Best of Scandinavia in 14 Days Tour

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Amazing guide Ylva showed us a fantastic time in Scandanavia. We also had a great driver. Tour was a good balance between cities and countryside, and local guides were very valuable. A few surprises organized by the guide including an impromptu speaker Hans Christian Anderson (performer) made it feel like much more than a simple sight seeing tour. Also had a good balance of self time, to take in the sights that were interesting to me.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The drive over the mountains and into the fjord in Norway was absolutely amazing. Views, scenery, and just the experience was awe-inspiring. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our first RS Tour exceeded expectations. You did a good job setting expectations (physical demands and bus rides, etc.) and your audios were quite helpful so were prepared,

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Many Wows - hard to select one. The mix of major cities and smaller towns was a big part of the reason for selecting this tour and that became an overall Wow."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Appreciate excellent bus driver, I thought the guide needlessly bullied him some. The city guides were Excellent, there should have been one for Bergen, it would have helped! Group food disappointing. Accommodations met expectations. Looking back, iternerary was well choosen and laid out.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Aero, Copenhagena & Fjords in Norway"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Scandinavian tour was our 8th RS tour. I can't say enough about the excellent guides and bus drivers that we've had in all of them. Ylva was top-notch: knowledgeable, kind, and such a pleasure to be with. She helped create such a fun atmosphere amongst all the tour members. P-inge, our fearless driver, led us on some very scenic and twisty, narrow roads. He made sure we were able to see the beautiful Norwegian mountains and got us to our fjord tour even with landslides closing many roads.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Aero Island was so charming! The fjord cruise was incredibly beautiful. Visiting our guide's home (all 28 of us!) in Stockholm (and using her bathroom!!!) was the epitome of all the kind, friendly and gracious people we met in Scandinavia. Unbelievable hospitality!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Really great. This was my second Rick Steves tour and both were fantastic. I'll do another one next year.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many but I couldn't believe that one of our local guides let us into his home to let us use the bathroom. So great to see how at least one local lives (well two, because his partner is also a Rick Steves guide, and lives there with him). "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Pal was an exceptional guide. He kept us entertained on long bus rides with fun quizzes, lots of good snacks and his keen knowledge of each country.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Many wonderful moments. The boat ride through the Swedish archipelago was memorable."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

fun trip and a great guide

Favorite "WOW" moment

"fram museum in oslo"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

What a great way to experience Scandinavia. Our guide was the best; we learned so much. I know that some of the trip highlights were things that I never would have found on my own. Examples: Our lunch and boat ride in Grebbestad; a swim in the Baltic Sea off the coast of Aero; a visit by Hans C. Andersen in Nytorv; Picnic lunch by the fjord in Aurland. A great group of people and a great tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So hard to choose just one. I loved the commentary by Hakom as we walked the Gamla Stan in Stockholm. And we visited his home! But it's hard to beat the sheer beauty of the Sognefjord ferry tour. Stunning."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Out tour was much enhanced by our guide Pao. He was a superb guide and you may consider having him Train some guides. His “name game” activity was a hoot and set the stage. Wonderful treats of the regions, and his knowledge of the political, cultural, historical, modes was appreciated by all. Great sense of humor and Pao even played music by composers from the countries and matched it with the landscape we were driving through!!! (Who does that?) a great tour!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cruise through the fjords was so spectacular! It was almost like a religious experience! Unparalleled beauty! "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Liked the combination of cities, farms, nature both land and water

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the local tour guides apartment in Stockholm and the fjords"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our overall guide, Pal was great! Local guides too. Learned so much about a part of the world I knew little about. Rooms, bus and driver were good too!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Vasa Museum and cruising the fjord… walking on Aero Island was memorable too."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Thanks to our tour gide Nina for her kindness, professionalism, and kind and lovely style of leading this incredible tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beauty, the nature, the culture and kind people "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first time taking a tour and we thoroughly enjoyed it! I felt that there was a good mix of group activities and time to explore on our own. Our guide, Nina, was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic, and the other tour participants were fun to travel with which also enhanced our experience. We visited several sites with the group that we probably never would have explored on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our favorite "wow" moment was traveling through the Norwegian mountains and our cruise on the fjords that afternoon. Although it was a cloudy day, the scenery was spectacular. I took more pictures that day than I've probably taken all year!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We enjoyed the countries, the group we traveled with, the well-located hotels, and our guide. The time on the bus was long, even though it was broken up with information, interesting stops, etc.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I particularly enjoyed the boat ride through the Swedish west coast archipelago. Pier encouraged us to climb up and sit on the bow of the boat, it was a gorgeous day, the seas were calm. Hannah's delightful lunch followed our boat ride. Both father and daughter beautifully shared the love of their home and surroundings. They were another example of the Scandinavian satisfaction with their way of life."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Thoroughly enjoyed the tour; excellent guide, great experiences and a wonderful group of people to share the trip with.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"In Norway, the entire day that started with driving through the mountains then onto the fjord cruise. So many beautiful sights!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour had a good mix of history, current environment (politics/social issues/environmental), and exposure to scenery. There was an appropriate amount of free time in most places and the local guides were great! Very informative

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The boat trip through the fjords was the highpoint of the trip. The beauty of the mountains and water really defined Norway for me."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide, Nina, was exceptional in her knowledge and approach. The tour was well organized, a nice variety of big and small sites. It felt like a once in a life time type of travel as we we went through the Norway mountains and saw the fjords. The unique experiences you get from RS tours were memorable including the electric boat experience, bus ride in Aero and so many more. I would highly recommend anyone that is interested in nature and culture to go on this tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Fjords of course but also the city hall in Stockholm and the park in Oslo. Almost every city we visited had its own wow moments."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our trip was highlighted by many WOW moments. Out tour guide was one of them, Gabi was very knowledgeable and took great effort to make sure her talks were of interest to the group as a whole. She was able to shift her focus to not only individual questions but also to the city we were in and describe the history as well as the modern developments like politics, religion and other social impacts. Gabi made each city come alive and encouraged us to embrace our free time to explore.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My 2 favorite experiences were a bike ride on Aero with Gabi and the boat ride with lunch. Both allowed us to see a less ‘touristy’ side of Scandinavia. The bike ride was unique as we were able to see an ancient grave mound the Gabi had found on a previous trip. The boat trip was awesome as we toured the Swedish west coast. The lunch provided was my favorite! Muscle soup - who knew it could be so delicious - and I even had dessert, which I normally refrain from. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved the Best of Scandinavia Tour! It had a great balance of big cities & small towns, guided tours & free time, and history, scenery, & culture. It was extremely thorough with every detail taken care of, and our guide, Gabriela, was wonderful. Highly recommend!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It is very difficult to narrow down one wow moment! Scenery-wise, it had to be the Norwegian fjords and countryside/mountains surrounding them. However, the unexpected surprises were really wow moments, too: being invited into a local tour guide's home, having "Hans Christian Anderson" greet and talk to us, or receiving special snacks from our tour guide. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our tour of Scandinavia was awesome. Our guide did an outstanding job and the tour plan was incredible. We learned so much and enjoyed some incredible sites and scenery.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Fjords were an incredible way to end the tour. Norway was incredibly beautiful!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We loved our guide, Gabriella, who did an outstanding job of connecting the group, introducing us to Scandinavian culture and it's glorious sites. A great balance of group and free time, and wonderful meals together. We came home with great memories and photos.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The last day in Norway was one of mindblowing scenery. We crossed beautiful mountains and ended up on a 2-1/2 hour fjord cruise that was even more beautiful. We could name several other "wows" but that one comes to mind first. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guide, nice group, great cities, Norway fjords the best

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Viewing guides’ apartment on old Stockholm"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful trip! Our guide Gabriella and our driver Jonas were a great team. Gabriella was especially wonderful, matching the energy of our group and making all of us feel welcome in her part of the world.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The drive through the mountain passes with the fjord cruise and the western Sweden Archipelago boat ride were the big wows from the itinerary. My sunrise walk to the Ærøskøbing beach huts was my solo wow."

Wonderful visual and learning experience, especially about the culture.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"No particular moment but I loved the scenery."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

good group, good itinerary great guide

Favorite "WOW" moment

"boat ride in swedish archipelage, and mussel soup lunch"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

An excellent first trip to Scandinavia! It made me wonder why I hadn't gone to this part of the world sooner. We got lucky with good weather, and our guide, Pål, was easy-going, and provided great info about the culture, history, and food of each of the three countries.As usual, fellow travelers added to the good experience. This was my first time being the only person traveling by myself on a Rick Steves tour, but I never lacked for invitations to join others.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Norway and it's fjords were even more beautiful in person."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The trip was excellent. Our guide Pal was the best.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Definitely Norway traveling from Oslo to Bergen. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very good

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the fjords for the first time"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The overall tour experience met and exceeded our expectations. For example, as expected life happened to a few of us in our group in the form of COVID. What was not expected and much appreciated was the kind, very caring responses and professionalism from staff associated with the Rick Steve's tour and even from members in our tour group that clearly reflected his high social, moral, and business standards.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Jim: Vasa and Aero. Audrey: Our family has kept many Swedish traditions from when they emigrated to the US in the late 19th century--mostly during Christmas. So every time I saw wooden sleighs in museums I couldn't help humming "Jingle Bells." In one museum, to my delight, Dwight from Texas started filling in the words I had forgotten. Soon we were belting out Jingle Bells in the middle of what we thought was an echoing empty room in the middle of summer. Very satisfying."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our 5th Rick Steves and again we were not disappointed. The tour guide Pål made this trip one of our most memorable, he was attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly. He made the long bus ride manageable with his games, history lesson, and music. The love for his Counrty was contagious .The group was an icing on the cake: very easy going and we all got along very well. Love, love the location of the hotels.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Grebbestad and the surprise of Hans Christian. But most important was how friendly were the people in the three Countries we visited: it was definitely refreshing. For me, we checked the three things that make a great trip: Superb Tour Guide in Pål, great group , and welcoming Countries."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour was a wonderful experience. The sights we visited were a good blend of city/culture and natural beauty; the hotels were comfortable and clean (and sometimes outstanding); the food was fabulous; our guide was interesting, funny, engaging, and warm; our bus driver was skilled and endearing; the pacing was mostly good; and our group was friendly and fun.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the gorgeous mountains and fjords of Norway, eating lunch at a 19th century boathouse in Sweden and boating through the calm and beautiful waters of the Swedish west coast archipelago, strolling through the quaint town of Ærøskøbing, touring beautiful Stockholm."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was wonderful to see and learn about Scandinavia. The local guides were excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite moment was seeing the fjords and the beautiful scenery as we rode on the boat,"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Good hotels/good meals/good local guides

