17 days · 8 countries
Zurich to Helsinki: Rhine River Cruise & Scandinavia Touring
From AED 21,430per person, twin share
Combine a Rhine River cruise with a Scandinavian tour! Sail on Lake Lucerne, see the Rhine Valley, and visit Strasbourg and Nijmegen. Then, tour Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm and Helsinki.
- Duration
- 17 Days / 16 Nights
- Route
- Zurich → Helsinki
- Countries
- Switzerland, Germany, France, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland
- Activity level
- Moderate (3 of 5)
- Guided walks through cobbled old towns, free time on foot, and some long coach days in Scandinavia
- Accommodation
- 4-star hotels, 7 nights on the MS Symphonie river ship and a night on the overnight ferry to Helsinki
- Meals
- 16 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 11 dinners
- Group
- Group tour, up to 51
- Guide
- English-speaking tour leader throughout, plus guided city tours
- Transport
- Cruise Ship, Air-conditioned Coach, Overnight Ferry
- Best time to go
- Runs in early September: late summer on the Rhine, early autumn in Scandinavia
Tour overview
Experience the magic of Switzerland and Lake Lucerne, then board your river cruise in Basel as the adventure continues on the Rhine River. Along the way, explore Breisach, Strasbourg, and Mainz, the birthplace of the printing press. Experience the spectacular UNESCO-listed Rhine Valley from the water and get to know historic Nijmegen – a WWII battle site. Disembark in Amsterdam, then explore Scandinavia on a private coach tour. Visit Copenhagen, a city with more bicycles than cars, and see Gothenburg, Oslo, and Stockholm, tasting authentic Scandinavian cuisine along the way. Conclude your tour in Helsinki, Finland’s capital.
Highlights
- Experience a cruise on Lake Lucerne’s clear waters
- Indulge in a Welcome Cocktails & Dinner event on board the ship
- Experience the UNESCO-listed Rhine Valley
- Attend a Gala Dinner on board the ship:
- See Bremen on a short orientation walk
- Explore Hamburg on a guided city tour
- Visit Odense
- See Copenhagen on a driving & walking tour
Show all 16 highlightsShow fewer highlights
- See Gothenburg on a short orientation walk
- Enjoy a Norwegian dinner in Oslo
- Explore Oslo on a guided tour
- Discover Stockholm on a guided tour
- Savour a Swedish dinner in Stockholm
- Experience an overnight ferry to Helsinki with dinner
- See Helsinki on a guided tour
- Enjoy a Farewell Dinner
Route and hotels
Where the tour goes and where you sleep, night by night.
Zurich
1 night · Day 1
Dorint Airport-Hotel Zürich
Lucerne
Day 2 · on the way
Basel
Day 2 · on the way
River cruise
7 nights · Days 2–8
MS Symphonie
Breisach
Day 3 · on the way
Strasbourg
Day 4 · on the way
Mainz
Day 5 · on the way
Koblenz
Day 6 · on the way
Show all 22 stopsShow fewer stops
Düsseldorf
Day 6 · on the way
Nijmegen
Day 7 · on the way
Amsterdam
Day 8 · on the way
Bremen
Day 9 · on the way
Hamburg
1 night · Day 9
Mercure Hotel Hamburg Mitte
Odense
Day 10 · on the way
Copenhagen
2 nights · Days 10–11
Scandic Copenhagen
Helsingør
Day 12 · on the way
Gothenburg
Day 12 · on the way
Oslo
2 nights · Days 12–13
Scandic Victoria
Örebro
Day 14 · on the way
Stockholm
1 night · Day 14
Scandic Park
Overnight ferry, Stockholm to Helsinki
1 night · Day 15
Tallink
Helsinki
1 night · Day 16
Radisson Blu Seaside Hotel
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1
Start of tour in Zurich
Zurich welcomes you, with check-in available any time of day. Once you have settled in and freshened up, there is free time to explore the city at your own leisure. Take in Zurich’s Old Town, walk along the lakeside promenade and find a spot for dinner. Get an early night: your journey begins tomorrow.
- Overnight
- Zurich
- Hotel
- Dorint Airport-Hotel Zürich
Day 2
Zurich – Lucerne – Basel
Meals included: BreakfastDinnerYour whole group meets formally for the first time this morning, at a short gathering. From there, a scenic drive leads to Lucerne, where a lake cruise with panoramic views awaits, and you have some free time to explore the city, one of Switzerland’s most attractive cities. The coach then continues to Basel, where you board the Rhine River Cruise. This evening, the Welcome Cocktails event takes place, along with your first dinner on board.
