Oslo, Stockholm and Copenhagen by Rail

Our Nordic adventure begins at London Heathrow* where we meet the Tour Manager before boarding our flight to Oslo. Nestled at the end of a fjord, Norway's capital is an innovative green city and is regularly praised for its stylish, modern architecture - although its long history is also prevalent in its churches, palaces and medieval fortress. With a centre that is becoming increasingly car-free with more large green spaces, it is pioneering a new future for Norway's cities.

On arrival at the airport, we transfer by efficient rail to our centrally located hotel near Oslo Central station and its historic cathedral. After checking in, we have dinner at a nearby restaurant this evening.

*Regional departures are also available on this tour, in which case you would be met on arrival in Oslo and taken to the hotel.

• Dinner

After breakfast we embark on a three-hour guided coach tour of Norway's capital. The exploration begins at the modern Opera House. The auditorium's angular exterior is covered with marble and white granite and, inspired by Norwegian landscapes, appears as if it is rising from the water. People are encouraged to walk on the building's slopes when the weather is appropriate, and those who do are rewarded with some of the best views across Oslofjord.

We also view the grand buildings of Karl Johans Gate, including the Parliament building, National Theatre and Royal Palace, before heading to Akershus Fortress, an imposing medieval castle that protected the city for much of the last millennium. Afterwards, we visit the National Museum, home to historic royal costumes and Edvard Munch's famous expressionist painting, 'The Scream'. With the rest of the day at leisure, you could take a cruise around idyllic Oslofjord, stopping to visit the museums of Bygdøy. This evening is free to dine independently, and you could sample some New Nordic cuisine.

• Breakfast

An early start after breakfast sees us setting off to Oslo Central station before a scenic journey through inland Sweden to its capital, Stockholm. From the comfortable seats of the high-speed train - which includes free Wi-Fi and a bistro car - we pass a wilderness of Sweden's vast pine forests, tranquil lakes and distinctive red wooden buildings as beautiful Nordic scenery passes by our windows. Our route winds alongside Norway's longest river, the Glomma, to Kongsvinter, from where we head towards the Swedish border.

Entering a land of picturesque lakes and forests, we skirt the banks of the vast Vänern, Sweden's largest lake, and travel across the heart of the country to its capital. Arriving in Stockholm in mid-afternoon, there is free time to get to know our new location. Our hotel is centrally located, close to leafy public squares and the main shopping area, including the pedestrianised Drottninggaten. We check in for three nights and head out for a three-course dinner at a local restaurant this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

We are introduced to the historic Swedish capital this morning on a guided walking tour of Gamla Stan, Stockholm's Old Town - one of the best-preserved medieval centres in Europe.

Walking along pretty cobblestone streets, we admire the Old Town's most notable sights, including the Storkyrkan Lutheran cathedral (entry not included) and the Royal Palace, where you may choose to enter. This sprawling, magnificent Baroque palace contains over 1,400 rooms and is the official residence of Sweden's monarch. We also visit the red-brick City Hall, a dominating landmark with a 347ft tower topped by three golden crowns.

Next, we take a peaceful cruise around the waterways and islands, seeing the city from a different perspective. Afterwards, we stop for 'fika', a Swedish tradition where friends gather for coffee and cake. A free afternoon and evening follows for you to explore and dine at leisure. Stockholm has a reputation for stylish and inventive cuisine including seafood and unique seasonal produce such as lingonberries.

• Breakfast

There is a full day at leisure today to explore Stockholm. The city is renowned for its engaging museums, many of them on the island of Djurgården. Those interested in Sweden's long seafaring history could visit the Viking Museum to learn about the notorious raiders. Nearby, the Vasa Museum displays a salvaged Swedish warship that set sail in 1628. The world's oldest open-air museum, Skansen, is a showcase of pre-industrial Swedish life, with idyllic wooden huts, churches, workshops and windmills dotting its parkland. One of Sweden's most successful exports is the Eurovision-winning and world-acclaimed pop group ABBA, formed in 1972. At the ABBA museum you can look through costumes and memorabilia relating to Agnetha, Björn, Benny and Anni-Frid, and could even sing along to ABBA karaoke.

For dinner tonight, you could look for iconic Swedish meatballs, or kjøttboller, served with mashed potatoes, creamy gravy, lingonberry jam and pickled cucumber. Stockholm also offers fantastic seafood, or you might be interested in finding the traditional Sámi dish 'renskav', a creamy reindeer stew with delicious lingonberry jam.

• Breakfast

Leaving Stockholm after breakfast, we travel by rail to Denmark. As our train makes its way out of Stockholm, glimpse views of the waterways and Gamla Stan before delving deep into the scenic Swedish countryside.

Picturesque red wooden houses, deep forests and peaceful lakes dapple the landscape as we journey through Sweden's atmospheric inland. On the approach to Norrköping look out for Bråviken, a shimmering inlet that spills out into the chilly Baltic Sea. On leaving Malmö, we cross the iconic Øresund Bridge that links the Swedish city with the Danish capital of Copenhagen. Completed in 2000, Europe's longest combined road and rail bridge featured in the 'Nordic noir' TV series, The Bridge.

Arriving in Copenhagen late afternoon we check in to our four-star hotel near the famous Tivoli Gardens. The evening is free to explore independently and, with a reputation for world-class gastronomy, Copenhagen offers many appealing restaurants to choose from.

• Breakfast

This morning, we get to know Copenhagen better on a guided tour of the city's most famous sights.

We visit the Christiansborg Palace, the seat of the Danish Parliament - which featured in Denmark's dynamic film series 'Borgen' - before arriving at the stunning Amalienborg Palace. This large octagonal structure is surrounded by four identical classical palaces - one of which is home to Denmark's monarch. We then head to the world-famous Little Mermaid statue, which honours Hans Christian Anderson's much-loved fairytale.

Afterwards, we board a cruise boat for a trip along the Nyhavn Canal, whose 17th-century waterfront has colourful buildings, bridges and historic boats and was once home to Hans Christian Anderson. Today the waterfront area buzzes with people relaxing at the restaurants and café bars.

The afternoon gives us free time to continue exploring and you could visit the Tivoli Gardens near our hotel. Opened in 1843, this magical theme park has enchanted countless visitors ever since, including Walt Disney. This evening, we meet up for dinner at a local restaurant.

• Breakfast, Dinner

On this tour of Scandinavia we have explored the highlights of three Nordic capitals. Starting with Oslo's striking Opera House we discovered the sights of Norway's capital, before travelling across Sweden by rail to medieval Stockholm and its beautifully preserved Gamla Stan. We sailed around Stockholm's archipelago for a different perspective of the city - as we did after crossing the Øresund Bridge to Copenhagen, viewing the pastel-hued buildings of Nyhavn Canal.

After breakfast there is a free morning in Copenhagen. We transfer to the airport in the afternoon, ready for our flight back to the UK. On arrival, your holiday reaches its conclusion and you are free to make your way home.

• Breakfast