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Traveling through the mountains of Norway"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide was exceptional - I loved that she played music and had snacks appropriate to the places we were visiting. The accommodations were lovely and all were in areas that made exploring the cities easy. I liked that we had time to do our own exploring and we had guided "walks" too.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Two things stand out - the island Aero and the ride in the fjords."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent tour with a truly excellent guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Swimming naked in the North Sea followed closely by the viking museum at Roskillde"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Enjoyed visiting Sweden, Denmark and Norway…bus rides were longer than other Rick Steves trips we have been on with hurried unorganized rest/stretch stops…a tunnel stop to take pictures ??? Guidance was confusing at times…bus driver was excellent…lost 4 people on way to orientation dinner the first night… lost one person on orientation walk the first day…changed ‘buddies’ twice made it confusing for first timers…

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Aero Island was nice…Norwegian Mountains were cool…Didn’t have same ‘wow’ moment like ‘The David’, Sistine Chapel, The Louvre, Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower, Concentration Camps, Flander’s Field, Normandy Beaches etc…."

Overall rating: rating 2 of 5

Sadly, my husband came down with Covid on the 4th day of our tour. While I was negative then I opted to leave the tour with him. Sure enough, I was ill two days later.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The waterfronts in Stockholm and Copenhagen."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our Scandinavian adventure was an epic odyssey filled with extraordinary moments. The warmth of the people, the charm of the cities, and the natural splendor of Norway's mountains and fjords combined to create a journey that surpassed all expectations. I returned home with cherished memories and a profound appreciation for the enchantment of Scandinavia. If you are seeking a travel experience that touches your heart and soul, Scandinavia should be at the very top of your list.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My big "wow" of our Scandinavian trip was undoubtedly the awe-inspiring landscapes of Norway. The majestic mountains and serene fjords left us breathless in every sense of the word. The scenic highway and fjord boat trip with their views of cascading waterfalls and dramatic cliffs, was a journey through a fairy tale. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a lot of fun in our tour of Scandinavia! Our guide, Heidi, was extremely knowledgeable and organized, as well as being pleasant and cheerful. She worked very smoothly with our bus driver, despite his being Swedish and she Danish! We had a nice diversity of transportation experiences, including several ferry rides. The boat ride through the fjord in Norway was really great. Our group of travelers was fun, although COVID cropped up a bit. I’d give the picked herring a miss next time!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We had a chance to visit Edvard Grief’s home near Bergen and enjoyed it a lot. We didn’t get to hear a concert there, unfortunately, but the place was wonderful to see."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The Scandinavian tour was wonderful.I enjoyed the culture, natural beauty, and learning about the Scandinavian history and society.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Traveling over the Norwegian mountains and the fjord cruise."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was very well planned and well run all the way through.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The island of Ærø was beautiful."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The itinerary in every country was well planned. A combination program such as a visit to the world known and historical monuments of the country and detour to a small island to appreciate the countryside was a a breathtaking experience. It was a vacation from a vacation, offering physical activities, constant walking which is good for the health, and overall well being of the joiner. The taste of typical food in every country was a welcome delight. Thank you for this wonderful well planned tour

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The visit to museums that opened my door to the past, appreciate the person, power, and struggle of Margaret, Queen regnant of Sweden, Denmark and Norway. Also the picturesque roadside of Norway from Oslo to Bergen was a wow moment! Followed by the 1 hour ferry boat to the island known for herring, clams, and mussels... The calmness, self-control, and knowledge of beautiful Gabriella was also a plus wow experience to have her as out tour guide. She was ready all the time to answer our questions"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The group was very chill and go with the flow as some changes occurred. The tour leader could not have been more perfect, approachable yet professional and indomitably upbeat. Over tourism reared its ugly head but I had the freedom to do my own thing. I appreciated driving up the west coast of Sweden instead of the overnight ferry. If that had still been in place I would not have taken this tour for the second time. I think it would benefit everyone to break this tour into three sections.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow was the unexpected fun at the hotel Gastis in Varberg. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was fantastic. The things I liked most were: our guide Gabby (her storytelling is great), the visit to aeroskobing (it's gorgeous), and the effort that you guys make to help us all get to know each other.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting Gabby's apartment. Museums and tourist attractions are great, but nothing really gives you the feel of a country like seeing how an actual person lives. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

I loved the format of the tour, it was packed with information and activities. Our tour guide, Gabrielle was amazing and the close-knit community of our group was a definite plus!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite moment of the tour was Oslo Norway, Frogner Park was absolutely amazing!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I wasn't sure what to expect, but the tour exceeded my expectations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cities and history lessons were interesting, but wow moments came from Nature---Stockholm's archipelago with over 20,000 islands; the mountains, raging rivers and majestic fjords of Norway."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Gabriella was a perfect guide. Knowledgeable and enthusiastic and approachable to everyone. But there is too much time on the bus on this itinerary. As beautiful and interesting as the places we visited were, my overall impression of this trip is riding the bus for many hours most days. I recommend splitting the itinerary into 2 separate trips: Sweden/Finland and the Swedish Archipelago and Denmark/Norway

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the VASA ship was amazing and it continues to dominate my memories of the trip. Oslo was a delightful surprise that was my favorite of the 3 capitals we visited."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Met every expectation...great guide...great destinations...great lodging...great bus experience...great group meals...and wonderful group of fellow travelers.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beauty of the city of Stockholm. Breathtaking."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour very well managed from pre-tour checklists through to end. Our tour director was excellent, enthusiastic, very knowledgeable on countries we visited. We had a couple of ‘surprises’ which I loved. You can tell a lot of planning and thought we went the design of the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Two: 1) Meeting Hans Christian Andersen (actor) in Stockholm in a square where he proceeded to talk about his life and times. 2) Visiting our tour directors family home in Stockholm, really gave us a good feel for living in the city. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our fifth Rick Steve tours and one of the best. All three countries were so beautiful - cities and countryside. Our guide and the all the local guides were outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our wow moment was seeing the fjords in Norway. I’ve heard about them all my life but they still surpassed expectations. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great locations, great guides.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our two days on the island of Aero."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved it all! Nina, our guide, should get credit for making things run so beautifully even when faced with some weather issues. The hotels were outstanding as were the restaurants chosen for our group meals.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Aero Island for sure was the highlight for me...I hate to think we might not have seen that."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We enjoyed the tour and the places we visited. We liked doing the 3 countries on one tour and focus on key sites. The tour guide Nina was great and informative and the group members were pleasant to travel with. Norway hill country had the heaviest rain in over 22 years and we spend 9 hours on a bus one day while trying to get to our stop and hotel. Multiple routes were closed and the bus ultimately crossed over flowing mud water across the road to get to our hotel.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The fiords boat tour. Copenhagen was a close second."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall, our trip was wonderful! Just a couple small things could have made it outstanding. We arrived Stockholm 2 days early to take the ferry to an outmost island. The ride was beautiful with a bluebird day. When arriving at the island beginning with “”S”, the ferry docked at the opposite side of the island than mentioned in the RS guide book, making us walk 3 miles to and from the restaurant so highly recommended. The other was on the isle of Aero. Our accommodation was wonderful, but we hear

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Aero and the eclectic hotel with the Lenin bust in the porthole bathroom. Such a place with character! Our guide, Nina, recommended a wonderful old restaurant in Copenhagen as our splurge and celebrate our 50th Anniversary. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour exceeded expectations. We saw famous sites in major cities plus real life in rural areas. We saw medieval and modern structures. We met wonderful people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We were bussing through rural Norway during an unforecasted, once-in-a-lifetime storm. Sheets of water were sliding down hills, flooding rivers, lakes, and houses. Our guide and driver safely navigated through the country and gave us a front row seat to a natural disaster. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour exceeded my expectations. Every "stop" on the itinerary was filled with new learning and rare opportunities to experience cultural and geographic highlights I would never otherwise know about.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's hard to choose just one "wow" moment, but a true highlight for me: An evening hike, setting out from Elveseter Farmstead in the mountains of Norway, searching for troll hideouts with our magnificent guide Ylva, was a unique and once-in-a-lifetime experience that I will cherish and remember."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I enjoyed the Scandinavian tour very much but not as much as I had enjoyed my previous RS Tour of Spain (4/22-5/2/2023). The tour guide for Scandinavian was fine. My fellow travelers were wonderful!! We were unable to take the ferry boat ride to Norway’s fijords due to mechanical problems w/the ferry and the next scheduled ferry boat ride was already booked—I looked forward to seeing the fijords up close on this trip. Nevertheless I still enjoyed this trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The breakfasts and dinners (including the group dinners) were delicious and plentiful. Great foods overall, pastries, hot dogs, Swedish chocolate balls. Loved the museums, especially the Nobel Prize museum, local tour guides Stockholm, Copenhagen, Bergen. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was very pleased with this tour. Everything was excellent. Our guide Ylva was outstanding!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our guide Ylva took us to her home for a discussion on Swedish life as part of Stockholm's walking tour. That was very touching. Very meaningful."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour guide, congenial group, lots of ground covered, nice hotels, lots of info.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I liked stopping in the fishing village in Western Sweden for the tour on the small boat and then lunch in the upstairs of the old sawmill(restaurant). Very relaxing."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Active and engaging tour with a drama-free group and a very knowledgeable guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many, but 3 stand out for me: Aeros island for it's relaxing charm, Grebbestad boat tour for the quiet beauty (and excellent lunch), and the Vigeland sculpture park for a stunning display."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is a fabulous tour--Scandinavia is a fantastic destination for art, architecture, cultural experiences, history, and the most beautiful scenery in Europe! Pal was a super-special tour leader. I believe this is overall the best Rick Steves tour out of the eight tours I have taken. My only regret is that the tour was not longer. We spent a lot of time on the bus getting places but did not have enough time at the major stops--Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm, and the fjords around Bergen.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Everything on this tour was "Wow" from the beautiful scenery in the Norwegian fjords, the quaint village on Aero Island, all the beautiful parks and gardens (that I never expected to see in Scandinavia!), fabulous museums, and the fantastic variety of historical architecture everywhere including numerous buildings dating from many centuries ago."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Valarie Arnesen and I collaborated on the survey - please see her responses as they are the same as mine. An amazing trip!

