Touring Europe By Rail 2019

G rand T our by R ail – T he G reat D ane

Following on from our Grand Tours by Rail to Norway and Sweden, here is part three of our Scandinavian thriller! The Great Dane is a unique tour through Denmark, beginning in wonderful Copenhagen before ticking off attractions and railways across the country on a superb circular tour of discovery.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

DAY 1 We depart London St Pancras by Eurostar to Brussels and onwards to the Hanseatic city of Bremen for a night at the convenient InterCity Hotel. (D) DAY 2 Departing Bremen, we head through northern Germany onto the island of Fehmarn . At Puttgarden we encounter the rare experience of our train boarding the ferry to Rødby in Denmark, one of the last three such train ferries in Europe. Our journey then continues to Copenhagen for three nights at the Imperial Hotel. (B,D) DAY 3 Our exploration of Copenhagen begins with an orientation coach tour of the city’s main sights, including the Amalienborg Palace and the Little Mermaid . We then continue by boat cruise from attractive Nyhavn through the canals of Christianshavn and Frederiksholm, lined by historic buildings. The rest of the day is free to explore at your own pace, with the Tivoli Gardens just a short walk away and fascinating Christiania reachable with a short ride on public transport. (B,D) Also included in your Tour Fare: ★ ★ 11 nights’ bed, breakfast & evening meal ★ ★ Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager ★ ★ Hotel Porterage ★ ★ Stay in wonderful Copenhagen ★ ★ Tour Denmark’s capital by boat and coach ★ ★ Steam on the Hedelandsbanen ★ ★ Visit Helsingør and Kronborg Royal Castle ★ ★ Stay in Odense with its Hans Christian Andersen Museum ★ ★ Visit Denmark’s National Railway Museum ★ ★ Ride Funen’s Syd Fyenske Veteransbanen ★ ★ Enjoy a day at Mariager Handest by boat and heritage steam train ★ ★ Explore Aarhus, Denmark’s second city ★ ★ Visit handsome Hanseatic Bremen ★ ★ Ride the Moor Express from Bremen to Worpswede artist colony

Fares From £2495

Nyhavn Harbour

© AdobeStock © HVB

DAY 4 We make the short journey to Hedehusen to join the Hedelands Veteranbane . The HVB society has rescued and extended the line since its first short (only 100 metres) journey in 1977, now covering 5.3km, making it Denmark’s longest narrow-gauge railway. After a return steam journey , we return to Copenhagen to head up the coastal line (Kystbanen) to Helsingør , where we visit royal Kronborg Palace , a UNESCO World Heritage site immortalised in Shakespeare’s Hamlet. (B,D) DAY 5 Departing Copenhagen, we head due west, crossing the Great Belt strait, which splits the islands of Zealand and Funen, first through a tunnel, then by bridge. We arrive in Odense , the main city on Funen, for two nights at the Plaza Milling Hotel, and include a visit to the Danish National Railway Museum this afternoon. (B,D)

DAY 6 Today we include a trip on Funen’s heritage railway, the Syd Fyenske Veteranjernbane , a heritage diesel service cutting gracefully through meadows, catching glimpses of the archipelago on its 30 minute journey from Fåborg to Korinth. Back in Odense, we visit the Hans Christian Andersen Museum , commemorating the city’s most famous son. (B,D) DAY 7 Our journey west continues, crossing the Little Belt strait by bridge, connecting the island of Funen with the Jutland mainland. We continue north to the market town of Randers for three nights at the Best Western Hotel. (B,D) DAY 8 A scenic round trip awaits today. We begin with a local train to Hobro, where we join the Svanen (Swan)

Syd Fyenske Railway

Hedelandsbane Railway

Book now – online at www.railtrail.co.uk or telephone: 01538 382323

40 28