Copenhagen / Stockholm trip advice

Old Jun 27th, 2016, 06:17 AM
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Copenhagen / Stockholm trip advice

Investigating a fall trip with DH, me, our girls (7 and 10) and my mom who walks with a cane and doesn't do long distances well. So kid friendly, safe, nice to have restaurants within a short walk, no nightlife needed.

Where would be a good area of Copenhagen for us to stay? I'm considering Airbnb only because we can get a 2-3 bedroom for probably the same price as a hotel, but thoughts on that?

We fly into Copenhagen but I'd like to visit Stockholm as well since it's so easy to reach. Would 3 days in Copenhagen and 2 in Stockholm be enough?

How easy is it to get to the train station from the airport? I'm considering grabbing the train after we land in Denmark since we'll already be jet lagged and the first day for the kids will be a bit of a waste anyway. But if it's a big hassle or expensive to just get to the train station, maybe it's best if we wait a few days?

And where is a good place to stay in Stockholm?

Will public transportation be easy for my mother? (are there big steps to get on and off transport? long distances between stops?)

Thank you!!
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Old Jun 27th, 2016, 06:30 AM
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Do you already have plane tickets? If so, stay in Copenhagen and do day trips, NOT to Stockholm. Otherwise, fly to Stockholm and stay there. With only five days you don't have enough time to do both.

For access to Copenhagen airport see:
https://www.cph.dk/en/parking-transp...s-train-metro/
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Old Jun 27th, 2016, 06:54 AM
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Agree with the above. Stay in one city or the other, there is not enough time for both. Both cities are kid friendly and safe but there is walking required in order to see the sights. Denmark is easy to get around with a rental car though but you'll need to find somewhere with parking which is easy but not free except for weekends. It will make it easy for day trips and for your mother.

The train is easy from Copenhagen airport to the city centre, then you'll have to get a taxi or walk to your hotel/airBnb. airbnb is a good option but look in the city centre (Indre By).
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Old Jun 27th, 2016, 08:37 AM
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>>> I'm considering Airbnb only because we can get a 2-3 bedroom for probably the same price as a hotel, but thoughts on that?

Cost is just one of the many differences between a rental and a hotel. Do a thorough side by side comparison between a rental and hotel. While for a size of the group, a rental offers a unit that can accommodate all of you, understand many differences.

They come with varying flexibility in canceling/modifying reservations.

Check-in time is limited. Many people realize this only after making a reservation. You need to find out what to do with time and luggage until you can check-in.

What to do with luggage if you have to vacate the rental hours before you can leave the city?

Many rentals DON"T come with elevators. With your group, pay special attention to this area. In case you don't know, to get to the 1st floor, you either climb stairs or use an elevator.

The train station is at the CPH airport, lower level. To get to Stockholm, you need to change trains at Malmo. See www.bahn.com for schedule. The CPH to Malmo train is a regional commuter train. The Malmo-Stockholm is a long distance highspeed train requiring seat reservations.
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Old Jun 27th, 2016, 09:12 AM
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If you want to book rail tickets, it is best to use Swedish railways website and not Deutsche Bahn.
Trains to Stockholm from Copenhagen airport do not all chnage in Malmö, some change in Lund etc, all depending on the date/time etc.
https://www.sj.se/en/home.html#/
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Old Jun 27th, 2016, 04:00 PM
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Another voice in favor of only one of these two magnificent cities because, IMO, you don't have enough time for both.
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Old Jun 27th, 2016, 06:57 PM
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Thank you for all the great advice and thoughts. We have a week, so I'm actually taking a days of travel into consideration (arrive Sunday early, leave Saturday afternoon) if that makes a difference for two cities! I'm struggling coming up with much to do beyond 3 days (while Tivoli is a must-see I refuse to spend a whole day there or at Legoland riding rides). We won't be doing any day trips and definitely won't rent a car. Too challenging for five people.

Fantastic thought about the elevator. Hotel is definitely the way to go I think unless we can find a rental with one, but that seems challenging.

