Stockholm/Copenhagen/Norway?

Old Aug 29th, 2014, 03:59 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Stockholm/Copenhagen/Norway?

Hello!

My brother-in-law will be staying near Stockholm this winter (Feb) and my husband and I are going to make a trip out of it and go visit him. We are thinking Stockholm, Copenhagen, and would like to do the Bergen and Flam railways from what I've read. We were thinking of doing a 10-14 day trip.

Any suggestions on the best order to logistically see the cities above? Also, I keep hearing that Scandanavia is expensive...is there any place where I can find estimated costs for a 10-14 day trip?

Thanks for any help that you can provide!
Samantha88 is offline  
Old Aug 29th, 2014, 05:09 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yes - very expensive - think costs twice as high as the US. If you can stay with your brother you will save a fortune.

Also you need to be prepared for winter. No worse than in the northern US (if you have clothes for that) but days are VERY short - esp if you go in earlier Feb. Look up the info so you are not surprised by either.

This is an area of the world I love - think Stockholm is good for 5/6 days and Copenhagen for 4/5 and Oslo for 2 - plus trips to the countryside. Are you interested in winter sports - popular everywhere - there is even skiing and a ski jump overlooking Oslo.
nytraveler is offline  
Old Aug 29th, 2014, 06:45 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 472
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Logistically first Copenhagen - it's a hub with plenty of flights. Overnight ferry to Oslo saves you a hotel night and a day sightseeing. Train to Flåm, then ferry to Gudvangen, bus to Voss and train again to Bergen. Flight Bergen to Stockholm and return from there or train to Copenhagen. Or this route in reverse - might be better for the Flåm trip (more daylight).
Sunrise/sunset http://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/norway/oslo but remember there is a long twilight
Norway in a nutshell timetables http://www.norwaynutshell.com/en/explore-the-fjords/ but it will be cheaper if you book train tickets directly and get the minipris available 90 days beforehand https://www.nsb.no/en/
dyoll is offline  
Old Aug 29th, 2014, 06:46 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Try to fly into Stockholm, take the train to Oslo

take the scenic Oslo-Bergen Railway (ubiquitously listed as one of Europe's Top Ten Scenic Railways) to Bergen

Do Norway in a Nutshell fjord trip as a day trip from Bergen - enjoy a whole day out - train to Voss, mountain bus ride down to fjord at Gudvagen - thrilling boat ride to Flam (may see whales!) then mountain railway to Myrdhal for train back to Bergen - buy an all-inclusive Norway in a Nutshell ticket in Bergen's train station before leaving - use on all components - no reservations needed IME

Take train to Oslo


Oslo train to Copenhagen

Fly back from Copenhagen or return by train to Stockholm.

If doing this all by train check out the ScanRailpass, valid on all trains and some of the boat ride on the fjord - for lots of great info on Scandinavian trains check these IMO superb sources: www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.seat61.com. A ScanRailpass would be a good deal for that trip if done by rail - also gives 20% discount off many chain hotels to cut costs - things are really expensive in Scandianvia and Norway in Sweden in specific - but the ScanPass can keep travel costs to a minimum.
PalenQ is offline  
Old Aug 29th, 2014, 06:47 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,968
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
What costs do you need to know? Hotels & transportation you can research yourself. Is it costs of food - if so, you will not find it as expensive as you think, at least not in Denmark and Sweden. If you have been to London, the prices are comparable. Meals in restaurants are expensive but then you do not tip 20-30% so it evens itself out when comparing to the US.

Where is "near Stockholm"?

You could visit Copenhagen first, then go to Stockholm and to Norway.
Odin is offline  
Old Aug 29th, 2014, 08:57 AM
  #6  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thank you for the feedback! I started looking at the Norway in a Nutshell and hten comparing the price against the cost if I booked the trains/bus/ferry myself (thank you for the website!).

I am having trouble finding where I could book the Flam Fjord Cruise to Gudvangen and the buss from Gudvangen to Voss...the websites I found are difficult for me to interpret...any suggestions?

