City breaks: Stockholm and Oslo

With a luxury rail service now linking Oslo and Stockholm, Joanna Booth looks at what the two Nordic cities have to offer city breakers

A new luxury train service linking Stockholm and Oslo launched this summer, so now you can enjoy a five-and-a-half-hour journey between the two cities in comfort and style.

Taking rail services such as the Orient-Express as a template, UnionsExpressen has deluxe seats, wireless internet and a swish restaurant car.

Stockholm

Venice and Amsterdam don’t have the monopoly on cities on water – the beautiful Swedish capital is built on 14 islands where Lake Mälaren flows into the Baltic Sea.

The city’s architecture tells a story – from the well-preserved medieval city’s core wander outwards to find the buildings grow increasingly modern.

Must see: Visit the seat of the Royal Family – Drottningholm Palace – an ornate building called the Versailles of the North. Skansen, the world’s first open-air museum is a working version of Sweden in the 1900s, and also features a zoo with elk, wolves, lynx and brown bears.

Must do: Shop in the trendy Södermalm district for cutting-edge fashion and design, indulge in nostalgia at the historic amusement park Gröna Lund and sample Swedish food from the market in the handsome Östermalms Saluhall. Depending on what inspires you, visit the Nobel museum or the Abba museum.

Nightlife: As well as a thriving clubbing scene, Stockholm is famed for its live music. When it comes to food, there’s everything from traditional Scandinavian, to modern fusion, and it’s done well – there are seven restaurants with Michelin stars.

Accommodation: Two new properties opened this year – the boutique Hotel Stureplan, a 19th-century building decorated with chandeliers and traditional Swedish craftsmanship. Opened in February, Clarion Hotel Sign is the largest property in the city. It has a contemporary look packed with modern Scandinavian designs.

Sample package:Inghams Short Breaks offers two nights’ bed and breakfast at the three-star Hotel Kom including return flights from Gatwick to Stockholm Arlanda from £269 twin-share. (020 8780 4444)

Oslo

Sandwiched between the Oslofjord and the Oslomarka hills, the Norwegian capital provides a winning combination of cultural city chic and stunning natural surroundings.

Must see: Visit the well-preserved ninth-century boats in the Viking Ship Museum, get an amazing view of the city (and a fascinating exhibition) at the Holmenkollen Ski Museum situated at the top of the ski jump, and see thousands of pieces by Norway’s most famous son at the Edvard Munch Museum.

Must do: Take a guided fjord cruise through forested islands on a traditional wooden ship with a prawn buffet, swim in the lakes if you’re brave – if not, cycle around them, visit the newly built, stunning seaside opera house.

Nightlife: The formerly run-down Grünerløkka area has become a creative hub, with young clubbers and exciting nightlife to match. The Norwegians like a party – clubs stay open until 3am, but there are also plenty of waterfront restaurants around the Aker Brygge wharf.

Accommodation: Choose from a wide range of properties, including Grims Grenka. This cosmopolitan new opening has 42 deluxe rooms and 24 suites and is in the centre of town. It has a nightclub, fusion restaurant and a rooftop lounge.

Sample package:Cresta Cities and Short Breaks offers three nights in Oslo from £374, staying at the central three-star Best Western Hotel Bondeheimen on a bed-and-breakfast basis. The price is valid for stays between November 1 and December 23, including return flights from Heathrow.