Included
- Welcome meeting with your group
- Cruise on Lake Lucerne
- Free time in Lucerne
- Welcome cocktails and dinner on board
- Travel
- Zurich → Lucerne → Basel by coach, then aboard the river ship
- Overnight
- River cruise
- Hotel
- MS Symphonie
- Meals
- Breakfast and dinner
Day 3
Breisach
Meals included: BreakfastLunchDinnerYou wake surrounded by vineyards, right on the Franco-German border. You can explore Breisach on your own, or take the optional trip to Colmar, known as “Little Venice”. In the afternoon, there is also an optional Black Forest experience: a walk through Freiburg, with a taste of authentic Black Forest Cake, deep in Germany’s famous evergreen forest.
Optional extras
- Renaissance Route in Colmar · AED 170 per person
- Culture & Cake of the Black Forest · AED 130 per person
- Travel
- Basel → Breisach by river ship
- Overnight
- River cruise
- Hotel
- MS Symphonie
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 4
Strasbourg
Meals included: BreakfastLunchDinnerThe ship sails into Strasbourg today. At your own pace, the city is yours to explore: cross historic bridges, with medieval watchtowers and waterways to see along the way. The optional Strasbourg Sights & Canal Cruise is also available, taking in the Gothic masterpiece of Strasbourg Cathedral, the grand Place de la République and the Petite France quarter, seen from the water.
Optional extras
- Strasbourg Sights & Canal Cruise · AED 235 per person
- Travel
- Breisach → Strasbourg by river ship
- Overnight
- River cruise
- Hotel
- MS Symphonie
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 5
Mainz
Meals included: BreakfastLunchDinnerMainz, birthplace of the printing press, is today’s stop. On your own, you can explore the city, or you might instead join the optional guided tour and visit to the Gutenberg Museum. Highlights include Mainz Cathedral and the windows by Chagall at St Stephen’s Church, plus the Old Town. After dinner, a festive evening of dancing follows.
Included
- Evening of dancing on board
Optional extras
- Historic Mainz & Gutenberg Museum · AED 215 per person
- Travel
- Strasbourg → Mainz by river ship
- Overnight
- River cruise
- Hotel
- MS Symphonie
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 6
Koblenz – Düsseldorf
Meals included: BreakfastLunchDinner
Today the ship continues from Koblenz, sailing through the Rhine Gorge, with more scenery along the way. There is time for yoga on the sun deck, or the onboard entertainment, before lunch. In the afternoon, castles and fortresses pass by along the Rhine Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The ship reaches Düsseldorf this evening, and a special gala dinner is served on board.
Included
- Cruise through the UNESCO-listed Rhine Gorge
- Gala dinner on board
- Travel
- Through the Rhine Gorge to Düsseldorf by river ship
- Overnight
- River cruise
- Hotel
- MS Symphonie
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 7
Nijmegen
Meals included: BreakfastLunchDinnerThe ship leaves Düsseldorf for Nijmegen, the Netherlands’ oldest city, where the tranquil River Waal, medieval architecture and more than 2000 years of Roman history sit alongside the WW2 battlefields. You can join the optional Nijmegen & Western Front Walking Tour, which takes you to key historic sites such as Operation Market Garden and the Waal Bridge, the site where American paratroopers landed in 1944. This evening, the ship moves on to Amsterdam.
Optional extras
- Nijmegen & Western Front History Walk · AED 195 per person
- Travel
- Düsseldorf → Nijmegen → Amsterdam by river ship
- Overnight
- River cruise
- Hotel
- MS Symphonie
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 8
Amsterdam
Meals included: BreakfastLunchDinnerAmsterdam is yours to explore today. The Rijksmuseum Gardens are a good place for a stroll, or you could instead settle into a cosy coffee spot, and there is a Stroopwafel workshop and cheese tasting on offer as an optional experience. This afternoon, the Amsterdam Signature Experience can also be booked, with a Heineken brewery visit included, plus a canal cruise through the Jordaan neighbourhood.
Optional extras
- A Taste of Amsterdam · AED 385 per person
- Amsterdam Signature Experience · AED 300 per person
- Overnight
- River cruise
- Hotel
- MS Symphonie
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 9
Amsterdam – Bremen – Hamburg
Meals included: Breakfast
Your Rhine River Cruise ends in Amsterdam today. After disembarking, the next part of the journey begins. A city orientation stop in Bremen follows, taking in landmarks such as the Marktplatz and the Roland statue. The group then arrives in Hamburg for a guided city tour that includes the ruins of St Nikolai, whose bombed-out spire still stands.
Included
- Orientation walk in Bremen
- Guided city tour of Hamburg
- Travel
- Amsterdam → Bremen → Hamburg by coach
- Overnight
- Hamburg
- Hotel
- Mercure Hotel Hamburg Mitte
- Meals
- Breakfast
Day 10
Hamburg – Odense – Copenhagen
Meals included: Breakfast
Leaving Germany, the route crosses into Denmark on a Scandinavian journey. There is a pause in Odense, birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen, before the drive across the Great Belt Bridge to Copenhagen, where a guided tour covers one of Europe’s most beautiful capitals. The evening in the city is free, and you might have dinner at the Torvehallerne market or on the Nyhavn waterfront.
Included
- Stop in Odense
- Guided driving and walking tour of Copenhagen
- Travel
- Hamburg → Odense → Copenhagen by coach, over the Great Belt Bridge
- Overnight
- Copenhagen
- Hotel
- Scandic Copenhagen
- Meals
- Breakfast
Day 11
Copenhagen
Meals included: Breakfast
Copenhagen is yours to explore at your own pace today. You can visit the National Museum, see Rosenborg Castle, or instead wander through Freetown Christiania, an alternative community within the city. Alternatively, the optional experience includes a guided tour of Amalienborg Palace, a look at Danish royalty, the Changing of the Guard in the grand palace square, and a premium Danish lunch in the centre of the city.
Optional extras
- Essential Copenhagen · AED 425 per person
- Overnight
- Copenhagen
- Hotel
- Scandic Copenhagen
- Meals
- Breakfast
Day 12
Copenhagen – Helsingør – Gothenburg – Oslo
Meals included: BreakfastDinnerThe route leaves Copenhagen for Helsingør, where you board the ferry to Sweden. A short orientation walk reveals Gothenburg’s highlights, including the Poseidon Statue and Kingsgate Avenue. From there, the journey continues to Oslo, a city with a history of Viking and polar exploration, and your base for the night. In the evening, a hearty Norwegian dinner awaits in the city.
Included
- Orientation walk in Gothenburg
- Norwegian dinner in Oslo
- Travel
- Copenhagen → Helsingør by coach, ferry to Sweden, then via Gothenburg to Oslo
- Overnight
- Oslo
- Hotel
- Scandic Victoria
- Meals
- Breakfast and dinner
Day 13
Oslo
Meals included: BreakfastThe day starts with a guided tour of Oslo, taking in landmarks such as the Tiger Statue and the Parliament building. After that, you can explore further at your own pace. The MUNCH Museum is worth a visit, or Vigeland Sculpture Park invites a wander. Alternatively, there is the optional Bygdøy Museums & Nordic Heritage tour, which goes deeper into Norwegian culture and includes lunch.
Included
- Guided tour of Oslo
Optional extras
- Bygdøy Museums & Nordic Heritage · AED 425 per person
- Overnight
- Oslo
- Hotel
- Scandic Victoria
- Meals
- Breakfast
Day 14
Oslo – Örebro – Stockholm
Meals included: BreakfastDinner
Oslo gives way to Örebro today, with a pause for a look at the lakeside castle, before the journey continues to Stockholm. A guided tour here takes in Gamla Stan, Djurgården park and City Hall. In the evening, a Swedish dinner rounds off the day in this Scandinavian city.
Included
- Stop at Örebro’s castle on the lake
- Guided tour of Stockholm: Gamla Stan, Djurgården and City Hall
- Swedish dinner
- Travel
- Oslo → Örebro → Stockholm by coach
- Overnight
- Stockholm
- Hotel
- Scandic Park
- Meals
- Breakfast and dinner
Day 15
Stockholm – Helsinki
Meals included: BreakfastDinnerThe morning brings more time in Stockholm, with the chance to visit the Vasa Museum and its Viking relics, have lunch in the Old Town, or see the Abba Museum. In the afternoon, the overnight crossing into Helsinki begins, once the ferry terminal is reached. A Baltic-inspired ship carries you overnight, with duty-free shopping, entertainment and an included buffet dinner on board.
Included
- Overnight ferry to Helsinki, with buffet dinner
- Travel
- Stockholm → Helsinki by overnight ferry
- Overnight
- Stockholm-Helsinki Ferry
- Hotel
- Tallink
- Meals
- Breakfast and dinner
Day 16
Helsinki
Meals included: BreakfastDinnerA guided driving and walking tour, included in the day, gives a thorough introduction to the city, taking in attractions such as Senate Square, Helsinki Cathedral and Market Square. In the afternoon, you can join the optional Suomenlinna experience and see the island’s maritime heritage. This evening brings a Farewell Dinner in Helsinki, a chance to exchange memories with your fellow travellers.