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic introduction to Scandinavia. Our guild Pal was superb. Wonderful accommodations. Great experiences. Congenial group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Boat ride in the Swedish archipelago. Stunning scenery. (God paints well.) Quiet electric motor. Fun transformed fishing hut as our home base for lunch. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A wonderfully positive experience from beginning to end. At this point, I know I can count on Rick Steves for a outstanding tour and you never disappoint. While there's never enough time to do it all, I feel that this is such a wonderful format for truly experiencing and understanding each of the places we visited much more so than I could without the benefit of a guide. The convenience of having transportation and lodging provided makes for a great stress-free vacation!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I have two from this tour. Being invited into our local guide, Haakon's, apartment in Stockholm was a marvelously genuine and intimate experience. What a gem to sit in a local's living room and discuss family, culture, life, art and anything else. The second was our day free on Aero. I broke off from the group that day and rode my rented bicycle all over the island. What a liberating and unique time to explore such a gem."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I enjoyed the tour very much. Our guide was excellent. I won't go into derail on him now, as I'm assuming that will be covered in a later section. We saw many great sites, which also createdI a problem. It can be exhausting moving so often and not getting to spend more time, especially in the big cities.But I'm not sure that can be solved without eliminating some things.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I enjoyed Aero Island because it was so quaint and we got to relax there a bit"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Pal is a wonderful tour guide and we enjoyed 4 1/2 days with him before asking us to leave the tour as my wife, Lisa tested positive for COVID

Favorite "WOW" moment

"No particular one"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Finally after a three year delay due to Covid and cancer my wife and I were able to take our 50th wedding anniversary tour of Scandinavia. With the significant exception of losing several travelers to Covid all other aspects of the trip were truly wonderful. We've never been in this part of the world and we're anxious to come in so glad we did it in large part through our Rick Steves tour(we did add three days early arrival and six days post trip time on our own). Our guide Pal was exceptional.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many! Probably one definite highlight and "wow" moment was to have the chance for Julie need to stand on the platform and look down at Aurland Fjord. The fjord boat tour that followed a few hours later added to this moment. And another for me was opening the curtains on our second floor room at the Bethel hotel in Copenhagen and staring out at the Nyhavn Harbor and having one of the most photographed spots in all of Denmark right there in front of us. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Pal took us on an amazing experience throughout Scandanavia. Pal's a very likable and knowledgeable young man who kept us laughing and learning.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really liked the Norway portion of the tour best. The mountains and fjords were outstanding."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a magnificent tour... each new day was packed with information, scenery, history, culture and fun activities.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many wow moments, but Aero island and the Norwegian Fjords were beyond description"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was fabulous.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were MANY! The Vasa museum, the island of Aero, the mountain chateau, and on and on!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great time! Our guide, Åsa was outstanding. Her joy in travel was infectious; her knowledge was extensive; and she put her all into making the most of every moment. We enjoyed the Scandinavian beauty, the well-located hotels with great breakfasts, the itinerary, our group, and the many little surprises along the way!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had two favorite wow moments, the stunning natural beauty we experienced on our boat ride in the fjord and the charming, quaint loveliness of Aero Island where we even experienced a special Danish Christmas dinner!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Saw a lot of Scandinavia in a short time. Very good tour guide. Too much bus time, but I'm not sure what can be done about that given the length of travel.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Gastin Hotel in Varberg."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Every opportunity was maxed to learn and experience the Scandinavian countries we visited. Our guide provided so many treats and experiences in addition to the official agenda.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The incredible scenery and learning about the history of each of the countries."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour is well planned and executed. Our primary guide, Heidi, is outstanding in every aspect. The local guides were all insightful and professional. The hotels were all clean, comfortable, and efficient. Most importantly to us the hotels were all located in excellent locations in every location. Even our driver, Johnny, was outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Experiencing Scandinavia "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything was extremely well organized, our guide was extremely personable and knowledgeable, and we enjoyed the company of all the other people traveling with us.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"the waterfalls we saw while traveling through the Norwegian fiords"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was well organized allowing us to have so many wonderful experiences and giving us the opportunity to explore on our own. Guide Heidi and driver Johnny were very experienced, professional, fun, and caring.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Every day was a bounty of rich experiences. My favorites were visiting the open air museums, walking the beaches of Ærø Island (and finding sea glass), a dinner talk by “Hans Christian Anderson”, mountain drives, boat/ferry rides on Swedish coast and through Norwegian fjords, and Scandie chocolate provided by our wonderful guide Heidi!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The selection of Scandanavia stops across the three countries introduced on the tour shared up close views of a land of historical significance, accessible cities, and incredible nature.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many to choose from but a special stop was an electric wooden boat ride and an amazing lunch at Everts Sjobod in Grebbestad followed by a visit to the Vigeland Scupture Park in Oslo on a memorable Day 9."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour is an excellent way to see Scandinavia up close and experience a little of what each of these wonderful countries have to offer. There are many surprise experiences on this tour that really made a difference and can only be found on a Rick Steves tour! Nina did a great job helping us to engage with the Scandinavian culture!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sooo many wow moments! The City Hall in Stockholm and the boat/lunch in Grebbestad are special memories. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well paced, good mix of urban / small town experiences. The group was full of friendly, accomplished people. Guides were good to excellent (Hokan!).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The bike ride on Ærøs island. Beautiful!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our fourth Rick Steves tour and was one of the best yet. It had tremendous variety in the sites and cities visited, unexpected and breathtaking moments, good food, incredibly unique lodging at times, incredible cities - both big and small, great museums, city halls and Stave churches. We loved AEro Island and the landscapes viewed during the island bike ride were incredible, and the city had a very special charm. Our guide Gabriella was extraordinary. Driver Christer was great too.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to mention - the Vasa Museum, the ride through mountains of Norway while Gabriella played instrumental music by Secret Garden, Aero Island, the boat ride in the fjord, the boat ride along the coast and the lunch in Grebbestad Sweden, the Royal Palace in Copenhagen - the list could go on. The entire trip qualifies as a Wow moment!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Really enjoyed "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As we had done this Tour in "2012" but this time our daughter-in law and son were with us! What a great trip to repeat!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Really enjoyed the experience again (with a few changes) Was overall just a great time and absolutely loved Gabi!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was such an interesting tour (learned a lot), with wonderful sites (saw a lot), and such varied experiences. I loved it!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I would have to say seeing the Vasa ship! It was so enormous and so well preserved, truly a Wow experience. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was wonderful! Everything including itinerary, tour stops, and meal times were organized with maximum comfort for us. Our tour guide, Gabriella was incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, optimistic, and helpful which made our experience that much more fantastic! The sights we saw and the special activities were great! We don’t feel like we missed anything. Rooms were fine and group meals were excellent!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"While the fjords and mountains of Norway were certainly one of the wow moments, I think also the boat ride and lunch in Varberg was also one."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful trip with an excellent guide and companionable group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Fiord cruise"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Fjords and the island of Aero"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Scandinavian tour met our three basic reasons for travel: history, art and food! Throw in an excellent guide and a wonderful, friendly group of travel companions and this Rick Trip was one of our best!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our bus ride from Laerdal to Flam in Norway was spectacular! The clear mountain vistas and views of the fjords was breath taking. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Scandinavia was well organized and almost too fast paced for all the territory that is covered in 14 days. I could have used one more day in Stockholm, Copenhagen, and Oslo.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Richard Karpen’s reenacting Hans Christian Anderson was a delightful surprise. He is an excellent story teller and actor. You should have seen all the smiling faces as we sat on the steps of some official building listening to his “act”."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was fun to experience the culture of the Scandanavian people and their friendliness was noted and appreciated. I enjoyed the seafood and reindeer meals and the potatoes tasted awesome! The history of European countries is always fascinating and fun to learn about. Yiva is an excellent guide and has such a wealth of knowledge to share.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I love waterfalls and the ferry ride through the fjord, although rainy, was beautiful."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had a wonderful time on the "Best of Scandinavia" tour. All aspects from the food to the accommodations to the guide and other travelers met or exceeded expectations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hmm, so difficult to pick just one moment! I would say my favorite moments were the optional activities I got to take part in (e.g. yoga, bike riding on Aero, swimming in the sea in Varberg)."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent tour! We had an outstanding tour guide and enjoyed the Scandinavian countries we visited.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The alpine area of Norway and the beautiful fjords in Norway."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first tour of any kind, it so exceeded whatever I could have expected. My tour guide Ylva was absolutely amazing with her enthusiasm and knowledge. The variety of experiences from going to her home, the Vasa, Aero, a small boat ride, planned photo opportunities, delicious meals prepared just for us, the list goes on and on. Tour mates were great, loved the breakfasts, absolutely great hotels. Bus driver Leif was fabulous.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We had so many of them, everyday there seemed to be one. I especially loved Aero and encountered a couple that had just gotten married, I wished them the happiest of lives together and then they asked me if they could take a picture WITH me! It brought me to tears, to be included in wedding memories of people I had just met. Aero was like a movie set and our hotel Pa Torvet was just incredible. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Absolutely loved the history and culture in each country visited.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the VASA ship after hundreds of years under water. As a Viking descendant, that history and ship making was great. Beauty and peacefulness of Aero was amazing. I guess we had several WOW moments."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide Gabriela was amazing- so enthusiastic and knowledgeable about history and culture. She made everyone on the tour feel special ( especially my 13 and 16 year olds). I loved every place we went and was excited to learn and explore. The local guides and local experiences were top notch. You have converted a non-tour person into someone who can’t wait to book her next tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So so many! The mountains and fjords. The boat ride through the Swedish archipelago on the west coast. Hans Christian Andersen! The happy hour on Aero where my husband entertained our group with songs he wrote about Gabbi and Adam. Every day/ place brought a wow moment, and my kids say the same. We all are eager to go back!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was so packed with information, great experiences, and surprise additions that I could not have imagined and more interesting trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being invited into a private home. Also the trip over the mountain. I probably had a WOW moment every day!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Outstanding guide who is a knowledgeable historian and made the days interesting and entertaining, and able to adapt to anything she was confronted with! Our “6th” trip and it was Great!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being in Stockholm and being introduced to a wonderful city. Love its approach to life and all of the opportunities for a variety of experiences."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour exceeded my expectations! The outline of the tour followed the itinerary, as well as so many extra surprise moments and experiences. The tour group traveled well together. The tour guide and bus driver were outstanding!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had a "wow" moment each day! I had such a variety of experiences making it so difficult to choose one. Since going to Norway had been a lifelong dream of mine, I have to say it was the scenery of the mountains and fjords. WOW"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is our third RS tour. As expected. Gabriella made the trip magical. Good tour guides are good teachers. She meets the test. Also of note - RS local tour guides are a league apart. We validate this by our 10 day TAUCK cruise (Norwegian Fjords) on Ponant ship immediately following the RS tour. Doubtful we would ever use TAUCK again.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hans Christian Anderson in Copenhagen"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Nina was an amazing guide and we really enjoyed the variety of experiences

