Denmark/Norway/Sweden/Finland
Four Nordic Capitals
Program No. 3332RJ
Discover the secrets of Europe’s most northern cities, diving deep into culture, art and the traditions of Scandinavian design.
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18 days
17 nights
42 meals
16B 13L 13D
1
In Transit to Program
In Flight
3
Danish Design, Christmas Dinner
Copenhagen
4
Christiansborg, Harbor Exploration, Tivoli
Copenhagen
5
Denmark's Golden Age, Nyhavn
Copenhagen
6
Kronborg Castle
Ferry
10
Transfer to Stockholm
Stockholm
11
Vasa Ship Museum
Stockholm
13
Drottningholm Palace
Stockholm
14
Abba Museum, Swedish Fika
Cruise ship
16
Musiikkitalo
Helsinki
At a Glance
With a midsummer sunrise at 3 a.m. and winter days lit by thousands of candles, Scandinavia keeps its own time and seasons. Experience the unique pace of the Nordic lifestyle in the four capital cities of Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm and Helsinki. Learn about their distinct histories, languages, cuisines and artistic traditions as you study alongside local experts in museums, palaces and energetic neighborhoods.
Activity Level
Varies by date
Walking up to 3 miles daily.
Please note that the Activity Level for this program varies by date. Please make sure that you are attending a departure date that best fits your activity level.
On Your Feet departures will include additional coach transfers to and from some meals and activities. Please see itinerary for details.
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Embark on two overnight voyages of Scandinavia.
- Taste a traditional Danish Christmas dinner of pork, potatoes, cabbage and rice pudding.
- Enjoy musicians playing the Finnish kantele.
Suggested Reading List
(19 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Four Nordic Capitals
Program Number: 3332
Cross and Scepter
From the Vikings to the Reformation, Sverre Bagge spends little time with myths in his scholarly Scandinavian history, instead focusing on the development of northern European societies and their rise from the Dark Ages.
Letters on Sweden, Norway, and Denmark
Groundbreaking feminist Wollstonecraft records her observations of a late 18th-century journey through Scandinavia in this small masterpiece, rich in detail of people and place.
The Naked Shore, Of the North Sea
Journalist Blass travels by ferry, tram and airplane to the borderlands of the North Sea, seeking out the men and women who have devoted their lives to studying the mysteries of the inclement sea.
Helsinki, A Cultural and Literary History
A literary guide to Helsinki, its history and culture, organized into three sections: city of architects and engineers; city of music and arts; and city of hospitality. With maps and black-and-white illustrations.
The Nordic Theory of Everything: In Search of a Better Life
An emigrant to America from Finland, Anu Partanen compares and contrasts America with Scandinavia, debunking myths about socialism as she compellingly argues that the US would benefit from the Nordic approach.
The Vikings, Lords of the Seas
An indispensable reference that fits in your pocket, this slim volume is packed with maps, archival photos and illustrations.
We Die Alone
Howarth's riveting account of determination and valor in Nazi-occupied Norway follows Jan Baalrud's extraordinary escape by ski across the Lyngen Alps.
Norwegian Folk Tales
This rich collection of stories, interpreted by a leading scholar on ancient traditions and tales, will delight both adults and children.
A History of Scandinavia: Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland
The story of Scandinavia from prehistory to the present with chapters on the Viking and Lutheran kingdoms, medieval times, monarchies, the World Wars and modern period, emphasizing the common cultural, political and social backgrounds.
The Almost Nearly Perfect People, Behind the Myth of the Scandinavian Utopia
Guardian journalist Booth writes with laugh-out-loud humor and brutal candor about the Scandinavians, mixing history and his own experiences in Nordic regions in this searing cultural portrait.
Penguin Historical Atlas of the Vikings
This history of the Vikings tells their story through a series of innovative maps and excellent photographs. It traces the routes of 9th-century Viking merchants and explorers throughout Europe and the New World.
The Northmen, The Viking Saga
Viking historian John Haywood delves into the Vikings’ age of expansion (793 CE -1241 CE). His magisterial chronicle answers myriad questions about the Vikings, their technology, their society and why it went into decline.
The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living
Why are the Danes so happy? Some contribute it to the emphasis on the sense of comfort and community known as Hygge (pronounced hoo-ga). Wiking teaches readers about this national philosophy with practical, attainable suggestions of how to incorporate hygge into everyday life.
The Summer Book
A modern Scandinavian classic, Jansson's sweet, slender novel follows a young girl and her grandmother as they while away a summer on a tiny island in the Gulf of Finland.
Scandinavia Map
With an index, area maps and a table of driving times and distances, this handy, frequently updated map covers all of Scandinavia, including Finland, at a scale of 1:1.5 million on one side of the sheet.
Growth of the Soil
The epic tale of a homesteader in the mountainous Norwegian interior, which helped win Hamsun a Nobel Prize in 1920.
Insight Guide Scandinavia
From Denmark to Sweden, Norway and Finland, this guide introduces the region with outstanding color maps and photographs.
Stockholm, A Cultural History
A literary, cultural guide to the art, architecture, traditions and history of Stockholm.
Vikings, The North Atlantic Saga
An extensively illustrated volume of Viking culture, history and exploration that focuses especially on voyages to North America. Published in conjunction with a Smithsonian exhibit, it features essays and 400 color photographs.