Included
- Guided driving and walking tour of Helsinki: Senate Square, Helsinki Cathedral and Market Square
- Farewell dinner
Optional extras
- Explore Suomenlinna · AED 425 per person
- Overnight
- Helsinki
- Hotel
- Radisson Blu Seaside Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast and dinner
Day 17
End of Tour in Helsinki
Meals included: BreakfastAfter a last breakfast, you make your way home, or you can extend your stay with some more time in Helsinki. You might browse Sibelius Park, or have a last taste of local cuisine over lunch before heading onward.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Dates & prices
Prices per person, sharing a double or twin room.
FromThu 2 Sept 2027ToSat 18 Sept 2027
Available
AED 21,430
What’s included
Included
- 16 nights, 4-star hotels and cruise ship
- 16 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches, 11 Dinners
- Cruise Ship I Air-conditioned Coach I Overnight Ferry
- Fully-guided tour
Not included
- Flights: Arrange your own flights for the start and end of the tour
- Travel insurance: Purchase a suitable policy that meets your needs
Optional extras
Excursions and upgrades you can add to the tour. Prices are per person.
Renaissance Route in Colmar
Walk the canals and half-timbered streets of Colmar’s Petite Venise quarter, and see the birthplace of Bartholdi, the sculptor of the Statue of Liberty. €40, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 170 per person
Culture & Cake of the Black Forest
Freiburg’s Old Town and Minster, the Bächle legend, cuckoo clocks, and a slice of Black Forest cake where it was first made. €30, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 130 per person
Strasbourg Sights & Canal Cruise
A guided walk through Strasbourg’s UNESCO-listed Grande Île, then a canal cruise past Petite France and the city’s landmarks. €55, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 235 per person
Historic Mainz & Gutenberg Museum
Mainz’s Old Town and cathedral quarter, and the Gutenberg Museum, with two original Gutenberg Bibles and reconstructed printing presses. €50, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 215 per person
Nijmegen & Western Front History Walk
With a local guide, stand where American paratroopers landed near the Waal Bridge in Operation Market Garden, then see St Stephen’s Church and the medieval centre. €45, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 195 per person
A Taste of Amsterdam
Make your own stroopwafel from a 200-year-old recipe, then learn how Dutch cheese is made and taste five kinds. €90, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 385 per person
Amsterdam Signature Experience
A behind-the-scenes tour of the Heineken brewery with a beer tasting, then a canal cruise through the Jordaan. €70, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 300 per person
Essential Copenhagen
A guided visit to the royal apartments of Amalienborg Palace, the Changing of the Guard in the palace square, and a premium lunch in central Copenhagen. €100. Book it before the tour: add it to your booking notes.
AED 425 per person
Bygdøy Museums & Nordic Heritage
Cross the Oslofjord to Bygdøy and step aboard the polar ship Fram in its museum, then, after lunch, see the Norsk Folkemuseum and its 13th-century Gol Stave Church. €100, lunch included. Book it before the tour: add it to your booking notes.
AED 425 per person
Explore Suomenlinna
Take the ferry across Helsinki’s harbour to the UNESCO-listed sea fortress of Suomenlinna for a premium lunch, the fortress museum and a guided walk. €100, lunch included. Book it before the tour: add it to your booking notes.
AED 425 per person
To add an extra, mention it in your booking notes, and we confirm it with your seats before you pay. Some are booked with your tour leader on the day instead: their description says so.
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Good to know
Practical details to read before you travel.
Passport & visas
Every country on this tour is in the Schengen area, so one Schengen visa covers the whole trip, river cruise included.
UAE passport holders don’t need a visa for stays of up to 90 days, but will need the EU’s new ETIAS travel authorisation once it starts: we can tell you where it stands when you book. Most other nationalities living in the UAE need a Schengen visa. You can apply up to six months before you travel, and appointments in Dubai fill up quickly before the summer, so start early.
Your passport must be valid for at least three months after you leave the Schengen area, and have been issued within the last ten years. Our visa team handles Schengen applications: ask us when you book.
Flights and timings
Flights aren’t included. Check-in at the tour hotel in Zurich is from 3pm on day 1, and the tour ends in Helsinki after breakfast on day 17, at about 10am. You’ll get the hotel name and check-in time a few days before the tour.
Our team can book your flights from Dubai to Zurich and home from Helsinki to match the tour.
Life on the river ship
From day 2 to day 9 you live on the MS Symphonie, a river ship with a sun deck, a bar and a restaurant. Cabins have two beds that can be pushed together or kept apart, and a private bathroom. You unpack once, and the ship carries you from city to city.