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sunset on Aero island"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The best part of the tour were the local tour guides. They really put "life" into the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hans Christian Andersen. He was delightful. Afterwards, I wanted to reread his fairy tales."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was amazing. I learned so much and saw so much that I find it difficult express how wonderful the whole experience was.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite “wow” moment was when I fell in love with Sweden. I will go back there often."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is an excellent tour covering all the big spots in Scandinavia. Although 1200 miles is a lot to cover in 14 days, it was worth every stop.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The mountains and fjords of Norway. Nothing takes my breath away like seeing the amazing fjords from a boat. Once the tour reached Oslo, I knew the best was yet to come. All of our fellow travelers enjoyed each other which made the sightseeing even more enjoyable."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a fantastic tour. Our guide, Nina, was top-notch. Our driver, Johnny, was outstanding. And the places we visited were amazing. Definitely a 10 out of 10 experience in every way.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Can I have two? Aero Island -- sunset on the beach that has the row of cute little cabins. We walked out with a handful of our fellow Rick Steves' travelers including Angie Cino from your head office who made sure we didn't miss this amazing experience. Grebbestad -- the boat ride and lunch at Everts Sjobod in Grebbestad. I'll dream about this beautiful corner of the world and the delicious mussel soup for years to come."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We were thrilled being in Scandinavia after having to postpone a 2020 trip. It was everything and more we hoped for, made even better by our exceptional guide Nina. This is the longest RS trip we have taken, but it seemed to fly by as there was so much to see and so much ground to cover. Nice mix of vibrant cities and smaller towns, lots of back door RS experiences that made the trip very special. Perfect mix of group and free time, and our fellow travelers were great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Many wow moments, but especially the Vigeland statues at Oslo’s Frogner Park, the up close views of the Vasa ship, the fjords with picturesque villages and waterfalls, and finally getting to see the real KonTiki raft."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I've been looking forward to this tour for several years and it did not disappoint. I've been on many tours and the stops, the activities, the unstructured time was a nice mix. We had great weather which always helps. Our guide Nina was wonderful, her Danish background was an asset to her personal experiences with these countries and her history knowledge and talks on the bus were all excellent and a nice mix of quiet time and prepping us for the next stop. A great group of Tm's always helps!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Vasa visit was outstanding. I loved that we had as much time as we wanted in there. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Well coordinated Nice variety Good group dynamic

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The historic beach huts along shore on Aero"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

What a fantastic tour of Scandinavia. Our guide Nina was beyond amazing. Not only did we get to explore the major cities such as Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo, but we also were able to see many wonderful sites in between those cities that I would otherwise not have been able to go to. The food was fantastic and the local guides that showed us their cities were superb.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I absolutely loved visiting the island of Aero. I didn't want to leave. Also, being with my daughter when she got to go to the ABBA Museum was great."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a wonderful tour. The weather was great and the itinerary was perfect. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and always eager to answer our questions. The hotels were very nice, clean and centrally located. The hotel breakfasts were truly outstanding. Our driver was fantastic and very friendly.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The most memorable moments came at the Vasa Museum, the Viking exhibits at the Copenhagen History Museum, and the boat tour and lunch in the small Swedish fishing village. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I was delighted to see these places

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I saw the land and topography of my grandads home in Smaland. It was sacred "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had a marvelous time in this tour! Our guide, Ylva, was amazing. She has such a wealth of knowledge regarding the history, political, economic, art, and cultural aspects of each of the countries we visited. She knew when we needed some quiet time on the bus, bus also made the long final ride into Bergen go by much faster with a sing-along! Our tour group was marvelous - everyone got to know about and care for each other quickly, making it feel like we were traveling with long time friends.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite “wow” moment is hard to choose. But I think the one that stood out the most was standing on top of the Oslo Opera House and looking out over the city. The architecture is so special - it felt like we had walked to the top of an iceberg. A very close second was being on the boat tour in Grimmestad and seeing a 1500 year old grave topped by a cairn. "

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Excellent guide, good sites to visit. Some hotels were not clean, some group meals were good some skimpy and not good. We have been now on 8 RS tours and this on was as I mentioned the most primitive housing and food.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Viewing the FJORDS on the boat were awesome. Bike ride and group lunch, happy hour and our clean room on Aero Island was also a day of Wow."

Very good intro to Scandinavia and excellent guide, but too much bus time and not enough time in major cities.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Last bus day going over the winding mountain “snow road,” picnic lunch, fjord cruise, and sing-along ride into Bergen.   "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Like a graduate level history lesson with beautiful views, good food and good tour companions!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"As our tour guide in Stockholm was guiding us through the old part of the city, he asked if we wanted to see inside a typical apartment. He then proceeded to lead 29 people into his living room for a rest break! Unbelievable hospitality!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Heidi Hanson was an outstanding tour manager. Lief was an outstanding bus driver. Local guides were fabulous and choice of local restaurants —excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many. Ride to reach the fjords, ride down the fjords ( one thing I would change- is there a boat ride on fjords- not the ferry. Ferry was crowded and hard to enjoy the experience) the stop at small town with boat ride and mussel soup (fabulous) stop on Aero"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The accommodations, tour guide Heidi and others, and the bus travel, really couldn't have been better. The bus rides were a bit long for me personally would be my one issue with the tour. I understand the need to cover the region though.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to share. From the Vasa to the Fjords, they were all very inspiring."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our 5th Rick Steves' tour and thoroughly enjoyed it. The tour of Scandinavia not only highlights its beauty but also gives you a glimpse at their way of life and reasons they often rate near the top on happiness surveys, truly a different feel than other parts of Europe. It was a good mix of "big" cities and small town experiences. Our guide, Heidi, although relatively new to Rick's team, was a great guide as has always been the case with our Rick tours.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The drive on the "snow road" over the Aurlandsfjellet mountains, finishing at the Stegastein viewing platform above the village of Aurlandsvangen and the Aurlandsfjord. The views were spectacular. Still not sure how our bus made it past some of the traffic on those narrow roads, but so glad we took this route versus the shorter tunnel route."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

