We are going to Scandinavia from june 10 to june 21. We are arriving in Copenhagen June 10 and leaving Bergen, Norway June 21. We want to see Stockholm and Oslo and Norway in a Nutshell. Do I need to see Bergen or can I just leave in the morning after doing Norway in a Nutshell for one day? Also do I need 2 or 3 days in Oslo because I wanted to do 4 days in Copenhagen and 3 days in Stockholm?

NIN is just a combination of public transportation tickets that allows a view of the fjord area. Bergen deserves a day in its own right.

IMHO Stockholm deserves much more time than Norway - as does Copenhagen - but not so much as Stockholm.

Cut a day in Copenhagen and spend it in Bergen.

Opinion is as ever divided.

Norway offers world class scenery. The Lofotens and Bergen in particular, I would spend all my time there.

The Swedish archipeligo off Stockholm is beautiful as is the city itself.

Of all these places I'd place Copenhagen last, really didn't care for it and the least likeable locals. However, they are world leaders in terms of design, the shopping and food scene there is world class.

Be aware that Norway is far more expensive than the other two countries which are in the EU.

Some prices in Norway can be shocking, just implausible.

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Be aware that Norway is far more expensive than the other two countries which are in the EU.</i>

Stockholm is also more expensive than other EU cities, and my recollection is that this is also true of Copenhagen, even if both are less expensive than Norway.

Sweden is a bit cheaper than Norway, Denmark not. The main difference will be drinks with meals - both much cheaper than Norway.

I'd agree.

Been to all three in the last year. Generally, Stockholm was slightly more expensive than say London same with Copenhagen. Everything in Norway : just silly prices.

Interestingly, we spent a week outside Stockholm in the islands. Supermarket fresh & dry food was very cheap, much cheaper than the UK, alcohol and chocolate much more expensive.

The reason were staying in copenhagen for 4 days is because we were going outside the city to see the viking ships. Do I need 3 days in oslo or can I do 2 and spend a day in Bergen instead?

Oslo also has Viking ships:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca...57623070576316

Two days is plenty for Oslo - you can easily cover all the main sights.

Agree that two days is plenty for Oslo.

Maybe others can answer this question. We stayed in Choice Hotels in Scandinavia due to free stays with points. Each of the hotels in Oslo, Copenhagen, Stockholm and Bergen had a breakfast buffet and a late afternoon light dinner included with the room. Is this normal for most hotels in Scandinavia? It really helped us stay on budget with regards to meals.

Michele, I think the Choice Hotels are part of the Clarion chain. It's been my experience that the breakfast buffé and dinner are included in the price at this chain.

Clarion are usually a high standard with good buffet breakfasts included. Late afternoon dinner included seems a little odd.

<Late afternoon dinner included seems a little odd.>

I was surprised also and thought the first hotel in Oslo was a fluke but then it was at all the Clarion hotels we stayed at. Very nice surprise actually. We had a big breakfast, small lunch and then late afternoon light dinner. There was only one choice daily but heck, for free I wasn't about to complain. Really kept us on budget. Spent over $30 for one six inch sandwich and one drink in Oslo! Yikes..but the country is beautiful so that's the trade off. Just be aware and plan accordingly.

Norway in a Nutshell is one of the most exhilarating travel experiences I have done in decades of European travel - take the whole day - train to Voss (can see Knute rockne's tomb in local cemetery) then hop thrilling mountain bus to Gudvagen, a stop at the famous Stalheim Hotel included - bus takes you to Norway's largest fjord - board the small fast boats for a few hours on the fjord - maybe seeing whales!

Boat takes you to Flam for a neat scenic mountain railway ride up to Myrdhal for a train back to Bergen on to Oslo - train includes a stop at a roaring waterfall.

If traveling much on Scandinavian trains and ferries check out the ScanRail Pass - vali don trains and many boats and also gives hotel discounts at some chain hotels.

for lots of great info on Scandinavian trains and boats and passes check: www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Begen is a nice city - one of the few really old-looking ones I've seen - try to spend a day there IMO.

Night trains run between Oslo and Stockholm and Copenhagen and Stockholm I believe - save daytime travel time and the cost of a night in a hotel.

"Spent over $30 for one six inch sandwich and one drink in Oslo"

In Oslo airport two weeks ago, I was in the queue at Upper Crust which is a European "Subway" type chain but much better quality.

There were two area manager types surveying the scene, one English, the other Norwegian.

The Norwegian boasted that "this outlet is the most profitable in the work".

Great solace for a weary traveller!

Alcohol is especially expensive in Norway and at least last time I was there was sold only in state stores with banker's hours - at pubs outstanding expensive!

Bring whatever you can - anything you will need plus booze if into that.

One of my favorite cities is Bergen where we enjoyed several days. I could mention. We enjoyed the Nutshell trip from Oslo agreeing with PalenQ. It does include fjord cruising part of the trip. Oslo nice and I did enjoy Copenhagen. We liked art museums, cultural exhibits (such as viking ships), etc. Yes, things are pricey. To economize we got snacks at the harbor booths and little shops and also kept a few things from breakfast...rather than sit down meals all of the time.

thanks for your help, but I am still asking if I need 3 days in Oslo because if I do that I cannot stay more than overnight in Bergen.