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Norway and Denmark Itinerary Critique Please

Norway and Denmark Itinerary Critique Please

Old Mar 29th, 2015, 05:02 PM
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Norway and Denmark Itinerary Critique Please

Hello All,

Could you please offer feedback on my 11 day Norway to Denmark trip in late August / early September? I will be traveling with my husband and 17 year old son. We are independent travels who have been to 40 plus countries and like to sample a little of everything a country has to offer.

Day 1 Depart USA
Day 2 Arrive Bergen 12:15
- Grieg Museum on the way from the airport
(Any chance to make the 13:00 piano recital?)
- Fish Market
- Bryggen Hanseatic Wharf
- Mount Floyen and the Funicular hike down from Promsgate
Day 3 Bergen to Flam via NIN train/bus/ferry route
-Bergen/Vos 08:45-9:56. Vos/Gudvangen 10:10-11:20, Gudvangen/Flam 11:45-14:10
or 12:56-14:15, 14:40-15:40, 15:45-17:50.
Is the later option too tight with just 5 min connection from the bus to the ferry?
Is Bergen worth the few extra hours in the morning?
Day 4 Flam
- train to Berekvam (17min) bike to Flam (1 hr w/o stops)
-Fjord Safari 2hr30min high speed boat though Nærøyfjord
Day 5 Flam
- kayaking 1.5 hr
-Borgund Stave Church - car rental?? bus tour??
Day 6 Flam to Oslo via train 08:35-14:45
- National Museum
- City Hall
- Opera House
Day 7 Oslo
- Oslo pass
- Resistance Museum/ Akershus Castle and Fortress
- Bygdoy Peninsula (Folk,Viking, Polar Ship Fram, and Kon Tiki Museums)
Day 8 Oslo
- Frogner Park
- Mathallen food market
15:00 overnight ferry to Copenhagen
Day 9 Copenhagen arrive 0945
(I didn’t fully plan yet, but basically the must sees using Rick Steves /Trip Advisor)
Day 10 Copenhagen
Day 11 Copenhagen depart early AM arrive back in US PM

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
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Old Mar 29th, 2015, 05:17 PM
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Well I am basically a city person and found much of Norway to be kind of boring. Not the fjords - but much of the countryside is flat, colorless, few trees (scrub growth not pretty forests). I would spend a lot more time in Copenhagen and cut back on Norway - but that's me and my interests.

Was there in early Sept and it was already fallish.
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Old Mar 29th, 2015, 05:44 PM
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"Day 9 Copenhagen arrive 0945
(I didn’t fully plan yet, but basically the must sees using Rick Steves /Trip Advisor)"

There is MUCH more to see in Copenhagen than is covered in the RS guidebook. You might consider getting something more comprehensive, such as the Rough Guides or the Lonely Planet. FWIW, I thought 3 days too little for Copenhagen.

Enjoy!
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Old Mar 30th, 2015, 01:32 PM
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'much of the countryside is flat, colorless, few trees'? Are we talking about the same Norway? It's full of mountains and deep fjords, you hardly find any flat land, and plenty of forests, but not on top of the mountains.
There is no problem with a 5 min bus to ferry transfer in Gudvangen - it's meant to correspond (if it is the NiN timetable) and there is nothing much to do there. Better to relax and take the later departure and miss the cruise crowds in Flåm. And Bergen is worth more than a half day wacked from travelling.
You are certainly trying to pack everything in in Oslo - half that would exhaust me, and I'd need a full day for the Folk museum alone.
I'd drop the fjord safari - you've already been through Nærøyfjord on the NiN ferry - leaving you the whole day for the full cycle ride from Myrdal to Flåm and beyond - though again you'll be doing the Flåm rail on the way to Oslo. Another alternative is the tour to the Stegastein viewpoint from Flåm.
Sampling is the word - sometimes it's worth sitting down and enjoying the meal.
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Old Mar 30th, 2015, 01:56 PM
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Not sure if it covers boats and buses but may anyway check out the Norway Railpass to see if it is better than buying full-fare tickets if you want total flexibility to hop any train anytime - Myrdhal to Oslo I believe requires a seat reservation though. Anyways for lots on Scandinavian trains and NINutshell extravaganza - one of my very top travel experiences in years of Europen travel - may even spot whales - check these informative sites - www.ricksteves.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.norwaynutshell.com.

Not much in Flam as I recall other than fish frying on the seafront and several hotels - not much of a town but a smashingly nice location (unless raining).
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Old Mar 30th, 2015, 02:03 PM
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"found much of Norway to be kind of boring"

God, help us with New Yorkers.
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Old Mar 30th, 2015, 02:41 PM
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I can see where folks who have gone to most of Europe would find Norway a bit boring - the countryside at least - especially if you're from northern Michigan or Wisconsin or Minnesota - it all looks like that away from the sea or mountains IME - scrub brush and trees - of which northern MI WI MN have too much of!

And the cities as befits one of the most prosperous of prosperous countries to me are also rather boring, including Oslo itself - Bergen seemed to have its own Hanseatic Port character but those expecting old-world ambience of say Italy won't find it here - this added to obscenely high prices for anything it seemed - especially booze (sold last I knew in monopolistic state stores with bankers hours) - makes it a place low on my list to return to.

That said the fjords and Bergen rail line and mountains there are simply awesome! And I went all over - Trondheim also had some character and ports like Narvik but not in general what I look for in Europe.

This is of course a very subjective thing!
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Old Mar 31st, 2015, 03:59 AM
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There is no Norway Railpass - buy cheap non-changeable minipris rail tickets from 90 days in advance - https://www.nsb.no/en/
You can buy Flåm-Oslo online https://www.nsb.no/en/ but will have to pick up the tickets from the station in Bergen.
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Old Mar 31st, 2015, 04:23 AM
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http://www.raileurope.com/rail-ticke...ass/index.html

there has been a Norway Eurail Pass now for years and unless done away with this year there is one - what leads you to say 'there is no Norway Railpass' - was it discontinued as of 2014 or 2015?
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Old Mar 31st, 2015, 04:26 AM
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Yes there is a 2015 Norway Eurailpass and if you bujy before the end of April 2015 you can a free extra day - could make it worth it.

dyoll - what info lead you to say there was none so stridently - such a pass could be a viable option for the OP - especially with the free day!
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Old Mar 31st, 2015, 08:00 AM
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http://www.eurail.com/eurail-passes/...ry-pass/norway

Here are the current prices for the Norway Eurailpass - minimum 3 days = $166 or about $55 dollars a day for unlimited at will travel - so you have to be taking some longish or expensive rides.
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Old Apr 1st, 2015, 09:15 AM
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Sorry never heard of a specific Norway Eurail pass before despite following several travel forums - it is not available to European residents. However that link gives the price as EUR 183 equivalent to about USD 200 for an adult (the price above is youth fare) In addition you will have to pay a seat booking fee of NOK 50 - total cost 4 journeys USD 225. The standard fare Oslo-Bergen is NOK 845 (=USD 105), discount fare if booked far enough in advance is NOK 249 (=USD 31).
Conclusion: EURrail represents good value for money if you want flexible tickets, but you can travel cheaper buying non-changeable tickets directly from NSB.
Note also that there is a limited rail network in Norway. There is no other connection from Bergen except back to Oslo. For 4 days you could do e.g. Oslo-Bergen return and Oslo-Åndalsnes return.
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Old Apr 1st, 2015, 10:10 AM
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the Norway Eurailpass also gives discounts on some boats like 20% off Bergen to Stavenger - a popular route to and from Oslo - and for a discount you do not need to use a day on a pass just for the overall validity period of the pass to be valid - the value of a pass often is if folks want flexibility to take any train anytime once there and as dyoil points out such full-fare tickets can be very pricey. For those willing to book with restrictions to a specific train way ahead of time the discounted ticket route is usually the cheapest.

To me flexibility is priceless but others would just as well book in stone and have it all done.
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Old Apr 1st, 2015, 02:11 PM
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Thanks for all the feedback! I'm tweaking my itinerary. I may cut a day from Flam - forgetting about the kayaking and trip to Borgund stave church. I think it may be too difficult to get out to Borgund with public transportation in September. And single day, AUTOMATIC car rentals are impossible to find. Would the stave church at the Folk Museum in Oslo be be a reasonable substitute?