If I were going in the second half of February, do you think I would be missing out if I traveled at the following times:

8:00-13:00 Oslo-Myrdal
13:00-14:00 Myrdal-Flam
15:00-17:00 Flam-Gudvangen Cruise
17:00-18:00 Gudvangen-Voss Bus
18:00-20:00 Voss-Bergen

OR would you receommend that we stay over night in Flam or Voss prior to making the final leg to Bergen?

Also, how long would be worth spending in Bergen before flying out to Stockholm?

Currently thinking Copenhage (4 days)--> overnight ferry to Oslo--> Norway in a Nutshell (1 day or 2 if overnight)--> Bergen (how many nights?)--> Fly to Stockholm (5 days)

Thoughts?
Samantha88 is offline  
Old Aug 29th, 2014, 11:55 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Bergen itself is worth a good day alone - an old Hanseatic port town with centuries of history behind it - neat old wooden houses and just for Scandinavia a neat old-looking town in its historic core - but one day is enough for most - one day for the Nutshell tour.
PalenQ is offline  
Old Aug 29th, 2014, 12:33 PM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,072
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I chose to spend the night in Flam on the NIN tour. I wanted to be out in Norway for a tiny bit and not in a city. I loved it. And yes, I would do that again. I believe that more folks break the tour at Gudvangen (nicer hotel) but I really liked Flam. I like your other days as I see them.

The cost to get to Scandinavia is high. If I had been thinking better at the time, I would have taken the overnight ferry to Helsinki. Now I guess I'll never get there because I would never spend the money JUST for that. So take another day, or take a day from CPH or Stockholm and make that side trip. Not the best time of yr for that excursion but you go with what you have (not the best time of year because it gets dark so early but...)
wintersp is offline  
Old Aug 29th, 2014, 12:40 PM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 472
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
No need to buy NiN pass in advance in February, you can just buy the tickets on the ferry, bus and station. Only saving over NiN pass can to be made by booking the long rail journey between Oslo-Myrdal if you get non-changeable minipris tickets, as the pass included full fare refundable tickets.

Doing in direction Oslo-Bergen means the ferry in Nærøyfjord is partly after sunset though there is adequate twilight. There is no point in staying in Flåm as you would have to wait 24hrs there (only 1 ferry departure per day in winter) and nothing to do unless you like walking and weather may be against you.
You might consider completely reversing your itinerary and doing NiN from Bergen as you start a bit later, can stay overnight in Flåm and catch first train the next morning at 09:00 getting you to Oslo at a reasonable time 14:27.
Note that you can't book more than 3 months in advance.
dyoll is offline  
Old Aug 29th, 2014, 01:10 PM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 7,561
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
>

Only the daft tip 30%.

And considering that a Chili's burger will cost $22 in Sweden, you're not going to "even out" on the food. Food is expensive, period. And more so than in London (where Pret-a-Manger and EAT and M&S Simply Food don't have comparable costs to Scandinavia).

Odin is generally wise, but Huginn and Muninn are giving him bad info here.

If you want to be adventurous, visit this: http://www.icehotel.com/
BigRuss is offline  
Old Aug 29th, 2014, 01:13 PM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,968
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The days in Feb are getting longer, so sunset will be at about 4pm to 4.30pm depending on which part of Feb you are going. So no concerns about VERY short days. I find taking an excursion around the Stockholm archipelago or going to Helsinki on the ferry during winter can very really beautiful, with snow and sunny days, frozen lakes and birch trees that look like they have been sprinkled with icing sugar and Falun red painted wooden cottages.
Odin is offline  
Old Aug 29th, 2014, 02:48 PM
  #12  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 19,991
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
And if not the icehotel the you can try the IceBar for a unique experience.

There is one in Stockholm and Copenhagen.
Percy is offline  
Old Aug 29th, 2014, 03:22 PM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,968
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Huginn and Munnin never give bad info.

http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living...ity2=Stockholm
Odin is offline  
Old Aug 30th, 2014, 12:46 AM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,728
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
1. Book a cheap train ticket on an 125mph SJ2000 train from Stockholm Central to Copenhagen at www.sj.se - fares work like air fares, booking opens 90 days or so ahead and they can be really cheap in advance. The trains are typically Swedish, very comfortable, have a cafe-bar, and you cross to Denmark over the impressive Oresund Fixed Link.

