gothenburg with its large number of restaurants, bars and shops. See the city hall, the courthouse and the stock exchange at Gustaf Adolf Square, and drive past the very famous fish market. Reaching the historic Haga quarter, join your guide on a short walk through this pretty district, known for its picturesque cafes. Enjoy a cup of coffee or tea and a pastry at one of them before rejoining your coach and travelling back to the pier.

Additional Information

Please note: This excursion involves walking at least 350 yards, partly over cobblestones and slight inclines. The tram offers an authentic vintage transport experience, and is accessed by two quite high steps.

Enjoy a tour to Gothenburg’s beautiful northern archipelago. Öckerö municipality is spread over ten islands situated only 25 minutes from Gothenburg City, and is connected to the mainland only by ferry. Öckerö is the municipality’s maritime centre, where fishing boats and boathouses abound. The archipelago is noted for its Arctic flora, ancient remains and stunning views of the sea, beautiful harbours and delightful fishermen's huts. 

Your tour begins with a scenic drive to Lilla Varholmen, followed by a short ferry crossing. Take a tour of charming Öckerö and Hälsö, stopping to visit the old church at Öckerö that dates back to the Middle Ages. Enjoy a visit to a local folklore centre, where you enjoy coffee and pastries before leaving Öckerö for the islands of Fotö and Hönö, which are connected to Öckerö by road bridges. As you cross between the islands, look out of the window for an extensive view of the whole archipelago. Once on Hönö, join your guide for a walking tour of the island's main settlement, a typical old fishing village where fishermen's huts are nestled beneath granite cliffs.

Rejoin your coach after the walk and head back to the ship, with a short ferry crossing back to the mainland.

Additional Information

Please note: You should expect to walk approximately one mile, over surfaces that may be rough and uneven. Views will depend on the weather. This excursion is not recommended for guests with limited mobility.

Step on board your sightseeing boat, exclusively chartered for Saga guests, and head out into the Gothenburg Archipelago. Approximately 20 large islands and many more uninhabited islands make up the Southern Archipelago. Each island is completely car free with the permanent residents riding around on golf carts and bicycles.

Shortly after departing Gothenburg port, you will pass the landmark of Älvsborgs fortress, located at the entrance to the harbour. See the islands of Vrångö, Styrsö and Brännö – each with the typical West Coast features of a rocky coastline and quaint red wooden houses. During your cruise, your guide will tell you stories about these islands and introduce you to the local way of life here.

Continue towards Vinga island, at the western tip of the archipelago and the location of a locally famous lighthouse. Nearby, you may be lucky to see a colony of seals basking on the rocks. Afterwards, enjoy a cup of coffee and a sweet pastry as you return to Gothenburg and your ship.

Additional Information

Please note: This excursion takes place on a sightseeing vessel with a capacity for approximately 75 passengers. Expect to walk up to 200 yards in each direction between your ship and the sightseeing vessel. There may be some steps or a slopped gangway to embark and disembark and further steps to the upper deck. Wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed.