Southern Sweden – Steam, Trams & Trains

ITINERARY

Day 1 – To Cologne

Boarding a morning Eurostar service, we travel to Brussels before taking an onward train to Cologne.

Day 2 – On to Hamburg

We catch a direct train to Hamburg, arriving early afternoon. Our hotel is conveniently located at the railway station and will be our base for the next 2 nights.

Day 3 – Miniatur Wunderland

Spend the morning at the world’s largest model train exhibition – Miniatur Wunderland. Free afternoon to either explore the Miniatur Wunderland further or head back into Hamburg to see what Germany’s second largest city has to offer.

Day 4 – On to Scandinavia

Today we travel via Copenhagen to Malmö where we stay for one night. We arrive in Malmö mid-afternoon and enjoy a private journey on the Malmö Museum Tramway.

Day 5 – Gothenburg Trams

Early afternoon arrival in Gothenburg, our base for this evening. Time to visit Gothenburg’s Tram Museum and enjoy a ride on a vintage tram before returning to our hotel. The rest of the afternoon is free to explore Gothenburg.

Day 6 – Stockholm’s Subway

A direct rail service takes us to Stockholm, our base for the next 6 nights. Sometimes referred to as the world’s longest art gallery, Stockholm’s metro stations are to be marvelled at. Not only are more than 90 of the 100 stations decorated by 150 artists, but the architecture is also spectacular, with ‘cave stations’ built into the underground rock. Enjoy an optional afternoon self-guided tour of some of these stations.

Day 7 – Lennakatten Railway

Today we travel to Uppsala by regional mainline train before transferring onto the Lennakatten Steam Railway for a return journey between Uppsala and Faringe. The railway passes through the varied and breathtaking scenery of the Uppsala plain, travelling through open countryside south of Funbo Church and the lakes of Trehörnigen, Lötsjön and Long Lake, finally passing the Roslag forest before arriving in Faringe.

Day 8 – National Railway Museum

An optional day trip out to Gavle by rail this morning. Here, we find the recently reopened National Railway Museum, with its wonderful collection of historic British-built locomotives dating back to 1856.

Day 9 – Mariefred

From Stockholm we take the fast train on the Svland line to Läggesta before boarding the steam train to Mariefred. There will be time to look around this historic town, built around the majestic Gripsholm Castle, before we set sail on the S/S Mariefred back to Stockholm.

Day 10 – Nynäshamn Railway Museum

After a leisurely morning, we take a train to Nynäshamn to visit the railway museum. The restoration work at the working museum is a labour of love, with work on 5 steam engines, 6 diesel engines and tractors, 15 passenger coaches and 14 freight vehicles ongoing.

Day 11 – Skansen Open-Air Museum

This morning, we visit the Skansen Open-Air Museum, the oldest open-air museum in the world. Founded in 1891 it showcases five centuries of Swedish history, and houses approximately 150 historic buildings, the oldest dating back to the 14th Century. These buildings were moved to Skansen from all over the country and painstakingly rebuilt on site. Within the grounds there are also restaurants, shops, a zoo and a funicular railway (payable locally) that climbs Skansen Mountain. There will be some free time in Stockholm before regrouping for an evening boat cruise through the Stockholm Archipelago. Dinner is included onboard.

Day 12 – Return to Hamburg

By train via Copenhagen to Hamburg for an overnight stay.

Day 13 – On to Brussels

A morning departure from Hamburg to Cologne and on to Brussels for a 1-night stay.

Day 14 – To London

Mid-morning Eurostar for a lunchtime arrival into London St Pancras.