Day by Day Itinerary
DAY 1: ARRIVAL TO NORWAY
Welcome to The Kingdom of Norway – a country with the most beautiful fjords on Earth.
Arrival in Bergen and transfer to a hotel on your own (optional transfer to Hotel available). Rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in a hotel in Bergen (Augustin Hotel; Zander K; Grand Terminus) or similar
DAY 2: BERGEN
Breakfast in the hotel.
Discover Bergen – the world heritage city. Bergen is the Gateway to the Fjords of Norway. As a UNESCO World Heritage City and a European City of Culture, the Bergen region has the ideal combination of nature, culture, and exciting urban life all year round.
At 10:00, meet your local guide at the reception of your hotel and enjoy a walking tour of the city of Bergen. Pass through the most emblematic places such as the Hanseatic Bryggen, with the church of Mary, the Hakon fortress, and the famous fish market. You can visit the Fløibanen Funicular, which will take you to the top of the Mountain Fløyen, for an overall view of the city.
Optional add-on:
— Sightseeing Cruise with light dinner (17:00, approx. 1,5 hrs.)
— Bergen Food tour (15:00, approx. 3 hrs.)
Overnight in a hotel in Bergen (Augustin Hotel; Zander K; Grand Terminus) or similar
DAY 3: BERGEN - SOGNEFJORD
Breakfast in the hotel.
Morning walk to the Bergen port where you will embark on a cruise to Balestrand. Enjoy the views of Sognefjord, the King of Fjords.
Departure from Bergen: 08:00 (schedule subject to change).
Arrival in Balestrand: 11:55
Upon arrival in Balestrand – a short walk from port to your hotel.
Dinner time will be advised by your escort.
Overnight & dinner in a hotel in Balestrand (Kviknes Hotel; Dragsvik Hotel; Balestrand Hotel) or similar
DAY 4: SOGNEFJORD
Breakfast in the hotel.
Day at leisure to explore the region on your own or you can opt for a FULL DAY EXCURSION TO FJÆRLAND.
Optional add-on: Round-trip Balestrand - Fjærland including Bøyabreen, Supphellebreen, and a visit to the Norwegian Glacier Museum. — We sail in through the beautiful Fjærland fjord with amazing views of the steep mountains, the green fjord itself, and vibrant landscape. We arrive at Fjærland where the glacier meets the fjord. Here we wait for a shuttle bus that takes us to the Norwegian Glacier Museum. Enjoy Ivo Caprino's panoramic film about Jostedalen Glacier and the fascinating exhibition. The trip continues by coach to the two glaciers –Supphellebreen and Bøyabreen – before the coach takes us back to Fjærland. The full-day excursion concludes with a boat trip back to Hella/Balestrand. Coach to the glaciers and museum entrance is included in the round-trip fare.
Overnight & dinner in a hotel in Balestrand (Kviknes Hotel; Dragsvik Hotel; Balestrand Hotel) or similar
DAY 5: BALESTRAND TO OSLO
Breakfast in the hotel.
Your journey on the Sognefjord continues today, Sognefjord - the King of Norway and the longest fjord in Norway. The initial part of the fjord, called Aurlandsfjord, is a 17-kilometer arm of the world’s second-longest fjord, the Sognefjord (204 km). It is considered to be one of the most picturesque fjords in the world.
Arrive in Flåm, where you will have some free time to discover this beautiful village.
Departure to Myrdal by train. Myrdal station is a mountain railway station and junction, located about 13 km from the village Flåm. Board the famous Flåmsbana - one of the steepest train lines in the world. The train journey runs through fantastic nature, past the Rallar road, steep mountains, breath-taking waterfalls, through 20 tunnels and offers so many viewpoints that many feel like traveling multiple times between the mountain and the fjord. The following schedule is subject to change:
— 11:55 Cruise Balestrand Flåm – arrival to Flåm at 13:25
— 16:05 Panoramic train from Flåm – arrival to Myrdal at 17:02
— 17:53 Bergen Railway train from Myrdal – arrival to Oslo at 22:27 or 23:00
Overnight in a hotel in Oslo (Clarion the Hub; St. Olav Plass) or similar
DAY 6: OSLO
Breakfast in the hotel.
Meet your local guide at the reception of the hotel and depart for 3 hrs city sightseeing of this vibrant capital city starting at 11:00 am.
Guided tour of the city including the Frogner Park, with all sculptural Vigeland, the museum of Viking ships (entrance not included), showing three original Viking Age ships, the Royal Palace, City Hall, and Akershus Fortress.
Overnight in a hotel in Oslo (Clarion the Hub; St. Olav Plass) or similar
DAY 7: OSLO TO STOCKHOLM BY TRAIN
Breakfast at the hotel
Short walk to the Oslo Central Station to board the direct train to Stockholm. A comfortable train journey will take you from Norway to Sweden in about 5 hours. (train journey can be replaced by bus service). Arrival in Stockholm and transfer to the cruise ship harbor.
Stockholm is generally referred to as Beauty on Water, or Venice of the North which is understandable, as the city is built upon 14 islands. It is surrounded by Lake Mälaren, and by the Baltic Sea. The city's grand public buildings, palaces, rich cultural history, and museums tell her 700-year-old history beautifully.
