Need Scandinavia advice!
 

Hello fellow travelers: I am planning a July 2004 Scandinavian trip and need your advice with my proposed itinerary. Arrive Copenhagen for 3 nights; ferry to Oslo for 2 or 3 nights; Bergen (perhaps go up by Norway in a Nutshell) for 2 nights; fly to Stockholm for 2-3 nights; ferry to Helsinki and stay ?, fly back to San Diego. Does this sound okay? Perhaps while in Helsinki, going over toward Estonia. I do have about 18 nights I can spend... need some input, please! Thanks for any tips!

Tallinn is a lot more interesting than Helsinki, and a lot cheaper. It's easy to do as a day trip or, better still, for an overnight stay.

Hi

If you want to see Norwegian fjords you can also come to STavanger which is located on the south west coast of Norway. I have posted some information about a place called Kjerag on my homepage http://www.gardkarlsen.com/kjerag.htm. At Kjerag you are about 1000 meter above the Lyse fjord and the view is just amazing on nice summer days :-) Let me know if you need more info :-) I can also recommend a place called Preikestolen (pulpit rock) (http://www.gardkarlsen.com/preikestolen.htm). It is a bit easier to get to this place compared to Kjerag but the view is great here too.

Regards
Gard
Stavanger, Norway
www.gardkarlsen.com

I went to Scandinavia 2 months ago and greatly regretted that we couldn't spend more time in "fjord country."

I went to Stockholm (2 nts), took a train to Copenhagen (2 nights)and the overnight boat to Oslo where we spent just a day, spent 2 nights in smaller towns while driving across Norway - exploring the scenery - and ended with 1 night in Bergen. It was a pretty quick (but very doable) trip...the amount of time spent in each city was just enough. If I could have had more time it would have all been spent on the west coast exploring more of the fjords! I definitely would have gone to Preikestolen.

We flew into Copenhagen where we spent our first 3 nights. We then flew to Stockholm for 2 nights. Took an overnight ferry to Helsinki where we spent the day before returning to Stockholm arriving in the morning. Went to the Airport and flew to Bergen. From Bergen we went on the Norway in a Nutshell "tour" ((don't miss this). From Bergen we took the Norway Coastal Steamer up the coast for 5 nights. This was an amazing cruise with lots of stops and tours. We then flew to Oslo for our last 2 nights. This was a whirlwind 17 night trip (if I counted right) but it was incredible and I would love to do it again.
June

I would also suggest a side trip to Tallinn. If you limit your trip to Tallinn, one day might be enough. That is if you catch one of the early speed boats in the morning.
You might want to include one night. But that is definately enough.
If you need advice which hotel to choose, do post.
Do a text search for "Tallinn", I just recently posted.

I think others have posted replies in the past. We were in Scandinavia this July on a tour with the itinerary similar to what you are considering but starting in Helsinki. Then went to Copenhagen, night ferry to Oslo, Nutshell trip to Bergen, flight to Stockholm, Helsinki and home (just in time for NYC blackout). We had some group tours and some time on our own. We took some day trips out from Copenhagen, Bergen, Stockholm so enjoyed a little of the countryside.

Good luck...there is lots to enjoy, and English is widely spoken it seems. Yes, prices a little high, so we did some snacking for lunch (including some goodies from the big hotel breakfast smorgasbord).

BTW just got confirmation that the Finnair mileage of almost 10,000 each was added to our AAdvantage acount.

Bill in Missouri

Thanks for the tips, Fodorites. I'm thinking that it makes sense to do an open jaw ticket. However, I'm not getting the feeling that Helsinki has enough for more than a short visit. Wonder if it makes more sense to just do it on a round trip overnight ferry from Stockholm and fly home from there instead.

Andeesue: Didn't want to be a wet blanket, so, I didn't, initially, offer my advise about Helsinki. Tallin is much preferable. But, Visby on Gotland Island is even better. It is a walled medieval village with much history to view, great shops, cafes and restaurants, a wonderful port scene and a fun Island to bike. It was, truly, one of the highlights of our Scandinavian trip. You can get to it by fast ferry from Stockholm (about two hours). Make sure you take the fast ferry as the regular ferry takes much longer. Have a great trip.

Hey, Joegri- I like your description of
Visby on Gotland Island. In the planning stages of this adventure, and just figured since we were already going so far, may as well see Helsinki...but after researching theother big Scandinavian cities Helsinki wasn't sounding so exciting. Thanks for the input, anymore???

Seeking info on inexpensive flights within Scandinavia, namely Bergen/Stockholm. We will be using United or Continental ff miles from the US (steerage!), so I don't think we're eligible for the SAS special deal.

Andeesue: Don't know what your interests are, but, we loved Southern Sweden (bucolic); Ystad, Kaseberga (Ale Stones), Simrishamn, the glass works, the 300 year old paper factory and, especially, the Castle at Kalmar.
In Norway, the 15th Century farmstead with a gourmet restaurant at Roishein was marvelous. Lots of hiking and horseback riding here.
The Nutshell trip is a fabulous, exciting, scenic experience. Don't miss it. But we thoroughly enjoyed hanging out at a couple of the fjords for a couple of days each. I could sit in the window or on the balcony of our hotels and just look out over the fjord for hours. Note, we did our share of hiking too.
There is another Island, Aero in Western Denmark, that is also a charming stop; more biking the Island, little churches, villages, much scenery, the sea almost always in view, fantastic. We loved that farmers put their home wares, jams, farm products, handwork, etc. on tables on the road (sometimes out of sight of their homes) with marked prices and a plate to leave the appropriate amount.
Your on the right track. Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oslo and Bergen were fantastic. We seldom go back. Usually moving forward to the next country, but, I am sorely tempted. Have a great trip.

Like joegri I don't like to be a wet blanket about Helsinki... but I'd go with Visby and Tallin, too.

You might check out the following website for inexpensive airline tickets in Scandinavia.
http://www.sterlingticket.com/en/forside_en
Most Scandinavian breakfasts are buffet style which means one can eat all one likes at breakfast; it does not mean one can pack a lunch as someone suggested.
I have been to all of these places many times and find all of them interesting, including Helsinki, but Visby is a particular favorite of mine. Have a good trip! Boots

Don't miss the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen. when I was there in 1995, you could get a ticket just for entry (not the outrageously priced all inclusive tickets of a theme park)and walk around. For the rides, there are separate tickets. Beautiful landscaping, inventive sculptures and lighting, and a variety of restaurants. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Since you'll have 3 nights in Copenhagen, I would recommend at least one day trip outside of the city. The Roskilde Cathedral has been the mausoleum of the Danish royalty since the 15th century. It is definitely worth a visit. Roskilde is only a 20-minute ride by train from the Copenhagen train station. Also, both the Kronborg Slot in Helsingør (Hamlet's castle) and the Frederiksborg Slot in Hillerød are magnificent. Both are easily reachable by train.