Denmark, Norway and Sweden in Two Weeks
 

Hi All! Just starting to plan my trip and feeling a bit overwhelmed. Hoping you all can help me develop a generic itinerary and then I can focus on specifics.

We are flying into Copenhagen on August 7th (arriving at 1:15pm, we will be flying direct from SFO on Business so will be well rested and able to enjoy this day), and departing Stockholm August 19th. This gives us 12 nights to explore. I already realize this isn't enough time to see the whole region, but we hope to make the most of it! It's my husband and I traveling and we are in our early 30s. We enjoy less of museums (although I'm not counting these out) and art and more of wandering a city, visiting bars/restaurants, parks, bike rides, scenic drives/train rides/boat tours, etc. We know we want to spend time in each Copenhagen and Stockholm but aren't necessarily sold on needing to do Oslo as we would like to get out and see more of the countryside than staying in the capital cities for our trip.

Norway in a Nutshell is extremely intriguing to me, with a possible overnight in Bergen - or somewhere else. We are open to any other smaller cities - we really tend to enjoy traveling as a local would and would like to get off the normal tourist path if possible..

Can anyone help us develop a realistic itinerary or a starting point for me? We are planning on getting the Scandinavian Rail Pass, as we prefer train travel to air travel (if it makes sense). And a small tidbit, it's my birthday on August 11th - so we would love to plan something special that day wherever we happen to be!

Thank you so much in advance for your help, please let me know if there are any other questions I can answer to help you, help me.

Copenhagen Aug 9th
10, 11, 12 (take a day trip to one of many neat places)
Ferry overnight to Oslo (or fly or long train ride)
Oslo 13
13 Train to Bergen -one of most scenic trains in Europe - lovely countryside and mountains and fjords, etc.
14 Norway in Nutshell - end in Oslo
15 Fly or train to Stockholm - possible overnight train some days I think - also could stay in Bergen and do Nutshell as a day trip and then fly to Stockholm.
16, 17, 18 Stockholm

If doing that ScanRail Pass may be great but if flying some legs probably not. Check www.seat61.com for lots on booking your own trains if not a pass - info on passes and trains in general also www.ricksteves.com and BETS-European Rail Experts

Thank you so much for your quick reply! One quick note that actually may help add something to my trip, you started on August 9th but I am actually arriving August 7th. How would that change your suggested itinerary?

I think Copenhagen is a great base from which to do day trips - could do that - like to Helsingor and Hamlet's Castle; Roskilde for Viking Ships Museum; Fredericksborg for dreamy castle on island in a lake - and maybe add a day to Oslo - I would not add any more bases.

More time in Stockholm.

Add another night each in CPH and STO or 2 nights more in the city that interests you most. PQs itinerary is great, you can adjust no of nights as you wish. Food culture is miles better in CPH than Stockholm but Stockholm’s location is more beautiful.

Odin - about a decade ago when I was last in Copehagen - one of my very favroite cities in Europe where I spent lots of time off and on Copenhagen and Denmark were much cheaper than Sweden - is that still so?

If OP does get Scanrail Pass it is also good for discounts at some chain hotels or was last I knew. Most ferries however are only 50% off I believe. And traditionally that pass only came in 2nd class version - check out Eurail Select Passes for three countries if want first-class travel.

I wanted to thank you but I lost track becuse of the silly no more than 2 posts in a day rule since I'm new. This was so helpful. This is our itinerary -

August 7th - August 12th - Copenhagen
August 12th we are then flying to Bergen, staying there for 2 nights
August 14th - Train to Flåm and staying there for 1 night
August 15th - Train to Oslo and then flying to Stockholm
August 15th - August 19th - Stockholm

We are starting to plan our day trips from Copenhagen, your suggestions are great (Helsingor and Hamlet's Castle; Roskilde for Viking Ships Museum; Fredericksborg for dreamy castle on island in a lake) -

I also wanted to know what you thought about possibly heading over to Island of Funen (Fyn) for a day - if we did that, where would you recommend? Thank you!

Yes DK is a bit cheaper than Sweden, restaurants and food in general is better too. I really struggle with Swedish supermarkets-there’s no food culture to speak of, not in the same way as France for instance.

Remember when I was in Helsingor and they saId zillions of Swedes came over to buy booze at much cheaper prices.

If I'm following, you have 4 days in Copenhagen and 3 in Stockholm. While it depends on your interests, you might want to shift at least one day from Copenhagen to Stockholm. JMO.

Thanks, but everything is alredy booked :-) .

Just looking for ideas for day trips in Copenhagen!

Sometimes, ignoring plans already made (even already paid) is the best plan. Look up "sunk costs."

They still come over with their trolleys to buy booze but not so many anymore, booze isn’t that expensive in systembolaget.

The Tuborg tour guide also told a story about Swedes coming on tours - one remarked on how much the tour guide drank and that he had an alcoholic problem - guide retorted to Swede 'madame I assue you I have no problem getting booze anytime I want (refering to Sweden's restrictive then at least alcohol monopoly store hours)! He also relayed bit about Russians in the tasting rooms - they'd eat the beer coasters thinking they were biscuits, saying 'that they were much tastier than at home'

Too bad Carlsberg Brewery tours were discontinued - at least thru an actual factory. Still worth going to the Elephant Gate though for Carlsberg Museum and I think still a tasting room: Welcome to Visit Carlsberg - The Copenhagen Exbeerience. Just seeing the Elephant Gate is cool.