Meals and dietary needs
16 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 11 dinners are included. Most are on the river ship, which serves lunch and dinner on every full cruise day. The other meals are yours to choose, with time to try local food. Tell us about any dietary needs when you book, and we pass them on before the tour.
Money
You’ll use five currencies: Swiss francs in Switzerland; euros in Germany, France, the Netherlands and Finland; and Danish, Norwegian and Swedish kroner. Cards are accepted almost everywhere, and Scandinavia is close to cashless, so a card without foreign transaction fees is the easiest way to pay. Keep a few euros in cash for small purchases.
Optional experiences booked on tour are priced in euros and paid to your tour leader in cash or by card.
Weather and packing
The tour runs in early September: late summer on the Rhine, then cooler, changeable weather in Scandinavia, where evenings can be chilly and rain is common. Pack layers, a light waterproof jacket and comfortable shoes for cobbled old towns.
Cabins on the river ship have limited storage, and you change hotels several times after the cruise, so a medium suitcase and a small day bag work best. Keep what you need for the night in your day bag for the ferry to Helsinki.
Plan your trip
Our Dubai team arranges what goes around the tour, so it is booked in one place.
Visas
One Schengen visa covers the Schengen countries on this route. Our visa team in Dubai applies for UAE residents once the tour is booked.
Flights
Flights are not included. We can book them with the tour: Dubai to Zurich, and home from Helsinki. Tick “Flights” when you book and we quote them with your confirmation.
Pay in instalments
Split the cost with Tabby or Tamara, or over 3 to 12 months on a UAE bank credit card for bookings from AED 1,000.
Book this tour
Book online in a few minutes. Your seats are held as soon as you book, and you pay once we have confirmed them.
- Choose your date, travellers and roomsPrices are per person, and the total updates as you choose.
- Name each traveller as in their passportYour seats are held and your booking reference is emailed straight away.
- Pay by secure link once confirmedOur Dubai team confirms the seats with the tour operator, then emails your payment link. Nothing is charged when you book.
Questions before you book? Our support team is on WhatsApp +971 58 582 4488.
Questions about this tour
What will my days actually look like?
More sights, more time to enjoy them. Most mornings start with breakfast before heading out to the main sights. Longer drive days get you to more incredible places, and once you're there, you'll have plenty of time to explore, take it all in and make each destination your own. Expect a good amount of walking. Comfortable shoes are still your best friend.
Who will I be travelling with?
People from all over the world. Different ages, different backgrounds, same instinct to see more. Groups have on average between 35-45 travellers. By day three, you’ll already know everyone's name.
How do Optional Experiences work?
Optional Experiences happen during your tour's free-time slots, and your Tour Leader will tell you about what's on offer during the tour. Most can be booked on the day, but some are pre-sold and must be purchased before your tour begins, so it's worth checking the tour page beforehand to see what's available and get in touch with our team to book anything in advance.
Will I have time to explore on my own?
Yes. Free time is built into the itinerary. Your Tour Leader can point you towards the places worth your time, so you are never left completely to figure it out yourself.
What support do I have while I'm on tour?
Your Tour Leader is there to look after you during your tour. They know the places most people walk straight past, they'll have a restaurant recommendation ready before you've asked, and they'll sort anything that comes up along the way. All transport and accommodation are arranged for you.
You'll also have a 24-hour emergency contact number and the Holidayys team in Dubai.
How do I book Zurich to Helsinki: Rhine River Cruise & Scandinavia Touring?
Press Book now, choose a date and your rooms, and enter each traveller as their passport shows. We hold your seats and email your booking reference straight away. Our Dubai team confirms the seats with the tour operator, then emails you a secure payment link. Nothing is charged when you book.
When do I pay?
Once the tour operator confirms your seats. We email you a secure payment link for the total in AED, and your booking is complete when it is paid. To pay in instalments, say so in your booking notes.
Is the price per person?
Yes. Prices are per person sharing a double or twin room. Travelling alone? A single room costs the supplement shown next to each date.
Are flights included?
Only when the tour lists them under what is included. We can book flights from the UAE to the start city and home from the end city with your tour.
Do I need a visa?
That depends on your passport and the countries on the route. Our visa team arranges Schengen and other visas for UAE residents, and can apply for yours once the tour is booked.
Payment plans
Pay over time, at 0% interest
Every booking qualifies, from holidays and tours to visas. Pay later with a credit card instalment plan or a buy-now-pay-later account; some banks charge a one-time processing fee.
- Credit card plans from AED 1,000
- Tabby and Tamara, no minimum
- Terms from 3 to 12 months
Find your bank’s plan
Credit cards, from AED 1,000
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