Jojojg

Hello, I am planning a 10 day trip in end May to mid June to Europe. I have a conference in Berlin and my husband and son are joining me at the end of the conference for a two week vacation. We plan to stay three days in Berlin, and go to Copenhagen, Amsterdam and then Stockholm. We have friends in Stockholm who have been asking for us to visit them.

I am thinking 2-3 days each in Copenhagen and Amsterdam and then spend the rest of the day in Sweden. We are foodies so sampling the food in each country would be of great interest to us. Suggestions on restaurants, holes-in-the-walls and food markets would be appreciated.

We may hit one or two museums in each city but not a huge priority.

Any suggestions on how we should plan our travel? Are there low cost airlines or would it be more cost effective to take the train?

I usually book hotels through Booking.com but I am not familiar with the areas in Copenhagen and Amsterdam and would appreciate suggestions on areas that I should consider when booking hotels and also areas that I should stay out of.

Thanks,
Jojojg

Finecheapboxofwine

We stayed at a hotel on the Nyhavn canal and thought the location was perfect for a weekend's worth of sightseeing and shopping plus was scenic with the boats docked and people enjoying the cafés outdoors. It was quiet at nighttime too.

burta

Can't give you much information on hotels, but as you are foodies, you might be interested in trying NOMA in Copenhagen, considered one of the best restaurants in the world. Dining there will surely require reservations, which you should make as soon as possible.

Finecheapboxofwine

Forgot to write that the Nyhavn canal is in Copenhagen.

Whathello

There a lot of low cost companies.
Go on Kayak.something to look for flights, then book direct with the company.

You should be able to find flights from Norwegian airlines, Airberlin, Germanwings, Easyjet, Ryanair to anme a few of low cost companies (and reliable ones).

For the anecdote, Germanwings is the one that had a plane crash into a mountain because the pilot was in depression. Since then pilots are no longer allowed to stay alone in the cockpit.

Have fun ! I defintely look on booking.com or hotels.com
They both have a good aftersale service actually.

menachem

http://pensionhomeland.com/

Gretchen

NOMA--may be too late

http://noma.dk/reservations/

nytraveler

I'm confused. You talk about a 10 day trip but then list bering in 4 places for 3 day each. And when you add arrival and departure days it becomes 14 and more like 16 when you include time to et from one palce to another.

I think you need to clarify how much time you actually have.

Lay it out day by day - where you will start the day, what travel there will be (and time involved) and where you will sleep. This should help you figure out the details but I fear you may to completely drop one of your destinations.

PalenQ

Any suggestions on how we should plan our travel? Are there low cost airlines or would it be more cost effective to take the train?>

Well you should arrange your schedule more like

Berlin to Sweden - either fly or take the night train that goes on a boat to near Malmo, Sweden, just a short train ride from Copenhagen

Do Copenhagen then take the fast train to Stockholm -

then fly to Amsterdam and fly home from there.

For lots on night trains and trains in general check out www.ricksteves.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.seat61.com - latter has great info on discounted tickets on trains. www.skyscanner.com is a sight to price flying between any two airports.

PalenQ

would appreciate suggestions on areas that I should consider when booking hotels and also areas that I should stay out of.>

Avoid the red-light district for hotels - lots of flop houses and some decent hostels for starvation types - this area is on the east side of the train station and Damrak - the area on the west side is so so cool however - the Jordaan with lots of canal-side hotels and well out of the noisy area along the Damrak.

I like hotels around Vondel Park - very quiet and sedate area and near the main museums on Museumplein.

These are two favorite areas for many folks.

Odin

>>Suggestions on restaurants, holes-in-the-walls and food markets would be appreciated.<<

In Copenhagen:
Restaurant Radio - nordic cuisine without the NOMA price tag
www.restaurantradio.dk/en/

Sankt Peders Bageri - very famous for cinnamon rolls & Danish pastries which are totally different to those we get abroad, must try them
http://www.visitcopenhagen.com/copen...geri-gdk703530

Amazing Danish open sandwiches at www.aamanns.dk/us

Brasserie Degas www.degasbrasserie.dk/uk/, they have a set menu for about £50

Old bar serving traditional drinks, close to Magasin department store www.hviidsvinstue.dk/en/index.html