It was pretty good. Stunning scenery.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The fjords of Norway. I regularly watch the only video I took of this ferry ride on those fjords. Stunning."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I really enjoyed the Best of Scandi tour. The tour guide Heidi and our driver Leif managed the tight schedule for the various activities very well. Well organized but at times felt a bit rushed, especially in those between cities like Kalmar. I wished I could spend a bit more time exploring the Kalmar castle.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Definitely the Vasa Museum for one. As we entered the museum entrance the huge vessel towers over everything. It was my eye popping WOW moment. Also the drive around the fjord in Norway where our bus had to navigate the switchback. I appreciate the driver, Leif's driving skill. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Tour was great!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Vasa in Stockholm was one of many "Wow" moments/"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a great survey trip of Scandinavian sights and locales. Perfect for the first time visitor.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really appreciated our guide's, Gabriella's, energy, enthusiasm and knowledge. She was the best thing about the trip."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I thought the whole trip was outstanding. The countries we visited were postcard perfect. Our guide, Gabriella, was quite possibly my most favorite Rick Steve’s guide yet, mixed the history and fun of each place we visited. We had an excellent group of fellow travelers who all bonded over this journey.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite “WOW” moment was the drive over the mountain on our way to Bergen. It was beautiful and a once in a lifetime moment for me."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour exceeded all expectations, in no small part due to our absolutely outstanding guide, Gabriella. I'm not your "typical" tour member - I'm in my 30s and have been to Europe many times before without using a tour. I went because a travelling companion wanted to try the tour - and I was truly impressed by the enrichment over seeing things on my own. We learned so much more about the history and culture in an easy to understand way while visiting beautiful, off the beaten path locations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's hard to choose just one, so I'll do three :) I loved the visit to Ӕrø island - it was well situated in the middle of the trip and was a great place to slow down and live the island life. The recently added experience of a fishing boat excursion and lunch in Grebbestad was picturesque and a favorite meal. And I'd be remiss for not mentioning the incredible tour of Stockholm complete with a stop inside his home, from city guide Håkan! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful, but because I got Covid after one week, my husband and I had to leave the tour group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Royal hunting grounds on the Djurgarden Island in Stockholm with beautiful giant oak trees that date back to the 17th Century & many other mature old trees trees and thick vegetation. This is the island where the wonderful VASA museum is located. The Royal Hunting Grounds provide a much-needed respite for the big city."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Scandinavian tour was so exceptional, that I'm wondering if the quality could / can ever be repeated anywhere else, without Gabriella and Leif as our Team Leaders!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Honestly, there were constantly "wow" moments, but I think possibly the top two were the Vasa war ship and the 2 hour cruise in perfect weather on the Sognefjord. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Gabi was an amazing tour guide. She made sure the trip was special, educating us the entire time and sharing music, culture, and snacks along the way. Her positive attitude and enthusiasm made the trip so enjoyable!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"When we were driving through Norway and the Fjords, and she was playing music along the way. We also did a special bike trip on Aero Island!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We saw and did so much - it was educational, entertaining, and a lot of fun! Our guide Gabriella was extraordinary, her passion for history, culture, and people was infectious. Our group gelled in no time, we all knew we were being guided by a truly exceptional person!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Wow moment - too hard to pick one - the bike ride Gabi led us on Aero island and the drive over the mountains with our wonderful driver, Leif."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

excellent guide, Gabi, and good hotels.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"spending time on AEro island"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my husband's and my FIRST RS Tour and it did not disappoint! The scenery was spectacular, the opportunities to explore with the group and our own had the perfect balance, I didn't feel rushed, or dragged to sights I didn't want to see or learn about. Our guide, Gabriella, was so vibrant and informative. She treated us to some local snacks and included us on a bike tour and hike during her free time! She made it very easy to feel welcome in a group amongst strangers.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My "wow" moment was biking along the Baltic Sea on Aero Island during a bright, sunny day! It felt wonderfully serene to pedal along the water on my left and poppy fields on my right. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour. We hit the jackpot with Gabriella as our guide. Her boundless energy, knowledge of history, culture and life style of the three countries we visited were nothing short of amazing!! The mix of big cities with small villages was perfect! Been home a week and still miss hearing Gabriella's laugh!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Many wows for sure! The tour on the first day with our local guide is the best we've ever had (12th tour for me). History of Stockholm came alive! Loved seeing our guide's home!! Other wows include Vasa Museum, smorgasbord luncheon on Aero Island, energy of people in Copenhagen, boat ride in Grebbestad, Frogner Park, bus drive through mountains of Norway with our very capable drive, Leif!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Because of our AMAZING guide, Gabriella, beat our expectations! All beautiful countries, each unique!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seaside luncheon in Sweden..Everything Norway, especially the drive over the mountains. Our bus driver, Leif, outstanding. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a great tour that covered the three major Scandinavian countries that I was interested in visiting. Our guide, Laurel, and the local tour guides all provided so much information on what it was like to live in each of the countries. There was a good balance of big city experiences and quieter places.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The "fjord" day was pretty impressive - especially the drive over the very windy skinny road from Laerdal to Flam. Great views from the overlook and some masterful driving by our bus driver. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall this was a wonderful trip. As is always the case with Rick there was a great mix busy and relaxed days, interesting activities, great local guides and lots of learning. It helped that the weather was great during the entire trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I am no stranger to beautiful scenery but the Norwegian Fiord portion of the tour was breathtaking. Worth the trip. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Laurel James did an excellent job of keeping us together, handling unforeseen tour glitches that could have become tour-ending (through no fault of her own). A bus driver had a medical emergency while we were on a foot tour of a town. Without so much as a minute lost, she found another bus driver who just happened to be vacationing in the town we were touring. I could go on and on and I'm still shaking my head in disblelief over the number of 'saves' she managed on our tour. The best

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The bus ride through the Norwegian mountains was very thrilling and lovely. The Fjord cruise and the island of Aero were my favorite wow moments. The beauty of the countryside with the beautiful, lush farmlands and quaint homes was amazing and unforgettable."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Laurel James, our guide, was a very positive and pleasant presence throughout the tour. The city guides were all knowledgeable and interesting. The countryside was gorgeous and the weather couldn't have been better. The group was composed of very nice, positive people who were supportive of each other. I liked learning about the current lifestyles of the countries we visited.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many! The scenery throughout Scandinavia was breathtaking. The fjord cruise is unforgettable. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We were having a truly wonderful time until my husband became sick with COVID and we left the tour. However we were able to make it work along with help from our tour guide

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many delightful moments & surprises . When we went to the 16th century Kalmar Castle, there was a Monet Light Show that was an amazing contrast in experiences."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent introduction to Scandinavia. Appreciated the extras of hearing a private Swedish traditional instrument when City Hall was closed, being invited to our local tour guides home in Stockholm, and having a drink with HC Andersen,

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Waking up at 5:30AM on Aero Island to discover I was positive for COVID and having our tour guide Laurel assist with finding a new hotel to stay in while we quarantined for 5 days and providing assistance in making a medical appointment on a weekend day to obtain a prescription for Paxlovid. Aero was a wonderful location to spend 5 extra days"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first Rick Steves tour experience, but I hope it won’t be the last. Most folks in our group had been on multiple tours (one couple had been on 11 for him, 13 for her), and I see why. The pace and content were great. We really packed in a lot! Hotel locations were fantastic, guides informative, and the balance of content-rich with slower paced activities was great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Norwegian fjord boat ride and bus ride through the countryside were awesome, but another great memory was the Grebbestad boat ride and delicious lunch in the boathouse. And we loved hearing the “story” of the boat owner and his family. Quite the entrepreneurs!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My tour of Scandinavia was especially meaningful, as I had lived and studied in Norway from 1969 to 1970, so in some ways, this was like going home. The itinerary was great and included several places I had never visited, the guides were knowledgeable and interesting, and my fellow travelers were terrific - as are most people who travel with Rick Steves tours.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The drive from our mountain hotel down to Flam on a winding mountain road past glaciers, roaring waterfalls, sheep in the road, was gorgeous, breath-taking, (and a little scary - but in a fun way.) It ended with a cruise on Sogn Fjord. I was saying "WOW!" every few minutes that entire day."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall, this was the longest and most varied tour we have been on. Our tour leader, Laurel was outstanding. She overcame challenging situations, added fun activities, and brought the group together. Because of all the distances we covered, there was a lot of bus time but also some great extended stops at unique and interesting places. Sweden, Denmark and Norway have so much to offer in terms of natural beauty, history and culture. This tour put us in touch with all of it.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many. Aero Island was a charming surprise and a welcome respite after visiting Copenhagen. The luncheon and boat ride through the western Swedish archipelago was idyllic. The dramatic mountain drive through the mountains in fjord country and the Sognefjord cruise was beautiful and thrilling -- I'm glad we took the longer route rather than the highway and tunnel."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We thought there were so many pleasant surprises throughout the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We were taken to a flat in old town Stockholm by the local guide for a Q&A about contemporary Swedish life. Turns out it was his home — and that of our tour guide. They are life partners and parents of five now adult children. What a surprise. And how hospitable of both of them."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved the combination of cities, mountains, and small towns. I really enjoyed the cultural and historical insights offered by our guide. The tour was well designed, and well run. I really liked our guide and the local guides (especially the 3 city guides).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Vasa museum was pretty spectacular. But my favorite moment was biking on Aero. Ylva took us for a morning ride, the wildflowers were abundant, the path went along the water, it was perfect."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great weather as we toured Scandinavia. The variety was invigorating between city and countryside.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the Vasa Museum was incredible. I love the story and the site!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent overall. Great variety,fantastic tour guide, terrific food and hotels

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Fjiords and Vigeland Park"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I thought I knew a bit about the Scandinavian countries, but boy, I learned so much more! It was fun, informative and stunningly beautiful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"At our hotel in the mountains of Norway, I looked out our hotel window toward a very old, red buildings to the left, sitting on a green sloping hill with layers of snow capped mountains in the background. Running along the hill's bottom was a full, gurgling stream and on the sloping hill were dozens of grazing ewes with baby lambs running and frolicking in the grass. I was awestruck by this idyllic, everyday scene. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved the flow of the tour. While I could have used more time in the main cities, I liked that things kept moving. It was just the right amount of group actives and individual time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Scenery in Norway."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Could not have asked more from our tour of Scandinavia. The cities, museums and landscape (fjords and countryside) were all fantastic. Especially liked how walkable the larger cities proved to be. Great guide (Heidi - thank you!) and great group. The larger cities were somewhat as expected, but the smaller towns (especially Aero island) and stops really added a different dimension to the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Many great moments on the tour but was "wowed" by the ship Vasa. Was stunned by the size of this ship and the amount of time effort and cost it took to raise it from the harbor. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We much enjoyed the entire trip, esp. Aero. I did think that the Copenhagen guide was unnecessary as our trip guide (Heidi) was from Copenhagen and more knowledgeable. The tour there was too long. In fact, the walking tours in each city could have been limited to 2 hours

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The viewpoint on the fjord in Norway"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent! Nice mix of busy cities and relaxing villages

