Best of Scandinavia in 14 Days Tour

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Heidi initial meet & greet was informative and set out what we all needed to do to enjoy the tour. The good thing is as a group we all measured up being on time for whatever was occurring. Well done Heidi.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I think the Vasa ship pretty hard to go past, however I think given the distance required to be covered the tour was well paced. Heidi and her sidekick Elice worked well keeping us together."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Another wonderful Rick Steves Tour. I enjoyed every event.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Norwegian mountains and the fjord tour. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a wonderful tour - everything was positive.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The electric boat ride around the 'rock' islands and the wonderful soup lunch we had at the family owned & operated B&B. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cruise at Everts Slobod through some of the Swedish archipelago. "

We expected a good group to travel with and this tour did not disappoint. Even in the most spectacular scenery or the important cultural sites, this is key to a great experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sailing through the fjoyds was fantastic. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was one of my favorites. Our comrade travelers were wonderful from the first day.. I give Igor a lot of credit for getting to know everyone. He was charming and. Loved what he loved what he was doing, as a guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I think the trip to aero island, the home of international marriages, was my. WOW. The island and accommodations were great. ITT was a quaint town and set a different pace from the big cities"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Best of Scandinavia was truly the best in all facets: fun and personable tour companions; an exceptionally kind, enthusiastic and helpful tour leader, Igor; a perfect blend of vibrant cities and quaint villages; incredible museums and interesting historical tours; delicious food and beautiful scenery; and an overwhelming sense of what's possible when nations cultivate social cohesion and invest in their people, the environment and the little joys of life. Such an incredible trip!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There are so many "wow" moments from this journey! I enjoyed the hospitality of our hosts during two home visits; charming Aero island and Andelen guest house; the beauty of majestic Stockholm and Norway's fjords; the moving Vigeland Park in Oslo; Hans Christian Andersen in Copenhagen; and our boat ride and delicious seafood lunch in Sweden's western archipelago. The biggest wow was the magic of our special tour group and tour guide together, enjoying these beautiful countries and cultures!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is our third Rick Steves guided tour. We were again amazed in the most spectacular way. As always our guide was incredible. Igor passionately took us on this magical journey. It was obvious that he loved Scandinavia. He was an incredible storyteller and taught us so much about the culture, history and local life. There were wonderful surprises everyday that we did not expect. We could tell that the local guides were chosen carefully. They were all excellent. Tour members amazing too!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to choose from. I could pick from a lot of things we experienced but my favorite "wow" was how cared for we felt. Igor, our tour guide, really paid attention to all the tour members and anticipated their needs and interests almost before we did. Just one example of many, when he found out it was our anniversary he found ways to make the day very special for us. I observed this attention with many others on the tour. It was an amazing trip!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"While the tour overall was entertaining and enjoyable, there was not a "wow" moment for me this time around."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

What I so appreciate about the Rick Steves tours is the variety of activities within a background of learning deeply about new cultures. I had read quite a bit about Scandinavia so was hoping to confirm what compelled me to sign up. This tour and these countries lived up to my expectations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite wow moment was in Oslo seeing Gustav Vigeland’s sculptures in Frogner Park. I sent pictures to my young grandkids and after they had a great time giggling about how the children were naked, we made up stories about what the sculptures were saying and or doing. Unforgettable."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well-curated with a good balance of city/country, structured tours/free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tvindefossen, supposedly a rest stop."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a fantastic tour. Extremely well organized, with great tours of the marquee sights mixed in with stops at lesser-known places. The tour guides were all terrific, especially our main guide Axel, who was magnificent--so kind, generous, and knowledgeable. A wonderful introduction to three fascinating countries.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The stop at Evertssjobod Grebbestad for a boat ride and the most delicious mussel soup. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Thoroughly enjoyed the well-planned itinerary. Great attention to a balanced variety of experiences and locations. Our guide, Axel was so unflappable and knowledgeable too!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"A tie between the advanced ecological cities and the absolute pristine views of the Norwegian mountains and fjords!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Smaller group of experienced travelers with a knowledgable guide where we learned about local culture but had time to explore on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beauty of Scandinavia"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We planned this trip for over a year and it exceeded our expectations!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our view of the multicolored buildings and canal from our hotel windows in Copenhagen. This is the iconic scene on many posters and websites."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Literally, everything was wonderful. We had an amazing group of travel companions. We felt we had a great balance of guided time and free time. We also felt we had great hotels, meals, guides and transportation.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The drive and cruise through the fjords. The lodge in the Mountain was also amazing"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Amazing tour! We covered a lot of ground (my estimate was that I walked 125 km!). We also learned a lot from our guide and the local guides.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to pinpoint. I think Aero Island was a "wow" for me - the historic charm set right by the water. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tim was an excellent guide! Everyone of our local guides were also wonderful. They were all knowledgeable and wonderful story tellers. A huge benefit about Rick Steves tours is all the information we get about history, culture, and current events that we get. My brain was full after Day 1, but after writing in my journal, I was eager for Day 2!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It’s impossible to choose one! Highlights for me included learning about Scandinavia governments. In my view, they’re far ahead of us in issues dealing with climate change, use of resources, care of ALL people, and the way elected officials work together."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

First of all, Scandinavia is a very enchanting part of the world and its residents are generous, industrious, and happy. Our guide, Heidi, was the hardest working, most organized and friendly person we have ever had as a guide. Things were all planned and communicated in advance and all of the trip progressed well. The provided meals were excellent and we appreciated the free time that we had.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It was all a “wow” moment. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was wonderful! I appreciated the mix of larger cities and small villages. It is so nice to have the details figured out and also have quite a bit of free time to explore on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Norwegian fjords was breathtaking!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The "Best of Scandinavia" tour surpassed my expectations on every level!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It is hard to choose a favorite moment from our trip since there were so many "wow" moments starting with a our overall tour guide throughout the entire trip guiding us, treating and supporting us the entire way, to the A-list tour guides at each stop, to the boat trip on the Norwegian Fjords!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Tour was well organized and ran smoothly. The group was great. There was too much driving during the second half of the tour and except for Copenhagen the cities we visited felt very similar to one another.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The surprise appearance by Hans Christian Anderson. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

There were many great experiences, this tour was well planned, the hotels we stayed in were always close to places we wanted to be, my fellow tour participants were all friendly and inquisitive about life, the food was great, and the countries visited were breathtaking.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"That would have to be Nina, our tour guide for Scandinavia. She was friendly, knowledgable, and professional. I loved all the countries. Sweden is my heritage and I was very happy to see what a great country and wonderful people Sweden is. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my fifth, and best, tour so far. There were so many different experiences and places we visited, each one a new memory but all in the similar culture and history of Scandinavia. Nina made the tour “real” with great insights of today’s culture and amazing stories and historical perspective

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to say….each new day was a “wow”! I especially loved Aero, such a quaint island in contrast to the big cities. And the boat trip on the fjords was breathtaking and amazing. It’s hard to beat that scenery!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Fjord"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our Rick Steves guide was outstanding, and the local guides were awesome as well, with one even taking us into his home. Our tour group was so friendly, too! In addition to seeing the beautiful cities and sites, learning about each country's society as well as its history is what makes a Steves tour stand out. I would have liked to have spent more time in Stockholm and Sweden, and at times the itinerary felt rushed, but overall it was an incredible trip that I highly recommend!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I'm not sure if "wow" applies, but the most moving experience I had is when we stopped at the Utoya Island mass shooting memorial. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I enjoyed it all. The guides of course make the difference. I enjoyed the beautiful views, the culture, and learning more about the happiest people in the world.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Just one? My conversation with local guide Benny about Denmark and the U.S. He was very honest about the pain and I had a valuable conversation after the tour. We learned so much about what makes these countries work. If only the U.S. could learn from them. The boat rides in the fjords and also the lunch/boat on the way from Denmark to Norway. Stockholm city hall and the Nobel. Having happy birthday sung to me in English, Swedish, and Danish."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful tour. As always, your guides were outstanding. Very good group of traveling companions as well.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Norway fjords."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was a bit worried before we began this trip since I'd never been on one so long in duration (it was 2 weeks). I had nothing to worry about. Our fellow travelers were perfect and our guide, Asa was fantastic. This was our fourth Rick Steves tour and I've liked all our guides but Asa was not only so very knowledgeable and organized but she was also very FUN.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite "wow" moment...I think it was learning about the social/political/cultural values of Scandinavia. It seems that it's just a given that taking care of people's needs re: health, education, childcare, etc, is what government and neighbors do for each other. In terms of sights that we saw: the mountains of Norway; the Vasa ship in Sweden, Aero Island in Denmark were awesome!!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Wonderful trip. Our guide was top notch. I learned a lot.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Fjords of course, but loved Aero"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had an amazing, outstanding guide and a great group of travelers. Side trips were fun, interesting and well chosen. Great meals throughout. ALL local guides were excellent. Pleasant surprises at every turn.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I enjoyed our visit to the stave church in Norway. The guide brought the building alive. A great sense of history here - amazing architecture, ancient art, and an intriguing mystery of the man buried beneath the floorboards."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

One of the best tours that we have taken. The guides were exceptional and very informative ,there was adequate free time, and the tour was reasonably paced with a wide variety of experiences, despite the difficulties in covering 3 countries in two weeks!

Favorite "WOW" moment

" The visit to Everts Sjobod, the boat ride ,and the home cooked meal at the boathouse. It was good to be out in the country as we spend a lot of time in the the 3 capital cities. Also gaining a better understanding of how the Scandinavian countries govern themselves, doing a much better job on the whole than we do in The US. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Ylva was a fantastic guide for our trip. She went above and beyond several times to provide us with a fantastic experience, e.g. hosting a yoga class. The boat tours were absolutely stunning. The city tour guides were great for the most part The people on our tour were fun to hang out with.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The boat tour and lunch in Grebbestad, Sweden. The mussel soup was amazing!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Thoroughly enjoyed the tour….Scandinavian culture is unique and fascinating.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many “wow” moments but if I have to choose one it would be the Norwegian mountain scenery. It was spectacular!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great overall experience in Scandinavia. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the history, geography, and political landscape on each country we visited.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the Norwegian Fjords."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was sooo hot but nobody’s fault. No ac in hotel rooms but at least we had it on the bus.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Realizing how screwed up our country if compared to Scandinavia "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Enjoyed the big cities, but I really liked the island of Aero and all of Norway north of Oslo.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The boat ride on the century old wooden boat converted to electric drive. Captain Per knew the waters of the archipelago well and answered all our questions. After the boat tour we had a great lunch of mussels soup and cheese served by Hanna."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I didn’t think I could have a guide who topped other guides, but Ylva was outstanding! Maybe it’s a recency effect, but has passion, interest, engagement, knowledge were outstanding. Also, the food on this trip was among the best of our tours. The hotels were above the RS average and it was so nice to have shorter bus rides. Truly an amazing experience all the way around. I have heard that this tour used to include an overnight boat trip from Copenhagen to Oslo which would have been a plus

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were a few really “wow” moments: fjord boat ride, boating and lunch in the small fishing village. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great places, guides and fellow travelers.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Aero island"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great group of fellow travelers, a lot of ground to cover in 2 weeks with the whole of Scandinavia, but we learned a lot about the history and culture of Sweden, Denmark and Norway. On the days we had to travel by bus for hours, we appreciated the stops, however brief, that broke up the drives.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Great explanations of the governments of Sweden and Denmark, offered fresh hope for functioning democracies. On an afternoon free in Copenhagen, we grabbed a train ride out to the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, which was a beautiful campus, buildings, and great art (and a great restaurant, as well as outdoor setting with sculptures galore)."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Incredible overview of Scandanavia, with a nice variety of places visited. I’m always impressed how much these tours can pack in so much, while still providing a cultural edition, in such a short period of time. Bonus: therewas not a single grump in our group, and our fellow tour members were interesting and thoughtful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Wandering around old town Stockholm, our guide led us into the upstairs of some ancient building…his home! Hakon led us though the apartment and we all got comfortable sitting around in his living room as he told us about Stockholm, how he and his partner ended up moving from the suburbs to this old place, smack dab in the center of the tourist zone, and about his life choices. Truly wonderful to be welcomed in to his life, and glimpse of Sweden today. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I learned a lot and had a lot of fun. That is exactly what I consider a great travel experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I learned that democracy is so deeply valued by everyone I met and is truly reflected in all things done in this region. I feel really optimistic about the future in the world. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first Rick Steves' tour, and I had a great time. I loved visiting Scandinavia for the first time, and the locations, pacing, and local guides were top notch.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"When the sun came out as we sailed the Nærøyfjord, the water turned an astonishing shade of turquoise. With waterfalls tumbling down the steep slopes on either side, it was a breathtaking moment."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well executed. Great guide. Excellent local guides. /unique experiences

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hans Anderson Christian impersonator. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I enjoyed our guide as well as those guides specific to a city. Each was informative and I feel the correct duration.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Vasa viking ship."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Outstanding guide and tour. Good group of seasoned travelers. Great Local Guides. Fun side activities ie GO Boats in Copenhagen.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lunch and boat on fjord at Everts Sjobod Grebbestad Sweden"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The overall tour experience was excellent. I liked the balance of active cities and natural beauty. I enjoyed learning about the Scandinavian way of life from our excellent guide, Tim, and all our local guides. Our tour group was delightful and we had a lot of fun together.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The bus ride through the Norwegian mountains had me saying "wow" around every turn. I was also thrilled with every boat ride. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was amazing! One of the best I have ever been on. We had a wonderful guide and a great tour group. We had so many amazing, once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite planned 'wow" moment was the boat ride and lunch on our way to Oslo. It was just a perfect moment. My favorite unplanned "wow" moment was getting to be at the parade when the Norwegian Football team came home from the World Cup. It was wonderful to experience and share in the joy of the Norwegian people."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Learned a lot about Scandinavian history and customs. The landscapes were beautiful and the sites visited were all very informative. I am always amazed at how enjoyable the guides make learning, and how much other fun stuff they squeeze into the trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We had just visited, and had the Raul Walenburg memorial explained to us, as we set off across the a shady park. The guide put on some opera music that blended with our surroundings and we listened while walking along. The music and setting blended perfectly."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I expected beautiful scenery and fascinating history. I didn't expect to come home with what I actually needed: renewed HOPE. This tour reminded me that people still want to know and be known, that curiosity can overcome division, and that the world is full of kind, thoughtful, and interesting people. It was organized beautifully, led exceptionally, and became one of the most meaningful travel experiences of my life.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The fjords were breathtaking, the swimming opportunities were top tier, and fika has forever changed my daily life. But my biggest "wow" moment wasn't a place; it was the people. Somewhere between the scenery, history, incredible guides, and conversations with fellow travelers, I realized I felt hopeful again. I remembered the world is still full of curious, kind people eager to learn from one another. That's a gift I'll carry home."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My overall tour experience was fantastic. The cities, breathtaking scenery, and delicious food were all wonderful, but it was the people on our tour who made the trip truly special and fun, especially our tour guide, Tim. His kindness, extensive knowledge, and great sense of humor elevated an already excellent trip into an outstanding and unforgettable experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite "wow" moment from the Best of Scandinavia tour was visiting the "Democracy on the Brink" exhibit at the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo. Reading about the collapse of democracy in different countries was deeply moving. As I explored the exhibit, I couldn't help but reflect on the turbulent political climate currently facing the United States, making the experience especially powerful and emotional."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful experience on our Rick Steves' Scandinavia tour. Looking back it was not just seeing the main cities and usual sites like museums, churches and buildings, which we did. It was the unusual moments: like eating lunch at a heritage boathouse restaurant on an archipelago with 1000 islands and taking a boat cruise through the islands with a local. It was stopping by the side of the road and looking at prehistoric rock paintings. It was seeing a real and rare stave church.

Favorite "WOW" moment

" We were on a walking tour of Stockholm with Hakam. He told us the heroic story of Raoul Wallenburg and how he saved thousands of Jews from the Nazis. He put on the music from Puccini's opera, "o mio babbino caro" as we walked through this beautiful little park with a modern sculpture dedicated to him. I found it extremely moving. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour execeeded my expectations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many - the entire experence was amazing."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful introduction to the customs, food and history of these countries.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Norway's scenic countryside."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was a wonderful overview of the highlights of Scandinavia. Loved that it included capital cities and smaller local vacation spots (Aero, Grebbestad, & Varberg). Our guide, Heidi, was fabulous; extremely knowledgeable, engaging, personable, kind and patient beyond belief. The local guides were excellent as usual. Our bus driver, Matthias, was new to Rick Steves and is a keeper (skillful and fun). He added so much to the trip and was by far our favorite of the 7 RS tours we have done.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The boat ride & luncheon at Grebbestad on the west coast of Sweden made for a perfect day capped off by the visit to Frogner Park in Oslo. Hannah & her father treated us all like family. The Fjords!!! Loved our morning with Hakan in "Old Stockholm"; so gracious to invite us into his home! Hotels on this trip were a cut above and were all extremely well located (especially in Copenhagen & Bergen). The Vasa Museum was much better than I anticipated it would be, it's a very impressive restoration. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful guide and great variety

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the fjords and waterfalls on boat ride in Norway"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The itinerary and focus on local history were great. The guides were universally excellent and informative. The tour was very active and fast paced. The breakfast buffets were excellent also and the group dynamic was very enjoyable. We were very pleased with the experience and also feel the trip is a good value considering what you get and what it would take to book the trip ourselves.,

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cruising down the fjords of Norway in perfect weather celebrating my 60th birthday with old and new friends.The second one was riding e-bikes across the island of Aeros on a gorgeous summer day-just stunning. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had near perfect weather! I have taken 10 Rick Steves tours. This group was the most pleasant and congenial group so far. This is a high bar, as all our groups have been filled with great people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The boat ride through the fjord! We had beatiful weather and the scenery was absolute jaw dropping."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Loved the smaller city/villages stops.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Norway fjords. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful introduction to beautiful Scandinavia.. Great group great guide, and well paced. A great mix of city experiences and small town and nature experiences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beautiful, peaceful island of Aero-truly felt we'd entered a fairytale!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful countries and people! So many places to see, people to meet and food to eat! Nina, our tour guide was superb!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I especially enjoyed the boat ride along the west coast archipelago of Sweden. The boat captain was happy to answer all of my questions and shared his love of the sea. A perfect sunny day on the water!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent guide (Nina); wonderful fellow tourists; well chosen attractions; even our bus driver was great

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Day 9 boat ride through the Swedish west coast archipelago"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We loved the places we visited. And we especially loved talking with guides about what life is like there.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had two favorite wow moments. One was doing a tour of Stockholm, their local guide Horcum, and the other was having lunch with our tour guide Nina and talking about her experiences as a Danish citizen."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I thought we would not be able to beat the wonderful time we had in Ireland 2 years ago but I was wrong!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The e-bike tour on Aero and the archipelago boat trip/lunch in Sweden. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A great cast of characters made this tour a fantastic experience. Our guide, Nina, bus driver Charles and local guides were right on target for our group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The stay on Eros Island was really hard to beat. So relaxing after time in the cities."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved the tour and all of the local tour guides but best of all loved our overall tour guide NINA

Favorite "WOW" moment

"THe Norwegian fjords, the Vass and the AERO island"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

In a word, WOW! This has been our best Rick Steves Tour yet. The itinerary and pacing was spot-on. Our driver Jonny was excellent. Our guide, Gabriella, was outstanding - she walks on water! The local guides were great too. The number of group meals and their scheduling was on point (my family likes to explore local restaurants on our own). I like the later start time compared to the BOE tours. I can't recommend this tour enough. A great mix of cities, small towns, and scenic splendor.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Can't list just one. The magical wow moments in no particular order: archipelago boat ride and lunch at Everts Sjobrod, Hans Christian Andersen "meet up" in Copenhagen, Aero, Oslo Opera House (would have loved an interior tour)"

Overall rating: rating 2 of 5

I find the city walking tours boring and a waste of time. When a building was built and burned down and rebuilt is of little interest to me. I would prefer you pick one of the places of interest and have a thorough guided tour of that facility versus walking around and pointing at buildings. The national park in Bergan is amazing should be included. The Fram & Contiki better if had a guide. More time & longer guided tour of Viking village

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Christmas dinner on the island. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Could not be more pleased with this experience. Gabi, her Dad and the local guides made the trip!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Gabi's Dad inviting us into their home in the old town of Stockholm!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent tour, touching all the important places to see in Scandanavia

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Local gudes"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I felt the logistics and itinerary selection was a perfect fit

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The day of driving to reach Bergan gave us wonderful scenery from the fjords of Norway "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Group size was perfect. Met many fun people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I thought it was very cool that we were able to visit a home (our guide that day) for FIKA while in Stockholm."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide was absolutely the best! It was so great to hear about Gabriella's growing up in Stockholm and all the personal stories she could share, it brought things to life for us! We started touring with RS in 2019 and there wasn't as much free time, while we always find something to do, we like the days when we're kept busy all day best. We loved driving through the mountains and all the tunnels, gorgeous scenery! We also loved the contrast between Sweden, Denmark, and Norway.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Vasa museum was amazing, 300 years underwater and it still is so beautiful! Second was the island of Aero and Aeroskobing, it's not only a beautiful place but we loved all the food! As usual there were many WOW moments!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Biking and swimming in Æro"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic tour guide and wonderful fellow travelers.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Boat trip to home made seafood lunch"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour was fantastic, well organized, and a nice blend of group time and individual free time to explore our various interests. Each day provided active learning and interesting venues.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved our guided tour of “old Stockholm” were our tour guide highlighted famous people and their contributions to society. Our guest tour guide made that time especially interesting and his gracious manner with us and the public at large were inspiring."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour was excellent – we greatly enjoyed it! Since it was our 5th Rick Steves tour, we had high expectations and, in all honesty, this tour substantially surpassed what we had anticipated. It’s not hard to just keep repeating superlatives in this review. Our guide, Ylva, was excellent! The walking tours, local guides, group meals, history and culture overviews, and daily surprises were all first class! The balance between tour activity and free time was very good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were “wow” moments every day – so this one hard to answer. Our favorites were the fjord boat ride and the boat ride and mussel soup at Grebbestad! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very enjoyable tour of Scandanavia with a nice balance of city and rural. Great scenery and group activities that provided local flavor. Good lodging options and crisp logistics consistent with the RS brand. Ylva is a personable, energetic, sagacious tour guide who kept us moving and smiling. Be prepared for temperatures from 50 - 85 degrees F with few options for laundry.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Exploring four smaller cities and comparing them. Evening hike in the Norway mountains."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It is hard to find a word in the English language which accurately describes how spectacular this experience was. All the guides both local and our main tour guide (Ylva!), the sites, the food, the scenery, our bus driver (Medhi!), and the other members of the tour group were wonderful. I truly loved every minute of it. It was also extremely educational - not just historically, but I learned so much about current day politics, customs, the Scandinavian approach to life, etc. Go on this tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"If I must pick one, it was the visit to the old Swedish boathouse and the boat ride through the Swedish west coast archipelago. There’s nothing like riding on the bow of an old, beautifully-restored fishing boat on a beautiful day with the wind in your hair among many small islands and then returning to the quaint boathouse for a delicious lunch prepared by Hannah, who runs the place with her father, the boat captain. I really think this experience would be hard to replicate on your own."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was our 6th Rick Steves tour, and the quality remains top-notch! We had an incredible vacation. Our guide, Ylva, did a fantastic job, and the local guides were very informative. The hotels felt a step above previous trips, and we had a fun, skilled bus driver and a great group to travel with. We learned so much about Scandinavia and came home with wonderful memories. We are already looking forward to our next adventure!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The one-night mountain stay in Aurland, Norway, followed by a breathtaking fjord boat cruise the very next day, were the absolute "wow" moments of this trip! The scenery was stunning beyond words, and it truly felt like nature was showing off at its finest."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my 15th RS trip---every one has been spectacular. The guide, bus driver, local guides, hotels, group dinners were all unique and SO wonderful. We learned so much history, experienced unique and delightful hotels, were immersed in the day to day culture (even visiting the guide's home in Stockholm)! I feel so sorry for other large groups, following an umbrella hoisting guide, jockeying for positions to take pictures, eating at touristy restaurants and riding crammed busses.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Watching the sun go down at 11:00 PM from the beach at Aeros was incredible. Also, the whole town with little cottages and gardens and swimming off a dock in the Baltic Sea. And who can bring Hans Christian Anderson back from the dead to talk to us about his life--except Rick Steves"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved the variety of beautiful places from cities, mountains, fjords and the island!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The mountains of Norway!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Professional and thorough in every respect. It is obvious in each activity that this experienced has been refined to benefit the mind, the senses, and physically over a long period. No hiccups due to lacks of planning or preparation. Very impressive organization behind the scenes to coordinate all the activities, meals, transportation, specialty guides. That set up the experience so it was no competing with distractions or problems.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I went looking forward to the VACASA ship exhibit. It didn’t disappoint. A remarkable story and artifact to prove it. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved all the hotels and their locations. Scandinavia is beautiful and I truly felt we got a wonderful overview of the three countries. Our tour guide, Heidi, was spectacular in every way.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Certainly the Norwegian fjords were a highlight!!! But each main city was spectacular"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I thought the tour was well planned. My only negative was some of the hotel choices.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So hard to say. Bike riding on Aero Island was definitely up there."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Well organized city tours and transit between locations. Nice hotels.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Scenic drive on the way to Aurland."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guides (and great weather, although I realize that I can't really credit you with that)

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sailing through the fjord."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Well organized, with good hotels in central locations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really enjoyed the Oslo day pass, when I was able to visit multiple sites and spend as much time as I wanted in each place."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was wonderful. All of our guides were great, and the balance of group activities and free time to explore on our own was perfect for us.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Although there were numerous "Wow!" moments, the fjord cruise was absolutely tops. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a wonderful trip! Our guide Heidi is very knowledgeable and organized and always available for questions and help. The cities were lively (especially Copenhagen) with great sights, museums, and people. And the Norwegian scenery was breathtaking!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The fjord cruise was absolutely stunning! Two hours of non-stop mountains, waterfalls, and scenic hillsides far exceeded my expectation. Also, our hotel in Copenhagen overlooking Nyhavn may have been the best location I’ve had on any RS trip!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well organized, well run tour, covered a lot of ground in two weeks. Rick Steves tours always draw a friendly, interesting group of people to spend time with.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beauty of the fiords was a wonderful surprise"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Scandinavia was simply amazing! We enjoyed every minute of our adventures. Our Tour Leader, Igor, was a huge part of our experiences, and the rest of the tour members became our friends. We arrived back home feeling happy and grateful for all 13 days.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There are many, but I believe my most overwhelming moment was the wedding anniversary celebration that Igor set up for my husband and I (38th Anniversary) and another couple's 46th Anniversary. It happened in Aeroskobing at the Wedding Venue. It was so sweet and brought tears of joy to me. Plus, we had an amazing apartment to stay in for the 2 nights. The Fjord cruise was a HUGE WOW, and also getting to spend the night at the mountain retreat."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved Scandinavia. We really liked our guide Igor ! The pace of the trip was nice and we saw a lot.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The roses on Aero Island were spectacular! A wonderful small town Denmark experience."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour achieved the impossible. We experienced the vibrant, diverse personalities of each country without missing a beat. Every stop, every detail offered a unique experience, perspective, taste, or opportunity. When I’d think, this can’t get any better, or I can’t keep going; it got even better, and I was propelled by the next surprise. Our amazing guide forged a band of happy travelers leading us to must sees, personal interests, off the grid moments of play, and cultural understanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many! The people, their commitment to health, sustainability, and social Justice- especially in BEAUTIFUL Copenhagen-a wow! The bikes! The Vargas! Aero! The ferry through the fiord! All electric ferries! Walkabouts with amazing local guides. Being welcomed in two homes! Being trusted with political discourse . The reindeer hotdog! Peace prize museum and ABBA! Ancient stave church, the Communist hotel and lighthouse walk.wish we could have stayed and had a spa moment. Our guide, Igor, WOW! "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Fun and energizing tour. Great introduction to Scandinavia. Excellent guide Igor, tourmates, accommodations, driver Roger.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Aero Island, Varberg, Osterbo Fjellstove, West Coast Sweden boat archipelago tour and meal (mussels, so delicious!)"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a great tour - three lovely countries, four fantastic cities, a wonderful two-night stay in Aero; so many highlights. Our fabulous tour guide Igor gave us continuous insights into the culture, landscape, and history of the countries & communities we were traveling through, including a memorable "cradle to grave" discussion of the life of a Swede. There really were no downsides to the trip - it was 5 stars in every way.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The island of Aero. A morning bike ride with 5 tour friends along a path hugging the coast was peaceful, serene, pastoral; a lunchtime tour trip to a beach & church gave me a bigger sense of the island; an aimless afternoon stroll over to the small-house beach had me feeling a little like a local; and an evening spent watching a World Cup soccer match with our tour guide Igor and about half our group was truly special. Definitely the wow moment of the tour, although really it was a wow two days"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was a great mix of key cities and smaller, more off the beaten track locations. All of the guides were fabulous and helped us do a deep dive into Scandinavian culture, history, and politics. The logistics were flawless. Top notch!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My "wow" moment was visiting Aeroe Island. Not only was Aeroskoping a delightful and picturesque town, but the story of it's reinvention as a destination wedding spot for couples of mixed nationalities was fascinating. We had fun renting bikes and exploring the beauty of this very special island. "

