We are planning our first trip to Scandinavia 9-21 August, leaving and returning from Leeds-Bradford, UK. We will be traveling with 2 children (5&8). We are trying to firm up our itinerary and would like some help from all the Scandinavian travel experts out there (I've heard Bjorn is one of those experts, are you out there). We will have a rental car. We would like to see Stockholm, Vastmanland, & Vastergotland in Sweden (my husband has relatives that came to America in the early 1900's and he would like our children to see this area); Copenhagen (Tivoli), Odense, Legoland in Denmark; and Oslo and Bergen in Norway (would like some info on "Norway in a Nutshell", how do we do this? Can this be done in 1 or 2 days? How long a drive is it from Oslo to Bergen? If we had to choose between Oslo and Bergen, to stay, which would be the best. I think from what I've read, Denmark and Sweden are where we should plan to spend the most time. Need info on Ferries (one-way) from Norway-Denmark (either direction). Also, would like to stay in Inns, B&B or Family run hotels. Have found these to be much more helpful than large chain hotels when traveling with small children. Sorry this is so long. I've been searching the internet for several weeks and have just recently found this site. Thanks in advance, any help would be very much appreciated.

Whew!! Lots of questions... of which I can only answer a few. Many years ago my husbnad and I (sans children) drove from Copenhagen to Stockholm. Although I am of Swedish origins, don't know where Vastmanland is. But most of drive thru Sweden was quite tedious. With children should think it would be a bit much. I think Tivoli in Copenhagen would be fun for your kids and the Vasa Museum in Stockholm a delight for the oldest ( and you!) Don't know anything about Norway; your itinerary is probably a little ambitious for 12 days. Nice aspect of August travel is that all ferries in/out of Stockholm to tourist spots will still be running.

Patty: Have you tried a search on Sweden, Norway, nutshell, etc.? There has been quite a bit written about these areas, Bjorn's and mine included.
We found the drive from Copenhagen to Stockholm delightful. However, we drove along the eastern side of Sweden (details included in previous posts which you will find in searches)and stopped at the marvelous Kalmar Castle and ferried over to Visby on the way.
This is a wonderful part of Scandinavia. If you have questions after your searches, please ask. Have a great trip.

Joe, Thanks for the info. I am new to this site. I have looked at a lot of info on Norway, Denmark and Sweden and have printed off a lot from this site. Not sure where else to look Is this trip too ambitious to do in this period of time (I know the days are very long, which will help) with two children? A couple of years ago we did Germany, Austria, Switzerland and France in about 12 days. Tried to do most of the driving in the evening after wearing the kids out. How long a drive is it from Oslo to Bergen? Where would you suggest spending the most time while in Norway? My 8-year old son is very interested in the Vikings. Thanks for any help/suggestions.

Patty: It is difficult for me to say if what you plan is doable in 12 days since it is not the way we travel. On the other hand, you did Germany, Austria, Italy and France in 12 days, so, perhaps it is all right for what you want to accomplish. The biggest problem will be the long drive from Stockholm to Oslo; not especially interesting and will take the better part of a day (or night; the roads are good, but I hesitate to sugest night driving).
To do this, you will probably spend two nights in Copenhagen. The first day wander the Stroget making sure to get off on the side lanes where the Danes shop and live. Do the Christiansborg Palace (the tour under the palace where the ruins of the foundations of previous castles are visible, not the palace itself). Do Rosenborg Castle (really worthwhile), wander through the Kastellet (Citidal) and at the far end, go up the stairs, turn right and in a short distance you will be at the little Mermaid. There is more, but these are the highlights. If the boys are up to it, head for Tivoli, have dinner there and stay into the night.
The next day, head to Roskilde for the magnificent Cathedral and the Viking Museum (have a sausage roll on the square) and then head for Frederiksborg Castle; amazing. These are each about 30 minutes drive from Copenhagen and 30 minutes from each other. If you did not do Tivoli the day before, do Tivoli now. Otherwise, take a harbor cruise leaving from the Nyhaven area. When you get back, perhaps, have dinner in one of the cafes in Nyhaven.
Don't mean to be simplistic, but when in Fodors.com and you have clicked on "europe", you will see a box at the top labled "text search". Insert "driving southern sweden" and you will see my recommendation for the Copenhagen to Stockholm trip. Because of your time, I would skip the drive south to Kaseberg and Ystad and drive across to the glass works in the Vaxjo area and the paper factory at lessebo, and then to the coast to Kalmar (your boys will love this castle).
OK, we have used three days. Options here. Drive to Stockholm (boring) or take ferry to Visby on Gotland Island and spend the day and night. Wander the wonderful old walled village (plenty to see and do) and the next morning take the ferry to Stockholm. The ferry trips are two and a half hours if you take the fast ferry. Otherwise, four and a half hours. Plan on spending two days in Stockholm. More later. I have an appointment and will pick up at Stockholm. But, what I will describe will take 12 days and get you to each of your destinations plus Visby and the Nutshell tour in Norway.

Topping to see if Patty is still with us.