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our bus ride up to the viewpoint Stegastein and the view from there!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything was terrific!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were SO many. The lunch/boat ride in Grebbestad was very special! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Staying in the Andelen guesthouse on Æro, biking on the island, getting up early and walking around looking at the beautiful houses! Everything was beautiful it I especially loved everything we did in Denmark."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This trip was outstanding. This was our 4th attempt to take this trip & every part of it exceeded our expectations. It was our 1st RS tour, but it definitely will not be our last.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably the boat trip & lunch in Grebbestad was magical. Amazing boat ride on a beautiful boat & then an absolutely delicious lunch served by a delightful woman - clearly she loves what she does. It was a beautiful setting & amazing adventure."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was an incredible tour, covering an awesome variety of historic city centers, restful rural retreats, and dramatic mountain scenery!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"During our free afternoon in Bergen I hiked up Mt. Ulriken and had just the most amazing views of the whole area!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a fun, educational experience. I learned about the history, culture, and the people of Sweden, Denmark, and Norway. The other travelers on the trip were a great group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The fjords of Norway"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Every day was an adventure! The tour was well-planned and the guide was excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The fjord cruise was breathtakingly beautiful. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I knew almost nothing about Scandinavia before we took this tour. The overall experience was enlightening, exciting, and entertaining.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"As an RS Tour alum, I saw this question coming and I knew the answer only a few days into the Best of Scandinavia tour. The "wow" on this tour was our guide, Gabriella! If you have a Pantheon of RS Guides, she has earned her spot! She is a joy to be around, has a deep knowledge of history, and did it all in her second language. Gabriella made it an unforgettable adventure. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Gabriella, was wonderful! She was so knowledgeable and energetic. The group was so fun. Those two things enhanced the whole experience of the tour. The tour was wonderful. We loved all our experiences. We had a great time!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There was such a nice balance between big cities, historical sites, small towns, and unique places. One of may favorite memories is riding bikes around Aero Island. It was so peaceful and so beautiful. But I also have to say I loved the ferry ride through the fjords. We were on the top level of the ferry surrounded by people speaking all different languages. The ferry turned into a majestic view and suddenly all you heard was gasps of awe - truly a universal language!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Every experience was simply fantastic! Loved the pacing of the trip and we saw one amazing site after another!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Vegeland Park! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Scandinavia is beautiful and the people are so friendly. I learned so much about their history and how interconnected they've been over the centuries. My kind of travel experience, have fun, learn some stuff, and eat great food!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Bicycling on Aero island! Beautiful countryside and small towns and what a relaxing adventure."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide was really outstanding, She was helpful in so many ways. We have had 10 R/S tours and she has been the best.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"When she took us ll to her parents home in the old section in Stockholm !!!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We could have used Rick's books and done much of this trip on our own but we would have missed so much. The depth of understanding of Scandinavian history and culture that we gained from our guide was truly impressive. We also would have missed out on getting to know a wonderful group of diverse and interesting people who we can now call our friends.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The boat excursion and lunch in Grebbestad was an unexpected treat and the Vasa Museum in Stockholm was spectacular but the most moving experience may have been the sculpture park in Oslo's Frogmer Park."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my 9th Rick Steves tour and the eerily perfect weather (all sunshine, no rain) over the entire trip only added to the splendor of these 3 distinct yet connected countries. Gabriella was a phenomenal guide: knowledgable, passionate, detailed oriented, caring, nimble, fun... yet humble despite all of the above. We spent a significant amount of time getting places via coach and ferries, but the payoffs were great (plus, the bus is always fun). This tour is worth its higher price tag.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The fishing (oystering?) boat tour of the archipelago off the western coast of Sweden followed by a cozy lunch of mussel. And our bike ride around the picture-perfect island of Ærø. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Never been to any of the 3 countries. In general everything was great. I wished we had more time in Copenhagen and Lillehammer. Nice group of people, happy to talk to everyone. Great guide, great bus driver, and things to remember.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Fjord cruise"

Overall the tour was WONDERFUL! No complaints

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite "wow" moment occurred daily as our guide, Gabby, interacted with our group. Her enthusiasm, knowledge, and overall insights brought a valuable aspect to the tour that couldn't have happened in any other way. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Scandinavia was unexpectedly delightful. In my mind’s eye the gorgeous Stockholm Swedes are cycling and walking by, partying Danes are parading through Copenhagen, solemn Oslo politicians are hosting a NATO summit, and casual Bergen residents relish the sun and seafood. So many happy friendly people living in ways that seek the greatest good for all. Beautiful countrysides, stellar waterways, all impeccably cared for.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Aero Island was such a delightful surprise! Romantic, charming, cozy, and welcoming. Our hotel Pa Torvet was absolutely perfect. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Route and guides were very good with a nice mix of experiences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loved Aero, nice peaceful break in the journey"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide was exceptional. Her knowledge of history, organization for everyone, fun, full of laughter, engaging, helpful to everyone and attentive to everyone needs.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Many to list but Vigeland and absolutely breath taking and emotional. Our guide explained the park, sculpture and Theo story. The Norway bus ride in the Mts. was beautiful."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is our 6th RSE tour, and it was everything we expected: well-organized to maximize the must-see experiences that would be difficult to do on our own, and of course fun with friendly, like-minded travelers.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We loved the isle of ÆRØ! It was SO charming and just beautiful. The rows of colorful little homes in town and along the seashore--stunning! The stories about the revival of the town and their booming wedding business told by the local guide were so interesting. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Exceeded my expectations. Liked all the cities. Nina the tour guide was outstanding. The local tour guides were as well. Excellent bus driver who fit in well with the group. The others on the tour were all easy to get along with.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Fjords"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was very organized ,and a great experience I will always remember. The countries are what I expected ,but exceeded my expectations

Favorite "WOW" moment

"In Norway ,the mountain towns , driving through ,and of course the fjords ,was magical "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As in the past tours that we have attended, this tour also exceeded our expectations. Fabulous sites! Great hotels and transportation.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I have to say my wow moment had to be the north country in Norway. Awesome!"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

$candinavia was an enjoyable experience. Although they were both worth visiting, I thought Stockholm and Oslo were less interesting than most cities normally visited on RS tours. It was an interesting mix of transportation modes. The energy of Copenhagen was very enjoyable.It was a very nice group of tour members and the tour was managed rather effectively.I'm still very pleasantly surprised that I did not visit an ATM for cash the whole trip! The people were wonderful in all 3 countries.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"What else --Day 12 hands down! The soaring snow-covered mountains and the majestic fjords were awe inspiring and humbling. The UNESCO section of the fjords was simply incredible. And with the mountain snow melting in early June the waterfalls were numerous and impressive."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was an outstanding tour. A great mix of cities from each country and also small villages and out of the way places. As usual I loved that we get to do things and visit places on our tour we would most likely not get to see on our own. Nina was phenomenal! Definitely meant to do this as her calling. Our local guides were also wonderful. The hotels were nice and the one in Copenhagen was in a particularly good location.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably either the island of Æro , which was a great vacation from our vacation, the cruise of the Fjords of Norway or even the beautiful snowy scenes driving to the cruise. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Enjoyed all the cities, hotel locations, and food. Maybe a little too much time in the bus although we did have a lot of ground to cover.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"When "Hans Christian Andersen" met us for dinner and regaled us with stories about his life."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was an excellent crash course of Scandinavia. We were blessed with a wonderful tour guide, Nina, and also a very talented and charismatic bus driver, Leif. We also had very good local guides in each of the destinations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite WOW moment was the day we drove through the snowy Norwegian mountains on our way to the fjord cruise. It was really cool to see the cross country skiers (even in June) and the scenery of the fjords was just as awesome as I had always imagined. It was also a blast hiking the night before at 10:30pm in the forest surrounding our hotel and still very light outside. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Norway"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful itinerary covering more than I expected of the 3 Scandinavian countries! I loved the variety of cities, towns, countryside, mountains, and an island. I totally loved learning about how Scandinavians live, their history, and their passion for a healthy lifestyle in so many ways. The hotel accommodations and the dining experiences were also nicely varied. Our tour guide, Nina, was amazing! And so was our bus driver Leif! We had a great group of traveling companions.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the city of Stockholm; it's beautiful! I so enjoyed learning how people live and about their government. It was a treat to be invited into the city guide's home to learn all about his life. The City Hall and the Vasa Museum were wonderful."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

All the cities we went to were fabulous. Our guide, Nina, was exceptional.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The island of Aero. Beautiful!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Everything I expected from a Rick Steves tour. Excellent guides, good food, well organized.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The seafood lunch ( mussel stew) and fishing boat tour of a fjord - enjoyable and would not have happened on our own or in a large group. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall, Scandinavia exceeded my expectations. Our guide, Asa, was wonderful and the local guides were top notch - knowledgeable and witty. The three big cities were wonderful and the island of Aero was a true delight. The tour group was very congenial, too. The one negative was the ill-advised choice of Hotel Gastis in Varburg - seven of us found it disturbing and upsetting to stay in a place where the owner so admired Lenin, a known despot.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Impossible to name one! Wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen! Vigeland Park sculptures in Oslo, the mountains and fjords in Norway, and the beautiful, restful island of Aero in Denmark!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was well organized with excellent learning about the local culture as well as sight seeing;

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great places. Particularly enjoyed the smaller places like Aero Island, Denmark and Kalmar, Sweden.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Norwegian countryside"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved Scandinavia. Our guide was fantastic.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the clean, efficient public transportation in general, but riding a public transportation boat in Stockholm wowed me. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Åsa was fabulous. Very extra mile. Very interesting and informative on the walks. On the bus frequently she gave us interesting stories and information. Also beautiful Norwegian music with meaning. The hotels were great. Bus driver wonderful. Had a very fun group. We had a flu virus hit 20 out of the 27 but we all delt with it and it turned out OK.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"All of it. But the Norwegian mountains were so green and beautiful Æro Island was a close second. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour covered a lot of sights - all were worth experiencing. The tour directors were all outstanding at every stop. It was definitely a tour for someone willing to walk and explore.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Fjord ride was breathtakingly beautiful."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved all of it. Our guide was fantastic allowing us to feel, hear and taste Scandinavia. Once again a beautiful experience

