Scandinavia · SELF-GUIDED TOURS
The 15 best self-guided tours you can book today, with what each costs, how long it runs and who it suits. Number one is top for a reason; start there.
Cruise Oslofjord for 90 minutes on a quiet electric boat departing opposite the Oslo Opera House. You will pass Akershus Fortress, Aker Brygge, Bygdøy, Gressholmen, Hovedøya, Sørenga, and the Opera House. Use the Voice of Norway app for commentary, or simply enjoy the views with a drink from the onboard café and bar.
“Really enjoyable 1h 30m boat trip. The boat itself is also amazing”
Set out from Helsinki’s Market Square for a 90-minute cruise through the archipelago. You’ll pass Suomenlinna, Korkeasaari Zoo, island homes, icebreakers, and the Degerö Canal. Recorded commentary plays in four languages, with booklets in eight more. Indoor seating, an upper deck, toilets, blankets, coffee, pastries, and a small bar make this an easy sightseeing break.
“Great boat tour. A bit chilly at end of September, but it was sunny and that made it worthwhile to sit on the open air upper level. Worthwhile and definitely recommend.”
Take a 105-minute bus tour from Senate Square through Helsinki’s historic center and outer sights. An audio guide in 11 languages covers the city as you pass landmarks such as Market Square, Löyly, the Sibelius Monument, Olympic Stadium, Finlandia Hall, Parliament, and Oodi. Two short photo stops make this a practical first look, especially in cold weather.
“It was a good starting base to understand a little bit about the city. It was disappointing that we were unable to visit the one stop which we had during the tour at the Rock Church as we arrived for a 20 min stop at 11:45 and the church opened at 12pm”
Ride from Molde to the Atlantic Ocean Road, where bridges cross exposed skerries and open sea. An audio guide in English or German covers the route, while stops at Eldhusøya and Varden offer time for photos. The tour also passes Hustadvika, Farstadsanden, Elnesvågen, Jarlsberg’s birthplace, and a major gas field.
“the whole trip was excellent. very well managed by the staff. the scenery was superb”
Ride Geiranger’s famous Eagle Road in a climate-controlled bus, taking 11 hairpin bends to Eagle Bend. You’ll stop at Flydalsjuvet and Eagle Bend for fjord views, with the Seven Sisters waterfall visible from above. Audio is offered in eight languages. The tour meets near the pier and lasts 80 minutes.
“Awesome trip to see the fjord from above. It's the only way to get perspective of the sheer height and scale of the fyords and admire their natural beauty. Useful to hear the background from our tour guide too. Well worth it!”
You’ll sail from Helsinki’s West Harbour to Tallinn aboard Tallink Star or Megastar, with comfortable seating, WiFi, restaurants, shops, and archipelago views. Choose a crossing that gives you four or seven hours in Tallinn, then walk or taxi to the UNESCO-listed Old Town. This is transport, not a guided sightseeing tour.
“This worked out cheaper than booking with Ferry line. Easy to redeem voucher at self service checkin. Worth going totalling for the day, even on a Monday with lots if places closed!”
Set out from Bergen by train to Voss, bus to Gudvangen, hybrid boat through Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord, then the Flåm Railway to Myrdal and back to Bergen. You guide yourself using emailed tickets and instructions. It is a full 10-hour day with no hotel pickup, guide, meals, or large luggage allowed.
“The trip is perfectly organised, It was a shame to find out ,thanks to other travellers, that the price on this app is nearly double the price on www.fjordtours.com for the exact same activity! My fault not doing a proper research.”
You’ll ride from Ålesund in an air-conditioned vehicle to Godøya, Alnes fishing island, and Alnes Fyr lighthouse, then finish at Aksla viewpoint. An audio guide is available in five languages, and a live guide can help if the system fails. Allow for wind, rain, tunnels, and limited time at each stop.
