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What’s new?
be inspired
why gil travel
Middle East
Western Europe
Eastern Europe
Latin America
Asia/ South Pacific/ Africa
North America
Oceana
From $7,950
OVERVIEW
In collaboration with Jewish Heritage Travel we are excited to offer this tour of Denmark & Sweden.
On this one-of-a-kind journey to discover and celebrate the unique facets of Scandinavian Jewry, we will trace the histories of the Jewish communities of Sweden, home to about 20,000 Jews today, and Denmark, the only nation in Western Europe that saved most of its Jewish population from the Nazis. Both countries have prioritized honoring and sharing the stories, lives, and experiences of their Jewish people.
We will visit the landmarks of Copenhagen, Lund, Malmö, and Stockholm — where Scandinavian Jewish communities date back to the 17th century. During our six nights in Copenhagen, we will enjoy special visits to the Danish Jewish Museum and the Judaica collection at the Royal Library and spend time with influential community members.
In Sweden, we will engage with the Malmö Jewish Community, founded in 1871, and spend a night in Lund, home of the University with Scandinavia’s only Yiddish program. In Stockholm, we will take a private walking tour of the original Jewish neighborhood in Old Town and the current center of Jewish culture and visit the new Swedish Holocaust Museum.
Our accompanying scholar on this tour is Therkel Stræde, who is one of the world’s leading experts on the October 1943 rescue (and deportation) of the Jews from Denmark. Therkel will give lectures and travel with us, providing context and illuminating insights throughout our travels.
Departures
Duration
Highlights
Notes
Activity Level
Tailor Made
Itinerary
Program Cost: $7,950* includes:
10 nights’ accommodations at deluxe hotels
Full breakfast daily; five lunches; four dinners
All group transportation via deluxe air-conditioned coach or train
All lectures, guided tours, museums and site entrance fees
*Per person, double occupancy; single supplement:$1,750. Fees not included: gratuities: $275; museum membership for nonmembers.
Travel note:
Please note that transfers to and from the airport are not included.
Each of our scholars are outstanding experts in their fields and play an active role in helping us design our journeys as well as accompanying us as we travel.
Therkel Straede is professor of contemporary history at the University of Southern Denmark in Odense and one of the world’s leading experts on the October 1943 rescue (and deportation) of the Jews from Denmark. His newest book, about the networks and motives of Jewish and non-Jewish rescuers, will be published in 2023, the 80th anniversary of the German assault on Denmark’s Jews. Recently, Professor Straede worked with the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York City on an exhibition designed for children and their families about the Danish rescue. He operates a website about the Danish deportees in the Theresienstadt ghetto (www.danske joe deri theresienstadt.org) and has received a congressional citation of honor by the U.S. House of Representatives for his achievements in Holocaust research and education.
Ariel Goldstein was born in Uruguay, studied Latin American history in Montevideo and tourism at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. CEO of Tiyul-Jewish Journeys, he has led more than 50 tours throughout Israel, Europe, Persian Gulf, Latin America, China, India, Africa, and the US. Ariel speaks Spanish, English, Hebrew, and Portuguese and is the author of From Moses to Moisesville (2024).
Afternoon: Arrive in Copenhagen and make your way to the hotel on your own.
Evening: Enjoy a welcome dinner and orientation at the hotel. Scholar Therkel Stræde provides a short lecture to introduce the geography, Jewish history, and cultural context of Denmark and Sweden.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodations: 1 Hotel Copenhagen
Morning: We begin the day at Carolineskolen, the only Jewish school in Denmark, founded in 1805. Here, we meet Principal Uri Krivaa, who will share the school’s rich history and its contemporary pluralistic Jewish community.
Afternoon: After lunch, we continue on a guided walking tour through Copenhagen, including stops at Amalienborg Palace (the Royal Residence), the Opera House, Nyhavn Canal, Christiansborg Palace (Parliament), the Old Beach (Jewish quarter), Magstræde (Copenhagen’s oldest street), the City Court, and City Hall Square.
Evening: You have free time to relax, explore the city, and enjoy dinner on your own.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodations: 1 Hotel Copenhagen
Morning: Scholar Therkel Stræde presents a lecture at the hotel on the 1943 rescue of Denmark’s Jewish community. We then visit the Great Synagogue and meet with Denmark’s Chief Rabbi, Jair Melchior, who will speak about Jewish life in Denmark today.
Afternoon: We travel to the seaside village of Dragør, where we begin with lunch at Café Espersen in the old harbor. At the Dragør Museum, we learn about the role of the fishing community in the October 1943 rescue effort. A walking tour of the village includes a visit to the K571 Elisabeth, the only documented rescue boat in Denmark still afloat today.
Evening: You have free time for dinner on your own.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodations: 1 Hotel Copenhagen
Morning: We walk to the Judaica collection at the Danish Royal Library’s historic Galley House and continue to the Danish Jewish Museum, whose exhibitions reflect 400 years of Jewish life in Denmark.
Afternoon: After lunch, we return to the hotel on foot, stopping along the way to view notable historic sites including the Stock Exchange, the home of physicist Niels Bohr, the Melchior family residence — where Hans Christian Andersen spent his final years — and other Jewish-related landmarks.
