Monday, August 17, Copenhagen 

Start the evening with a short walk to Tivoli Gardens for a festive welcome dinner. You’ll have time after dinner to explore Tivoli on your own. 

Tuesday, August 18, Copenhagen

Morning sightseeing tour including a visit to the Little Mermaid, an outside visit to the present day royal palace of Amalieborg and inside visits to the renaissance residence of King Christian IV, Rosenborg Castle, and the National Gallery, Denmark’s largest art museum.

Wednesday, August 19, Copenhagen

Visit Denmark’s National Museum, which houses one of Europe’s best collection of Iron and Viking Age artifacts--and go behind the scenes with the experts!

Thursday, August 20, Copenhagen to Oslo

Take the scenic coastal route north to visit Kronborg Castle, the site of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Spend time in Elsinore before boarding an overnight cruise to Oslo.

Friday, August 21, Oslo 

Start the morning sightseeing by bus and visit the Vigeland Sculpture Park and the famed Viking Ship Museum. An afternoon walking tour of downtown Oslo takes you to the roof of the Oslo Opera House as well as Oslo City Hall, where the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded, and the brand new Munch Museum.

Saturday, August 22, Oslo

Visit the Fram Museum where you will be able to walk through the polar ships Fram and Gjoa. We’ll also visit Norway’s largest open air museum, the Norske Folkemusuem. We’ll have a late afternoon lecture before dinner on your own.

Sunday, August 23, Oslo to Stockholm

After a morning flight from Oslo to Stockholm, we’ll stop at Sweden’s great university city, Uppsala to visit its cathedral. Enjoy some free time for lunch on your own before continuing on to Stockholm.

Monday, August 24, Stockholm

The morning tour to Djurgården takes you to Sweden’s Nordic Museum and the Vasa Museum, which is built over a large Swedish warship from 1628 that sunk in Stockholm’s harbor on its maiden voyage.

Tuesday, August 25, Stockholm 

This morning we’ll have a walking tour to nearby Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s old town. We end at the National Museum, for a visit to Sweden’s art museum.

Wednesday, August 26, Stockholm to Helsinki

Following a morning lecture, visit the Swedish History Museum with its famous Gold Room. Have dinner aboard the Silja Line ship to Helsinki, as it sails along the Stockholm Archipelago with its 24,000 islands.

Thursday, August 27, Helsinki 

After arriving in Helsinki, spend the morning sightseeing the Temppeliaukio Church (Rock Church), the Sibelius Monument and the National Museum. Afterwards, walk to the nearby Market Square where there are ample choices for lunch on your own.

Friday, August 28, Helsinki

Take a walking tour with visits to the nearby Lutheran Cathedral, Ateneum Art Museum, and the Kiasma Contemporary Art Museum. This evening we’ll finish things up with a dinner at a local restaurant.

Saturday, August 29, Helsinki

Say goodbye to the friends you’ve made on this tour and head home after breakfast. 

All tour arrangements made by Tumlare.  Please see Tumlare booking/information page for latest updates.

Photos of Copenhagen, Oslo, Upsalla, Stockholm, Helsinki and other destinations by:

Tony Yakovlenko, Ivan Vashchenko,  Tapio Haaja, Shubhesh Aggarwal, A6 Reflex, Felix Hoffmann, Christoffer Engström, and Tom Juggins 

Courtesy of Unsplash

Professor Leiren teaches courses in Scandinavian history and culture at the University of Washington. He joined the UW faculty in 1977 as professor of Scandinavian studies and history. His courses include the popular "History of the Vikings." Leiren served as Chair of the Department of Scandinavian Studies from 1995 - 2010 and as Acting Department Chair in 2014-2015.   Professor Leiren was the first holder of the Department's Sverre Arestad Endowed Chair in Norwegian Studies from 2007 to 2017. He also held an appointment in the Department of History as Adjunct Professor of History   In 1996, Professor Leiren was knighted by His Majesty King Harald V of Norway and awarded the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit.

Professor Leiren also served as co-General Editor of the New Directions book series with the University of Washington Press between 2006 and 2015.  The UW Press New Directions series offers interdisciplinary approaches to the study of the Nordic region of Scandinavia and the Baltic States and their cultural connections in North America.  By redefining the boundaries of Scandinavian studies to include the Baltic States and Scandinavian America, New Directions in Scandinavian Studies presents books that focus on the study of the culture, history, literature, and politics of the Nordic region.  During his time as co-general editor, eleven books appeared in the series.

His many publications include an updated and revised edition of the Historical Dictionary of Norway for Rowman and Littlefield Publishers published in 2019. Professor Leiren has contributed to, and appeared in, television productions for the History Channel, PBS, the A&E Network as well as NRK and TV2 in Norway.