Overall rating: rating 2 of 5

I did not find value in the price paid; the activity level was not as expected, food and lodging were mediocre.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We ventured out on our own on ferries and met wonderful people and explored little islands. "

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Itinerary was great

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Fjords "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful. A normal Rick Steves tour. Lots of learning and free time

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The fjords"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

First time on a Rick Steves' Tour. I like the guides and the backgroup information they gave on history, politics and culture. Enjoyed the free time in the afternoons to explore on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many great experiences. Can't identify just one."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide Jenn was fantastic.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing a marching band in Oslo - an unexpected Rick Steve's moment!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very enjoyable, start to finish, cities and countryside. A friendly group of essentially all seniors (like me). Great weather, good attitudes from everyone, had plenty to do in the cities and in the more natural world.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Exiting the Fløibanen funicular and seeing the two spectacular views of Bergen: old city and harbor in front of us, modern city on the left. Then, walking down from the summit of Mount Fløyen through the back streets of Bergen to the city center."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first Rick Steves tour and it was wonderful! Our guide, Jenn, was very knowledgeable and took all the stress of being on a multi stop trip away. Her orchestration of our days were seamless. The local guides were excellent. They were so knowledgeable and personable. A wonderful experience to learn from individuals who enjoyed educating visitors about their homeland: historically and currently. Accommodations were perfect. Guided time and independent time were nicely balanced.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"How to choose!! Our guide in Sweden did an amazing job of educating us on the political system along with frank conversation about the modern Swedes' lifestyle. Copenhagen was so environmentally progressive, phenomenal progressive. Ærø island was a delight. Lunch with Hannah and the boat tour with her father was fabulous. Norway! The mountain drive was gorgeous topped by boating through the fjords. Bergen was so quaint. The history of the Vikings as well as Norway's role in WWII was fascinating."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Lots to do and see. We covered a large area of Scandinavia in two weeks.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Wow moment for me was our stop for lunch at Grebestad. Hannah’s mussel soup was fantastic and the boat ride revealed a picturesque area. Another unforgettable moment was our time spent in Aero. What a charming, relaxed spot in Denmark!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Gabriella was a fantastic tour guide. She is very knowledgeable in the history of Scandinavia. She made the tour very special. She is very special . Our group was experienced in traveling and I made some lasting connections.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really enjoyed Copenhagen. I really enjoyed how easy it was to get around the city and the variety of things to do in our free time. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour itself was fantastic. The guide Gabriella made it unforgettable. Loved everything!!!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking alone one evening on Aero thinking I’m so lucky to be here. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guide, good itinerary, solid pacing. One of the best tours we e ever experienced!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Enjoying the culture and atmosphere and sights of Oslo. Could have spent another 2-3 days visiting. Superb museums, great conversations, and easy to get around. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Gabriella, the guide gets a 10 out of 10 rating. She was knowledgeable, intelligent, well versed and always helpful and fun. The tour was great and jam packed. Need to spend less time in big cities and more time in smaller towns and villages. This was our 2nd Rick Steves tour and we also felt too much time was spent in big cities on our 1st tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"1) Norway Fjord boat trip 2) Aero Island 3) Lunch at Fishing village and boat ride"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent guide, wonderful tour group, centrally located hotels and overall a memorable experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow moment was experiencing the fjords from the water."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very nice. The guide Gabby was great. The other members in the tour group were friendly for the most part.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I thought Oslo was great….. needed more time there. The train ride and boat ride through the fjord in Norway were great fun. I had no wow moment, just several great ones. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My goal was to get a feeling of what daily life was like in these well-regarded social democracies and why they consistently ranked amongst the most contented citizens in the world. Thanks to Gabi, our excellent, intelligent, and well-informed guide, I felt very satisfied with my experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"While I wouldn't call them "wow" moments, I came away very impressed with the handsome Scandinavian architecture (both new and old), and the marvels of engineering and civil infrastructure."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We waited a long time for this trip, after having it cancelled twice. It was definitely worth the wait! For our 10th RS trip, we had a superb and enthusiastic guide and a great group of fellow travelers.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow moment was definitely the cruise in the Norwegian fjord. A postcard picture at every turn, even though the weather was a bit cloudy and misty."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour presented a wonderful mix of sites and activities ranging from ancient castles to modern sites to beautiful scenery. We enjoyed learning about how different health care, child care, retirement, and other social issues are addressed in the countries we visited from the way those issues are addressed in our own country.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Although it is difficult to top the Norwegian fjords, we were surprised by the city of Oslo. We saw so many interesting things in that city and it left us wishing for more time to explore it."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We loved how time efficient and organized the tour was. We loved jumping off the bus, getting handed our keys to our hotel rooms and usually had a walking tour with a local guide right away. Loved the fact all breakfast, and many dinners were included. It felt like really good value overall. The local guides were a real highlight as they provided local flavour and perspective. One of the biggest surprises was the excellent restaurant selections for The dinners that were included in the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Time on the water. Especially the 2 hour cruise of the fjord June 18. And on June 15 a small boat around Grebbestad. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I really enjoyed the walking around the downtowns and learning the local history, anecdotal stories, the culture, political system, etc. of each country. I was very impressed with the hotel breakfasts. Our guide, "Gabby", carried so much enthusiasm that it grumpy thoughts away.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow moment was the conversations I had with my fellow travelers over meals about we saw and learned and compared that with our own countries and perspectives."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was absolutely fantastic! Our guides were wonderful. Our drivers very skilled and friendly. Our accommodations were fabulous!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The fjord ferry ride - every bit as breathtaking as I imagined."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very thorough and engaging. Super tour guide, and interesting, fascinating local guides (Hans Christian Andersen impersonator!) Lovely boat rides.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My Wow Moment is how disappointing Skansen was – wow, a real bummer. My wife and I went on Monday, June 1. We each paid about $30 (290 Krona) for admittance, the senior price, and apparently the senior full price. Alas, much of Skansen simply was not open, which caused us to feel cheated about paying the full fare. Several of the animal exhibits were not just closed, but discontinued. The red-wood Seglora Church was not open at 11 a.m., and still not open at 1 p.m. Etc. Wow - what a bummer."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had an amazing tour director who was so knowledgable in the history and cultures of the 3 countries. As the Scandanavian countries are my heritage, it was very meaningful for me.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The shear magnificent beauty of Norway, especially the mountains, valleys and fjords. It was so peaceful and serene."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

our tour leader Ylva was outstanding. she could teach a college level course on Scandinavian history!! the tour participants were very friendly and we all got along fabulously. no grumps!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"it had to be the visit to the small fishing village of Grebbestad. the boat ride provided fantastic views of the shoreline and the mussel soup afterwards was the best i've ever tasted. it would be worth the trip back. i would be remiss in not mentioning the Norway Resistance Museum, what courage."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As a first-timer, I had no idea what to expect, and was even second guessing my plan to go. Now I'm already looking forward to the next trip. Every facet of the trip was exceptional.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Norwegian fjord scenery."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour exceeded my expectations; and it was my first RS tour. I loved the balance between professional tours and an amazing guide Ylva, and free time to explore museums, sites, shopping and food on our own. All the hotels and staff were comfortable and the breakfasts delicious, but my favorites were Stockholm and of course Aero Island the hospitality of Adam at the Andelen B&B. A surprise to me was enjoying the Swedish seaside fishing town with the boat ride and delicious mussel & pea soup.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being my first RS tour, I loved the opportunity to be invited into the homes of guides to witness their experiences and cultures of Stockholm and Copenhagen. We were treated with a lovely dessert in Gamla Stan and homemade Danish hot dog meal and offered the time to relax and ask questions about their lived experiences in their homeland. I expected to be "wowed" by the natural beauty and artifacts, but the hospitality, generosity, and human connections were what touched my heart and passions."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a wonderful tour with a lot to see from the big cities to the mountains to the islands to the gorgeous fiords, very good local guides, excellent tour organizer Lotte and yummy food.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I truly liked everything. Maybe most impressive was the serenity of the fishing island. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great time. The tour was everything we expected and more. We also lucked out with the weather. Only one rainy day.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Bergen was beautiful. We lucked out and had a sunny day when we took the funicular to the top of Floyen. It was a beautiful view. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The hotels were centrally located downtown and easy to access activities the guides were knowledgeable and very intrusiastic to share their love of the area

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Riding the ferry through the fjords"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first RS tour and it didn’t disappoint- from our knowledgeable and caring tour guide Lottie to the rest of our fun, supportive tour group. Lots to see and do everyday. Local tour guides were an added bonus.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Everything! Stockholm, Aero Island and the scenic drive through the heart of Norway. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This is our 3rd RS tour, and as usual the guides, information, fellow travelers, and itinerary were top notch. We struggled with the tight hotel rooms, even more than our previous tours. Hotel amenities, ventilation, and bed comfort are making us have second thoughts about traveling with RS again. It was hard to feel rested each day.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Having our Stockholm tour guide invite us into his home in Gamla Stan. Seemed spontaneous, but I assume he knew he would ask 30 of us into his living room. What a personal and interesting way to experience Swedish living in a historic part of the city. He was so generous and open about his life."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Like my other RS's tours, this one was excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"One is too hard. The ferry out of Flam on the Aurlandsfjord, Bergen (favorite city) and the VASA museum"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was outstanding overall. Our guide Lotte, assistant Robert, and all of the local guides were knowledgeable, organized and enthusiastic. Great bus driver and group of fellow travelers as well.

