Nordic Visitor can plan your trip to the following destinations in Europe:

• Iceland
• Scandinavia
• Scotland
• Ireland
• Norway
• Sweden
• Lapland
• Svalbard
• Denmark
• Finland
• Greenland

The term "Scandinavia" commonly refers to Norway, Sweden and Denmark. "Nordic countries" is used definitively for Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland. This also includes their associated territories of: Svalbard, Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and the Åland Islands.

You may have guessed from our name that we originated as a Nordic travel agency. We now also specialise in Scotland and Ireland, two Celtic countries that are close to the Nordics.

Northern Europe has very low crime rates and is a safe region to visit. In fact, the Global Peace Index rates the Nordic nations as some of the most peaceful countries in the world.

It's also good to know that the destinations you can visit with Nordic Visitor all have excellent, modern healthcare services.

You can check the latest guidance for visiting Northern Europe on our Travel Update page.

The best time to visit Northern Europe really depends on how you want to explore and the attractions you wish to see.

From September to March, you could experience snow-blanketed landscapes, wintry activities and festive traditions. The dark night skies also provide the ideal backdrop for spotting the northern lights.

That said, if you are looking to explore when temperatures are mild, then book a tour during the spring and summer months. Between April and August, you’d get to see lush green landscapes and enjoy longer days, which is perfect for outdoor activities like hiking.

As well as this, the midnight sun is in full swing in certain areas such as Iceland, Northern Norway and Greenland. This is a phenomenon where the sun doesn’t set for weeks or months.

Check out these travel styles for seasonal tour ideas:

• Summer tours in Europe
• Winter trips in Europe
• Northern lights packages in Europe
• Christmas tours in Europe
   

Aurora activity is strongest closer to the North Pole, so your best bet is to visit Iceland, Norway, Lapland and Svalbard to catch sight of the northern lights. These destinations are located within or near to the Arctic Circle, where you have a higher chance of seeing the aurora borealis.

Occasionally you can spot them in other parts of Northern Europe, such as Scotland. But sightings are much more rare as it’s further away from the Arctic Circle.

If you’re keen to see the aurora borealis in Europe, then book your trip for the winter months, when the nights are long. This will give you more hours of darkness to search for the northern lights.

Read these guides for more information about the aurora borealis:

• What are the northern lights?
• How to see the aurora borealis
• Best times and places to see the northern lights in Europe
   

The North is made up of many distinctive countries and cultures, and there are plenty of ways to experience them. The best way to explore depends on what you want to do and how flexible you’d like the tours to be.

Self-drive packages of Northern Europe are very popular as they let you set the pace and travel further for excursions, attractions and restaurants. You can take your time discovering top sights and explore off the beaten track.

Another excellent way to travel is with a knowledgeable guide and a small group of fellow travellers. Our escorted group tours of Northern Europe give you the opportunity to learn from a local. They’ll take you to each attraction and share their knowledge and favourite spots.

Nordic Visitor only organises small minibus tours, for a more relaxed and personal experience compared to large coach trips.

If you want something exclusive and would prefer to travel alone or with friends or family members, then choose from our private Northern Europe tours. You’ll have a local guide all to yourselves for a more personal experience.

Northern Europe independent packages combine the best of self-guided travel with escorted excursions. You’ll get to enjoy guided activities with local experts, but then have free days to explore on your own.

In the Scandinavian countries, you could journey by rail on a train tour of Northern Europe, or sail the seas on a Nordic cruise package. Both are convenient ways to travel in Norway, Sweden and Denmark, with stunning views and enchanting stops along the way.

If you want more information, contact our team and they will help you decide which travel style would suit you best.

Nordic Visitor is proud to be a local tour operator in Northern Europe, with offices in the capital cities of Iceland, Scotland and Sweden. Our travel experts are based in these countries and have extensively explored the regions they specialise in.

You’ll be assigned a dedicated travel consultant who will use their in-depth knowledge to arrange your tour for you. They’ll share personal recommendations and can customise your itinerary to match your particular interests.

Find out more about Nordic Visitor and our passionate travel experts.

When you take a tour with Nordic Visitor, you always get the following included in your travel package:

• All accommodation
• Daily breakfast
• Local transport specified in the itinerary (for example, this may be a rental car, cruise, private transport, train tickets, or transfers)
• Activities specified on the itinerary (with the chance to add optional excursions)
• Entrance fees to attractions specified in the itinerary
• Your own personalised itinerary with a beautiful booklet about local attractions and practical travel information
• 24/7 helpline during your trip for support when you need it
• All taxes and service fees – no hidden charges
   

Depending on the travel style you choose, you’ll also have the following included in your Nordic Visitor package:

Self-drive tours:

• Car rental with a trusted local supplier
• Unlimited mileage
• CDW insurance
• Free unlimited Wi-Fi (Iceland)
• GPS (Scotland and Ireland)
• Authorisation for 2 drivers (Iceland and Scotland)
   

Small group tours:

• Service from a professional, English-speaking local guide
• Transportation in a premium mini-bus (with Wi-Fi on Iceland tours)
• Half board – some lunches and dinners provided
   

Private tours:

• Private service of a professional, English-speaking local guide
• Transportation in a comfortable, private vehicle
• Private airport transfers
   

Yes, Nordic Visitor offers cancellation insurance which protects your payment. This means that, if you need to cancel, you will never lose the money you’ve paid to us. Or if you need to change your travel dates, we'll rearrange all your tour details in one place, so you have a hassle-free experience.