Evening: At the hotel, scholar Therkel Stræde gives a lecture on Jewish life in Denmark’s provinces.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodations: 1 Hotel Copenhagen
Morning: We drive to Odense, the birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen. A guided tour of the city includes the Hans Christian Andersen Museum, as well as sites related to the 1819 pogrom and the deportation of Jews in October 1943.
Afternoon: We return to Copenhagen.
Evening: Tonight we celebrate Kabbalat Shabbat and share Shabbat dinner together at the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodations: 1 Hotel Copenhagen
Enjoy a free day to attend Shabbat services (options include the Great Synagogue or Chabad) or explore independently. Suggestions include visiting the famed Little Mermaid statue, inspired by Andersen’s story.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: 1 Hotel Copenhagen
Morning: Today we cross the Øresund Bridge into Malmö, home to Sweden’s third-largest Jewish community. At Malmöhus Castle, we view one of the three remaining Red Cross white buses from the 1945 evacuation effort.
Afternoon: After lunch on your own, we visit the Malmö Synagogue and museum, where Daniel Koverman shares reflections on Jewish history and current life in the city. We continue to the Malmö Jewish Cemetery and then to Lund. At the Kulturen Museum, we explore the exhibition “Survival – Voices from Ravensbrück,” featuring stories and objects from survivors brought to Sweden in 1945.
Evening: We check in at the hotel and have a group dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodations: Hotel Grand, Lund
Morning: We visit Lund University, home to Scandinavia’s only Yiddish Department. Faculty and publishers from the Olniansky Tekst Farlag press introduce us to Yiddish literary life in Sweden.
Afternoon: Following lunch, we take a train to Stockholm (approximately 5 hours).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodations: Hotel Diplomat, Stockholm
Morning: We take a guided walking tour through Stockholm’s charming Old Town and are introduced to the city’s Jewish history. We then visit the Jewish Museum and its collection of Judaica and contemporary Jewish art.
Afternoon: Our day continues with visits to the Great Synagogue of Stockholm, the spiritual center of Stockholm’s Jewish community for over 150 years, and Raoul Wallenberg Square, dedicated to the Swedish diplomat who saved tens of thousands of Hungarian Jews during World War II. We conclude at Sweden’s Holocaust Museum.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodations: Hotel Diplomat
Morning: We tour Bajit (“home” in Hebrew), Stockholm’s Jewish community center, and then explore the famed Vasa Museum to see the 17th-century warship raised from the harbor after more than 300 years.
Afternoon: Enjoy free time for exploration, shopping, or relaxation.
Evening: Our scholar shares closing reflections followed by a farewell dinner at the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodations: Hotel Diplomat
Transfer to the airport on your own for your return flight.
Meals: Breakfast
Payment Reserve your space with a nonrefundable deposit of $1,000 per person. Final balance is due 120 days prior to departure.
Membership Participation on these tours is a benefit for active members of JHT museum partners. During the registration process, you will be asked about your membership status with your affiliated museum. If you are not a current member, you will have a chance to activate your membership.
Participation Tour sizes are limited to 28 participants unless otherwise noted. Trips entail considerable walking including over uneven terrain. Participants need to be in good health, be able to keep up with the group, be able to experience group and cultural differences with grace. Please let us know if you have any physical conditions that may require special attention while on tour.
Cancellations All cancellations must be received by Gil Travel in writing. Cancellations received 120 days or more prior to departure: full refund less nonrefundable deposits, per person; 119–90 days prior to departure: 50% refund per person after nonrefundable deposits. 89–0 days before departure: no refund.
Trip Cancellation Insurance Gil Travel Travel strongly urges all participants to purchase travel insurance for coverage of losses necessitated by having to cancel due to illness or accident. For your convenience, we are providing a link to RoamRight, which many past participants have used. When purchasing insurance, please consider the plans carefully to familiarize yourself with what is covered. In this context, do take note that most insurance companies generally will waive exclusion for preexisting conditions only if your application is received by them within 14 days from the date of your program registration. If you have a preexisting medical condition and are interested in taking trip insurance, you should do so either with Roamright or through your own insurance agent within 14 days of registration.
Changes All rights are reserved by Gil Travel and Jewish Heritage Travel to make scholar substitutions and/or to modify the itinerary (including hotels) as needed. Every reasonable effort will be made to operate the program as planned; however, should unforeseen world events and conditions require the itinerary to be altered, Jewish Heritage Travel reserves the right to do so for the safety and best interest of the group. Any extra expenses incurred in this situation are the responsibility of the participant.
