11-Nights Country Roads of Scandinavia - Classic Group

Ulvik

Deep in the narrow Ulvikfjord of Norway is the beautiful, quaint town of Ulvik. The lush green landscape surrounding the town is caught between the blues of the sky and sea - making it a perfect spot to relax and have a quiet lunch.

Copenhagen

Wonderful Copenhagen is a city of bridge-spanned canals, copper-roofed buildings and manicured parks. This famous Baltic seaport is one of Europe’s loveliest capitals and the seat of the oldest monarchy in the world. Copenhagen is a focus for commerce, culture, industry and cosmopolitan atmosphere. The locale of Hans Christian Andersen’s enchanting tale of The Little Mermaid, Copenhagen is known as Denmark’s fairy-tale city. Its impressive theaters, museums and churches are of interest to many visitors; the best-loved attractions include the world-famous Tivoli Gardens, the Langelinie Harbor with its Little Mermaid statue and the busy shopping promenade known as Strøget.

Odense

Odense, on the island of Fyn (Funen in English), is often called the "Garden of Denmark" and is where Hans Christian Andersen lived. The easy drive to Odense, 90 mi/140 km southwest of Copenhagen, reveals beautiful rolling hills and blue lakes, and it takes you across the relatively new Storebaeltsbroen—at 13 mi/21 km, it's one of Europe's longest bridges.

Andersen's childhood home is in Odense, and there's a museum with many of his letters, manuscripts and personal items. Next to the original museum, you'll find a children's activity house named Fyrtoejet (The Tinderbox), where children can engage in such activities as drawing, face painting, acting, music making and storytelling, as well as listen to fairy tales. All activities are organized around a specific theme, usually drawn from one of Andersen's stories. Every summer, the city holds a festival in his honor, which includes open-air performances of his fairy tales.

Other sights around town include Gothic-style St. Canute's Cathedral (named after King Canute, who was murdered by discontented subjects in 1086), a castle (formerly the monastery of a medieval order of chivalry), a university and a railroad museum with old engines and coaches once used by the royal family.

Much of the area looks as it did hundreds of years ago, with cobblestoned streets, shuttered windows and flower boxes. Spend some time relaxing in the outdoor cafes and watching the musicians and street performers (in summer only).

While you're on the island, spend at least a couple of hours at Den Fynske Landsby (a re-creation of an 18th-century Danish village) and visit well-preserved Egeskov Castle (moat and gardens with concerts in the summer, as well as a vintage car museum next door) and the beautiful seaport of Svendborg (walk along the harbor and eat at one of the seafood restaurants).

A number of picturesque islands and towns can be reached from Svendborg by ferry, including Aeroe, with its main town, Aeroeskoebing, and Kerteminde, a charming town northeast of Odense that was once the home of African-American painter William H. Johnson and his wife, Danish weaver Holcha Krake.

If Viking sites interest you, spend some time at Ladby Ship (a burial site 10 mi/16 km east of Odense). You can rent bicycles in Odense—the city itself is very flat. We suggest a long day, at the very least, to see everything in the area. http://www.visitodense.com.

Aalborg

Aalborg has a worldwide reputation for the production of Aquavit (schnapps), but this strong Scandinavian liquor isn’t the only attraction. Once a powerful Viking port, Aalborg served as the base for the Vikings’ predatory pilgrimages. Its old town attracts with its picturesque setting, and the port is well located for excursions into the scenic surrounding area. Jutland is considered the heartland of Denmark, a land of crystal fjords, stark moors, dense forests, and small medieval towns. With the additional attraction of miles of sandy beaches, the peninsula is the most popular domestic holiday area. The city’s pride in its heritage is evident in the carefully preserved burgher houses built by merchants during the Renaissance. Along the road north to the popular resort of Skagen at the tip of Jutland, huge, shifting dunes up to 35 feet high present some of Denmark’s most stunning sights.

Kristiansand

Set on the scenic southern tip of Norway, at a magical spot with more sunshine than anywhere else in Scandanavia, little Kristiansand is Nature’s playground. Its spacius, ice-free harbor is ringed with thousands of tiny islands, a haven for swimmers, boaters and sport fishermen. Along the waterfront, in the silent Christiansholm fortress, and the charming houses of the historic center, you’ll find a peaceful serenity.

Stavanger

Founded in the 8th century and one of Norway's oldest towns, Stavanger is situated along the Byfjord, an arm of the Stavangerfjord. A bishop ruled the city from the twelfth through seventeenth centuries. At the end of the eighteenth century, Stavanger had developed a successful merchant shipping fleet and during the next century developed herring fishing and canning industries. Appealing echoes of that proud heritage live on amid the evocative cobbled streets of Gamle (Old) Stavanger, whose whitewashed 18th century houses are probably northern Europe's best-preserved community of wooden houses. It has a well-preserved 12th century stone church.

Bergen

With its spectacular setting among seven hills, Bergen is one of the most beautiful and enjoyable cities in Norway. Most sites are within an easy walk from the harbor. From fine surviving medieval buildings to a series of good museums such as Fishery Museum and Old Bergen open-air museum, Bergen offers a wide variety of attractions. Its scenic beauty can best be appreciated from Mt. Floyen and is captivating. Enjoy this lovely city by taking a stroll to the old part of town, passing impressive 12th-century Bergenhus fortress. Old Hanseatic Wharf, called Bryggen, is where reconstructed gabled buildings house workshops, boutiques and restaurants. St. Mary's Church is Bergen’s oldest building and one of the finest Norman churches in Norway. Rasmus Meyers Collection is a rambling townhouse featuring one of the best collections of Norwegian art, including an upper floor devoted almost entirely to Munch. Bergen boasts numerous historic buildings dating from medieval times: Bergenhus Fortress; Rosenkrantz Tower; Haakon’s Hall.

Oslo

Oslo, Norway’s capital and largest city, is encircled by wooded hills and snowcapped peaks. The city displays a mixture of several architectural styles. A full range of activities includes art galleries, museums, restaurants, theaters and nightclubs. Other points of interest include Royal Palace; Frogner Park, known for its famous Vigeland sculptures; Holmenkollen, where international skiing events take place; imposing Åkershus Castle; and Bygdøy Peninsula, home to some of Oslo’s most important museums. Many attractions can be explored on foot. Oslo's City Hall ranks as the most distinctive part of Oslo’s waterfront. The art portrays the country's different historical and domestic phases. Munch Museum, which is dedicated to the life work of Norway’s famous painter, contains more than 5,000 drawings and paintings. National Gallery has the nation’s largest collection of Norwegian art and some of Munch’s best-known works. Åkershus Fortress & Castle, transformed into a Renaissance palace in the 17th century, houses Norway’s Resistance Museum.