This 16-Day Nordic Trip Includes a Night in a Glass Igloo

Check into your Oslo hotel, then set out on foot to discover the creative side of Norway’s capital. Browse the cafés and boutiques of the Grünerløkka neighborhood, admire the Barcode district’s striking architecture, and wander among the sculptures of Ekeberg Park. Make time for the waterfront Munch Museum, home to the iconic work The Scream, before joining your guide and fellow travelers for a welcome dinner back at the hotel.

On the second day of your trip, board a private coach for a three-hour sightseeing tour of Oslo’s highlights, including Vigeland Sculpture Park, the Oslo Opera House, and Holmenkollen Ski Jump. Spend the afternoon discovering the museum-filled Bygdøy Peninsula at your own pace; the open-air Norsk Folkemuseum traces Norwegian life through historic buildings relocated from across the country. Finish with dinner on your own at Statholdergaarden or the more casual Little Pickle.

Walk to Oslo Central Station to begin the Norway in a Nutshell journey, a popular route that condenses the country’s stunning fjord and mountain landscapes. The train climbs through increasingly dramatic mountain scenery en route to Myrdal, where you’ll transfer to the Flåm Railway, one of the world’s steepest standard-gauge lines.

After descending through waterfall-lined valleys to Flåm, check into your hotel and explore the small village independently, followed by dinner back at the hotel. After breakfast the next day, depart Flåm by boat, cruising between the steep mountains and waterfalls of the UNESCO-listed Nærøyfjord.

On arrival in Gudvangen, continue by bus on a scenic ride to Voss, where you’ll board the train for Bergen, Norway’s second-largest city. Transfer to your hotel, then spend the evening along the harbor and dine at a local institution such as Bryggeloftet & Stuene.

Join a local guide for a closer look at Bergen’s history, beginning with the wooden warehouses of Bryggen, the city’s old wharf. Continue to medieval St. Mary’s Church and Håkon’s Hall before riding the Fløibanen funicular up Mount Fløyen for panoramic views across the city and sea.

Later, transfer to the Hurtigruten terminal for check-in and embarkation procedures. In the evening, depart Bergen and begin your northbound voyage along the Norwegian coast.

Wake up as the ship passes through Nordfjord and rounds the rugged Stadlandet peninsula. Dock in Ålesund and wander among the city’s celebrated art nouveau façades, visit the Atlantic Sea Park, or climb the steps to Mount Aksla for views over the surrounding archipelago. Return aboard for the evening journey to Molde, where the distant peaks of the Molde Panorama rise beyond the fjord.

Arrive early in Trondheim, Norway’s first capital, and spend the morning among its medieval landmarks, riverside warehouses, and lively cafés. You may also opt to join an excursion, such as kayaking on the Nidelva River or a guided tour of Nidaros Cathedral, an important pilgrimage site.

In the afternoon, the ship turns northwest, passing the red Kjeungskjær Lighthouse before continuing toward Rørvik and the island-dotted Vikna archipelago. Cross the Arctic Circle in the morning and make a brief call at Ørnes near Svartisen, Norway’s second-largest glacier.

Continue to Bodø where you can join a coastal walk or guided bus tour. Later, enter the Lofoten archipelago, stopping at Stamsund and Svolvær where you may visit a local brewery. After dark, watch the open sky for a possible appearance by the Northern Lights. Now that you’re above the Arctic Circle, your chances of spotting this natural phenomenon increase.

Call at Harstad and take a quiet walk ashore before continuing north to Finnsnes, the gateway to the island of Senja. By the afternoon, reach Tromsø, often called the Arctic capital for its size and cultural scene.

Explore the compact city center on your own or join a polar history tour. You can also visit the Polaria aquarium to learn more about Arctic research and marine life or stop by Mack Brewery and the historic pub of Ølhallen for a taste of local beers.

Depart beneath the jagged Lyngen Alps, bound toward Skjervøy. After early morning calls at Hammerfest and Havøysund, arrive in Honningsvåg, one of Norway’s northernmost towns.

Travel to the North Cape plateau—the northernmost point in Europe reachable by road—for sweeping views over the Barents Sea, watching for grazing reindeer along the way. Sail to Kjøllefjord, where you can join an optional excursion to meet a Sámi reindeer-herding family. Later, pass Slettnes Lighthouse, the northernmost mainland lighthouse in the world, en route to Berlevåg.

After a final breakfast aboard, disembark in Kirkenes and transfer to Snowhotel Kirkenes for a freshly prepared tasting of king crab, a local delicacy. Then, cross into Finland by bus, watching open Arctic landscapes and snow-covered forests pass outside the window.

Arrive in Saariselkä, a village in Finnish Lapland, settle into your hotel, and enjoy dinner followed by an evening at leisure—and, conditions permitting, another chance to see the Northern Lights.

Travel to Inari, considered the cultural center of Finland’s Sámi community. With a local guide, tour the Sámi Museum Siida to learn about Sámi history and contemporary life, and the relationship between people and the northern environment. Later, take in the frozen expanse of Lake Inari, go ice fishing, and have lunch at a wilderness hotel before returning to Saariselkä.

Enjoy an unhurried day in Saariselkä, spending time in the village, relaxing at the hotel, or choosing from locally guided excursions. After dinner, bundle up for an aurora-viewing outing beneath Lapland’s dark skies, where clear conditions may reveal the Northern Lights above the surrounding forest.

Depart Saariselkä after breakfast and travel south toward Rovaniemi, where Santa Claus is said to make his home, pausing in Sodankylä to see its centuries-old wooden church. Continue to Santa Claus Village, which straddles the Arctic Circle, and browse its shops.

In the afternoon, travel onward to Sinettä and check into the Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos. Your room’s heated glass roof offers uninterrupted views of the night sky and another chance to watch for the aurora without leaving your bed. After dinner, sign up for optional activities such as snowshoeing or aurora photography.

Set out on a husky safari in the forests of Finnish Lapland, where you’ll warm up with a soup lunch before spending time with the dogs. Continue to Rovaniemi and check into your hotel, where you’ll spend the evening at leisure. The next morning, head to Rovaniemi railway station for the scenic train journey to Helsinki, Finland’s capital.

Arrive in the late afternoon and walk to your hotel in the city center. Gather with your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner. If you extend your stay by another night, take a final stroll through Helsinki’s neoclassical center or along its Baltic waterfront before bringing your Nordic winter journey to a close.