Favorite "WOW" moment

" We loved visiting the smaller villages and especially the boat ride through the Swedish west coast archipelago."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall a wonderful tour experience. I learned so much about Scandinavia from the knowledgeable guides.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loved the fishing boat ride and lunch in Sweden."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent tour, well organized and a wonderful guide

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Geiranger Fjord boat trip"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Heidi was a great tour guide…very knowledgeable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loved visiting Copenhagen & Oslo"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great guide. Great educational experience learning about Scandinavia and its people and way of life.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being in Norway. I'm an outdoor enthusiast and loved all the openness, beauty, simple and relaxing atmosphere and their way of life."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my 5th Rick Steves tour and as always it was outstanding. Well organized, covered lots of ground (physically and educationally), and included amazing sights and offered unique and valuable experiences. This time I felt truly changed by traveling on this tour in ways that will stay with me far beyond the immediacy of the trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow was not one place or sight, but the entirety of what I learned about Scandinavia and my Norwegian heritage. It explained so much of who I am and why and where I came from. My BIGGEST "wow" was our outstanding, amazing guide, Heidi. I feel like she offered a Ph.D. course in all things Scandinavian: history, culture, geology, philosophy, religion and lots of treats! She cared for us, led us, supported us and did it all with an easy-going, well-organized style and great sense of humor. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Scandinavian tour was great! Our guide did a tremendous job!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The boat ride through the Norway fjord was a favorite, as well as exploring the cities of Stockholm, Copenhagen, Oslo and Bergen."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first Rick Steves tour and we hope to have more in our future. Our tour guide, Igor, was amazing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many but my favorite was our visit to fishing village with lunch and tour of fijords."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

There's a reason this tour fills up fast; it's a great tour. A combination of culture, history and scenery. The cities all have good public transport but are very walk-able. Igor set a comfortable pace and given his enthusiasm it seem he was enjoying himself as much as his charges.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It has to be the fjord cruise."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

A great sampling of the 3 countries! Tour guide Igor was outstanding and gave us individualized assistance. Optional activities before/after the tour included the ABBA museum, Skansen, the Glyptotek and add'l fjord tours (Hardangerfjord & Nærøyfjord on a sunny day!). Wise to repeat important experiences - it rained on our RS tour date. Food was better on this tour than some of our previous 10 tours but hotels had an extreme of great to tolerable. More time in the Norwegian mountains is needed

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Most of the experiences in the Norwegian mountains were "wow" moments. We made extra excursions to the Stegastein viewing platform, falls, etc. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful tour! Beautiful countries and fantastic sites. The scenery from the bus, boats and train was so beautiful. I always enjoy the museums. This trip did not disappoint. Great group of tour members and a fantastic tour guide, Igor.

Favorite "WOW" moment

" Seeing all the beautiful countryside. Each major city having its own style, I enjoyed the total experience. Unable to pinpoint one."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful tour with excellent primary guide and local guides. Hotels were good to excellent, food was good on all meals, and we had a great, positive supportive group to travel with. Transportation was seamless.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Taking the boat ride along the fjord and seeing dozens of waterfalls was spectacular. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Beautiful, inspiring, and exciting tour -- the cities are alive with history, democracy, vibrance--and the mountains and fjords are magnificent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Vigeland Sculpture Park in Oslo, haunting and powerful and the scale is tremendous. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The itinerary was an excellent tasting of each country; the capital cities and the easy time on Aero Island. Our tour leader, Igor, was always prepared and cared about each and every participant. The hotels were excellent and always close to the action for our free time use. Our fellow tour members supported each other. We meet the nicest people on Rick Steves tours.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The time in the wilds of Norway, the Sognefjord cruise."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our 6th RS Tour. The Scandinavian Tour was great. Our guide, Igor, was awesome! He did an outstanding job! He cared for each one of us during the entire tour. Transportation was seamless. The itinerary and free time were perfect. Visiting the three countries and learning about each of them was beautiful. Meals and hotels were also very good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many wow moments to list."

Literally, perfect in every way. All tour stops, hotel accomadations and breakfasts, and other group meals were a delight. The pace was appropriate and using different modes of transportation was fun. We had a delightful group of fellow travelers. Pal was the perfect tour guide with his knowledge, eye for detail, and his desire to share his native Scandinavia with us. For free time options, he offered great suggestions for things to see and places to eat that we might have otherwise missed.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too hard to single out just one. The entire tour was one big “wow”! Many meals were to not be forgotten including that tasty brown cheese, and traveling by train and ferry were special. We enjoyed our interactions with the people who call this area “home” starting with our incredible tour guide Pal. This was our 4th RS tour and each has been an excellent experience, yet there was something special about this trip. I was able to connect with my Swedish heritage and I will be forever grateful!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It exceeded our expectations

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The island of Aero. It was such a peaceful retreat after mostly touring in cities ( Stockholm and Oslo)"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

very well planned and enjoyable tour

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sognefjord cruise"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was better than we expected, the guide was amazing and he made the difference in a lot a small but important ways. The hotels were all good and centrally located. The local guides were all good, some of them were outstanding as well

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many including the island of aero, the visit the day to the archipelago and the mussel soup. The sognefiord had to be the highlight "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Lots of friendly, smart travelers with us and a great Norwegian leader with integrity, whose caring and deep roots in Scandanavia kept us entertained and curious.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The sculpture garden of GUSTAV VIGELAND."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Pål was a phenomenal tour guide and our experience in Scandinavia was superb! We learned so much about the history, culture, food, social norms, and political systems of each country. Every day was a new adventure.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Ærø Island was awesome, the Sognefjord was majestic, and each of the citiies we visited had their own unique wow moments. But the interactions with the people in shops, restaurants, the archipelego boat ride, our fellow travelers, and our tour guide truly made this a tour to remember. And one young Swedish man told my husband that he would make a good Scandinavia (which is good because my husband is 50% Swedish)! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A wonderful time. Thoroughly enjoyed touring beautiful sites in Scandinavia and getting to know its distinct culture.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The majesty of the fjords. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Outstanding! Such a lovely region of the world! Our guide was fabulous as was our bus driver. The hotels were exactly what we expect from a Rick Steves tour and the food included in the tour was delicious.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The scenery overall, but especially the fjords boat ride and all of the waterfalls we saw during our ride into and out of the Norwegian mountains."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Pal was outstanding. He was extremely competent, pleasant to be with, informative, and patient. The ratio of structured to free time offered a good balance. The hotels were congenial and well located. The meals/restaurants offered representative foods, of very good quality.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting Oslo, seeing Frogner Park, the boat ride on the fjords, Oslo City Hall biking on Aeros Island, Stockholm tour of the Old Town and City Hall Copenhagen tour of the Rosenborg Castle, visiting Reffen, the Viking Museum"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guide and great fellow travelers

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Fjord boat ride"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our 16th Rick Steves tour, but our first trip to Scandinavia. We learned so much from our excellent guide, Pol.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were lots, but the Viegland Sculpture Park in Oslo certainly ranks at the top!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our tour guide, Pål Bjarne Johansen, did a stellar job of leading us through Scandanavia. The trip was interspersed with a number of excellent local guides. We saw the highlights.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"boat ride through the Swedish archipelago and fjord cruise."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our Scandinavian tour was wonderful overall, we had superior weather, a nice group, and a wonderful guide, Pal. We enjoyed the three capitol cities as well as time in the beautiful countryside of Aero Island, the Swedish archipelago, and the Norwegian mountains.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The fiord tour was spectacular, I was wowed by all the waterfalls and tiny little villages dotting the shoreline. We also enjoyed the Danish Island Aero and the bike ride we did on a free afternoon. It was peaceful and beautiful with flowers and trees all in bloom."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

