Route: London Brussels Hamburg Copenhagen Oslo Stockholm Helsinki Tallinn Riga Vilnius Warsaw Berlin Amsterdam London
Duration: 35 nights
Transport: This route is an 36 day trip covering taking you from London to Scandinavia, the Baltics and back. You’ll spend 34 nights in your accommodation with one spent on an overnight ferry. Otherwise, you’ll travel by train or bus during the day.
Sustainability: This trip only creates 384.5 kg of carbon emissions! To fly the same route would cost 1480
Reviews: All independent reviews
Are you entranced by Scandi style, Nordic cuisine and Baltic culture? Take our Northern Loop to discover the best of Europe’s furthest flung nations. This is the perfect route if you’re after something a little different. Its gorgeous scenery also makes it a perfect winter trip (wrap up warm though!)
With at least 2 nights in each city you’ll have enough time to really explore each city and fit in some day trips as well!
Only have a month off? Our 4 Week Northern Loop goes to the same destinations but over 28 nights for a fast-paced adventure.
Start your Northern Europe holiday by hopping on the train in your local town or city and heading straight for London for your Eurostar to the Belgian capital. Check out Europe’s most impressive square, taste silky Belgian chocolate and let’s not forget about that beer…
Set off for Hamburg in the morning. You’ll have a hard choice to make as you decide whether to explore the arty dock quarter, or settle down on the main square for a historical local beer. Next, Copenhagen awaits; a stylish and modern city with a liberal and relaxed attitude. Join the students relaxing in the parks with a chilled beer, hire bikes and make the most of the city’s excellent cycle paths or visit the fascinating world that is Freetown Christiania.
Continue North via Oslo – check out the nearby ski slopes and modern architecture before you head on to the glorious city of Stockholm. Its gilded golden buildings and gorgeous canals are the perfect place to soak up some culture at a relaxed pace. Hop on your overnight ferry to Helsinki and enjoy the sunset as you head across the Baltic sea. Dissembark bright and early to enjoy the Finnish capital’s stylish boutiques and cafes.
Next up, it’s time to kick off the Baltic part of your trip. Tallinn’s old town has plenty of Russian influence, as well as Slavic style – think a mixture of Prague and St Petersburg. It’s also full of trendy cafes and bars, with a blossoming foodie scene to check out. Next up the beautiful cities of Riga and Vilnius – although they might often be known as Stag-do destinations, there’s plenty of culture to be found in these Baltic gems.
Travel south towards Eastern Europe and stop off in Warsaw, the Polish capital. Often overlooked, this is the place to go for traditional Polish food and crafts at cheap prices. It’s also a treasure trove of fascinating WW2 history with the city being almost totally destroyed and rebuilt.
Re-entering Western Europe, you’ll continue your journey via Berlin. Seek out the city’s famous street art at the East Side Gallery, head to a biergarten to sample the local brew, walk across the buzzing Potsdammer Platz or visit the iconic Brandenburg Gate.
Next, it’s time to nip to Amsterdam to end your trip on a high-point. Stroll along the canals or hire a pedalo, visit the many museums and enjoy the liberal atmosphere of the city. In the evenings head down to the Red Light District and explore the world famous canalside bars and clubs.
Finally, you’ll hop back on a train back to London via Brussels, and onwards back to wherever you started in mainland UK for a well deserved rest!
With no stress! All your transport to and from the UK is included so you don’t need to worry about anything! You can also use your Interrail pass to travel for free from your nearest station to and from London on the same day as departure and arrival.