Still would like to know a good area of Copenhagen to stay. City Centre? Fredericksburg? Vesterbro?
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Old Jun 27th, 2016, 07:14 PM
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Curious -- why won't you do a day trip? Roskilde is very easy to reach.... Your call, of course.
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Old Jun 27th, 2016, 07:59 PM
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I stayed here:

https://www.wakeupcopenhagen.com/the...rgade/#/search

I'm not recommending the hotel for you, although it was great for a single, but I thought the area was fine.
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Old Jun 27th, 2016, 10:47 PM
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Stay in Copenhagen, if you want a day trip goto Roskilde as others have said.

The buses are pretty good to get about, or there are bike taxis for granny. Moving out of the whole petrol engine thing to the bike thing is part of visiting Copenhagen so don't just do the car thing ('cause that is what we do at home).

Cobbles, there are a fair few, so granny may need some help with that.

Walking to the mermaid (and you have to walk) is not worth the time.

The main station is a fantastic wooden structure, hindered by the fact that the Danish railway company is cutting costs and has moved to automatic machines which are beset by foreigners who don't understand what to do. Get your tickets on line or send one person down there early to get the queueing done.

Bike hire is cheap and the (car empty) roads are very safe (apart from the other bikes). 7 to 10, not so sure, there is a weird bike that lots of families have ( asort of trike with a box on the front) and you can get batteries to go with them.

What do others think is 7 too young to ride in Copenhagen?
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Old Jun 27th, 2016, 11:50 PM
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while Tivoli is a must-see I refuse to spend a whole day there or at Legoland riding rides).

Tivoli closes for the season on Sept 26 so you might not even see it depending on when you are travelling. I would recommend going there in the evening anyway, certainly not a place to spend an entire day.Legoland is too far from Copenhagen.

I don't understand the challenge of renting a car and getting out of the city, I would have thought that would be the easiest option for 5 people esp when one in the party cannot walk long distances. Are you not interested in Louisiana or Karen Blixen's house or Hamlet's Castle or Viking ships? Even if you are not confident enough to drive, these places are easy enough to reach by train.

Car empty roads are not relevant if you rent bikes - you have to use the bike lanes and people who use bike lanes know how to ride bikes - fast. If you are not a good bike rider then you will not feel or be safe. Locals use cargo bikes and transport their kids around. Riding a bike is not so nice if it rains.

Still would like to know a good area of Copenhagen to stay. City Centre? Fredericksburg? Vesterbro?

I thought I mentioned Indre By which is the city centre. By all means stay in Frederiksberg or Vesterbro if you don't want to be too central. Neither are areas I would stay in.
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Old Jun 28th, 2016, 12:38 AM
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Here is the center of Copenhagen where there are many restaurants.
http://www.google.com/maps/@55.67924...6,16.25z?hl=en
However, the buses skirt around the edges of this area. This area includes INDRE previously mentioned.
Frederiksberg is residential houses while Vesterbro is residential apartments. If you stay at these places, you "commute" to downtown, albeit a short one.
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Old Jun 28th, 2016, 12:42 AM
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Otherwise go to Stockholm, there might be more to occupy you for an entire week without leaving the city.
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Old Jun 28th, 2016, 08:57 AM
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We just got back from both. Spent about four days each. Preferred Stockholm. More to see there. I am sure there are days outings, which we did not have time to do.

Tivoli Gardens really isn't a must see imo. We saw the rides and heard the screaming from across the street. It looks just like an amusement park. Maybe we missed the concept.

It is really hard to walk around with all of the cobblestones..just a heads up. We stayed in Gamla Stan in Stockholm which was very fun.

Copenhagen I would stay in the city centre though as Odin mentioned.

We also just took a taxi from both airports. Very easy. Did not want to deal with the train/taxi etc.
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Old Jun 28th, 2016, 05:07 PM
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Just came back from both cities.

Agree 100% with boxcox on Tivoli. A lot of screaming riders, heavy smokers, and lots of expensive restaurants, not to mention expensive rides. also for me being there last month, it did not get dark until 1130pm, so to see Tivoli in all its glory you need to do so at night, not to mention the fireworks (Sat night only).

Also agree on wonderful, but terrible to walk on cobblestone streets.

