jp4120

mid 50s married couple from the US, been to Europe several times.
Trip planned in early June for a short (7 nights/8 days) Euro vacation
2 nights in London,
fly to Copenhagen stay near central train station for 2 nights
We were going to take the train to Sweden but with new refugee policy (effective Jan 2016) it seems like train is hassle across the border Denmark/Sweden border.
Any thoughts on the new border security policy? we hadn't planned to fly a 3rd time but we may have to now.
Should we fly to Gothenburg -stay a night then train to Stockholm for 2 nights or....
fly to Stockholm and stay 3 nights.
any other recommendations for this trip? is gothenburg worth seeing?

thanks in advance.

PalenQ

There will be no problems for you entering Sweden if an American passport holder - only for refugees - Gothenberg is a neat city anyway - why not take the train there and stay a night then move onto Copenhagen. Really no reports anywhere in Europe now about troubles crossing borders for tourists and anyone but refugees.

Kathie

If you have 7 nights, you have just 6 full days. In that time, choose not more than two cities, otherwise you will spend more time in transit than you will doing/seeing/experiencing what you came for. Three nights in one place will give you two full days, four nights in the other will give you three full days.

Michael

<i> it seems like train is hassle across the border Denmark/Sweden border</i>

In what way? Do you expect to be pulled off the train with all your luggage? Have your trip interrupted?

hetismij2

Only a little hassle really: http://www.thelocal.se/20160104/bord...denmark-bridge

You could always spend all your time in Denmark.

janisj

>>but with new refugee policy (effective Jan 2016) it seems like train is hassle across the border Denmark/Sweden border.<<

AFAIK You will simply have to show your passport. Same as all travel was back before Schengen. Unless there is some heightened security alert I can't see your travel being disrupted.

thursdaysd

The border controls have put a stop to through trains. From seat61.com:

" IMPORTANT UPDATE: From 4 January, Sweden's government will impose border controls for everyone entering Sweden because of the refugee problem.

This has made operation of the direct Copenhagen-Stockholm trains impractical, so SJ will operate them only from Malmo to Stockholm, they will no longer start on the Danish side of the Öresund bridge at Copenhagen. So from 4 January you need to take an Öresund local train from Copenhagen to Malmo to connect with your chosen SJ2000. These run every 20 minutes, journey time from Copenhagen to Malmo Central is 66 minutes which includes 30 minutes border control at Copenhagen Airport station just before the Öresund Bridge, where you need to alight, go through a simple passport check and re-board an onward train. You can still book from Copenhagen to Stockholm as one simple booking at www.sj.se (or www.snalltaget.se or www.acprail.com), look for an option with 2 changes, one at CPH Airport and one at Malmö Central. Your ticket will then cover both the Öresund train and the SJ2000."

I enjoyed Gothenburg - see https://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com...g-garden-city/ - but you really don't have time.

Odin

I regularly cross between Denmark and Sweden but I take the other route via Helsingoer to Helsingborg on the ferry. You can take a train from Copenhagen to Helsingoer and take the 15 min crossing then from Helsingborg Central station to where ever in Sweden you want to go to.

The border controls have been in operation since late last year on the ferry but it takes no time at all, the ferries are quite small although can be busy during the summer. Whether the situation will be the same in June, we can't tell, as the border control consisted of an official looking at your passport when you get off the ferry on the Swedish side.

Flying seems the sensible option given the amount of time you have.

nytraveler

Agree that 7 nights is actually 6 day - not 8. And unless you want to spend a lot of your very limited time in transit you really should cut back to 2 cities - even then you would be giving them very short shrift - unless you have been to these places before.

kja

With so little time, I would seriously consider cutting down to either just Stockholm with some day trips or just London with some day trips or Copenhagen and other parts of Denmark or MAYBE either London or Stockholm with Copenhagen. Otherwise, the amount of time you spend in transit will be disproportionate relative to the time you actually have to see anything. JMO.

jp4120

ok thanks for your advice and opinions.

PalenQ

I loved Gothenburg - thought it was one of the nicer cities in a Scandinavia that at times I find all too modern looking.

About trains - night trains are great IF you can sleep and there is always a modicum of noise outside the compartment (sometimes inside as well!) For lots about night trains and trains in general check www.seat61.com- great info on discounted tickets; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com. thursdaysd has given great specific info on Copenhagen to Stockholm!