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were too many to single out just one but Aero island with all its beauty wax a favorite "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Terrific introduction and education about Scandinavia. I felt like we saw the best of that part of the world in the time allowed

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Vineland Park in Oslo, breathtaking, made me cry"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

An excellent tour, our guide Asa was outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"All of Aero was a Wow for me, as was Norway."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful trip

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Mountains of Norway"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I did not know much about Scandinavia before we started other than the they are Nordic countries and that Vikings came from there. I learned so much about the history, current culture, differences and similarities between the three countries, everyday lives, animals, plants, climate, etc., etc. Our guide was fabulous and our group of fellow travelers were friendly, considerate, kind and interested in everything we saw and did.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My "Wow" moment was our boat ride and lunch at Everts Boat House in Grebbestad on the West Coast of Sweden. It was so peaceful on the shallow waters of the bay, motoring between all the interesting rock formations, a few of which had houses or saunas on them. After our boat ride, we had some of their fresh round oysters and a mussel soup prepared by Hannah, the charming owner. It felt like we were guests in her house on this charming coastline."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Everything I expected from a Rick Steve’s tour

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting Copenhagen "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We loved the mix of group activities and time on our own. The trip took us to several amazing places we never would have discovered traveling on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tour of Gamla Stan in Stockholm was outstanding!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent- from tour guide, fellow travelers and places and information- everything was top notch.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being in Oslo on May 17 for the children’s parade on their national Independence Day. Men and women and kids wearing beautiful traditional national costumes (bunad) and waving flags. Really felt part of the national celebration. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Traveling to Scandinavia has always been a dream because of my Norwegian heritage. We've traveled throughout Europe for years on our own, but Scandinavia seemed overwhelming. We were so happy to be so well taken care of as we experienced and learned so much more than we ever could on our own. Rick Steves does his homework and it shows. We'll be back!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We'd have to say two. The fjords of Norway are just impossibly impressive. The planned ferry ride took us through a UNESCO section, one of the most beautiful in the world. The best unplanned Wow moment was being a part of Constitution Day in Norway. Our guide made the best decision to stay in Oslo for the parade and we were thrilled to be waving flags along the parade route, admiring people's different traditional clothing from all over Norway. It was beautiful and thrilling. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Each day was informative, well planned, doable, and totally enjoyable. Gabriella is a star and Christer the bus driver was amazing, funny and an excellent driver on very narrow mountain roads.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many. I loved each country and location but with our local Stockholm guide who turned out to be Gabriellas father, he took us into his home, gave us water, discussion, answered any and all questions with insight and humor and let us all use his bathroom. Also an excellent guide"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything was fantastic. The city visits, the tours, the food - everything! We were surprised by how much we enjoyed our Island visit in Ærø and the wonderful bike-ride through the countryside.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We loved the Norwegian mountains and the beautiful Fjords. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Sweden, Denmark and Norway were beautiful. The tour group was excellent, and our tour guide Gabriella was amazing. The tour was well organized, the hotels were fabulous, and all the details were handled.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Vigeland Park was my "wow" moment. The beauty of the 200 sculptures took my breath away. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Scandinavia Tour was the most unique tour that I’ve done with RS. Not so much about architecture, or cuisine, but the basic living of the people. RS provided excellent staff in each country who spoke of dedicated people working toward the common good. The essentials of societal living is a priority of the Scandinavian’s (medical, education, elder care, etc.) and this was evident everywhere. 1,000’s of bicycles and no lights were run, or J-walking except by tourists in the cities. Amazing!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"“Land Ho!!” Our journey from Aeros to Oslo went by land (Swedish west coast) and not by overnight ferry. Short ferry from Denmark to Helsingborg and a fun lunch at the port. Evening dinner was provided by many choices in Varberg. Hotel Gastis was THE most quirky of the trip. Next day, a really off the main road lunch and boat tour around North Sea islands at Grebbesfad. Further up the back roads and ancient rock carvings (!!) and Oslo check-in. Survey of members found this a 100% WOW winner!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Once again I have had a wonderful experience on vacation and I appreciate the quality of Rick Steves tours.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I am in awe of the beauty of the fjords of Norway."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

While Scandinavia wasn't in our plans for travel, we took this tour and loved it, finding the area more enchanting than imagined. The cities, the scenery, the food, the people all surprised us. Our guide, Gabriella, also made it a special experience. She is full of information and vitality.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our fishing boat tour off the coast of Sweden was beautiful and unexpected surprise, followed by a nice local lunch. We keeping the memory live with a painting from the shop."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great tour. Nice group of fellow travelers, wonderful itinerary, superbly organized and Åsa was a wonderful guide. She was knowledgable, energetic, and was great at sharing her experiences with the history, customs, and sights of Scandinavia.The local guides and Heidi (assistant) were informative and lended their own expertise. It was a great tour in a beautiful part of Europe!

Favorite "WOW" moment

" In terms of sights, the mountains and fjords of Norway particularly the overnight at Røsheim Lodge. But what I keep thinking most about is one of Asa's talks as we were on the bus. She took a hypothetical Swede we named "Swen" and went through his entire life explaining the government entitlements that he received, some of the social customs, and how the social values are reflected and strengthened with the state policies. I learned as much about Sweden in that hour then I did from the sights! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a great experience to travel through the three Scandinavian countries, experiencing their individual geographies, cultures, history, people and cuisine. Asa, Heidi, Mikeal the driver, and our fellow travelers each made the trip very enjoyable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Driving through Norway's Jotunheimen Mountains and the Sognefjord cruise. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The three best moments: Hokan's tour of old town Stockholm and his home; Asa's picnic of Swedish delights on the way to Copenhagen; the boat tour we hired in Stockholm during the first day.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably the night and morning in Kalmar, which had a great underground restaurant and a fabulous medieval history narrated by Asa and a castle guide."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I enjoyed it tremendously.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Ariving in Oslo aboard the overnight ferry from Copenhagen. It was a privilege to be a member of the (supposedly) last tour group to experience this."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"the visit to the fjords"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

More than we exoected

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The fjords"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

What a great time! Our trip was filled with beauty, history, education, laughter, camaraderie and wonder. Our guide, Åsa, was wonderful from the time we met. She kept the tour fun while we were learning about Scandinavia. Her enthusiasm was inspiring. Our apprentice guide, Heide, was also very knowledgeable and fun. It was more fun to have a a Swede AND a Dane as our guides😊 We had a great tour group as well. A wonderful bunch of new travel friends! No grumps! So I guess we liked the tour😊

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Røisheim Hotel! The bath tubs! The food! The owners and staff! The rustic charm! The bathtub accessed via ladder! One more if I may. Our local guide in Stockholm, HÅkan (sp?) invited us into his home as part of our tour. To get that close and personal was a gesture above and beyond. There was a bonding that seemed to take place and we were given yet another example of, how he put it, “we’re all the same”. ❤️"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful trip effectively showcasing the best of Scandinavia— scenery, culture, history, food, museums and other sites. Asa was our outstanding guide who was able to share her deep knowledge of many subjects in an entertaining way.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Transiting the spectacular Norwegian mountains with overnight stay followed by fjord cruise."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first Rick Steves' tour. I could not imagine a more knowledgable and entertaining tour guide, as well as a congenial and compatible group of fellow travelers as accompanied us on this two-week Scandinavian experience. The itinerary was well planned and provided us with opportunities to become immersed in the culture unlike any of our previous foreign travel experiences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The two "wow" moments were during our stay on Aero Island and Aeroskobing and our days spent in the Jotunheimen Mountains and the overnight stay at the Roisheim Hotel. The quaint and charming ambience of the Aero Islands and the rugged and raw beauty of the Norwegian Mountains were spellbinding!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guides, great food, great choices, wonderful in all respects!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Vasa ship, surely the best for me"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I really enjoyed this tour. The tour guide, Ylva, was wonderful, and the local guides at each of the towns we stayed really helped to bring the history and culture alive for us.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were several wow moments on this tour... the beauty of Aero Island, the charm of Oslo, the breathtaking fjord cruise, and the astounding travel through the mountains of Norway. I was thoroughly enchanted."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was well organized and communication from our guide was excellent! Liked the wide variety of experiences and opportunities provided by the trip. Free time was nice and appreciated the suggestions provided of things to do during free time. Orientation walks upon arrival in new cities were very helpful. Appreciated the encouragement we received from our guide to have meaningful conversations with local people. Liked the smaller group size!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My husband and I do not enjoy group tours, in general. My wow moment came when I realized that I was enjoying myself - on a group tour!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very interesting countries. They have many aspects in common but are distinctly different.The guide was knowledgable, the tour group traveled very well together...............................................................