Read our Book With Confidence terms to find out how you can have peace of mind with risk-free, flexible booking.

If you do not have cancellation insurance with us, normal booking terms apply and we recommend you check with your private travel insurance provider.

At Nordic Visitor, we’ll save you time and effort by planning your getaway for you.

When you arrange your trip yourself, you have to carry out all the research and book all parts of your tour separately. If you need to make changes to your itinerary, you have to do all the legwork yourself.

Nordic Visitor takes care of everything on your behalf, based on your needs and requests, so you can relax and look forward to your trip.

Our travel experts will design your route, planned in a way that’s both comfortable and convenient. For example, they’ll ensure you don’t cover the same stretch of road twice unnecessarily. They’ll also book you into high-quality accommodation, and share all their insider tips with you.

This means you can leave all the hassle of trip-planning to the experts, who are based in Iceland, Scotland and Sweden. They know our destinations inside out, so you can rely on them to incorporate the best sights and hidden gems that you wouldn’t otherwise know about.

What’s more, you get access to our 24/7 helpline during your trip. Should you need any support, we are only a call away. And if you need to make changes to your itinerary for any reason, you can leave all of that to us as well.

Fortunately, if you’re arriving from North America, Australia, Japan, or New Zealand, you will not need a visa to visit Northern Europe. You must have a valid passport with at least 6 months left before it expires.

If you’re visiting from outside of these places, you will need to apply for a Schengen visa to enter the Nordic countries. This is a short-stay visa that permits you to travel to Schengen Area member countries for up to 90 days.

The Schengen visa doesn’t apply to Scotland, the rest of the UK, or Ireland. But citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland citizens can visit without a visa. If you’re travelling from elsewhere, you may need to apply for a Standard Visitor visa for Scotland and the UK, or a Short Stay ‘C’ visa for Ireland.

We understand the importance of having a clean, comfortable and friendly place to lay your head after an exciting day of exploring. To ensure you get the best experience, we use our in-depth local knowledge to handpick the most suitable accommodation for you.

The hotels and guesthouses we feature in our tours are all highly rated by visitors. Our local experts have carefully selected each accommodation partner for their exceptional standards of quality, location and character.

As we have regional offices across the destinations we specialise in, we have close connections with our suppliers and we visit them regularly. This is why we are confident that the accommodation on your trip with us will meet or even exceed your expectations.

Yes, you can easily customise your tour online. Add extra nights, upgrades and day trips to your liking as you go through the booking steps. If you’d like to make your itinerary more bespoke, don’t hesitate to speak to your dedicated travel consultant.

They will gladly tailor your tour to suit your tastes and preferences. You may have particular interests in mind, such as northern lights, hiking, photography or history. Perhaps there are certain places that hold special significance to you.

If you’re travelling to Europe with kids, your personal consultant will make sure every part of your itinerary is suitable for the whole family. Or if you’re on a honeymoon or anniversary trip in Europe, they’ll happily add romantic touches to make your couples break extra special.

Most of our travel styles are flexible. But bear in mind that small group packages are a little different, as you are on a fixed itinerary for the duration of the guided tour. However, you can add extra nights to the beginning or end of your trip.

You can choose from a wide range of arrival dates depending on the package and season you are interested in. All of our tours are available to purchase online, so pick the best date for you from the availability calendar.

If your travel plans have changed and you want to amend your arrival date, contact your travel consultant to rearrange your booking.

Return flights to your destination are not included in our packages. This gives you greater flexibility and allows you to save money by using your airline miles or taking advantage of airfare sales.

We’d advise that you look over flights for timings and dates, but hold off purchasing until you’ve booked your preferred tour. Once you’ve had a confirmation email from your personal travel consultant, you should then choose and pay for your flights.

Nordic Visitor packages come with daily itineraries and all of your accommodation organised for you. So once you have all of the arrangements confirmed, you can make an informed choice on your flight times. If you have any questions, you can always contact your consultant for advice.

During your time in Northern Europe, you’ll be discovering new cities, towns and countryside. And with time spent outdoors, it’s best to be prepared for all kinds of weather.

Here’s our recommended packing list for visiting Northern Europe:

• Walking boots or shoes with good grip
• Waterproof jacket and trousers
• Insulated jacket
• Woollen or fleece jumpers
• Thermal base layers
• Warm hat, scarf and gloves
• Warm hiking socks
• Rucksack
• Sunglasses
• Swimwear
• Quick-drying travel towel
• Sunscreen and insect repellent in the summer months
• Insulated coat and thick layers in the winter months
   

For detailed information on what to bring on your European trip, check out these guides:

• Iceland packing list
• Scotland packing list
• Norway packing list
• Lapland packing list
• Ireland packing list