Eric Nelson joined the National Nordic Museum as Executive Director/CEO in January 2008; at that time, the organization was called the Nordic Heritage Museum. Since that time, he has overseen the expansion of the Museum from a small and beloved local heritage site into a nationally and internationally recognized center for sharing Nordic culture, values, and innovation. Nelson also oversaw the development of the stunning new $52.5M National Nordic Museum on Seattle’s working waterfront, which debuted May 5, 2018 with a grand opening ceremony attended by Nordic heads of state, royalty and other national and international dignitaries.

Under Nelson's leadership, the Museum has become the only museum in the United States – and indeed the world – that showcases the impact and influence of Nordic values and innovation in contemporary society, and tells the story of 12,000 years of Nordic history and culture, across all five Nordic countries – Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden – and the Sámi people of Arctic Europe.

In addition to its collection and exhibitions, the National Nordic Museum serves as a convener on critical issues including innovation, economic development, environmental policy, cultural identity and societal issues. The Museum presents more than 100 programs annually including contemporary art exhibitions, concerts, lectures, films and educational events.

Nelson is a graduate of the prestigious Getty Museum Leadership Institute and holds a Master of Art degree in History and B.A. in History from California State University. He has served as a guest lecturer at the University of Washington, California State University, Sacramento and San Francisco State University. A native of Napa, California, Nelson previously served as Executive Director of the Napa Valley Museum from 1999 to 2007.  Prior to this role, he was Curator of Exhibits and Collections and then Executive Director of the Sonoma County Museum in Santa Rosa for eleven years.

Nelson was named Swedish American of the Year in 2019 by the Vasa Order of America. He was previously awarded Knight of the Order of the White Rose of Finland by the President of Finland Sauli Niinistö.

PechaKucha: A Changing Arctic - Culture, Community, and Climate
w/ PechaKucha Seattle
Thursday, August 22 | 6pm doors/6:30pm presentation

The celebration of Arctic culture during Nordic Sól will give an American audience insight into the diversity of the arts and culture of the Arctic but also bring up the important issue of climate change. Throughout history the culture of the Arctic has developed through interaction between local traditions and external influences. Where art through the 20th century had been heavily influenced by westernizing (colonizing) streams, the contemporary Arctic and North Atlantic culture, art and design scene is increasingly exploring and challenging not only local, traditional heritage, but also history and existential questions about identity and national affiliation.

The speakers for this event will include Louise Lynge Berthelsen - CEO and Designer at Nuuk Couture | Harry Stern - Scientist at Polar Science Center | Alice Jektevik - Producer and Director of Riddu Riððu Festival | Helen Cherullo - Publisher of Mountaineer Books and founder of Braided River |  Eric Scigliano - Author and Science Writer | Paul Bannick - Author & Photographer | Jacqueline Hill - Herbal Scientist, Bastyr College | Edward Blanchard-Wriggles - Research Professor in Atmospheric Science at UW | Greg Hemmings - Entrepreneur, Filmmaker and Community movement-maker |  Julie Whitehorn - Co-founder and President of the Pacific Sámi Searvi | Maria Coryell-Martin - Expeditionary Artist | Louise Berthelsen - Indigenous entrepreneur and designer from Greenland | Troy Storfjell - Sámi Director of Native and American studies at PLU. This diverse group of speakers will commit to give a presentation (based on their interpretation of our evening’s theme A Changing Arctic – Culture, Community and Climate) of 20 slides (each being displayed for exactly 20 seconds). Each total presentation will be 6 minutes and 40 seconds. Bottom line: 20 slides x 20 seconds each.

Cost: Free; RSVP is appreciated

Circumpolar Hip Hop Collab
Friday, August 23 | 7pm

The outcome of a commissioned concert at the prestigious Riddu Riđđu festival in Norway 2018, the Circumpolar Hip Hop Collab features several young indigenous artists creating urban music in their native tongues; representing Greenland, Sami Finland, Sami Russia, Kaktovik Alaska, and Nunavut Canada.

You can watch a video of the Collab performing at Riddu Riđđu 2018 on YouTube here. 

The artists coming include: 
Aqqalu Berthelsen—Greenland (lives in Finland)
Alexia Galloway-Alainga—Canada, Inuk
Aliu Valle—Finland, Sámi
Mikkal Morottaja—Finland, Sámi
Kim Jacobsen—Greenland, Inuk

Thank you to our concert sponsors, including C89.5 and Filson. 

Cost: $15 for students; $18 for Members; $20 general admission. Concert is all ages.

Tickets are available at the door.

[Images: Riddu Riđđu Festival] 

Inuit Games
w/ Kyle Kaayák’w Worl
Saturday & Sunday, August 24 & 25 | Times Below

Inuit Games, also known as Arctic Sports, are a collection of Indigenous games based on hunting and survival skills of the north. The games trained both physical and mental abilities that allowed the indigenous people of Alaska, Canada, Greenland and Chukotka to thrive in the Arctic for millennia. Today athletes from across the Arctic and beyond carry on the tradition of the games in events such as Native Youth Olympics, World Eskimo-Indian Olympic, and Arctic Winter Games.

Kyle Kaayák’w Worl is an award winning Arctic Sports athlete and coach currently residing in Juneau, Alaska. He is Tlingit of the Lukaax̲.ádi clan, Deg Hit’an and Yup’ik. Over his 10 year career in the sport he has won over 70 medals, traveling from Alaska to Greenland to compete in various events. Along with training and coaching year round in Alaska, Kyle travels across the world to demonstrate Arctic Sports, including the Riddu Riddu Festival in Northern Norway, Orenda Art International Gallery in Paris, and Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C.

Kyle will teach four sessions throughout the weekend. Advanced registration required to learn with Kyle. You can watch a video here that describes the history and technique of Inuit Games. 

Saturday, August 24th | 11:00am–12:00pm; 3:00pm–4:00pm

Sunday, August 25th | 12:00–1:00pm; 2:00–3:00pm

Cost: Free; demonstrations will take place on the Fisherman's Sun Terrace. 

[Image: Ørjan Bertelsen—Two-Foot High Kick, Northern Norway]

Family & Kids
Saturday & Sunday, August 24 & 25 | 10am–5pm

In addition to Inuit Games, the weekend has a host of special fun perfect for families and kids. Drop-in crafting stations, stories, games, and STEAM learning activities will take place in the Museum and on outdoor terrace. You'll be able to make your own festive flower crown, and watch demonstrations by several of the vendors. We'll also screen Arctic shorts by filmmaker Greg Hemmings on loop in the classrooms. Plus, the Sweet Wheels ice cream truck will be in the parking lot to satisfy your sweet tooth! As a weekend special, Museum admission is half off for all guests! 

Cost: Free 

Artisan Marketplace
Saturday, August 24, 12-5pm to the public + during Arctic Adventure
Sunday, August 25 | 10am-5pm

In this curated artisan marketplace, 30 hand-picked artists and designers from the Arctic region will display and sell their wares. This is a great opportunity to meet artists and craftspersons from the Arctic region to discuss their work, process, and support them with direct purchases. Some of our featured artists include Greenland fashion designer Nuuk Couture, painter Maria Kjaerulff from Greenland, and woodworker Anders Zeeb from Greenland.

Cost: Free

[Image: Maria Kjaerulff, Anders Zeeb, Oleana, By Heart, and Simply Sami]

Night at the Nordic: Arctic Adventure
Saturday, August 24 | 6pm

Calling all explorers! The National Nordic Museum is collaborating with our partners in the Arctic and local businesses for an event that is sure to really heat up Nordic Sól! Guests will have the opportunity to taste their way through the Arctic region, by sampling traditional food & drinks, discovering the latest in Arctic modern fashion, and of course visit the Aquavit garden!  Doors open at 6pm and with all the food you can eat and drink, its sure to be one hot party!

What can guests expect? Food. Fashion. Artists. Drinks! We have all this and more packed into one great evening that's sure to entice and even challenge your senses. 

When you arrive, you'll receive a passport at the door, and from there you'll embark on a choose-your-own-adventure experience. Perhaps your first stop is in Osberg Great Hall, where over 20 curated vendors will be selling and showcasing their wares. Or maybe you want to begin at the Fishermen's Sun Terrace for a beer/mead tasting. Or perhaps you're the bravest of the brave, and will head straight to the Aquavit Garden, where you can pluck up the courage to try Iceland's famous fermented shark, hákarl.

Make sure you're back in Fjord Hall around 7pm for an incredible fashion show with visiting international designer Nuuk Couture. And the adventure continues, with more Arctic-inspired food stations, a champagne lounge, and special discounts in the Museum Store.

Cost: $55 for Members; $65 general admission

Tickets available at: https://nordicarcticadventure.eventbrite.com

Exhibition: Glacier
August 22—September 30

In conjunction with Nordic Sól, Icelandic photographer Ragnar Axelsson (aka Rax) presents a breathtaking selection of works from his polar landscape explorations. RAX has been a staff photographer of Morgunblaðið (Iceland's second largest newspaper) since 1976. His work has appeared in Life, National Geographic, and Time magazines.

Cost: Included with Museum admission

Half-Priced Museum Admission
August 24—25

As a special addition to the weekend, the Museum is offering half-priced admission to the galleries, including entry to the final weekend of our temporary exhibition Studio 54 and Beyond. You can purchase your Museum admission in advance using the links below. 

Saturday, August 24: purchase admission
Sunday, August 25: purchase admission

Freya Cafe Specials
August 24—25

Our culinary award-winning café, Freya, is joining in the celebration with three specials for the Nordic Sól weekend. Make sure to stop by Freya to enjoy: 

• A special Nordic Sól cookie
• $6 Icelandic Mules, featuring Reyka Vodka, lime juice, house ginger syrup, ginger ale, and club soda
• $5 Swedish meatball special, featuring 3 Swedish meatballs served with lingonberry jam
• $5 Krukost and crackers, featuring spreadable cheese seasoned with aquavit and caraway