If you have any problems getting www.sj.se to accept your credit card, the fall-back is www.acprail.com (small booking fee added) or (last resort) booking a 39 euro ($60) Stockholm-Hamburg ticket at www.bahn.de/en (German Railways, no problems with credit cards) and simply not using the Copenhagen-Hamburg part.

See what an SJ2000 looks like at www.seat61.com/sj2000.htm

2. Take the luxurious overnight ferry from Copenhagen (depart 17:00 or so) to Oslo (arrive around 09:30) with a range of comfortable en suite cabins, restaurants & bars, a truly lovely way to travel and affordable too. Book online at www.dfds.com

3. Book an Oslo to Bergen train at Norwegian Railways www.nsb.no although this too can be fussy with credit cards so be prepared to call them or use a travel agency in Norway.
Man_in_seat_61 is offline  
Old Aug 30th, 2014, 12:15 PM
  #15  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks everyone!

Do you think we d have time to go to Sockholm, Copenhagen, and do the Oslo/Bergen railway including the Flam railway in 10 nights?

If not, should we drop Norway or Copenhagen?

We were going back and forth between 10-14 nights but after budgeting out the trip it looks like a full 2 weeks would be close to $9K for the two of us to hit Stockholm/CPH/Norway and we d like to keep the trip to $6-7K.
Samantha88 is offline  
Old Aug 31st, 2014, 08:49 AM
  #16  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Do you think we d have time to go to Stockholm, Copenhagen, and do the Oslo/Bergen railway including the Flam railway in 10 nights?>

Yes - 3 nights in Stockholm; 4 nights in Copenhagen - a nite in Oslo - 2 nights in Bergen including one day doing the NIN trip + 3 travel days between each place. See if you can fly into or out of Bergen and Stockholm.

Copenhagen I think needs more time as it has many neat short day trips to do.
PalenQ is offline  
Old Aug 31st, 2014, 09:03 AM
  #17  
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 22,939
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You might want to take a look at my trip reports covering Norway and Stockholm; click on my name to find them. The Oslo and Bergen parts might be useful, as I give prices rather than just say how expensive it is. It was a few years ago, but there is no reason to think that there was rampant inflation in Scandinavia in the meantime.
Michael is online now  
Old Aug 31st, 2014, 09:22 AM
  #18  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,589
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I would just go ahead with the Norway in a Nutshell and enjoy. As said no need to buy ahead of time. You will see wonderful scenery including fjords. As for Bergen we easily filled several days in what is one of my fav cities. Besides the waterfront with market and historic buildings there is a harbor area cruise available and a lovely park and more. Two sides trips also: excursions to Oygarden fishing village and to Lysoen island with ornate Ole Bull house.

On our tour we started in Helsinki, a flight to Copenhagen, overnight ferry to Oslo and then on to Bergen and finishing with departure in Stockholm. Yes, I think 10 nights would cover most things (depending on travel) although an extra day or so would help.
Ozarksbill is offline  
Old Sep 1st, 2014, 05:44 AM
  #19  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
but there is no reason to think that there was rampant inflation in Scandinavia in the meantime.>

prices do not always rise for foreigners because of domestic inflation but exchange rate fluctuations vis-a-is the dollar (if American) and I think the dollar has slipped against local currencies much like it has against the euro in recent years.

Bring every little thing you can when coming to Scandinavia - you will save tons of money like bringing a supply of essentials - and booze itself can be dauntingly expensive - bring what you can in if you want or need it - especially in Sweden and Norway.
PalenQ is offline  
Old Sep 1st, 2014, 08:50 AM
  #20  
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 22,939
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
prices do not always rise for foreigners because of domestic inflation but exchange rate fluctuations vis-a-is the dollar (if American) and I think the dollar has slipped against local currencies much like it has against the euro in recent years.

Actually, on June 30, 2009 (when we were in Scandinavia) the euro-dollar exchange rate was 1€=$1.40, and today it is €1=$1.33. I would be surprised if the Scandinavian currencies did not reflect a similar exchange rate, but I am willing to be wrong--you do the research.
Michael is online now  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -