colduphere

Years ago I took the Copenhagen-Oslo ferry. I seem to remember people having a good time on the overnight ferry. \/

Swedish friends have always advised against driving up from Copenhagen to either Stockholm or Oslo claiming the drive is boring. I can't say as we have taken their advice.

We rented a car in Oslo last summer and returned it in Stavanger over nine days for $800. There is a direct flight from Stavanger to Reykjavik, though I am not sure which order of places you have settled on.

GreenDragon

It's looking like Reykjavik - Copenhagen flight, driving to Oslo - Bergen - Stavanger and then back to Oslo, flights from Oslo to Reykjavik and home.

The flights and rental cars went up markedly in price (and bad schedule) flying out of Stavanger or Bergen. We're still fiddling. It may still change.

colduphere

Good luck. I am seeing fares of less than $1000 for Boston (I know you don't live in Boston) - CPH, STA-REK, and REK-BOS next May. That is about what we paid last year out of Toronto on Icelandair. But the devil is in the details.

GreenDragon

I'm coming up with about the same (we could fly out of DC, Baltimore, Pittsburgh or Philly, it's all about 1.5-2 hours from us). Flying out of Stavanger, though, doubles the car rental cost even if I pick it up in Bergen.

dyoll

One way rentals in Norway are expensive and I'm not sure cross-border (Denmark-Norway) one-ways would even be considered. Taking the overnight ferry Copenhagen-Oslo, and hiring car in Oslo and doing a round trip Oslo - Bergen - Stavanger - Oslo (or v.v.) would save you lots.

GreenDragon

Except my husband wants to meet up with a friend in Malmo...

Odin

I would not drive from Copenhagen to Oslo or Stockholm. Have done the drive from Copenhagen as far as Gothenburg many times and it is boring, mostly farmland and have done the drive from Copenhagen all the way to Stockholm, also mostly farmland and very flat farmland around Linkoping. Sweden is beautiful but you need to get off the motorway to see the country. The train journey is more scenic as it passes very close to lakes and through forests.

Rent a car in Copenhagen, drive around North Sjælland and the northern part of Copenhagen which are the best areas, return the car in CPH and ferry to Oslo, rent a car there, return it in Oslo and go to the next destination by air.

GreenDragon

So...

Fly to Iceland, spend 5 days there, fly to Copenhagen. 1 night in Ribe, 2 nights in Copenhagen. Overnight ferry to Oslo.

Do I need a car while staying IN Oslo? Or is it superfluous?

2 nights in Oslo, drive to Bergen, 2 nights in Bergen, drive to Stavanger, 2 nights in Stavanger, fly home from there.

dyoll

Having a car in a city is usually more of a nuisance than a benefit. First you will be paying lots for parking both day and night if you are staying in the centre. If you are not staying in the centre then finding your way in a strange city and parking will be a problem. With strict drink driving laws the car is not much use in the evening either. Oslo has good public transport - easy to find your way. Bergen is very compact and you can walk most places. If you are just planning on using one day driving Oslo-Bergen then it would be better to take the train and do the Norway in a Nutshell route through Flåm - then you can concentrate on the scenery. Same with Bergen-Stavanger, there are scenic routes you could take by bus. Hardly worth the extra cost of one-way rentals to drive there yourself in the limited time you have.

Odin

What is in Ribe? It's a long drive from Copenhagen and you only have 2 nights in Copenhagen which is a very short amount of time for a city with much to see.

Having a car in Copenhagen is not an issue for parking. You can park overnight in the street for a few krone which you pay at a meter, valid until 8am the next day. Weekends are free, similar situation with Sweden. I find a car a benefit especially when vacation time is at a premium plus you get to see alot more. With GPS, it is even easier.

Malmö is very easy to get to from Copenhagen, across the Øresund bridge. The fee for crossing the bridge in a car is expensive. You can drive your Danish rental car into Sweden and back. You could even drive to Helsingoer and take the ferry across to Helsingborg and then drive down to Malmo and then back across to Denmark using the bridge. The bridge is very close to Copenhagen airport.

kja

I agree with Odin -- give yourselves more time in lovely Copenhagen!

PalenQ

. You could even drive to Helsingoer and take the ferry across to Helsingborg and then drive down to Malmo and then back across to Denmark using the bridge.>

You could do this Round the Sound excursion very easily by train and boat - I did it in reverse of Odin - took train over awe3some bridge/tunnel to Malmo
changed trains for Lund - a really nice old university town that is the highlight of this part of Sweden IMO - the train to Helsinborg to Helsingor (Hamlet's Castle) and S-tog train back to Copenhagen.

If you have a railpass it is fully valid on all trains and boats involved - a sweet day trip that slices thru a rural part of Sweden - redolent to me of Minnesota where so so many Swedes immigrated to.

wintersp

I wouldn't dismiss NIN so quickly. I liked it a lot. I did not go to Bergen, I got off and spent the night in Flam. Next day I went back to Oslo. But if I did it over, I would go to Bergen, use buses/trains to go North as far as I desired or rent a car in Bergen. It's just another piece of the puzzle that is already mapped out for you and you can use however much you want and skip the rest.

I like PalenQ's trip through Helsingoer - I come down from Goteborg and did the ferry to Odenese into Copenhagen. And loved that part of Denmark. You can't go wrong - but you may just have to comeback because you are missing a lot.

PalenQ

Norway in a Nutshell is one of the very top five things this veteran veteran veteran traveler has done in decades of European travel - as Dick Vitale would be want to say "Awesome baby!"

colduphere

I don't think you need a car in Oslo.

The drive to Bergen will be a long day.

Our friends dropped off their car in Bergen (after an adventurous drive - http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...of-heights.cfm) and then took the ferry to Stavanger, although the bus might have been more scenic. Doing so might save you a few $ unless you plan on touring around Stavanger.

PalenQ

The Oslo to Bergen train ride is ubiquitously listed amongst the very most scenic train rides in Europe - so if not wanting to make the long grueling drive hop the train.

dyoll

The ferry between Stavanger and Bergen has ceased operating, but there are interesting and scenic bus routes.

GreenDragon

Thanks, all! I'll be back with more questions as I refine the plan. Great points so far!

Husband is now concerned about the volcanoes in Iceland. Sigh.

GreenDragon

OK, here's a thought. What if I were to make the whole two weeks in Iceland? If we wanted to drive around the Ring Road, would we need a guide? I'm looking at expense and keeping my husband entertained. I will be thrilled with the photography, regardless

BigRuss

Just out of curiosity, what does a green dragon breathe? Not sure this was covered in How to Train Your Dragon . . .