Dinner & overnight on board COSTA MAGICA
DAY 8: COSTA MAGICA – STOCKHOLM
Full Board included on the cruise.
Departure from Stockholm at 07:00 – Day at sea. Costa Magica is a captivating ship, inspiring us to explore and appreciate its nuances Designed by the American architect Farcus, it expresses his vision and seems literally suspended between the sky and sea.
Dinner & overnight on board COSTA MAGICA
DAY 9: COSTA MAGICA – FINLAND – HELSINKI (arrival at 08:00 – departure at 18:00)
Full Board included on the cruise.
Today we will arrive in Helsinki, the capital of Finland, also known as The Daughter of the Baltic. Surrounded by the sea, it is a particularly pleasant city that offers a graceful mix of Scandinavian and Russian influences, which emerge from the architecture of its monuments. Guided tour of the city including the Tuomiokirkko Cathedral and the colorful market, the amazing rock church (entrance included), and the Sibelius Monument, which recalls a giant organ.
You can decide to terminate the city tour back on the boat for lunch (transfer is included) or to stay a little longer in the city center and then come back to the boat on your own, but remember to be back to the ship on time for the departure.
Dinner & overnight on board COSTA MAGICA
DAY 10: COSTA MAGICA – RUSSIA – ST. PETERSBURG (arrival at 07:00 & night at the pier)
Full Board included on the cruise.
Arrival in St. Petersburg. St. Petersburg is Russia's second-largest city after Moscow, and throughout history, it has been known by a few different names. In the more than 300 years since it was established, St. Petersburg has also been known as Petrograd and Leningrad, though it's also known as Sankt-Peterburg (in Russian), Petersburg, and just plain Peter. Today we will enjoy a full day city tour with a local guide, including visits to the Hermitage, St. Isaak Cathedral, the Church of the Savior on Blood, a lunch in a local restaurant, and a canal boat tour.
Tonight our ship will stay docked in St. Petersburg.
Dinner & overnight on board COSTA MAGICA
DAY 11: COSTA MAGICA – RUSSIA – ST. PETERSBURG (departure at 18:00)
Full Board included on the cruise.
The second day of visits in St. Petersburg. During the tour we will admire Peter and Paul Fortress & Cathedral that is the first construction of St. Petersburg put up by Peter the Great in 1703 to provide protection from the Swedes. It lost its military significance before it was completed. Its guns never saw any action and were put to use as a flood -warning signal, and the fortress housed a political prison for two hundred years. After lunch in a local restaurant, we will visit also the spectacular Peterhof. Set in magnificent gardens, Peterhof is reminiscent of Versailles and was only used by royalty for State occasions. The pendulous chandeliers, paintings are originals; as they were fortunately removed before the German occupation. The gardens are dotted with fountains, charming pavilions, and summer houses, including the Monplaisir, Peter's original villa with bright and airy galleries facing the sea.
Dinner & overnight on board COSTA MAGICA
DAY 12: COSTA MAGICA – ESTONIA – TALLINN (arrival at 09:00 – departure at 17:00)
Full Board included on the cruise.
Arrival in Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia. Tallinn represents a medieval enclave perched on top of a hill looking overlooking the Baltics. Among the remains of the medieval battlements and towers, dominated by the simple arrows of Protestant churches, the cobbled and narrow streets lead through the city until the old square animated by its restaurants, shops, the passing of the little blue train and horse-drawn carriages.
4 hours guided tour: The old town is located in the heart of Tallinn. Divided into two very distinctive parts: Toompea Hill and The lower town, centered on Raekoja plats (the Town Hall Square) is still surrounded by a 2,5 km-fortified wall. Through the itinerary, you will admire the Orthodox Cathedral Alexander Nevsky and the Toompea Castle (home to the Estonian Parliament), The City Hall Square, the house of the Brotherhood of Blackheads, St Olaf and Niguliste churches.
Dinner & overnight on board COSTA MAGICA
DAY 13: COSTA MAGICA – SWEDEN – STOCKHOLM (arrival at 09:00 & night at the pier)
Full Board included on the cruise.
Arrival in Stockholm. Meeting with a local guide for a 4 hours city tour. The sightseeing starts and ends at the harbor. The visit shows the central area with the City Hall, the old town (Gamla Stan), and the Royal Palace, the Concert House both famous because of the Nobel prices awards celebrations, the Opera Theatre, the island of Djurgården with its parks hosting many museums.
You can decide to enjoy the rest of the day in the city center to visit some of the most popular attractions, such as the Vasa Museum, one of Scandinavia's most visited museums. It is here that you will find in all its glory, the unique and well-preserved warship Vasa from 1628, embellished with hundreds of wooden sculptures. Another must-see is Skansen, the world’s oldest open-air museum, showcasing the whole of Sweden with houses and farmsteads from every part of the country. (Return to the boat on your own).
Dinner & overnight on board COSTA MAGICA
DAY 14: DEPARTURE
Breakfast on board.
Transfer to the airport and departure. (optional transfer to Airport available)
