SKPKCP11

Dear Fodorites,

We are planning for our next holidays in Denmark & Norway. This will be our first visit to a Scandinavian country. Have been reading various sites but not much info is available. We will be 2 adults and 2 children of 11 years & 10 years. We like to see palaces and visit scenic places something similar to the towns in Bavaria and Salzkammergut.
We will be using public transport and do not want to take any of the cruises.

We would like to arrive & depart from Copenhagen. First some general questions -
1. What is the food scene in these places? We are aware that they are very expensive places. Is the food on the go i.e. burgers/hot-dogs expensive at super-markets & at railway stations and are these easily available.
2. What is the rail site for Denmark and Norway? Would like to travel by train from Copenhagen to Oslo. Do they have tickets similar to lander ticket in Germany where the family can travel on slow trains for a low price? If yes, what are these tickets called.
We will not be taking night trains or the overnight ferry.
3. We are flexible with the number of days - have read a lot about the 'Norway in a Nutshell' trip. Since we will be travelling with big bags not sure if this trip can be done at one go. Can we break the journey in some nice place - which town & why?
4. Which fjords would you consider a must do and how do we go about it? We do not want to take any tours / cruises but would like to do it independently.
5. Have read about the glaciers in Norway. Which town should we be based in so that we can do the glacier excursions and the trips to the fjords.
Any recommendations are welcome.

Kind regards,
SKPKCP11

SKPKCP11

Dear Fodorites,

Await your recommendations and insights.

Kind regards,
SKPKCP11

Barbara_in_CT

Here is a website to get you started on using the trains in Scandinavia.

http://goscandinavia.about.com/od/ma...raintravel.htm

Food is very expensive, including McDonalds

For Norway in a Nutshell, you can leave your large suitcases in a locker at the train station if you are returning. Otherwise, I would rethink taking a large suitcase.

I would also suggest that you also read the Trip Advisor forums for Norway and Denmark. They are more focused on the area you plan to visit.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum...50-Norway.html

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum...6-Denmark.html

Visit your local library and look through the guidebooks they have on your destinations.

nytraveler

First - Scandinavia is VERY expensive (hotels, travel, food etc.) Naturally if you buy food in a supermarket and make sandwiches it will be less - but still not cheap. Street food is typically herring - not hamburgers or hot dogs.

Also not sure you will find a lot of "palaces". there are some castles in Copenhagen and surroundings - but Norway doesn;t go in for palaces - it's more about fjords, large areas of scrub and huge spaces between towns and cities Oslo does have some interesting sights - but the best features of the rest of the country are old wooden churches and fold museums.

Large suitcases are a really bad idea - don;t fit well on trains and are a major pain to haul on and off trains and through stations. You kids are old enough to handle their own (small) luggage - their clothing is small too correct. Much better to have more small cases than a couple of huge ones.

Shanna

Greetings. I'm headed to Denmark later this week for a Viking festival. Will get back to you with info on prices. We found an inexpensive hotel (my traveling partner prefers no-tell motels but I refuse). He went to Denmark earlier this year and didn't find food expensive but maybe he went with the herring-on-a-stick, although he said they had things besides fish (of course he could be lying just to get me to go). And you're right - it's difficult to find information on Scandinavia. Everything seemed to be geared toward Scandinavians. What's that all about?

nytraveler

Not sure why finding info is difficult - if you go to Barnes & Noble or Amazon you will find a number of guidebooks (I counted more than 12) of various types. Some all purpose, some mostly sights. But more info that anyone can use.

Irishwhistler90

I know what you mean.... I've just come back from Scandinavia, I didn't go to Norway, but I did heaps in Denmark! Be aware that the weather up there is chilly at that time of year (it was STILL chilly in June this year).

To be very honest with you, the food-on-the-go type places in train stations and etc. sell hot croissants or cinnamon rolls for breakfast, deli-type sandwiches/subs for lunch, and various coke/soft drinks. No hot dogs or burgers. If you want chocolate or potato crisps, go to the 7up or "Relay" type small convenience stores. And always ask about the water, because sometimes its sparkling or "with gas" and if you don't really want fizzy water, you need to specify and check at the counter. Things aren't cheap and there is a standard price which you can't really dodge. Scandinavians are really big on cinnamon rolls, they are quite sweet, but hey. McDonalds is everywhere and though it's more expensive than at home, if your kids like it, just go with it!

Large suitcases are awkward if you are taking them on trains a lot... Some really neat places that are well set up for kids (and adults) in Denmark are:

Tivoli theme park in Copenagen

The Viking ship museum in Roskilde (30 minutes train ride from Copenhagen) They have cool activities in June...

Sagnlandet Lejre experimental archeology centre. People dressed up as stone age or iron age settlers, they do activities and kids can get involved making fish hooks, weaving nets, eating fire-cooked salmon. It's really fun and only 45 minutes train ride followed by a short bus ride (bus 266 from Lejre station) away from Copenhagen.

If you want to know any info about a specific place or activity, just post a list and I'll try and help

DebitNM

Our first day in Copenhagen found us wandering about the Old Town area and DH needed a rest room. We walked into a department store and went to lower level to use the facilities. As we descended on the escalator, we saw a bar and grill area and they were cooking. It smelled good, we were exhausted and it was about local dinner time. So we decided to eat there. I had a burger, a Coke Zero and DH had a bowl of curried meatballs and a beer. We ordered at counter, and then carried our food when it was done to table. Dinner tab was $65!!

michele_d

Just returned from Norway, Sweden, Denmark...beautiful countries but probably will never return...much too expensive.

