11 nights Copenhagen to Reykjavik

Capital of the “World’s Happiest Country,” Copenhagen is known for its colourful buildings, busy canals and cosy ambience. In this charming city, you can stroll the Tivoli Gardens, visit museums or join the cycling culture by touring on two wheels. Discover some of the famous attractions including Gefion Fountain and Amalienborg Palace, perhaps cruise the city’s waterways, visit Rosenborg Castle or explore the medieval fishing village of Dragoer. Once the home of Hans Christian Andersen, Copenhagen features many reminders of its fairytale heritage and lives up to the reputation immortalised in the famous song ‘Wonderful Copenhagen’.

Days at sea are the perfect opportunity to relax and unwind. So, whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, catching up on your reading or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to busy days spent exploring shore side.

Arriving in Alesund, you could be forgiven for thinking you’d stepped off your ship into the pages of a fairy-tale. A myriad of towering spires and decorative turrets, it’s easy to see why this vibrant fishing port is regarded as one of the prettiest cities in Norway. A scenic gem – wherever you see it from! Wander between buildings adorned with turrets, showy spires and carved dragonheads. Or climb to Kniven for sweeping views of the town, skerries and mountains. Spectacular!

Charming Husavik is the whale watching capital of Iceland. Altogether, there are 23 species of whale that are found in these waters and you are most likely to see Humpbacks, Minke and Blue. While you are out whale watching, keep watch for a puffin colony near Lundey Island. Take a walk along the serene lakes of Botnsvatn and Kaldbakstjarnir or go for a swim in one of Husavik’s therapeutic geothermal lakes. Get a glimpse inside the Húsavíkurkirkja (Husavik Church) and the Husavik Whale Museum.

Discover the dazzling natural beauty of Isafjordur, a small town surrounded by snow-capped mountains, pristine water, and jaw-dropping vistas. With its striking steep mountains on three sides rising dramatically around a gorgeous bay, this is one of the most awe-inspiring places on Earth. As the largest settlement in the Westfjords, Isafjordur is the ideal place to discover northern Iceland’s unspoiled terrain and spot wildlife, including whales, seals, and arctic foxes, in their natural habitat. Visit the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve, or head to Dynjandi, a group of waterfalls known as the jewel of the region. 

Nanortalik, which means 'the place with polar bears,' is the southernmost town in Greenland, located on an island of the same name. Founded in 1797 as a trading depot at the mouth of Tasermiut Fjord, the town is currently home to approximately 1,000 people. From the nearby Tasermiut Fjord, where rocky summits rise above a narrow glacial inlet, to the Qinngua Valley—the only forest in all of Greenland—Nanortalik is surrounded by natural wonders. Culturally there is just as much to experience. For history buffs, the Nanortalik Museum explores native, Old Norse and European colonial history as it shaped Greenland, with nine historic buildings and the world’s oldest umiak (sealskin boat).

Located near Cape Thorvaldsen, the town of Qaqortoq is the most populous town in southern Greenland. The area has a rich history, as it has been inhabited continuously since prehistoric times. You can still see traces of Thule and Norse cultures throughout the region, starting with the ruins of the 14th-century Hvalsey Church at the nearby Hvalsey Fjord. Nearby sites of interest include Uunartoq Hot Springs—the only heated outdoor spa in Greenland—as well as Lake Tasersuaq and the permanent art installation Stone and Man, a series of 40 stone carvings by contemporary Nordic artists that is embedded into the landscape in and around Qaqortoq.

Iceland’s capital stretches along the edge of a vast bay in the west of the country. Perlan, the “Pearl of Reykjavík”, a museum located on ’Oskjuhlið hill, offers a panoramic view of the lush, green landscapes. A little further, one can easily spot the signpost showing the way to the evangelical Hallgrímskirkja church, and to the historical centre where one can stroll along the Skólavördustígur and the Laugavegur, two lively streets with charming small shops. For some relaxation just outside of the city, visitors have the opportunity to visit the Reykjanes peninsula and its famous thermal lagoons of the Blue Lagoon.