Share Scandinavia with your loved ones and join us at the next Homecoming Tour. Whether you were a DIS student 5, 10, or 40+ years ago, the annual Alumni Homecoming Tour will broaden your perspectives and deepen your connections, through four days of carefully curated activities guided by our expert DIS faculty.
“Thank you DIS for allowing me to revisit my younger self and share what a significant influence DIS had on the rest of my life.“
Rocco Giannetti, DIS Copenhagen – 1984
Tour itinerary
Find that passport, dust off your suitcase, and come visit us in June!
Sankt Hans celebration Get to know fellow tour participants during a traditional Danish midsummer ‘Sankt Hans’ BBQ celebration before heading off into the city to see the bonfires & sing the songs with locals.
Danish 101 Jump back into the classroom and freshen up your Danish while learning about key aspects of Danish culture today.
Tour of DIS facilities See some of the innovative learning and meeting spaces DIS has created for students and staff in recent years in and around Vestergade.
Afternoon options:
Danish prisons: Copy or Avoid? Visit the Danish Parliament, Folketinget, and learn why the Danish criminal justice system shares some of the same struggles as the U.S.
Legos and Brave Spaces: DIS Classrooms Today Learn about and experience the diverse ways DIS creates meaningful learning opportunities for students today.
Regenerative Urban Ocean Farming Visit a regenerative ocean farming site in the Copenhagen canal to learn hands-on about just one of the many sustainable initiatives in the city today.
Canal tour We’ll navigate through the heart of Copenhagen to see the rich history, as well as the innovative new architecture and urban spaces that have developed along the waterfront in recent years.
Evening options:
Reffen Guided by DIS faculty, explore and taste your way through Reffen, the largest street food market in the Nordics. A food-voucher will be provided.
Tivoli More than the rides! Join this tour to learn about one of the world’s oldest amusement parks and grab a bite to eat at one of the many restaurants or food stalls throughout the park. A food-voucher will be provided.
Early-morning wellness Wash or stretch that jetlag away and do as the locals. Join us for an early morning hop in the canal or stretch those aches out with a bit of morning yoga in the park.
Late-morning options:
Architectural Bike Tour Cycle through some of Copenhageners’ favorite public spaces and along the social waterfront to learn about the biking infrastructure that makes Copenhagen a human-scaled and bike-friendly city.
Travel Writing Workshop Join this writing workshop to take a moment and reflect on what it’s like being ‘home in Scandinavia’ again.
Copenhagen’s LGBTQ+ History Walking Tour Learn more about the key historical events that have impacted the local LGBTQ+ community, including the history of the Pride flag, in this impactful walking workshop.
Afternoon options:
The Vikings of Roskilde Explore the Viking Ship Museum and hear about the importance of the town’s Cathedral while learning about the rituals & everyday life of the Vikings.
Louisiana Art Museum Learn why this is one of the most visited contemporary & modern art museum of the North.
Carlsberg – More Than Just a Brewery Join this tour to learn more about this new Copenhagen neighborhood, tour the brewery’s new visitors center, and of course grab a pint.
Evening options:
Reunion Dinners Spend the evening with alumni from your DIS year at DIS-supported reunion dinners throughout the city. Contact our team if you’re interested in having a dinner organized for your group.
Hygge Dinners Enjoy an evening meal at home with locals. Hygge dinners are hosted by DIS staff, faculty, or host families and are a great chance to meet someone who calls Copenhagen home.
European Wine Tasting Sample six wines in this introduction to some of the basics of wine production and the major wine making traditions and philosophies of Europe.
DIS history and alumni panel Take a trip down memory lane with a few fellow alumni and DIS staff and faculty who will share what DIS was like decades ago, while also learning what it’s like learning and working here today.
Afternoon options:
Smørrebrød Cooking Class Whether you are a food enthusiast or just keen to try the most popular Danish food, this hands-on-workshop is the perfect introduction to traditional smørrebrød with a modern twist.
History of Food Class Sample foods that have been consumed in Denmark from the last Ice Age to the present and discuss how food reflects an ever-changing culinary culture.
Reflections on a Social Brewery Enjoy lunch and a beer tasting while hearing about People Like Us a Danish craft brewery with a mission to bring inclusion to the workplace by creating jobs for neurodivergent employees and to inspire other business to do the same.
Time on your own Enjoy the afternoon shopping or exploring.
Celebration of Ellinor If you lived with host family Ellinor Andersen & her family while you were a DIS student, join us for an afternoon celebration of her 100th birthday.
Early Evening Concluding Reception We’ll conclude the tour with a fun DIS-style ‘Friday Bar’ reception.
Gather together for your own reunion dinner
The Alumni Team can support you in finding former classmates and organizing a special event for your group during the Homecoming Tour.
Tour costs are subsidized by DIS to keep it affordable for our alumni.
All transportation within the city for four days
All entrance fees and related costs
3 dinners, 3 lunches, and a reception
Wine tasting, hygge dinner with Danish family, or a reunion dinner
Curated activities led by DIS faculty
Cooking workshop
Guided walking and bike tours
Trips to Roskilde or Louisiana Art Museum
Travel to/from Copenhagen
Accommodations*
Cell phone coverage
Personal insurance
Visa entry requirements (if relevant)
Out-of-pocket expenses
Additional meals not covered by DIS
Transportation to/from the airport
Accommodations
Special discounts
DIS has reserved a number of rooms at the following hotels for discounted prices, which will be available to Homecoming participants on a first-come-first-serve basis:
Yes! The Homecoming Tours are designed so that alumni can revisit Scandinavia with their loved ones. Program activities are designed for children 12+. If you’re traveling with younger children, don’t hesitate to reach out to us so we can discuss the options with you. DIS does not provide childcare.
All tour participants must be in good health to participate on a tour. There will be extensive walking (and for some activities, biking), occasionally on uneven surfaces. Please consider this before registering any younger children or elderly guests. Medical conditions needing special assistance must be reported to DIS at the time of reservation.
If you have concerns about your ability to participate in tour activities, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team to discuss our recommendations.
All tour participants must have their own travel insurance. This is required, but not covered, by DIS. Travel insurance should cover medical expenses, accidents, theft, and personal liability.
We understand that sometimes plans change. If you’re unable to join the tour after registering, please email us and we’ll initiate a refund process according to the below policy:
100% refund if you inform us more than 90 days before the tour
50% refund if you inform us between 90-30 days before the tour
Within 30 days of the first tour date, there is no refund
“Outstanding! The experience exceeded my expectations in all dimensions. Each day was well orchestrated with much attention to detail. I built new relationships with fellow alumni. I reconnected with my host family. The tour was a walk down memory lane, and an opening of new potential.”
Joe Gigliotti, DIS Copenhagen – 2008
“Being part of DIS back in 1971 was a turning point in my life. Now, these three days in June were the icing on the cake! I have spent a lot of time in Copenhagen over the years but found there was so much that I had never experienced before this Tour.“
Tom Shull, DIS Copenhagen – 1971
Register today and reconnect with friends, old and new