From start to finish, we were well taken care of, informed in history, local logistics and culture, all while having lots of fun and feeling like a community.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our guide said we were stopping for lunch and a boat ride on our drive up the Swedish coast. It was amazing! A family run restaurant and boat ride. Boating was lovely, motoring through a beautiful archipelago, learning about local sea life. And then lunch .... charming space, beautifully decorated and lit, elegant table set with wine glasses, served by another family member. Delicious mussel stew and vegetarian soup, fresh bread, cheeses,salad, and Swedish wine that was delightful. Chef's kiss!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The 2 week Scandinavia Tour was AMAZING! We learned so much about the history, culture and food of the region. We experienced such beautiful scenery and were encouraged/inspired to think about life in new ways.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It is so hard to choose but I think cruising the fjord in Norway was the most awe-inspiring. I also loved the peace and beauty of our time on Aero Island. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide, Gabriella, made our trip very special. I asked her about Lefsa and the bus had Lefsa for a treat. I asked about Rommegrot and she found a place where I could have Rommegrot at a Norwegian restaurant with a waitress discussing not only the food but another amount of Norwegian History. This was an amazing lunch for all that came with me.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Gabrielle father took us on a Stockholm tour and brought us to his home. To see, discuss with cookies was great as we could see the insides of a home. The home was an apt. that he bought and how he had 3 kids living in such a small home and how he had changed it now that the kids were gone. Great to be in a home. I also thought that the Roumegrot lunch was perfect."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my 15th tour with Rick Steves and as always, I was very impressed. I know that I can trust that I will not be disappointed.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were multiple "Wow" moments every day. One favorite memory was taking a solo walk before breakfast along a quaint walking path on Aero Island (Denmark). The path passed by storybook perfect homes and gardens on one side and beach on the other. However, the mountains, fjords, museums, food, and parks were very impressive as well."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Gabby is the best guide ever, energy and knowledge with all aspects of the region.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The wow moment was the fjord in Norway, breath taking views."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Gabi is the best tour guide I have ever experienced. She made the whole tour great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It was not as much a moment, but something Gabi said and I still think about. In a personal conversation she compared living in Stockholm to living in Brazil. She said she felt free in Stockholm because she was never afraid of crime, while in Brazil she would only go out at certain times and not wear her jewelry. For her the high taxes and social supports were what allowed for her freedom."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Gabby was wonderful. Her joyful exuberance was infections in a good way. Our connection was so good that I still miss her a week later. The tour was well planed with time for members to explore on their own, but with guidance from our tour guide. Still, there was never quite enough time to do everything that I wished to do. I think it’s always best to leave before you run out of things that interest you.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our opening tour of Stockholm with the local guide who just happens to be our tour guide’s father was wonderful. I felt I was very personally welcomed to their home and to the Gamla Stan neighborhood. Thus the tour began with a very congenial start that lasted throughout the trip."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our 6th RS Tour and our best one yet for one simple reason - our guide - Gabi. In a word, she is exception. We were hooked on the tour 'model' 16 years ago doing the Best of Venice, Florence and Rome with Ben. He was excellent. What we learned over 6 tours is that the guide makes the tour. Ben set the bar. Our other guides were very good, Declan (Ireland) was excellent, but Ben set the bar. At the farewell dinner I told Gabi she had bested the bar, 'better than Ben'!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to list!! Gabi brought Scandinavia to life for us with her energy, passion, knowledge of the culture, the history, the people. My favorites - her 'Fika' moments, the K-pop sing along on the bus when we got stuck in a traffic jam, the moment I asked about the Stockholm subway system and she took one look at me, 'swiped left' to find my far more tech savvy adult daughter, and then helped her load the metro app & set us off - I loved it! Just a few from a very memorable two weeks!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide, Gabby was exceptional! Her deep understanding and knowledge of each experience combined with her enthusiastic delivery, makes each tour experience educational and entertaining. She brought the culture to life. The best tour ever!!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Everything was a WOW experience. I guess if I had to pick one, I would have to say the island of Ærø in Demark. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was an excellent introduction to Sweden, Denmark and Norway. It was packed with activities and we saw a variety places in Scandinavia. I enjoyed the different modes of transportation we took: bus, train, multiple boat trips, and the funicular in Bergen. If traveling on my own, there is no way I could do so many activities in such a short time. Also I enjoyed the free afternoons where I visited the Natural History Museum in Stockholm and the Aquarium in Bergen.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I have three favorite wow moments. One is just all the things we were able to do on the trip. The second was in Copenhagen, where one evening our tour guide showed us how to get to Tivoli Gardens from our hotel using the subway which saved a lot of walking. The third was watching all the waterfalls cascading down the sides of the Sognefjord in Norway."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

What a wonderful way to experience Sweden, Denmark and Norway! The tour featured a nice balance of city experiences like museums along with country experiences like biking along waterfront trails and enjoying lunch on the shore of a fjord. Our guide, Gabriella, provided a perfect blend of enthusiasm, knowledge, friendliness and Fika.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many! Getting out of the bus, standing amongst the tall, snow-covered Norwegian mountains, biking and jumping into the Baltic Sea on Aero Island, and hiking Mount Floyen in Bergen were on the top of the list."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Every day was a new adventure. We got to explore old towns, vibrant neighborhoods, scenic countryside and wonderful new cultures.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The fjord. WOW! Stunning!!! But my favorite SURPRISE wow was Oslo. As we left for Oslo I thought nothing could beat Copenhagen. I set myself up for disappointment. Boy was I wrong! We all got an Oslo pass and packed as much into one day as we possibly could. We, my husband and I, took a ferry, went through 2 museums, took the ferry back, went through another museum. Saw “The Scream😱”. Had supper and took a harbor boat ride. I loved every minute of that day!!!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I had a wonderful experience on the tour to Scandinavia. Tour is well organized with excellent tour guides and well thought out itinerary. All hotels were in convenient location with easy access to public transportation, restaurants and shops.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our group was invited to the local tour guides' homes for snacks and meals, which made us feel very special and appreciated. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well organized, centrally located hotels, wonderful tour guides showing us beautiful amazing countries.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the lunch and boat ride at the adorable B&B in Grebbestad, Sweden. The lunch was excellent and the scenery on the hour boat ride was stunning."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was my first trip to Scandinavia and it was amazing. The landscape was beautiful but more impressive was the culture and the people. I had read a lot about Scandinavia over the years and it didn’t disappoint.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our guides were great. I appreciated their willingness to discuss the culture of the countries and the politics including some of their difficulties. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our 3rd "Best of" RS tour. All have been wonderful with the emphasis on experiencing each country on its own merits. Thoroughly enjoyable

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loved all the cities especially Oslo and the fishing village in Sweden was surreal but the Fjord cruise was my personal favorite."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Wonderful tour with great, knowledgeable guides.

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This trip had been on my "bucket list " for a long time; it was well worth waiting for! With the exception of two meals, everything exceeded my expectations. The guides were warm, professional, absolutely expert; the hotels were in wonderful locations and offered comfortable, if sometimes quirky, accommodations; meals reflected the cultures and traditions of the cities in which we enjoyed them; the scenery was amazing!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cruise on the fjord; in spite of fog and rain the scenery was stunning!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great balance of group events and free time. Great guides and information shared to learn about the various countries, politics, cultural norms, etc…

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The fjord boat trip would have been it if not for the pouring rain. The small boat tour with lunch in Grebbestad in the small workshop above the entrance was excellent!! The biking, lunch, and night watchman orientation in Denmark were also excellent! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very enjoyable loved all the sites

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The scenery in every country"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guides throughout the tour. Shout out to Yvla and Lottie who invited in their homes to experience what living in Sweden and Denmark is like today.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Danish Crown Jewels-very impressive. Staying in the Norwegian mountains "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent guide and well planned itinerary. We had a wonderful time and the group was fun to be with

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow moment was learning more about how each country's government provided for their people better than our own and how their representatives work more for compromise than division keeping the people's needs at heart. Makes me wish our own country was run this way."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Even the air in Scandinavia smells great - including the cities! From the coastal cities to the snow-topped fjords, it was so diverse and inspiring. The bus took us to beautiful waterfalls, small villages, boating through the islands, It is wonderful to relax and let our wonderful bus driver, Mike, do the driving. As a fan of sailing ships, we got to view 4 different ships in 4 different museums. The "free" time allowed us to explore cultural museums,

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide Heidi was exceptional

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Everything!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Scandinavia was the most interesting and different tour that we have enjoyed of all the Rick Steve's tours so far. This is number five and we couldn't have enjoyed it more. We traveled by bus, car, train, metro, boat, funicular, ferry, and foot. The landscape was beautiful and awe inspiring and our guide Heidi was the most knowledgeable and fun guide we have had on any of our tours.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The tour of the fjords in Norway."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well organized, the guides Heidi and Axel were well versed in all things Scandinavian.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Norwegian boat tour of the fjords. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Heidi and Axel were exceptional guides for our trip The travelers were A+ positive group who mingled and traveled well together

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to count: Hotel Gastis, boat ride thru Swedish archipelago,Oslo and Fram/KonTtiki and Resistance Museums,NORWAY MOUNTAINS AND FJORD CRUISE and history of Bergen"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Another great RS Tour. with an excellent guide

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Norwegian Fjord "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

our guide,Heidi, facilitated a no stress journey to my ‘homeland’…it came alive with Heidi’s narration and all of our local guides. A great balance between structured and unstructured time…our hotels and great breakfasts added to the richness of the tour and the group size was perfect

Favorite "WOW" moment

"the ‘pop-up’ Hans C Anderson storyteller and so many more!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Good pace, great guide

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved Christiania, which we saw on our own & Oslo & Oslo’s city guide, Turin who played a variety of flutes for us."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is our 5th RS Tour. Never disappoints! Always high quality guides, unique experiences, great education, good hotels.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The fjords were beautiful! But the time on the island of Aero and our lunch by Hannah and boat ride on the archipelago was truly memorable!! "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Well run, great bunch of people and excellent accommodation