Disclaimer of Responsibility By registering for this program, participant specifically waives any and all claims of action against Gil Travel or the Museum of Jewish Heritage and the Jewish Heritage Travel office and their respective staffs for damages, loss, injury, accident, or death incurred by any person in connection with this tour. Gil Travel, The Museum of Jewish Heritage and the Jewish Heritage Travel office and their respective staffs assume no responsibility or liability in connection with the service of any train, vessel, carriage, aircraft, or other conveyance that may be used wholly or in part in the performance of their duty to the passengers. Neither will Gil Travel, the Museum of Jewish Heritage or the Jewish Heritage Travel office or their staffs be responsible for any injury, death, loss, accident, delay, or irregularity through neglect or default of any company or person engaged in carrying out the purposes for which tickets, vouchers, or coupons are issued. No responsibility is accepted for losses or expenses due to sickness, viruses, weather, strikes, wars, and other causes. In the event it becomes necessary or advisable for any reason whatsoever to alter the itinerary or arrangements, including hotels or scholars, such alterations may be made without penalty. All rights reserved to require any participant to withdraw from the tour at his/her own expense when such an action is determined by the tour staff to be in the best interest of the participant’s health and safety and that of the group in general. Prices subject to change. Cost in effect at time of registration will be honored.
Are Kosher meals available?
While we do not offer Kosher food, we offer fish and/or vegetarian options at every meal included in the trip.
How many people will be on the trip?
On average about 24 people.
What is the age group?
55+
What is the makeup of the participants?
A good mix of singles and couples.
How fit do I need to be? How much walking is there?
You should be able to walk about two miles in a day, though not all at once. Please see the itinerary of the trip(s) you are interested in to get a sense of the schedule for each day. When there is free time, some choose to stay active, others to rest.
If you prefer more activity, many of the hotels we stay in have pools and fitness facilities, and some of our trips do offer the opportunity for more physical activity.
Are the trips accessible for people with canes, walkers, or wheelchairs?
People who use a cane to aid their walking have found our trips accessible. You still need to be able to walk about two miles in a day, though not all at once. Unfortunately, accessibility can be limited in the places we travel, making it too difficult for people in wheelchairs or walkers to participate in our trips.
Is the trip Shabbat Observant?
We normally have a Shabbat dinner together be it at a hotel or restaurant and sometimes at a synagogue. We do not have programming on Saturday other than perhaps a meeting with the scholar. In some destinations we offer walking tours on Saturday. You can refer to the itinerary of your chosen trip for specifics.
When does the program actually begin?
The Itinerary and Program Details section of the trip you are interested in will indicate when to plan to arrive and depart, as well as when the program begins and ends. Every trip includes a welcome session to get oriented and meet each other, the guides, and scholars and a farewell event to celebrate, reflect, and say good-bye to our fellow travelers.
Are airport transfers included?
Airport transfers are not included. Taxis, and often other transportation options, are available from all airports.
Are meals included?
The Itinerary of the trip you are interested in will indicate which meals are included on each day. For meals on your own, suggestions are available from the concierge at the hotels we are staying in. We encourage you to explore the diversity of local and international cuisines in the places we visit.
Are the trips only for Jewish people?
While the majority of our travelers are Jewish, our trips are for anyone interested in exploring the Jewish heritage of the destinations we take you to.
I’d like to explore my genealogy at one of the places you are going to. Is that possible?
Our trips are not designed for genealogical research. If you want to undertake genealogical work, it is necessary to do this on your own and would be best to plan for an extra few days before or after one of our trips.
How much free time will I have?
Please see the itinerary of the trip(s) you are interested in for information on when free time is scheduled for exploring on your own, resting in your room, engaging in conversation with new friends, etc.
Is there Wi-Fi everywhere?
While WiFi is available in most of the world, there are regions or locations where it is not as accessible. Most of the hotels we stay at offer free WiFi.
What Museum Memberships Qualify?
Museum of Jewish Heritage New York: $54
Holocaust Museum LA: $100
Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center – Nassau County: $54
Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History: $54
*Membership # will need to be provided upon registration
Accommodation
1 Hotel Copenhagen provides luxury lodging nestled in the heart of Copenhagen’s Latin Quarter. Recently reimagined, the hotel fuses a modern Scandinavian design, sustainable ethos, and wellness-focused hospitality, with interiors that showcase reclaimed wood, limestone, greenery, and an airy indoor atrium. Guests can savour an eclectic menu of locally sourced, seasonal cuisine in the traditionally inspired restaurant and take advantage of the state-of-the-art fitness center.
The Grand Hotel Lund This luxury hotel centrally located in Lund has a rich heritage that goes back a hundred years, featuring an architecture reminiscent of a French Renaissance chateau. The interiors of the Grand Hotel – particularly the lobby and the marble staircase – have much of the flavour of Art Nouveau. Steeped in classic elegance, each room is individually designed, with framed wallpapers, ornate headboards, and beautiful wood parquet among the key features. Fluffy bathrobes and premium toiletries complete the picture of exquisite luxury. The hotel also offers a restaurant and a bistro.
This unique Art Nouveau palace on the prestigious Strandvägen boulevard offers breathtaking views of Nybroviken Bay and the perfect location to explore the best of Stockholm — close to the greenery of Djurgården, high-end shopping, and the city’s vibrant restaurant scene. Or, if you prefer to stay in, the hotel restaurant creates classic Swedish dishes with a Mediterranean twist. Guests will also appreciate the art collection, fitness center, drybar, massages, and beauty treatments.
*Star rating standards vary from country to country.
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