KimiG

Thank you to those who have responded to my earlier questions regarding this region. We are a family of four - our sons will be 21 and 18 on this trip. We are independent travelers and fodorites have assisted us with trips for over 10 years! Our flights are set but I have not booked anything else. Would love feedback on this schedule. Will start trying to put all the pieces of this puzzle together for a wonderful adventure! I welcome your thoughts!

Possible Itinerary for Copenhagen, Norwegian Fjords and Stockholm

July 18 Depart US and land in Copenhagen on the 19th

July 19, 20 and 21 in Copenhagen

July 22 overnight ferry to Oslo

July 23 Oslo

July 24 NIN don't go all the way to Bergen but go on to Balestrand

July 25 Balestrand

July 26 and 27 Solvorn

July 28 and 29 Os/Bergen

July 30, 31, Aug 1 Stockholm

August 2 fly to US

Thank you in advance!

August2015

I would tag your post Sweden and Norway, as well as Denmark. Your itinerary looks fine. We didn't go to Norway, but spent 4 days in Copenhagen, 3 days in Stockholm, and 2 days in Goteborg. 3 days in stockholm is too few, in my opinion. It was definitely my favorite and I wish we had more time there. Plus, you are traveling during the best time of the year for Sweden. Just my 2 cents.

PalenQ

going by car or train? Assume car for some of those places but check on picking up car in one country and returning it in another - sometimes steep drop-off charges.

If doing trains check the ScanRailPass - valid on trains and boats (not all and many are discounted 50%) and some key bus lines - for info on trains and passes check www.ricksteves.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.seat61.com.

HappyTrvlr

I agree that you have shortchanged Stockholm which we preferred to Copenhagen.

kja

I would also want more time in Stockholm -- but it should be a great trip!

nytraveler

I would want more time in both Stockholm and Copenhagen - at least 1 more day in each - but if this is all the time you have it's not a bad way to break it up.

nannibray

I am happy to see that you will stay in Balestrand. In 2010 we did the NIN from Oslo and stopped midway for 2 nights in Balestrand. We stayed at the Balestrand Hotel and were very pleased with our balcony room.
On the day after arrival we did a side trip to Vik to see the Hopperstad Stave Church.
Go to Trip Advisor and in the reviews of the hotel you can get additional info.
If you are continuing from Balestrand to Bergen it is possible to continue the NIN route. Unnie Marie (Hotel Balestrand's owner) was very helpful in details for us to do a "Mid-Fijord" exchange leaving from Balestrand and transferring
to another Ferry in the middle of the Fijord. An interesting experience.
Had a good and reasonable meal in Balestrand at Gekkens. (recommended by our hotel)

Hotel in Oslo that I highly recommend is the Thon Opera. It is located very near the harbor, and right next to the train station. Extremely convenient for catching the NIN 8:11 am train for Mydal and also to pick up the tickets the day before for NIN that I had reserved from the USA.

Norway is beautiful and the fijord experience is extra special.
Enjoy your trip!

Odin

Your itinerary is fine, the days in Copenhagen and Stockholm are sufficient. Personally I find 3 nights in any city enough but it depends on your travel style and how much time you have overall.

nytraveler

Sorry - for major cities IMHO 3 nights is not nearly enough - for a first visit to Paris, London or Rome I would want ate last 7 or 8 days. Have been to Stockholm 3 times and by no means seen everything. Longest stay was 6 nights (5 days) and we saw quite a bit but by no means everything.

But it depends on your interests - we are city people and while we enjoy some time in the countryside will always pick cities first.

Odin

nytraveler: Personally, I find 3 nights sufficient in most cities. That means it is ok for me. It might not be ok for you or the OP. I do not want or need to see everything, I could not stay in Rome for 7 or 8 days nor London and definitely not Stockholm or CPH. You claim you have visited Stockholm 3 times and still have not seen everything, what is it you think you have missed?

PalenQ

Large cities also grate on my after say 3 full days (well some a day or so more) - especially heavily touristed cities and cities with lots of traffic and smog (like Paris is notorious for) - I do like to use large cities as base cities however - taking short day trips to nearby gems - like from Paris to Chartres or Reims for Champagne tours, etc - nice to come back to a familiar place at night and a large city has a lot of offer at night whereas smaller towns tend to pull up the sidewalks often IME.

KimiG

Thank you so much for your comments and recommendations. I agree that 3 days in the major cities is short, but it is the time period we have.

I should have mentioned this in my original post, but this trip is primarily to explore the Fjords and we are adding the cities at the beginning and the end. Finding information in the Western Fjords has been challenging, so I would love more feedback on that region.

Thank you nannibray for your feedback on Balestrand and hotel rec there as well as Oslo.