Itinerary help - Sweden and Norway (June-July)
Apr 26th, 2016, 04:44 PM
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Itinerary help - Sweden and Norway (June-July)
I am considering a road trip through Sweden and Norway sometime between the end of June and the middle of July. I was planning about 15-16 days, starting and ending in Stockholm, covering these places and perhaps more:
1. Stockholm
2. Oslo
3. Bergen
4. The area around the Sognefjord (including a boat trip on the fjord, possibly via the "Norway in a Nutshell" tour, or possibly on my own)
5. The Jostedalsbreen area north of the Sognefjord
6. Lillehammer (open-air museum)
7. Other points in Sweden between Oslo and Stockholm, or near Stockholm.
I would welcome comments on the practicality of this itinerary (e.g., will it fit comfortably into 15-16 days), and any recommended stops (interesting towns, places of natural beauty, etc.) along the route besides the ones mentioned. I would plan to make reservations in the larger cities, but was wondering whether it would also be necessary to make advance reservations in the smaller towns. I would prefer to play it by ear so I am not locked into too tight of a schedule. On the other hand, I don't want to find myself spending the night in my car or someplace undesirable.
By the way, another reason for starting in Stockholm (instead of in Oslo, let's say) - besides wanting to visit Stockholm - is the fact that it is sooooo much cheaper to rent a car there.
Thanks in advance for your advice!
1. Stockholm
2. Oslo
3. Bergen
4. The area around the Sognefjord (including a boat trip on the fjord, possibly via the "Norway in a Nutshell" tour, or possibly on my own)
5. The Jostedalsbreen area north of the Sognefjord
6. Lillehammer (open-air museum)
7. Other points in Sweden between Oslo and Stockholm, or near Stockholm.
I would welcome comments on the practicality of this itinerary (e.g., will it fit comfortably into 15-16 days), and any recommended stops (interesting towns, places of natural beauty, etc.) along the route besides the ones mentioned. I would plan to make reservations in the larger cities, but was wondering whether it would also be necessary to make advance reservations in the smaller towns. I would prefer to play it by ear so I am not locked into too tight of a schedule. On the other hand, I don't want to find myself spending the night in my car or someplace undesirable.
By the way, another reason for starting in Stockholm (instead of in Oslo, let's say) - besides wanting to visit Stockholm - is the fact that it is sooooo much cheaper to rent a car there.
Thanks in advance for your advice!
May 5th, 2016, 11:01 PM
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Is the saving on car hire worth wasting 2 days on long transport stages in boring Swedish forests?
Fly into and out of Bergen, you don't need a car in the city. When you're finished with the city do your road trip around the western fjords. Plenty of campsites with cabins so you can keep flexibility. However note that with drop in exchange rate for the NOK there will probably be a huge influx of tourists this year and accommodation may fill up. With cabins you usually have to supply your own linen (or hire) and pay a cleaning fee at the end. Take sleeping bags and staying a few days in one place helps keeping the costs down.
Fly into and out of Bergen, you don't need a car in the city. When you're finished with the city do your road trip around the western fjords. Plenty of campsites with cabins so you can keep flexibility. However note that with drop in exchange rate for the NOK there will probably be a huge influx of tourists this year and accommodation may fill up. With cabins you usually have to supply your own linen (or hire) and pay a cleaning fee at the end. Take sleeping bags and staying a few days in one place helps keeping the costs down.
May 7th, 2016, 09:10 PM
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Thanks dyoll. I have been doing some more research and have come to more or less the same conclusion - the drive from Stockholm to Bergen is too time consuming, and having a car in Olso and Bergen will be more of a nuisance. Here is my revised itinerary and some more questions for you or other Norway experts:
* Fly into Bergen
* Bergen (2 nights)
* Pick up car, drive to Flam, take fjord cruise and possibly Flam Railway, return to Flam.
* Sognefjord/Lustrafjord (2 more nights) - including Snow Road to Laerdal, Borgund Stave Church, Solvorn, Nigard Glacier.
From here, I have several ideas, although I don't think I have time to do them all.
Alesund - a little out of the way ... is this worth the time?
Geirganger fjord - Is this a worthwhile stop in addition to Sognefjord?
Sognefjell road (Route 55) to Lom
After leaving fjord country, I plan to:
* Return to Oslo via Lillehammer (to see the open-air museum).
* Return the car in Oslo and spend 2-3 nights.
* Take train to Stockholm. Spend 4 nights. Fly home.
Total: about 15 nights on land.
Thanks in advance for feedback!
* Fly into Bergen
* Bergen (2 nights)
* Pick up car, drive to Flam, take fjord cruise and possibly Flam Railway, return to Flam.
* Sognefjord/Lustrafjord (2 more nights) - including Snow Road to Laerdal, Borgund Stave Church, Solvorn, Nigard Glacier.
From here, I have several ideas, although I don't think I have time to do them all.
Alesund - a little out of the way ... is this worth the time?
Geirganger fjord - Is this a worthwhile stop in addition to Sognefjord?
Sognefjell road (Route 55) to Lom
After leaving fjord country, I plan to:
* Return to Oslo via Lillehammer (to see the open-air museum).
* Return the car in Oslo and spend 2-3 nights.
* Take train to Stockholm. Spend 4 nights. Fly home.
Total: about 15 nights on land.
Thanks in advance for feedback!
May 8th, 2016, 01:30 AM
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MUCH better! 
FWIW, I thought 4 or 5 days about right for Stockholm, but of course it depends on what YOU want to see and do. And it is the city that might be the easiest of your destinations to reach on a second trip, should you choose to do so -- and so if you have to short a place, Stockholm not be a bad choice.....just an idea.
FWIW, I thought 4 or 5 days about right for Stockholm, but of course it depends on what YOU want to see and do. And it is the city that might be the easiest of your destinations to reach on a second trip, should you choose to do so -- and so if you have to short a place, Stockholm not be a bad choice.....just an idea.
May 8th, 2016, 09:29 AM
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Note heavy one-way charges for hire car in Norway.
With the flexibility of a car I would avoid Flåm which is a busy cruise port with often 4000+ cruise tourists day - and you are visiting in the height of the season. Consider the Gudvangen - Kaupanger ferry and staying north of the Sognefjord.
I expect a huge increase in tourists this summer due to weak kroner - there is a 30% increase in cruise tourists in Flåm compared to last year - so accommodation may be at a premium. Travelling with a car then camping cabins may suit - http://www.visitnorway.com/hotels-more/caravan-camping/
Try and include some of the National Tourist routes - http://www.nasjonaleturistveger.no/en
With the flexibility of a car I would avoid Flåm which is a busy cruise port with often 4000+ cruise tourists day - and you are visiting in the height of the season. Consider the Gudvangen - Kaupanger ferry and staying north of the Sognefjord.
I expect a huge increase in tourists this summer due to weak kroner - there is a 30% increase in cruise tourists in Flåm compared to last year - so accommodation may be at a premium. Travelling with a car then camping cabins may suit - http://www.visitnorway.com/hotels-more/caravan-camping/
Try and include some of the National Tourist routes - http://www.nasjonaleturistveger.no/en
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