Copenhagen, Oslo, Bergen, Stockholm
 

Dear Fodories,
Please critique and advise itinerary that we planed for our summer trip. Any tops, suggestion would be greatly appreciated! Days, transport, logistics, ect
Here is it:
Day 1: Morning arrival to Copenhagen
Day 2: Copenhagen
Day 3: Evening Ferry to Oslo
Day 4: Morning arrival to Oslo
Day 5: Oslo
Day 6: Oslo Morning, afternoon train to Berger
Day 7: Fjords
Day 8: Bergen, evening flight to Stockholm
Day 9: Stockholm
Day 10: Stockholm
Day 11: Flight home

Do I have enough (maybe too much?) time in each place? Any other ways to get from one place to another? Is there easier way to cover all places (maybe different order)? I can have one extra day added to this trip: where would I add it?

Thank you!

You have way too little time in all places.

Sorry - but what you have there is more like a 3 week trip if you really want to see anything.

I don;t know how to tell you what to drop since I don't know your interests, but IMHO Copenhagen is worth at least 4 nights (3 days) not the one day you have and Stockholm 5 nights (4 days) not the 2 days you have. These have by far the most to see/do - unless you focus is on outdoors things only - then I would add at least 3 or 4 days to Norway.

I looks pretty balanced to me. I believe the weakest spot to be time in Copenhagen. I don't see too much time anywhere. This same itinerary could easily be 14 to 21 days without running out of things to do. But this gives a good introduction to the whole area.

I'm not sure what 'day 7 Fjords' is. Will you look for a tour? Will you rent a car? Between Oslo to Bergen on the Norway in a Nutshell you can go into Flam and ferry in that Fjord, overnight and go into Bergen the next day. You may have more information about exploring in the Fjords than I know about.

I would label this 'the highlights of Scandinavia' and it can definitely be done. Have you written down your must see/do in each city? The circle could be done starting with any of the 3 major cities, but I don't see any advantage in one over the other. Might hinge on airfare.

It's fast travel, but you won't be disappointed. If I were going again, I would add 2 or 3 days and go from Stockholm, overnight ferry to Helsinki and back - just to add another country while I was in the neighborhood.

In addition to most obvious attractions, we would love to see a few World Heritage Sites such as Roskide Cathedral, Kronborf Castle, Bryggen, Skogskyrkogarden...
We love architecture, history, or just walking around cute neighborhoods and stop by little shops and galleries..

Unfortunately, we do not have more time.
In Berger we are planing to have tour that includes Flam and Ferry. But we will look into it after we book the flights from US.
I do not to travel fast and have not been for a while but this time I do not have much choice -- so much to see in so little time.

All right, noted, will add extra day in Stockholm

Even if you restrict your time in the area to UNESCO World Heritage Sites, I think you will be hard-pressed to fit everything in. IMO, you are not giving EITHER Copenhagen OR Stockholm enough time, but of course, it really depends on what YOU want to see and experience. IMO, you have to choose between skimming 3 areas or actually visiting 2 of them.

I recommend that you get some good guidebooks (or spend some time in your local library), identify the things you most want to see in each location, note opening/closing times, and mark them on a calendar. Then pencil in your transportation, add some time on either side (for getting to/from the train/bus station or whatever, checking in/out, packing/unpacking, getting oriented, etc.). Then see how things fit together. As you make your decisions, consider how much time you are willing to give up seeing things in order to get from one place to another.

It's a beautiful part of the world -- enjoy!

Combine day 6 and 7 by doing the Norway in a Nutshell tour while going from Oslo to Bergen. Then you can enjoy Bergen for a full day.

I think the trip duration is fine. You are arriving on day 1 into CPH and have the rest of that day, plus the next 2 before setting off in the evening to Oslo. If you rent a car in Denmark, you can get around easily to Kronborg Castle from Copenhagen, drive right along the north coast and then go to Roskilde. You will have time to walk along the beach at Hornbaek, or stop and have lunch at the small fishing village of Gilleleje. First day arrival you could spend it in Copenhagen, go to the Carlsberg Glyptotek and evening in the Tivoli Gardens, see some museums, walk around some neighbourhoods, to to Bakken and have lunch at Peter Lieps Hus, see Charlottenlund suburbs, see Nyhavn etc. Yes another day would be better, but if is not possible, it is OK with what you have to see the main sights.

Stockholm is a bit short of time and is more spread out than Copenhagen so would give it more time. One of the most spectacular sites of Stockholm is the archipelago, hence the recommendation to take the ferry to Helsinki. Stockholm in the summer is beautiful and has many things to see. I don't know Oslo so not sure what you are going to see that would take up 2.5 days, if possible I would take a day off that and allocate more time to Stockholm unless there is something great to see in Oslo.

In short you have wa-a-a-a-y too little time in all places.

Way too many sights with too little time. And my wife says, "Bring a lot of money!"

Thank you all!
All right, question: Nutshell tour - can I do it in my own pace, organize it myself? Looks like it is a combination of train, ferry ect..
In Oslo we have 2 nights. But maybe we will take train to Bergen in the morning, which gives us extra half a day there, and flight to Stockholm in the morning of day 8. So, extra day and a half for Stockholm (maybe enough time to ferry to Helsinki? - how long is it?)

to macanimals: your wife is right on target!

The NIN is a combination of tickets. There is no reason to do it individually unless you want to change the itinerary. It's not as if you are traveling with an organized tour, although you are traveling with a whole crowd doing the same circuit.

Well I'd add a day or two to Copenhagen, to me the most 'best' city in Scandinavia. There is also a Copenhagen to Oslo day train via Goteborg, another neat old town. If taking several train trips check into the ScanRailPass, which comes in 2nd class only but lets you hop on any train anytime - perhaps though just giving a discount on the Myrdhal to Flam train. the pass also covers several key ferries, including perhaps Copenhagen to oslo - if not full coverage at least 50%.

For lots of great info on Scandinavia trains and ferries check out these great sites: www.ricksteves.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.seat61.com.

Thank you!
I am thinking also to illuminate one destination (Oslo, Bergen) and leave 2 big cities. There is a possibility that we would have only 8 full days. Then it would have to be Stockholm and Copenhagen.

Rail passes not usually good value if you can book ahead and get non-refundable non-changeable minipris tickets in Norway and similar in Sweden. There is not much flexibility in the NiN if doing a day trip as there are limited connections, but you could overnight on the way. If travelling NiN Oslo-Bergen (or v.v.) then you can save by buying minipris tickets between Oslo and Myrdal (or Flåm which would save you buying two separate tickets), otherwise the pass costs the same as individual tickets.

<I am thinking also to illuminate one destination (Oslo, Bergen) and leave 2 big cities. There is a possibility that we would have only 8 full days. Then it would have to be Stockholm and Copenhagen.>

I do not understand this statement, especially the first part.

If I would have less days than originally planned, then I would have to stick to Stockholm and Copenhagen.
Thank you all!
I have to think over all the options and routes...

illuminate=eliminate