Inexpensive lunch - top floor Magasin department store serves traditional Danish dishes & open sandwiches

Traditional cafe www.cafesorgenfri.dk/

If you go to the Tivoli Gardens, www.groeften.dk/uk/ Groften is a very old restaurant with traditional atmosphere

Coffee & cake at laglace.dk/en/, probably the most famous Konditori in Copenhagen, the cakes are amazing

Slurge restaurants
www.soelleroed-kro.dk/en/ beautiful inn but need transportation to/from as it's not in central Copenhagen
Geranium www.geranium.dk/en/

Street food on Paper Island, not far from Christiana
http://copenhagenstreetfood.dk/en/

Stockholm
Slurge restaurant http://ekstedt.nu/english/, everything is cooked on woodfire

PalenQ

I loved Bakken, the world's oldest amusement park - a Tivoli but free - lots of free shows and of course amusement park rides - also in a neat area just out of Copenhagen - next to a deer park and a neat beach area.

https://www.google.com/search?q=bakk...w=1920&bih=955

but very different than more suave Tivoli so not saying to see instead of Tivoli, probably Copenhagen's top tourist site. Tvioli is more sophisticated and rides much more tame and probably better shows.

PalenQ

Christiana - about the only remaining Free City Commune left from the 60-70s in Europe still thrives and is called at times the 2nd most visited site in Copenhagen after Tivoli:

http://www.visitdenmark.com/copenhag...ns/christiania

https://www.google.com/search?q=chri...HbYSCogQsAQIGw

Jojojg

Thank you all for your suggestions. Especially the food suggestions - so close to our heart and tummy!

I am wondering about NYTraveler's comment that we may not have enough time to see all four destinations.

My boys are joining me in Berlin on May 27th (when my conference ends). I thought we would stay in Berlin till May 30th. Then go to Amsterdam (which is the must-see destination for my son)May 31-Jun 3rd. Then Copenhagen from June 3-6. Then Stockholm from Jun 6-11. I put Stockholm in the end because we have friends there so I thought that will be our last stop. But if there is a better, more cost-efficient route, I could probably change our return flights from Sweden and fly from Amsterdam.

I will check out the night trains as suggested since that can save us a day in hotels for each of our destinations.
Clearly I am out of my depths here and am very appreciative of your inputs. Thank you!

Odin

I wouldn't concern yourself with nytraveler's comments. Of course you have enough time.

Jojojg

Thanks Odin. I will keep our original route because our return flights from Sweden have already been booked (although using miles).

I have started clicking on the links you have provided and will have to decide which of these tempting restaurants we should hit.

I am curious about Christiania (never heard of it) and we will surely make a point to visit.

Jojojg

PalenQ, we will definitely check out Bakken and Christiania.

Thank you for your suggestions. I am not able to change our route; I should have posted on Forum before I made flight arrangements. But I am checking out the train sites suggested make our way to Sweden.

Is Damrak a different area from Jordaan? I saw a number of apartments in Jordaan on VRBO but have not checked Damrak area.

Thanks again.

StCirq

I don't think it's so obvious he/she's got enough time. The OP is "doubling up" on days - June 3 is in Amsterdam, but also counted for Copehnagen. June 6 is in Copenhagen but also counted for Stockholm. That's not how it works when you have packing and unpacking to do and trains to take and orientation time in a new place.

Night trains are my worst transportation nightmare, but I guess they work for some people.

Fodorite014

If the OP wants to travel Berlin - Amsterdam - Copenhagen - Stockholm, I think the only leg where night train is an option is Copenhagen - Stockholm with a change of train in Malmö. Most night trains to/from Scandinavia have been suspended.

Amsterdam - Copenhagen by train is very time consuming and involves several changes of trains. The best and probably the cheapest option is to fly. Norwegian flies from Amsterdam to Copenhagen and they have usually the lowest fares. But it is a good idea to check KLM and SAS as well.

lynda_berlin

It sounds rushed to me. 3 days is short for Berlin for a start and it'd be good to have time to include a day in Potsdam too. I'd suggest dropping Copenhagen to allow time for rather more relaxed visits to the other three. It isn't as if that Copenhagen is a huge contrast to the others and dropping it would also cut out the most expensive destination.