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Surprise local excursions and stops"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a wonderful experience. Your guide (Igor) was terrific. He really knows his stuff, he’s very personable, he did an excellent job of keeping everything on track etc., etc. The sites visited, the hotels, the meals were all excellent. My fellow tour mates were great; very friendly, outgoing, curious and thoughtful people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Vasa warship was fantastic."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our guide was knowledgeable, engaging and largely organized. Fellow travelers were affable. Locations were quite scenic. Accommodations were good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Boat Road on Norway's Largest Fjord"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first experience with an organized tour, and it exceeded our expectations. The entire trip felt seamless from beginning to end. We were impressed by how well each day was organized and how clearly the plans and expectations were communicated. The itinerary made excellent use of our time and gave us a meaningful “flavor” of each city and region we visited. We did not simply visit museums and historical sites; we felt we experienced the culture in a deeper and more memorable way.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It’s difficult to narrow it down to one “wow” moment. The experiences that stand out most are the ones we never would have found on our own, especially lunch at the fishing village, the boat ride on the Swedish coast, and staying at Osterbo Fjellstove. The mountains and fjord were my favorite part of the tour."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My 99 full journal pages describes a fantastic Scandinavian expedition led by our great guide Igor. Igor orchestrated without error, the sights, cultural events and histories, fostering a good synergy of travelers. I echo all the previous comments by my travel colleagues. Constitution Day in Bergen was a surprise experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"One of the benefits of a Rick Steves Tour is the personal time allocated. I found the Christiania neighborhood in Copenhagen provocative, enlightening, and fun! Igor (and his dad) inviting us into their family home in Stockholm was something you won't find in any other tour anywhere!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The places we visited were all interesting. The accommodations were comfortable and convenient, with great breakfasts. The guides were all fantastic - very knowledgeable and friendly. Our group tour guide was amazing - so helpful!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lunch and a boat ride at a small Norwegian village."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall, this tour exceeded my expectations! It had a wonderful balance of organized group activities and free time to explore on our own. I loved that this tour had a balance of historical sites/ museums and opportunities to explore nature and the outdoors! I also loved all the cultural experiences that were included, especially, being in Bergen on Constitution Day—what fun!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had so many WOW moments throughout the tour including The Vasa Museum, bike riding on Aero to the ancient burial mound, the boat ride and lunch in Grebbestad, hiking in Østerbø, the fjord boat ride, and spending the day in Bergen on Constitution Day. As you can see, I loved this tour!❤️"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was well paced and provided an excellent overview of the three countries and their individual cultures and terrain.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Very much enjoyed all three countries. However, the rugged landscapes of Norway were breathtaking. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Exceeded expectations

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Driving through the frozen highlands in Norway. Constitution Day in Bergen was a close 2nd."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great experience. Perfect mix of guided activities and free time. Our first RS tour and there will be more.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Really enjoyed the scenery, especially the bus rides through Norway and the included stop at the neolithic(?) rock drawings (would have liked to spend an hour there and done a quick hike through the woods), "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We knew that the scenery in Scandinavia would be fabulous but the question mark on tours is always the people you spend so much time with. Our group was fun, punctual and entertaining with Gabi providing the right mix of history, culture and folklore about the three countries we saw. Charles, our driver quickly became part of the fun. We loved using WhatsApp to update our itinerary and share pictures.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The lunch and boat ride in Grebbestad was the highlight of the trip. The small boat ride around the archipelago was breathtaking as was the lunch of pea or mussel soup and homemade bread."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We experienced a huge variety of historical, cultural and artistic sites. The guides and people were knowledgeable and motivating. Every day was a new and different adventure and I enjoyed every moment.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We visited some bronze age rock art. It was a quite, out of the way little side trip, but it was a peaceful excursion that took me way back in time. It was art, nature, and a way to think about people long before me that felt deep. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Outstanding in every facet from signing up to final checkout of hotel.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Turning the corner upon entering the Vasa museum in Stockholm and seeing the magnificent ship."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was everything that I hoped it would be. Our guide was so bright, engaging and fun; our group was a super mix of ages and personalities and we were all Rick Steves minded travelers. The day always began with an OUTSTANDING breakfast; our hotels varied in style but all were conveniently located; our city guides were so knowledgeable and in love with their homes and shared that love: The modes of transportation included boats, train, tram and the bus and we had 14 days of Scandinavian sun

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Vigeland Park in Oslo. I didn't expect to be so emotionally taken in by the statues' grandeur and simplicity and relatability. The first statue of the artist, the obelisk on the hill to the simple final statue of the young Holocaust victim and all in between had to be experienced to be believed. Oslo sure is lucky to have such a park."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was wonderful! As the only Canadian on the tour I felt very welcomed by my American co travellers. The our guide was outstanding . The hotels and meals were very good. I felt very taken care of.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The fjord in Norway."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The best Rick Steves Tour yet of my 15 tours

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Driving down from Auraland to Flam thru the snow and low hanging clouds in the valleys!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Organized, excellent accommodations, fantastic guides!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had so many wow moments it’s not possible to select just one. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very energetic guide introduced us to a part of Europe I was not very familiar with. Enjoyed tour a lot.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hans Christian Anderson meeting us outside a restaurant and then talking to us inside. He put a personal touch on some of the Hans Christian Anderson stories."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our Best of Scandinavia tour opened our eyes to three nations who consider their people to be their most cherished resource. We wish the U.S. did the same.Our tour included a wide range of experiences from big cities to a small island, smaller towns, and a remote mountain resort, a good way to experience the diversity across Sweden, Denmark, and Norway. We tried new foods: reindeer, mussel soup, and pickled herring. We learned a lot about boats, Vikings, art, folklore, architecture and history.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved wandering the village of Ærøskøbing on Ærø Island, seeing the candy-colored row houses, the brides with their wedding parties on the square, the windmill, and the little row of beach huts along the shore. It gave me a feel for small-town life in Denmark over the centuries, and showed the resilience of locals in making a plan to rejuvenate the local economy when their population dwindled."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was well-designed, with an excellent balance of big city experiences and small-town relaxation. I learned so much about each country and feel better knowing I can distinguish them and not just group them together. Gabriella was an outstanding tour guide and our group members were all friendly and adventurous.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There's always more than one! Seeing the Vasa in the museum was surprisingly impressive, the delicious food and boat ride in Grebbestad, and our time on Aero Island and in the Norwegian mountains were all wow highlights for me."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Enjoyed the sights but most of all learning and seeing how a socialist government works What this model of government gives quality of life to it’s citizens

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow moment was interacting with a local on the island of Aero We shared gardening tips and experiences of our gardens She invited us into her home and garden Such fun was tempted to leave tour and help with the weeding of her garden Again different country same issues of life"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I have dreaming about taking this tour for 10+ years, and it far exceeded my expectations! First, our tour guide Ylva was the best guide we have ever had (this is our 5th Rick Steves tour)! She was extremely knowledgeable, very caring, took care of my vegetarian dietary needs exceedingly well, has a great sense of humor which added greatly to the entire tour, lots of fun, joined each of us at all of our meals. Took us to some great unexpected sites also.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting Ylva's home in Gamla Stan. My husband and I had been wondering about what it would be like to live in that amazing place Gamla Stan. Next was visiting Ylva's friend Lotte's home in outskirts of Copenhagen. Stepping outside of our Norway mountain hotel, and seeing that we were surrounded by mountains topped with snow. Taking a hike with Ylva after dinner at our Norway mountain hotel. Picnic lunch after our cruise through the Sognefjord. Learning about Swedish social programs."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I liked everything about the tour. The hotels and the hotel breakfasts were outstanding as well as their other services. All of the local guides were very informative as we learned about the culture, the political and social systems. Our bus driver and tour guide were outstanding. Our driver was very friendly and helped with our luggage and our tour guide had very helpful advice on how to use the local transit systems and what to do on our free time. i liked that we had time to explore on our ow

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Norwegian mountain hostel. I loved the scenery and mountain hike. It reminded me of a northern Vermont hostel except that we had nicer rooms and our own bathroom. I wish we had more time there."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our first Rick Steves' tour -- 21 days in Europe set the bar really high, but this Scandinavian tour met all our expectations. Scandinavia is absolutely stunning and Ylva shared so much of the background and history, economics and politics of the three countries that made the trip really meaningful. We really enjoyed the visit to Ylva's home and also that of Lada (not sure of the spelling but she is a newer guide who met us in Denmark). Seeing how people live in these countries was a great!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Wow moments: The beauty and vastness of the fjords and mountains; the lavishness of the Danish Crown Jewels; the waterfalls; the viking ships, Kon Tiki Museum and the Norweigian National Museum are just a few."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My tour experience was outstanding for many reasons. I learned so much about each country in Scandinavia while traveling through vibrant, clean cities and beautiful countrysides.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many “wow” moments-the first that comes to mind is the late afternoon spent at Frogner Park in Oslo. It was windy and partly sunny which provided a wonderful backdrop for viewing all of the wonderful sculptures. They are grand in size and offer interesting emotional interpretations when focusing on the details of each work. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The combination of orientation to a location via a city walk and time to explore on our own was well balanced.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cruise up the fjord."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was terrific. I've wanted to do this tour for some time and was happy that my husband and I got a spot this year. Our guide Pål was excellent. He is experienced, enthusiastic and motivated to share the culture of these countries. We enjoyed the group that we traveled with and had good weather to include no rain.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved each day! The city tour guides were informative and very good, Ærø Island was fun, relaxing and the Sognefjord cruise was beautiful. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was amazed by how many different activities they found for us. There was never a dull moment as they opened our eyes to all things Scandinavian

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Opening the curtains in Copenhagen to the bustling harbor front scene with brightly coloured buildings, outdoor cafe scenes, bicycles flowing past, boats floating by and no cars(in sight)"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Pal, worked tirelessly to make sure every moment of our trip was perfect! His kind and patient demeanor coupled with his expansive knowledge of the geography, culture, foods, history and lore of Scandinavia meant we were constantly learning new things, tasting local foods and seeing the best each place had to offer. The hotels were top notch including our hotel in Copenhagen that looked out on the gorgeous Nyhavn canal! Each day was amazing thanks to our guide, Pal! We loved it!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many "wow" moments on our tour! A standout for us was cruising through the Sognefjord and taking in the sparkling green waters, towering waterfalls cascading down the steep rock cliffs while looking at snowcapped mountains in the distance. It was truly magical."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our second Rick Steves tour and it did not disappoint! Everything went so smoothly. The hotels and restaurants chosen were very special. Our guide was the best! We got to experience things that the usual large travel groups don't.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Aeroskobing! What a wonderful island town. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Tour was very good but felt rushed many times. The majority of our tour group were older folks who had a hard time keeping up with the walking pace.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loved Bergin and also really enjoyed Copenhagen."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved the hotel locations (central, convenient and stress free). The tour was extremely organized and efficient. Our tour guide Pal was the best I have ever had. Our bus driver too. Pal was so knowledgeable, consistently pleasant, sensitive to every detail, friendly, great listener/communicator & a wonderful ambassador to each of the countries we toured. He made the trip interesting, & fun; sharing stories, games, music, songs, folklore, poetry, and introducing snacks/foods to try. Excellent!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The archipelago/boat ride/restaurant in Sweden, & drive through the mountains and fjords were the highlights of the trip. for me. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic Guide. Beautiful Countries. Wonderful new friends on the tour. Perfect weather.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Biking on Aero."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Pal Johansen was a wonderful tour leader! He was so well organized, informative and fun! Scandinavia - Sweden, Denmark and Norway - are culturally, geographically and historically different from other European countries I have visited. I loved all of the food varieties - especially the herring! I favor social welfare states and how they provide for the people, and how the people have a fundamental trust in their governments. Such a focus on the environment and a warming planet! Let's return!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Shouldn't that be plural? We were there for 15 days, and it never rained until the latter part of the last day, in Bergen. I was amazed at how clean their waterways are. Healthy populations of fish. People swim in the canals of Copenhagen. The water's chilly, but they even skinny-dip right in the city center! I loved the colors of the buildings along Nyhavn and how they changed depending on the position of the sun. Such amazing histories for each country. And how about those Vikings! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a very good, well planned tour. Our guide, Pal was excellent. We got a good taste for each country we stayed in. The history was very interesting and informative. The scenery, especially in the countryside was pretty spectacular.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There's always more than one, but this time, I'm going have to say the ride through Sognefjord (sp?). I've never seen anything like that. They even arranged to have snow on top of the mountains, to make it more scenic."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is my 16th Rick Steves tour. From my perspective, this is the very best of numerous "best" tours.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Staying at the mountain lodge on Norway's fjord with our gang of travelers. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My first tour of any type – it was totally fantastic. For me it had the right mix of cities and small places, free and planned time, meals together and separately. Our tour guide, Heidi, was perfect, presenting cultural/political/local information in a way that was extremely helpful and enhanced the trip. I loved the smaller locations that I would never have found. The trip covered large distances, the bus was very comfortable and driver great. As a single traveler I was always comfortable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably the boat tour in fjord near Grebbestad and the lunch there - a fantastic place I never would have found, or been able to reach easily, on my own. Really I loved the whole tour - for me the smaller places were more WOW moments than the cities. The island of Aero was a revelation!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first Rick Steves tour and it was better than the six or so tours we have taken previously. Well done !

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Aero Island was terrific and much more fun and interesting than I expected."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Well organized, expectations very clear, guides were winderful

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing and experiencing the fiords in Norway"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was an amazing tour. Our tour guide Heidi made this tour extremely wonderful. All hotel locations were perfect, located near the harbors and main attractions. Food selections were delicious, along with sweet Heidi treats.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The very long tunnels in Norway were something I have not experiences. I loved the Island life in Ærø, Denmark. Very relaxing and quiet. The food, the people, and the architecture were my highlight."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first Rick Steves tour and our first bus/group tour as we usually take cruises. We really enjoyed it, although we weren’t quite used to the level of activity (but the excellent tour description did let us know in advance what to expect). It was a good mix of guided activity and free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The island of Aero. It was a respite from the daily high-level of activity of the tour and a unique spot where we could wander around and just enjoy the lovely small town and countryside."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour guide (Gabriella) and even the weather was good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The fjord cruise was awe inspiring. Amazing beauty."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This whirlwind tour of three countries beautifully covered the intertwined history, differences between the cultures, tasty local cuisines, and lovely scenery of the three countries. Much of what we saw and learned was new to us. Gabriella was an enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and caring tour guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The city of Oslo was my "wow" moment. I loved the many sculptures around the city, modern opera house, and redeveloped harbor area."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my 15th Rick Steves trip and it stands right along with the rest as some of the best travel I've done. Scandinavia is an amazing place and we got to see great highlights of the three countries, guides and bus drivers were fabulous, so knowledgable and gracious and helpful, hotels quirky cool and well located, food and drink excellent, good level of activity (we like active tours). Overall, it just couldn't have been better!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For me, the whole tour is a "wow" moment! Last time I traveled in Scandinavia was 1988 and it was so cool to see it all again. Loved the cities, especially Copenhagen, but Stockholm and Bergen were also wonderful. But Scandinavia is all about beautiful scenery and it did not disappoint with the "wedding" island of Aero and on the fjords. So beautiful! Loved all the individual and shared histories of the countries. Love the fika. Loved the Viking Museum and the Vasa, and Trivoli! "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Met my expectations

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cruise thru the fiords "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Charming cities, energetic guide, friendly bus driver.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We we're wowed by the fjord cruise: majestic scenery, and fortunate good weather window. Rain returned once we were back on the bus "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We were hesitant to try a Rick Steves trip as we had always traveled on our own. Last year was our first and absolutely loved it!!! Now we are hooked!!! From From our fellow travelers, to our amazing tour guide, to all the expert guides and the sites and experiences — it was all top notch!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved Aero Island!!! So quaint, cute and quiet. Nice to be out of a BIG city !"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We had a very interesting tour, we learned a lot from our tour guide Gabby, and the individual tour guides from the specific cities. Plus the landscape was beautiful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The fjords of Norway."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Gabriella, was absolutely fantastic! I learned so much about Scandinavian history, and social & economic issues. Gaby was energetic and so much fun. The local guides were very good & easy to understand. The group dinners were outstanding!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cruising down the beautiful fjords in Norway."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide Gabby was informative, energetic and kept tour members engaged. Hotels were really well located for seeing the sights on our own and I appreciated that the hotel in Stockholm also included dinner. Being jetlagged and not having to think about where to eat my first night in town was very helpful. The selected places for our group meals was overall very good except in Oslo. The cod dish was not well received by those who ordered it. Appreciate the addition of the Oslo card.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"To be honest, I really didn't know much about Scandinavia prior to this trip,but have always wanted to visit the area. This tour gave me an opportunity to learn more about the Nordic culture and the Viking history. The scenery was beautiful (even in the cities) but I really appreciated being in smaller towns and the countryside. The cruise on the fiords in Norway was definitely a highlight for me. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Outstanding from start to finish

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Aero island, fishing village lunch and boat ride, Fiord cruise"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

... engaging and fun. We appreciated the professionalism of our guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the guide's home in Stockholm. Also, the electric boat ride in the fishing village."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour experience was wonderful. Gabi was an engaging, knowledgeable and thoroughly attentive and endearing guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Many wow moments and fyord cruise would be a logical choice but really was blown away by the unexpected athletic folk dancer at the open air folk museum in the mountains of Norway. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Boat ride and lunch in Grebbestad"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A wonderfully crafted itinerary of experiences, the beauty of so many locations, urban and rural/wild, great guides throughout, such as Benny in Copenhagen, but most especially our full-time guide,Yvla. Yvla was energetic, enthusiastic, informative, and organized, but perhaps best of all so utterly optimistic and excited about sharing all of these places with us. I thought Copenhagen and Bergen would be my favorites, but it was Stockholm, Oslo, Aero, Flam. Such surprises are the gift of travel.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cannot pick! Maybe the swimming competition in the canal in Copenhagen, maybe the amazing fjord trip from Flåm, maybe the waterfalls and sheep in the road in Norway’s mountains, maybe the Oslo opera house, maybe the architecture in Stockholm and the beautiful rolling hills beyond, maybe that the water is pure enough to both drink and swim in right in the cities. And of course the mindset of people supporting one another - an approach to life we could use more of at home."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

As usual with a Rick Steves tour, the experience is worth sharing. Our guides, beginning with our Rick Steves tour guide Ylva, were the best. The guide has a big impact on your tour experience and this tour was outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The lunch and boat ride on the rocky Swedish West coast and the cruise through the Sognefjord made me say Wow!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Another great group of people who got along splendidly. Ylva was a wonderful tour guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Vasa was even better than I hoped and was my favorite experience. However, going through the Viking Ship Museum came pretty close to second. The stave church is a close third. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I learned to appreciate Scandinavia with the knowledge, stories, music, and experiences shared by our wonderful guide, Ylva. Fellow travelers were wonderful and I looked forward to seeing them each day.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Rather than a specific location or activity, I was Wowed by the philosophy embraced by the people of the region. I.e. We all do better when we all do better. That, and how everyone embraces the outdoors and appreciates nature. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I learned so much about this area of the world. Met nice folks. Excellent tour guide

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Definitely the time we spent on the boat ride out along the archipelago on the way to Oslo and the lunch in the quiet business there. They were so friendly and accommodating. This is where I felt the most immersed in the Scandinavian culture. Wish we'd had longer there."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Enjoyed your itinerary and the location of each hotel. Guide was fabulous.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Riding the bus down to the Fjords and stopping for the spectacular views. Views on the decent was fantastic. Another treat was 2 nights on the island of Aero. "