I'm very happy that we went, but if it hadn't been for free hotels in these locations, with points, that included breakfast, it would have killed my budget.

Basic nothing special lunch anywhere was $50+ for two. And I am not a big eater at all. Just be ready for the extra expense and then you won't be surprised.

SKPKCP11

Thanks Fodorites. Let the suggestions and ideas keep coming in.

Kind regards,
SKPKCP11

Odin

1. Denmark is famous for it's pølse which is a type of sausage bit like a hotdog. There are stands selling this all over & they sell burgers and other things too. You can have an inexpensive (by DK standards) lunch at a dept store eg Magasin's top floor or from a bakery that sells open sandwiches. I have not seen herrings sold on the street but it might exist, I prefer to buy herrings at the place where they are smoked and this is again relatively inexpensive.
2. Danish railway system is called DSB and they have their own website.

Re: Danish Palaces, Amalienborg Palace is in Copenhagen so easy to get to and then there is Fredensborg Palace north of Copenhagen which is quite famous and a lovely place to visit. Denmark has alot of castles.

No idea about Norway as I haven't been.

Michael

Friends traveled in Norway via public transportation. In the mountainous areas, that meant traveling by bus, as for example, getting to the Geiranger Fjord. I am not sure that this is the most efficient way to travel as a family of four.

Palaces are rare if at all in existence in Norway.

We considered the ferry going up the coast, but for the same price (or less) we decided that we would see more with a rental car.

Cabins for rent for the night are readily available. Sheets cost extra--pack lightweight sleeping bag liners.

When we stayed in Solvorn, we met people who were planning a day's kayak outing on a glacial lake. This means that the glacial area is readily accessible from that location, but I think that a great deal of time would be used up if without a car--both in getting in and out of Solvorn and getting to the glacier.

You might want to take a look at my trip report. Click on my name to find it.

SKPKCP11

Thanks all for the fantastic info. What are the local butcher shops i.e. metzgerei called in denmark, norway, sweeden. Also, are there any budget chain eateries where the smoked herrings are sold. We love pork. Is it readily available?

Kind regards,
SKPKCP11

Odin

<<We love pork. Is it readily available?>> In Denmark roast pork is virtually the national dish.

Best smoked fish I've had in DK is in Gilleleje, north of Copenhagen, it is inexpensive and you can buy smoked herring on black bread and fiskefrikadeller with remoulade sauce, amongst other dishes, all served on paper plates at the dockside where the fishing boats come in. This requires a short train journey out of CPH and this would be an interesting place for kids and is on the way to Helsingoer which alot of people visit anyway.

Alternatively in CPH, a less expensive place with traditional Danish dishes here:-

http://www.cafesorgenfri.dk/

And for herring buffet, try Boef & Ost at lunchtime, the herrings are filleted, skinned and pinboned and served in different marinades,sauces or are fried, very good with a Tuborg together with a glass of snaps.

MimiCOI

I live in Norway, particularly in Bergen, the 2nd largest city of Norway. So uh, its really expensive here. You'll spend about NOK 100 for your kids if they want to eat at McDonalds, but take note that prices change after 9PM, they go higher. The only fastfood around here from the US are McDonalds and TGIF. You can buy burgers and hotdogs on convenience store as well. You can also eat at asian restaurants if you want a heavy meal, around 12PM to 5PM, they have this "Lunsjmeny", especially, Chinese restaurants, where some meals are NOK 80 to 120 per pax w/o drinks. The regular price of a meal is NOK 150 to 180 w/o drinks.

As for the train ride, there is NO direct train travel, you will have to at least change once, its mostly in Sweden.

For the fjords and glaciers you should visit Flåm. Its about a 5 hour ferry ride from Bergen, and a 6 hour bus ride from Oslo. We have a fylkeslommune or region that specializes with the fjords, its Sogn og Fjordane. You could also see lots of waterfalls along the way.

If you are in Norway, I think you should visit, Oslo and Bergen and the fjords (since its Summer) There are trains and buses from Oslo to Bergen. Dont forget to bring raun jackets because the weather here is crazy.

Good trip here in Norway (God tur her i Norge)

MimiCOI

About the pork, its quite hard to find a shop that specializes there since vegetables, fish and seafoods (except squid and octopus) are the ones famous here. Note to the kids, if they plan to buy candy, avood the LAKRIS flavor, its too salty for a kids taste.

SKPKCP11

Thanks Odin and MimiCOI for the insights. Much appreciate it. We were not looking at Mcdonalds and but local grocery store or train station where we can get filling meals and food on the go. In Germany and Austria we had seen Nordsee outlets specializing only in seafood. Is this chain also present in Norway?

MimiCOI since you are from Norway could you give some names of local grocery store chain outlets.

Kind regards,
SKPKCP11

MimiCOI

We have Narvessen, and 7-Eleven (Convenience store). Gas stations like Statoil, Esso and Shell have groceries as well. If you are looking for the big grocery stores, we have Spar, Coop( we have different types of it; just dont go to the one named Coop Bygg Mix, it sells stuff for house-making), Rimi, Rema1000 and Meny. In Bergen, we have Like a fishermans wharf, Im not sure with Oslo.

SKPKCP11

Thanks MimiCOI. Much appreciate the quick revert. Understand train travel in Norway is expensive. Could you recommend any local and reliable companies who do intercity coach transfers.

Kindly advise.

Kind regards,
SKPKCP11

MimiCOI

Most of the buses here are partially owned by the government so you wont have a problem with the buses. Mostly, you can ask for a "Rutehefte" or a book with the schedule of buses from the bus driver or from the tourist info. It varies from fylkeskommune or the region on how they run the buses. We also have the ferries in some places.