Experience Our Scandinavia and Baltics

Our customized, private insider tours of Scandinavia & the Baltic States feature our favorite places and experiences in the region.

Don’t miss...

Getting out on the water during cruises around the beautiful harbors and islands of Stockholm, Copenhagen and Helsinki.

Stockholm splurge...

For the ultimate in luxury, book a harbor view suite at the Grand Hotel Stockholm. We love the bay windows overlooking the waterfront and the beautiful Swedish furniture and fabrics. It’s like having an apartment in Stockholm.

Favorite off-the-beaten-track excursion for art, nature and food lovers...

The Louisiana Museum of Modern Art outside Copenhagen and Artipelag outside Stockholm are favorite day tours. Both offer park-like grounds filled with sculpture and art installations, excellent smorgasbord cafes, forest trails for walks along the water, impressive art exhibitions and notable modern architecture.

If you love Gustavian furniture and design...

Have us book a tour of Sturehof Manor outside Stockholm, and other sites such as Gustav III’s Pavilion in Haga Park

Best shopping (modern)...

Simplicity, elegance and functionality meet in the Nordic design and housewares at renowned stores such as Illums Bolighus, Svenskt Tenn, Iittala and Artek; small boutiques in the Design District in Helsinki and the creative neighborhood of Sodermalm in Stockholm; and shops inside Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Denmark, Design Museum in Helsinki and other museums.

Best shopping (traditional)...

Royal Copenhagen porcelain in Denmark, amber jewelry and linen in Lithuania, carved wooden housewares in Estonia, wool blankets in Iceland and textiles in traditional patterns in Latvia.

Licorice...

Is a favorite treat in Finland, Sweden and Denmark. Locals especially like salt licorice, which is made with ammonium chloride and has an unmistakable flavor. Chocolate-covered licorice is another favorite.

Island hopping in Stockholm...

Have us arrange a private boat charter (or tickets on a public ferry) to spend part of the day discovering the islands that make up Sweden’s gorgeous capital, including historic Stadsholmen and lush Djurgarden.

Kids love...

Private Viking boat rides in Roskilde, painting marzipan in Tallinn, seeing the ruins of the Vasa ship at the Vasa Museum in Stockholm, watching history come alive at the Skansen open-air museum in Stockholm, visiting the Helsinki Olympics Stadium, smorgasborg dinners and lots of sweets, and staying up late on summer nights when dusk lasts until midnight.

Family thrills...

Families love spending time at Scandinavian amusement parks in Copenhagen and Stockholm, such as Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen and Grona Lund in Stockholm. We recommend visiting at night during the summer, after busy days of touring.

New Nordic...

Discover the birthplace of the New Nordic Cuisine movement, which is based on the creative use of local seafood, game, berries, vegetables and herbs. Artisans of Leisure can assist in securing reservations at some of the world’s most renowned restaurants, including Noma in Copenhagen, Restaurant Frantzen in Stockholm and Chef & Sommelier in Helsinki.

Fish...

Herring, salmon, pike perch; smoked, creamed, pickled; on the side, as a main course—delicious fish dishes make repeated appearances on menus throughout the region.

Amazing architecture, old and new...

Fans of architecture will enjoy touring the Rock Church and Alvar Aalto-designed buildings in Helsinki; Art Nouveau districts in Riga and Helsinki; the Baroque neighborhoods of Vilnius; the Stockholm City Hall and Public Library; traditional wooden structures in villages and open-air museums throughout the Baltic States; and the contemporary buildings of the Royal Danish Opera in Copenhagen and the Harpa concert hall in Reykjavik.

Favorite markets...

Our tours include visits to the best regional markets, such as Torvehallerne in Copenhagen, Ostermalms in Stockholm, Vanha Kauppahalli in Helsinki and the Central Market in Riga.

Unusual attraction...

The Song Festival Grounds in Tallinn, where Estonians hold enormous singing and dancing competitions.

Royal history...

We arrange touring of the region’s many interesting castles and palaces, such as Gripsholm Castle and Drottningholm Castle in Sweden, Frederiksborg Castle in Denmark, Island Castle in Lithuania, Rundale Palace in Latvia and Kadriorg Palace in Estonia.

Most impressive medieval city...

Tallinn. A private tour of the narrow backstreets, historic churches and towering walls of the town is a great way to spend a day.

Top natural sites in Iceland...

We arrange private excursions to sites of intense natural power such as Geysir, Gullfoss waterfall, and Thingvellir National Park, and off-the-beaten-track places like Seljalandsfoss waterfall and the black volcanic sand beach near the town of Vik.

Where luxury meets history...

The Grand Hotel Stockholm has set the bar for Swedish luxury since opening in a commanding position on the capital’s waterfront in 1874. The Hotel d’Angleterre in Copenhagen has been a top choice in the Danish capital for over 250 years. Since 1887, Hotel Kamp in Helsinki has been a favorite spot for visitors and local luminaries, including Jean Sibelius.

Relaxing Sunday in Stockholm...

Consider spending an afternoon at Rosendals Tradgard to enjoy Stockholm as the locals do.

A Finnish sauna...

We can arrange for you to get close to Finnish culture by experiencing a traditional, wood-fired sauna.

Cafes and sweets...

Our tours include time to visit favorite local cafes and bakeries to sample delicious chocolates, marzipan, pastries and coffee, all of which are produced to the highest quality throughout the Nordic and Baltic countries.

Romantic getaway...

Relax at Padaste Manor, a luxury resort on Muhu Island in Estonia, with beautiful Baltic coast scenery, excellent cuisine, a Baltics-inspired spa and luxurious accommodation.

Alternative culture...

We can arrange guided walks around Christiania, an alternative community in Copenhagen with a unique spirit and style.

Jewish touring in Lithuania...

Discover the Jewish history of Vilnius in former Jewish neighborhoods of the historic center, at the Choral Synagogue and in branches of the Vilna Gaon Jewish State Museum. Or, have us arrange a private excursion to Kaunas to learn about its Jewish history, including the Sugihara House. We can also arrange a meeting with a specialist to trace family roots in Lithuania.

Relax...

In the geothermally heated waters of Iceland’s swimming pools and spas, including the Blue Lagoon. Pamper yourself with local volcanic muds and other special treatments.

Did you know...

It’s been reported that over 50 percent of Icelanders believe in elves?

Imagine...

Visit the Imagine Peace Tower, a monumental light sculpture built by Yoko Ono in memory of John Lennon, on Videy Island near Reykjavik.

Legendary…hot dogs?

Line up for one of Iceland’s prized culinary treasures: the Baejarins Beztu Pylsur hot dog, which is made from pork, beef and Icelandic lamb meat and topped with sweet mustard, ketchup, remoulade, raw onions and addictive crispy onions. Copenhagen is no sausage slouch either. Local polser (hot dog) stands offer sausages in a bewildering array of sizes and styles.

Glaciers...

Artisans of Leisure can arrange glacier walks, detours into ice caves and other active excursions in Iceland.

Aurora borealis (Northern Lights)...

We can arrange tours that combine cultural highlights and hunting for the aurora in Iceland and Lapland (Finland). The best time to catch the Northern Lights is between October and March.

Glass collectors...

May want to visit the Iittala glass factory in Finland to watch glass artisans at work and see the collection in the museum. We can also arrange visits to Kosta Boda, Orrefors and other glass manufacturers in the Kingdom of Crystal region of southern Sweden.

Experience Our Scandinavia & Baltics.

Contact Artisans of Leisure to start planning a private, customized tour.