I realize the Fjord Safari does the say trip as the ferry, but thought the thrill factor would be appreciated by my teenager.

Also any thoughts about flying to Copenhagen from Oslo instead of the overnight ferry? Norwegian Air has very cheap flights. The cruise kind of looks boring; we're not into drinking/dancing/eating buffets. Flying gives us extra time in both cities. Getting to and from the airports looks painless. Would we need to be at the airport two hours before like a regular international flight? Would customs be quick?

I'll look into the rail passes in more detail, but think I should be able to plan everything to receive early booking rates.

Regarding Copenhagen, any thoughts about Roskilde? I realize it's a UNESCO WHS, but is it worth it? I'm considering doing Frederiksborg Castle and Kronborg. Any thoughts?

Thanks again!
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Old Apr 1st, 2015, 02:22 PM
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Although the Eurailpass gives a discount on Fjord Lines, for some complicated political reason you cannot travel between Stavanger and Bergen with them only between Denmark and Stavanger/Bergen, and Denmark-Langesund (over 3 hours by bus and train to Oslo) There is now no other ferry between Stavanger and Bergen, but a good bus service.
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Old Apr 1st, 2015, 02:27 PM
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PS. I would add the "Flam" day, which I cut, to Copenhagen giving us at least three full days there and maybe another half day if we fly instead ferry.
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Old Apr 1st, 2015, 02:29 PM
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the Norway Railpass (Eurail) says there is a 20% discount off Bergen to Stavenger ferries I believe - will track it down later but that is what I remember reading when looking it up.

If going to Sweden (to get to Denmark by train) the ScanRail Pass covers Norway, Sweden and Denmark and even some boats in between them all or 50% and also gives some nice discounts off chain hotels. Even a non-Scandianvian country Finland is included.
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Old Apr 1st, 2015, 03:50 PM
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Also any thoughts about flying to Copenhagen from Oslo instead of the overnight ferry?

Much better idea, IMO. Do factor in the cost of getting to the airport in Oslo, though.

Getting to and from the airports looks painless.

It is. The trip from Oslo is pretty long, but it is easy.

Would we need to be at the airport two hours before like a regular international flight?

An hour before is fine.

Would customs be quick?

Immigration at CPH is pretty much the easiest I've seen in Europe. I'd be shocked if it took you more than 3 minutes. Customs is a non-event - I've never seen anyone stopped, so just walk out the door if you have nothing to declare. The only thing to bear in mind is that baggage delivery at CPH can be pretty slow if you check bags.

Regarding Copenhagen, any thoughts about Roskilde?

How much do you like boats? If you are going to the boat museum in Oslo, I don't think Roskilde necessary. It is a pleasant enough town, but not that special.

I'm considering doing Frederiksborg Castle and Kronborg. Any thoughts?

If you do it, you really should rent a car for the day (Hertz, Avis, and Sixt all have offices downtown - Hertz is the easiest pickup; Sixt the biggest PITA; Avis has the advantage of being next door to a gas station to make the return easy). It will cut the travel time dramatically and would allow you to also stop by the Louisiana Art Museum. The drive to/from Copenhagen is pretty straightforward (and scenic if you go along the coast to/from Kronborg) and parking is easy at all those sites.
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Old Apr 1st, 2015, 05:06 PM
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"any thoughts about Roskilde?" I really enjoyed it -- the boat museum, cathedral, the thatched cottages, just roaming around. YMMV.
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Old Apr 2nd, 2015, 03:52 AM
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There are so so many neat day trips from Copenhagen - by train - easy short ones - Roskilde as mentioned by kja and Helsingor and hamlet's Castle; Frederiksborg castle and town - castle on an island in a lake; Round the Sound trip to Lund, Sweden, one of the nicest towns in all of Scandianvia I've been to; the Louisians statue park to the north; Bakken - the world's oldest amusement park and a Tivoli type place that is free; Gillelje and the train along the coast to Helsingor, and on and on and on.

Copenhagen by far my favorite Scandinavian city.
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