FYI: closes Sept 25.

I bought the Copenhagen Pass and you get one free Tivoli entry with every number of day pass that you buy--3 day pass, 3 entries to Tivoli.

Train station is at the airport.

Bikers rule in Copenhagen and they come fast, often, a LOT of them and from nowhere, so would not recommend unless you are an expert. that said, city is quiet as not so many cars on the road. Transportation is great. I went to Roskilde to see the viking ships-fabulous and to Hillerod for Fredericks Castle, moat and all.

Buying train tickets--I had trouble using any credit card at the self service machines but the card worked at the customer service counter with the clerk but you need to make sure they are open when you are ready to buy the tickets.

Could you do cities-yes, but rushed.

Stockholm is lovely and the Vasa Museum is incredible.
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Old Jul 1st, 2016, 09:52 AM
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Thank you all so much! And sorry Odin, I didn't see the recommendation for Indre By. That sounds like a perfect option, especially on the edges near transport (thanks Greg!)

As for my opposition to renting a car, I don't really want to have to find a place to park it when we're in Copenhagen. I'd thought we could do one day trip to Helsingborg via train. But the logic of a car versus train when it comes to ease of travel for my mom and getting closer to Kronborg Castle or Viking Museum is a good point.

Do we need booster seats for the kids for rental cars in Europe? Kids are 7 and 10 and tallest is 52" / 132cm tall (boosters required in our US state for her height). Honestly that's another reason I generally prefer not to rent a car if it can be avoided! But if we can do it easily for a day from the hotel it could be worthwhile.

Thanks boxcox for the Stockholm location suggestion. Will check it out.
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Old Jul 2nd, 2016, 12:39 AM
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I'd thought we could do one day trip to Helsingborg via train.

You mean Helsingoer and yes you can do it very easily by train. You can take a taxi outside the station to the castle. It is walking distance but with your mom you will need a taxi. I can recommend a lunch place there if you need one.

I don't really want to have to find a place to park it when we're in Copenhagen

I park in the street and pay at the meter. At weekends (meaning either 5 or 6pm until 8am Monday morning), parking is free but you still need to get a ticket from the machine, which has instructions in English. Hotel parking in the city centre is expensive, so I don't use it. There is alot of street parking near the Scandic, on Vester Søgade & Guldsmeden Babette.

A lot of screaming riders, heavy smokers, and lots of expensive restaurants, not to mention expensive rides

What a sad summary of a traditional, historical amusement park, it is no match to Disney for sure, it is an old fashioned place with pavilions, theatres etc. Crowds & screaming riders is what happens at amusement parks esp at weekends. The only ride I have been on is the 1914 wooden roller coaster as I would think this is unique. One of the most traditional Danish restaurants is in Tivoli and is not that expensive. There aren't that many places serving these types of dishes anymore & we go just for this sometimes.

http://www.groeften.dk/uk/welcome/
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Old Jul 2nd, 2016, 01:19 AM
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Danish boosters seat law http://www.autostol.dk/danish-law-on...-safety-seats/

There is no EU standard on when a child has to use these, so Sweden's may be different
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Old Jul 2nd, 2016, 01:27 AM
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At weekends (meaning either 5 or 6pm until 8am Monday morning), parking is free

That should have read "At weekends (meaning either 5pm or 6pm Fridays until 8am Monday morning), parking is free Hopefully you would read the ticket machine rules as I can't know every rule on every meter but this is generally how it is.
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Old Jul 2nd, 2016, 05:44 AM
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There is a bus from the station to the museum in Rosskilde, but it only runs once or twice an hour. It is a trek on foot. It is worth stopping in town to see the cathedral.

I have to agree with the "no" votes on Tivoli, but I was not traveling with kids. Right after I entered (note: steps) I was confronted by a blaring rock concert. Moving on, I was surrounded by screaming rides. When I found somewhere quieter I discovered that unless I wanted to pay for food or drink (and I had just finished dinner) there was nowhere to sit. I did not find the buildings and lights of more than passing interest. It was a Saturday night, and I had intended to stay for the fireworks, but left well before.
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