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The amazing beauty taking the ferry trip up a fjord."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The Scandinavia tour was busy, but filled with a lot of sight-seeing as well as interesting learning about culture, politics, society and values of the Scandinavian countries (Sweden, Denmark, Norway). It was a time of learning for me and a great experience of being comfortably uncomfortable which to me was a sign of growth.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being invited into the home of our local tour guide in Stockholm and being able to ask about what they liked about Swedish society, politics and living in Stockholm."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Ylva & Leif (bus driver) were an outstanding team! Due to a landslide outside Oslo, our trip was reworked with a new hotel & route! Leif was exceptionally adept at navigating the hairpin turns on a route he had not driven before. Finding a hotel to accommodate 28 on a Friday night, with dinner & breakfast was challenging, but Ylva was successful & many felt adding Lindstrom Hotel in Laerdal, Norway to future Scandinavian tours would be a pleasant change. Small, quiet town. Stunning scenery.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Frogner Park & Gustav Vigeland's Sculpture Park (Oslo, Norway). Breathtaking sculptures in a stunning setting.... such a peaceful before dinner activity! I MUST mention our stay on AEro Island (Denmark)!! charming, colorful houses. fabulous weather. comfortable room at Pa Torvet. love-able local guide, John (known as Louisa's husband) & learning how AEro has revived their economy (w/weddings) & the entrepreneurial partnerships being developed (AEro Whiskey, restoring buildings on town square). "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was an amazing tour. I could not have gone to those places on my own independently. Ylva is an excellent guide. She brought Scandinavia’s history and culture to a level I could understand and appreciate it. The group was welcoming and friendly.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The fjords are my “wow “ moments but the cities were a joy to explore too. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

From start to finish this was conducted so professionally and with such attention to details. And it was overall a lot of fun.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing Copenhagen on a warm Friday afternoon with sun shining. Everyone was out riding bikes, jogging, walking, swimming, taking in the last of summer in the most lively fashion!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a wonderful, pretty comprehensive tour of major cities of Scandinavia.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the beautiful city of Stockholm, especially along the harbor. Of course, it was our first stop!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was well organized and executed. Ylva is a pro and guided us through highlights of Scandinavia as well as giving us historical background. As usual, the tour members were very peasant and compatible.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It would have to be our first sight of fjords above Aurland at Stegastein viewpoint. Wow! - hardly describes the beauty! We had a spectacular, sunny day and that first view was amazing. It continued in “Wow mode” on the unforgettable ferry ride from Flam."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very enjoyable, the experience matched the itinerary.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Several, in no order: Vasa Museum; Roskilde Viking ship & Kon-Tiki museums; Sognefjord cruise; Stockholm & Oslo Nobel Museums; mountain dinner"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide (Nina) did a fabulous job guiding us through each of the countries. She provided us with a ton of history and little surprises along the way which was very thoughtful. And, as someone with Celiac Decease, she did her best to make sure my GF needs were met. As with our last RS tour, all of the local guides were outstanding especially Haakan in Stockholm. Our driver (Christer) was funny, witty and navigated us through some difficult spots. Nina and him seemed to pair up very nicely.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The bike ride exploring the Aero Island countryside and the Sognefjord cruise in Norway on the electric ferry. So quiet, smooth and breathtaking!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful! First tour of any kind, so was unsure what to expect. Size of group (25) was good, ample free time, GREAT tour guide (Nina) who was knowledgable, kept us engaged and paced the schedule well. Provided meals were were highlights, hotels were comfortable and well located, plenty of good options to keep us busy. Learned so much about the 3 Scandinavian countries, their histories, similarities and differences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to pick one, but probably travel through the mountains in Norway – including our stay at Röisheim. Close second was the fjord cruise. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

excellent group, all guides wonderful, Nina knowledgeable and friendly as well as patient and organized.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"when we were in Stockholm our local guide invited us all to his apartment. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour guide did an excellent job and her humorous personality and manner of speaking was enjoyable. We saw many beautiful sites and the commardry amongst the whole group was good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Fjords in Norway."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic tour! The itinerary was impeccably planned to perfection. Our tour guide, Pal, was the best of the best. He was very knowledgeable, kind, caring, and inclusive. Plus, he always had a special treat for us on the bus--chocolate, fresh berries, licorice, and cinnamon buns. The hotels were in prime locations and of high quality, the included breakfasts were exceptional, and the group dinners allowed us to sample the local cuisine. Fabulous!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite "wow" moments were seeing the incredible Vasa warship in Stockholm; going for an early morning jog in Copenhagen and stumbling upon the "Little Mermaid" statue, so peaceful in the early morning light; and spending the day biking through the beautiful fields and farms of Aero. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cruise on a fjord. Outstanding scenery."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Scandinavian tour went very well (as all previous RS tours have). Pal did an outstanding job with a great mixture of information, history, humor and insight in to the area. I would definitely recommend this to anyone interested in the area and culture.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Many choices. Probably the best were the ferry coming up the Oslo fjord or the drive over the Norwegian mountains to Bergen."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything was great

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The fiord trip in Norway "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Every day revealed new delights in Scandinavia. Some were in the historic hearts of urban capitals. Some were on a remote island, or in countryside, mountains and fjords, or on an overnight ferry. Our excellent guide, Pal Johansen, used the time on extended bus trips to share charming stories of growing up in Norway, as well as insights into the cultural differences between each country, their Viking past and historic rivalries. The group meals and accommodations were all excellent. Great trip!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It happened while I was walking after dinner on a coastal trail on Aero island on a beautiful balmy summer night. As I walked, I watched the stars compete with the softly glowing lights of a nearby village and listened to the waves lapping a few feet from the path. Sometimes the quiet moments are the best ones."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I learned so much about these amazing countries and their unique and conjoined histories. Our guide was so knowledgeable and made our experiences incredibly interesting. Local guides were excellent and enthusiastic as well.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking into the Vasa museum and seeing this enormous ship that was preserved for all to see. Similar feelings when I saw the Viking field of long houses surrounded by the huge walls of protection in Trelleborg."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

"Oh-sa", our tour guide, was the most entertaining, creative, fun-loving, well informed guide I've ever had on any of my 4 tours with the Rick Steves tour company. Different stops on this tour.The glass factory and a cheese making stop and I believe a Viking stronghold . The cheese factory and the Viking defense grounds should stsayon the itinerary. I have visited Chihuly in Seattle and Murano Island in Venice so the glass visit wasn't insightful. They did their best to entertain. I danced a lot

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Fjord Country!!! And Aero Island. I biked and it was an other worldly experience. I want to return to that island someday. The accommodations in the Jotunheimen mountains. I loved all the trees!! And the water. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very difficult to pick a single experience that was VERY GOOD with the exception of ASA, our RS Tour guide. ASA began our tour with an exceptional greeting in Stockholm. We were received at the hotel with open arms and the introduction of our total group of 27 guests. There was a GLASS FACTORY, FOOT FERRY, and our exceptional bus driver Pienia (sp).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beauty of Scandinavia."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide Asa Danielsson was truly a wonderful guide. She was very known about all aspects of the Scandinavia. She was also very friendly and entertaining- singing and dancing. The sites were well chosen. Going to the glass factory and the brown cheese factory was a special treat as well. The only negative that I have is the shower set up in the hotels. They need to put up hooks to hang your clothes while showering so they don’t get wet. Don’t need the day trip on the fjords- too long

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the Island of Aero, the beauty of elvster, the fjords and Bergen. Copenhagen and Stockholm had so much history. I also loved the fact that they are all trying to decrease the carbon footprint. The food was wonderful- except the herring 😝. Our guide, Hakan took us to his home which was a great treat. All our guides were wonderful, friendly and able to paint a wonderful picture of their city. Richard that played HC Anderson was an extra bonus"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

our 4th Steves tour......it lived up to the usual great experience. Our guide Asa was fantastic, she had a ton of knowledge about each city and country. She even coordinated her daily dress to match the activity or visit we would experience that day. The showers in the hotels had a lot to improve on......but we understand they were typical European bathrooms. The meal selections were excellent. This Scandinavian trip addded some "firsts" for the trip, all of these new choices were fine.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The stay and experiences on AEroskobing Island (AEro Island). How this small island turned an economic disaster into a prosperous Wedding/Whisky/Beer destination.......going from a couple of weddings a week to near 2500 a year now.....brilliant!! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was our first trip to Europe and went exactly as advertised. Our guide was absolutely outstanding - very knowledgeable, personable and kept it fun. The local guides were an unexpected bonus and added a lot of local knowledge. It seemed like there were quite a few extras that wouldn’t happen on other tours and never if you traveled on your own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Vasa was stunning. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

First RS tour, amazing! It was very energetic and we walked miles. Tour guide Åsa was awesome, informative, very helpful and knowledgeable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting Æro Island was delightful. But it's hard to choose just one wow moment, there were many."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great trip sightseeing and meeting new friends. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and attentive to the needs of our group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Most memorable for us was the time spent on the island of Aero, a combination of relaxation, history, beautiful scenery and camaraderie."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour guide, Asa, was excellent. One of the best guides in my experience and I have traveled a bit. Scandinavia is a lovely area to visit: very historical, full of wonderful arts and museums. These countries felt safe and welcoming and fun.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing Kon Tiki which I read about in high school in the 1960's. The glass factory tour and dinner with dancing. Riding along incredible landscapes with music and chocolates."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a fun, educational and beautiful trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the old town center of Stockholm"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Exceptional guide, congenial traveling group, nicely balanced and well paced itinerary, beautiful sights!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Aero Island - Regeneration Project, Night Watchman tour, and free time!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful experience, wonderful countries and great group members. Ylva was a great source of information

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Overnight cruise from Copenhagen to Oslo"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful experience. The weather was outstanding throughout and our fun and energetic guide (Ylva) provided a backdrop of history and culture to each day. I especially liked the information about modern Scandinavian life, from taxes and healthcare to music and marital status.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the actual home of our local guide in Stockholm (and learning that it was also the home of our tour guide). Also, the "chance" meeting of Hans Christian Andersen on the streets of Copenhagen."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very educational - loved learning about the culture, government, food, religion (or lack thereof), etc.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Fjords in Norway"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Rediscovering my Scandinavian roots, making new friends who enjoy traveling too and having a marvelous, knowledgeable and discreet tour hostess made the experience all that I could hope for.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Oslo was my favorite. The overnight ferry, the Oslo fjord, waterfront sauna huts, evening sunset jazz cruise, Vigeland open air sculpture garden, modern progressive city with deep Norse roots were the highlights."