Ferry between Copenhagen and Oslo
 

Airline tickets are bought, and I've started learning Swedish so looks like this trip might truly happen. Here is the second of I'm sure many questions. What do you recommend re traveling from Copenhagen to Oslo? The Ferry looks intriguing but I'm wondering if it is worth the time it would take. Has anyone taken it? Is it fun? comfortable? is it a good way to see the coast(s) or does the night time travel erase that advantage (this would be next June). Thanks.

It's admirable that you have started to learn Swedish, but it is really is pointless. Almost everyone over the age of 10 speaks English. If you are going to buy a house, get a job or live there, then it would be imperative to learn Swedish, but for a short tourist trip and staying only in Stockholm, it is not necessary. Even in shops and supermarkets where you pay by credit card, you get a choice of language, and at the gas stations etc.

You do know that June is midsummer in Scandinavia, with short nights and hardly any darkness, right? And if you are going to be there around the 21st June, if so, make sure you make your bookings in advance as this is a very important & busy holiday time. Usually the entire weekend will be a holiday, not just midsummers day ie the day before midsummer and the weekend after.

I've not taken that particular ferry but have taken several others, they are a great way to travel and the food is usually very good, with a chance to try many Scandinavian dishes. My friends have taken the ferry and recommend it, especially the arrival into Oslo. It departs at 4.30pm and arrives next morning at about 9.30am, so it is a good use of time IMO, unless you have better plans on how to spend an evening. It will be comfortable if you choose a good cabin.

Night time in June probably lasts until 11pm or so and up at 4 am? I've not taken that ferry but did Stockholm-Helsinki and it was fun - lots of entertainments aboard and nice private cabins if you wish.

The ferry is a treat, with lovely scenery up Oslo Fjord in the morning.

And as it sails overnight, leaving in the evening and arriving in the morning, why do you think it needs to be 'worth the time'? Seems to me it SAVES time over flying or the train, which take half a day!

Hi Odin, thanks for the advice. I know it seems silly to learn a language for a five day or so stay, but it's been something I've done ever since we started our international travels. For me it's a way to acclimate to the culture (hard to explain, but different languages "think" differently, and as I get comfortable with them I start to think differently too). I love languages and even though I don't retain all that much after the trip (for some strange reason I've held onto the Greek word for car, but not much else), when I'm in the country it helps me to take it in more, especially in small towns away from bigger cities. On several trips when we were lost my ability to ask questions, even in imperfect grammar, was really useful. And being able to say a few phrases, ask a few questions often transforms surly taxi drivers and waiters into friends. And just saying,hello, how are you always elicits a smile, so for me it is worth it - and fun. thanks for the good advice. As usual there is so much more to do and see than we will have time for. What a lovely world this is if we humans don't mess it up too much