Scandinavia – Classic Sweden – 6N/7D

Itinerary:

Day 1 & 2 : Stockholm:

Gateway to SwedenExplore the old town, Gamla Stan, and its glorious labyrinth of cobbled streets, alleyways, faded mustard coloured town houses and handsome meeting squares. See the beauty of the Vasa wooden ship at the Vasa Museum, and stroll through 5 centuries of Swedish history at Skansen the world’s first open-air museum.

Day 2 : Stockholm sightseeing and attractions:

See all the highlights you missed on Day 1. Visit Drottningholm Palace, a well-preserved royal castle built in the 1600s, and Milles garden Sculpture Park put together by Carl Milles, a daring improviser of creativity and ideas. If time, head to Grona Lunds Tivoli amusement park for some fun and magic.

Day 3 : Sigtuna & Uppsala:

Head out to Sigtuna, Sweden’s oldest town, full of charming wooden buildings, and close to Skokloster Castle. Then onto Uppsala, an ancient university city, with a Gothic cathedral, a quaint ‘old town’ and the Gamma Uppsala Museum. Back to Stockholm or stay in Uppsala.

Day 4 & 5 : Gotland & Visby:

Drive 136 miles south of Stockholm; catch the car ferry at Nynashamn to Visby on the island of Gotland. Make this your base for 2 nights as you explore the beautiful island and the medieval walled Hanseatic trading town of Visby with its well preserved 13th century ramparts and ancient warehouses.

Day 6 : Kalmar, the ‘key to Sweden’:

Catch the ferry from Visby to the eastern coast port of Oskarshamn. Follow the E66 route to Kalmar, you should arrive in time for a late lunch. Visit Kalmar’s historic 12thcentury castle and wander through Kalmar’s warren of cobblestone streets and market squares dating back to the 17th century.

Day 7 : Vaxjo & the Kingdom of Crystal:

Leave Kalmar and drive 68 miles to Vaxjo, the capital of the ‘kingdom of Crystal’ and a vibrant ‘green’ city in southern Sweden. The region’s glass blowing prowess dates back to the 16thcentury and between Kalmar and Vaxjo you’ll find 15 of Sweden’s most famous glass factories. Spend an overnight in Vaxjo and head back to Stockholm.

Things To Do:

The Royal Palace, Stockholm: Marvel at a 600 room royal residence and cultural/historical treasure sitting atop the Old Town of Stockholm.

Old Town (Gamla Stan), Stockholm: Explore tight, winding, cobblestone streets, gorgeous leafy squares, Sweden’s narrowest alley at Marten Trotzigs grand, and lots of cafes, bars and shops.

Gamla Uppsala: Wander through the old town of Uppsala that boasts impressive 6thcentury burial mounds. The re-styled medieval cathedral isa ‘must see’.

Sigtuna Rune Stones: Pop into the tourist office and ask for a ‘futhark’ or key. It will help you unlock the mysteries of the town’s more than 150 Viking rune stones.

Medieval Week At Visby: Celebrate Visby’s glorious past in August, there’s a jousting tournament, theatre and music, and a medieval market.

Walk The Wall At Visby: Walk around the 3.6km long ring medieval wall at Visby, a UNESCO-protected World Heritage site.

Kalmar Castle: ‘The key to the kingdom’ and close to the Danish border, Kalmar Castle is a spectacular mix of 16thand 17thcentury architecture.

The Teleborg Castle, Vaxjo: A fairy tale castle built for the eccentric count Fredrik Bonde of Bjorno as a wedding gift to his wife in 1900.

Smaland Museum, Vaxjo: Experience Sweden’s magical world of glass, and discover the silver treasures of the Vikings.

Vaxjo Cathedral: Located close to the shore of Lake Vaxjo, the imposing twin steeples can be seen over virtually the whole town. The cathedral is full of Smaland studio art.