Upon arrival in Copenhagen we check into our hotel. There will be some free time to relax before our tour commences with our welcome dinner. (D)

Today we enjoy a sightseeing tour of Copenhagen followed by lunch. We'll view Amalienborg Palace Square, Geirfion Fountain, Nyhayen and more. In the afternoon we begin our guided stroll through Strøget, one of Europe's longest pedestrian streets. Here we will be introduced to Denmark’s premier high street labels in the area of interior design. (B,L)

Today we take a short stroll to Danish Architecture Centre, the main exhibition space for architecture and urban development in Denmark. We then walk to Christiansborg Palace, located on the tiny island of Slotsholmen and contains the Danish Parliament , the Supreme Court and Ministry of State. The remainder of the day is at leisure. (B)

In the morning we travel to Allerød, approximately 1hr drive, where we visit the Fritz Hansen Company that was established in 1872 and is the maker of the iconic "Ant" and "Egg" chairs designed by Arne Jacobsen. We return to Copenhagen for lunch at Restaurant Paustian before visiting Paustians Hus, a large furniture showroom located on the waterfront completed in 1987. It is one of the most notable works in Denmark by prize-winning architect Jørn Utzon, who also designed the Sydney Opera House. On our way back to the hotel we'll pause to visit Superkilen Park, a public park in the Nørrebro district that was designed by the arts group Superflex with the collaboration of Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG Architects) and Topotek1. The Nørrebro district is considered one of the most ethnically diverse areas in the capital as it's home to over 60 nationalities. (B,L)

After breakfast we visit Danform Showroom, also designed by Jørn Utzon (1985). Here we will enjoy a talk on the importance of design in export markets. We then visit Kvadrat Mills showroom, a famous Danish textile manufacturer. The Reichstag in Berlin and the L.A. Walt Disney Concert Hall both feature Kvadrat bespoke textiles. Before returning to our hotel we stop to visit the Danish Museum of Art & Design, it is one of Scandinavia's central exhibition forums for Danish and international industrial design, decorative and applied arts. (B)

Today we travel to Fredensborg (approximately 1hr drive) and enjoy a tour of the Fredensborg Houses, one of Jørn Utzon’s largest projects in Denmark from 1959-1962. This cluster of individual houses was created to cater for Danes who have spent a long time outside of Denmark like diplomatic corps, engineers, etc. We then travel to Helsingor (approximately 1hr drive) to visit the Louisiana Museum of Modern art. This is an extraordinary museum, showcasing landscape, architecture and art. Dinner this evening is at the hotel. (B,D)

After breakfast we transfer to the train station and catch a train to Aarhus, on arrival we'll be met and transferred to our hotel for check-in then take a short stroll with our Program Leader to the Viking Museum, located underground beneath the Nordea Bank building. (B)

In the morning we head to the ARoS Modern Art Museum in Aarhus, featuring many renowned local and international artists. After the visit, we travel to Frederikshavn, where we board our ferry to Gothenburg in Sweden. On arrival we’ll be met and transferred to our hotel in time for dinner. (B,D)

In the morning we enjoy a guided tour of the city and view the main sights such as Haga District, Avenyn and Maritiman. The afternoon is at leisure, for you to explore on your own. Several of the city’s museums are within walking 10-15 minutes distance from our hotel, such as: Göteborgs konstmuseum – Gothenburg Museum of Art has one of the finest collections in Northern Europe with significant Nordic and international art work. (http://goteborgskonstmuseum.se/en/ ) National Museums of World Culture is housed in an award-winning building designed by London based architects Cécile Brisac and Edgar Gonzales. Here you can experience a mixture of international architecture, contemporary art and much more. (http://www.varldskulturmuseerna.se/en/the-government/the-national-museum-of-world-cultures/) Röhsska Museum, focused on design, fashion and applied arts with a collection of over 55,000 objects. (http://rohsska.se/ ) Göteborgs Konsthall, the centre for contemporary art in Göteborg, Sweden. Free admission. (http://www.konsthallen.goteborg.se/ ) If you like to venture out a little bit further you can make your way to the city centre where the Gothenburg City Museum is located. There you can explore the fascinating pre-history, the 19th century life, the development of the modern industrial Gothenburg and the only exhibited Viking ship in Sweden, Äskekärrsskeppet. While in the city centre you may also wish to explore the surrounding area to Magasinsgatan street, where you will find a variety of furniture and interior design stores like Artilleriet and Vallgatan excusive shopping area for fashion, arts and plants. (B)