“De rit met de kleine touringbus was geweldig en we hebben een heerlijk genoten van de stops. De chauffeur was goed en hielp ook daar waar nodig. 's avonds op het schip zagen we de bezochte vuurtoren ook nog staan. Uitzichtpunt Alska was fantastisch.”
Use Stromma’s open-top bus to tour Copenhagen on the Classic, Home of Carlsberg, and Colorful Copenhagen routes. Your ticket covers six-language audio, Wi-Fi, and up to 27 stops. Ride past Nyhavn, Amalienborg, Rosenborg, Christianshavn, Reffen, Tivoli, and Frederiksberg, then hop off where you please.
“Everything was fantastic the bus was comfy and the guides were very helpful!!! Would recommend it 10000% over”
Visit Hellisheiði Power Plant, about 20 minutes from Reykjavík, for a self-guided audio tour of Iceland’s geothermal energy system. Interactive exhibits explain production, sustainability, and Carbfix carbon storage. Bring headphones and a charged phone, then explore at your own pace during seasonal opening hours.
“The Hellishedi Geothermal Exhibition was well worth the trip to get there and the entry fee. For those ignorant of the process (the vast majority, I expect) to extract thermal power and hot water from the earth, go straight to Exhibit Stop 9, Production Process, and spend sufficient time there to learn how the industrial process works and to fully appreciate the research, engineering, and money needed to succeed. Stop 9 will also better inform you of what you see at other stops. My only disappointment of the Exhibition is that we did not have a guided tour by an employee. I had thought we would have been provided a…”
From Åndalsnes harbor, you’ll follow the Rauma Valley to Troll Wall, cross Sogge Bridge, and climb Trollstigen’s 11 hairpin bends. The Voice of Norway app provides English or German commentary. Guide Alexander may lead some departures, and a Slettafossen alternative operates when road or weather conditions close Trollstigen.
“Waren erste mal mit Ihnen unterwegs und werden es bestimmt wiederholen! Vielen Dank Angelika und Ruth”
Start at Bergen Station at 8:00 am and follow clear digital instructions through five transport legs. Ride the Bergen Railway, bus through mountain villages, cruise Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord, visit Flåm, and take the Flåm Railway to Myrdal before returning to Bergen. Tickets are included, but food, seats, and hotel transfers are not.
“Beautiful scenery. Tour well laid out with breaks. However the tour organizor did not respond to two queries. I had to contact Viator to get help.”
Take a 1-hour-45-minute coach tour from Senate Square through Helsinki’s central districts. Use a personal headset with 11 audio language choices, pass landmarks such as the Cathedral, Finlandia Hall, Oodi, and Olympic Stadium, and stop for photos at Löyly Sauna and Sibelius Park. The tour returns to Senate Square.
“Sitting on the top level made seeing everything much easier. While it was winter outside it was nice & warm in the bus. Narration was in English.”
Travel from Oslo to Bergen in about 12 hours by Bergen Railway, Flåm Railway, fjord boat, bus, and train. You will change at Myrdal, ride down to Flåm, cruise Aurlandsfjord and narrow Nærøyfjord to Gudvangen, then continue by bus to Voss and train to Bergen. This is self-guided, scenic, and best for light packers who can manage a full day.
“Itenerary was easy to follow. Make sure you get to the train station on time. It leaves on the dot. The whole day was organized and the departure times are accurate. Definitely worth the trip out of Oslo. So beautiful. I did this solo and found it easy.”
Start in the Royal Palace’s outer courtyard and explore Gamla Stan at your own pace with Curiosa, a phone-based walking game. Read stories, solve visual puzzles, and find details such as a cannonball in a wall and a runestone in a building. The route takes about 1.5 to 2 hours and is available in English, Swedish, German, and French.
“I really liked that you could go at your own pace. The little puzzles were great too! Maybe a couple more of different hints and clues would also be good 😊 the clock tower one in particular at the German Church.”
Pick a coast, a glacier or a kennel.