Today we have a visit to the Volvo Museum to immerse ourselves in the history and universe of everything Volvo. The museum displays 8000 square metres of cars, buses, machines, engines and unique concepts. The afternoon is at leisure to continue exploring this vibrant city. (B)

We drive to Boras (approximately 1hr drive) for a visit to the famous Swedish School of Textiles. This school is one of the top European textile education and research arenas. We return to our hotel in the afternoon and have some free time to rest before dinner this evening at the hotel. (B,D)

After breakfast we transfer to the train station, where we board the train to Växjö, our journey takes approximately 3 hours. On arrival we’ll be transferred to our hotel and after checking-in we’ll walk to the Swedish Glass Museum (Kulturparken Småland), Sweden's oldest provincial museum with collections dating back to 1792. The glass collection is the source of the museum's international reputation. Dinner this evening is at the hotel. (B,D)

After breakfast, we travel to Kosta (approximately 1hr drive) for a tour of the Kosta Boda glassworks workshops. Kosta Boda was founded in 1742, and is still at the cutting edge of contemporary glassware designed by international artists. Upon our return to Växjö the remainder of the day is at leisure. Växjö Art Galley (Konsthall) is within walking distance, and displays local and international contemporary art, with free admission. (B)

Today we travel by train to Stockholm, the journey takes approximately 3.5hrs. On arrival we’ll be transferred to our hotel and the remainder of the day is at leisure. Our hotel is very close to a metro station and only one stop away from the city central station, alternatively, it’s possible to walk to the city centre as well (20-25min). (B)

Today we enjoy a morning guided sightseeing tour of Stockholm. We focus on new Thomas Sandell architecture; visit the Moderna Museet and the Swedish Museum of Architecture and Design, both located in the island of Skeppsholmen, which was traditionally a base for many military buildings due to the islands strategic position at the entrance of the Baltic Sea. After our visit we’ll return to our hotel using the metro. (B)

Our morning and part of the afternoon is free to explore the city at your own pace. Mid-afternoon we will be transferred to the dock and board our overnight ferry to Helsinki. Dinner will be served aboard. Tallink Silja Line Departing Stockholm at 4:45pm Arriving Helsinki at 10:10am on following day (B,D)

Breakfast will be served aboard the ferry. On arrival in Helsinki we’ll be met by our local guide and taken for a tour to view the main sights of the city with a focus on the architecture of Eero Saarinen. In the afternoon we will visit Alvar Aalto House and Studio with the Program Leader. (B) Helsinki boasts many museums as well local design shops. During your free time you may wish to visit: Helsinki Art Museum (HAM) looks after an art collection that belongs to the people of Helsinki, which includes over 9,000 works of art including the statues in Helsinki. Some of its galleries are also dedicated to an exhibition of Swedish-Finnish writer and artist Tove Janssons (1914-2001) life and works; she’s the creator of the beloved Moomins characters. (https://www.hamhelsinki.fi/en/ ) Ateneum Art Museum: Finland's best-known art museum and the home of Finnish art. The collections date from the 19th century to the modern age. (https://ateneum.fi/?lang=en/ ) Design Museum, devoted to the exhibition of both Finnish and foreign design, including industrial design, fashion, and graphic design (http://www.designmuseum.fi/en/visitors-info/ ) The National Museum of Finland – Kansallismuseo, here you can learn about Finnish history from the Stone Age to the present day through objects and cultural history. One of the current special exhibitions is called 10,000 years of design – Man, Matter, Metamorphosis, focusing on the unique development of Finnish material culture and design as a result of a specific dialogue between society and ecosystem. (https://www.kansallismuseo.fi/en/kansallismuseo )

We start our day with a walk to the city centre to visit Artek showroom where we meet the marketing manager for a talk (subject to availability). Later we visit the Marimekko flagship store located only a few minutes down the road from Artek. In the afternoon we'll make our way on foot to visit the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art with the Program Leader and the remainder of the day is at leisure to continue exploring the city at your own pace. (B)

Today we travel to Iittala, located approximately 1.5hrs away from Helsinki where we have a guided tour of Iittala Design Museum and Glass Factory followed by some free time at their outlet store. We return to Helsinki early afternoon and the remainder of the day is at leisure. (B)

Today the day is at leisure. We meet in the evening at the hotel lobby and walk to a nearby restaurant for our farewell dinner. (B,D)

After breakfast, the tour comes to an end. (B)