Hi Joe, I'm still here. I've been trying to finalize the first part of the trip. Due to our arrival time in Stockholm (2155) we are unable to pick-up a rental car at Avis. We've got reservations at the Radisson SAS Arlandia Hotel for the first night. (Will probably plan to stay here our last night too, as we have a 1035 flight back to the UK). We'll pick-up the rental car after breakfast the next morning. Planning to spend some time in Stockholm during the day, then late afternoon plan to head towards Oslo. Any recommendations on a place to stay between Stockholm & Oslo? On one of the threads I saw a recommendation to stay in Flipstad, (hotel called Hennickehammars Herrgard) any input on this hotel? Again, on one of the threads I saw a recommendation for the De Historiske Hotel in Norway, do you know anything about this hotel? We'll spend a day/night in Oslo then head to Bergen for a day/night. Back to Oslo to catch a overnight ferry to Hirtshall. Head south towards Mariagers to see the locomotives & steam engines then towards Vejli/Billund. Plan to stay somewhere around here and see Legoland the next morning. We've been to the one in Windsor and Ryan (8) and Emma (5) loved it. Would like to be in Ribe in the evening to see the Watchman do his evening rounds. Plan to stay somewhere around here in the evening. Drive on to Odense, see H C Anderson's house and some other sights. On to Trellebotg/Roskilde (found some info on a Thatched Inn, Svogerslev Kro 4km west of Roskilde, hope to stay there). On to Copenhagen (Tivoli). Back into Sweden (my husband's relatives came from arond Vastmanland). Found a Castle/Manor House Grytthyttan's Gastgivaregard in Vastmanland and Kronovalls Slott in Skane) think the kids would love to stay in one of these. Any input on B&B is Sweden? Hope to see the Boda Glass Factory. Depending on time we'll do a little touring in Southern Sweden before heading back to Stockholm. I know it's a lot to do in a short amount of time. Any suggestions/comments would be very much appreciated. Thanks again for the info you've already supplied. Hope to hear from you again soon.

Patty: I am sorry, but I had no idea you were going to try to cover that much territory in 12 days. As I indicated, this is not the way we travel, but I tried to offer some help because no one was responding to your post. The trip I started to describe would have taken 12 days to Bergen. I firmly believe travel is a very personal thing and everyone should travel in what ever way makes him/her happy. However, I know of no way to help you cover the amount of territory you are trying to cover in any reasonable way; for example, a half day in Stockholm. For information about the places you mention, I suggest you do Fodor's searches for information about each place (there is plenty of information available) and decide from that information what you want to see. Couple of comments: Stockholm to Oslo can be driven in a day. Don't need a place to stay. Instead of driving back to Oslo from Bergen, you might just drive the Setesdal valley and catch the overnight ferry from Kristiansand to Hirtshals. Have a good trip.

Joe, Thanks for all your help/info. I do appreciate the info you provided.

Patty_UK, my son and I travelled to Scandinavia this summer, although not on the same itinerary as yours. Please consider carefully whether you really want to spend so little time in each place. We enjoyed the places where we spent at least 3 nights the most. Otherwise, there is just too much in and out and packing and repacking.

Will, Thanks for the input. My husband & I have been discussing the option of possibly cutting Norway out of the itinerary and only visiting Denmark & Sweden. Would love to see Norway, but am now thinking that we would like to spend more time in Denmark & Sweden. Think there are more things the children would enjoy. We leave on 9 August, so if you see this and have any additional recommendations for Denmark & Sweden, please advise. Thanks again.

We liked Roskilde, but it might not be as much fun for kids. Helsingor and its castle might be interesting to them. Plus you can take the ferry to Sweden and back (as you can see below, I really like boats!). For Copenhagen ideas, be sure to check out http://www.woco.dk and http://www.aok.dk .

The Elfsborg Fastning (fortress) tour in Gothenburg, Sweden would be interesting to children, I think.

We liked Tivoli in Aarhus (not sure if you are heading anywhere near there on your agenda) better than the one in Copenhagen. But we visited the one in Copenhagen on a Saturday night, and it was packed. I've heard that kids like Legoland also, which is in the vicinity of Aarhus. Den Gammle By (which is set up like a live, old village) in Aarhus would probably also be interesting to kids.

In my experience with small kids, they like to do things like feed the pigeons and go to the zoo - they are not likely to care too much about grand churches.

I like taking a boat tour wherever that is available - do your kids like boats? Copenhagen has two main options but I don't recall the names right now - I took both and they were both enjoyable. Gothenburg has the tour to Elfsborg Fastning and the Padden Boats tour. Malmo also has a boat tour.

There is an amusement park in Lyngby, near Copenhagen, called Bakken.
http://www.bakken.dk/
I've heard it's better than Tivoli so far as actual amusement.

Will, Thanks for all the additional information. My son (8) is very interested in the Vikings (boats, etc). We've taken a few short ferries in the past and the kids loved it. We've seen several castles in our European tours, kids can only handle so much, they want to touch everything. Think they will really enjoy Legoland. Will have a look at the recommended websites. Had planned to see Tivoli (Copenhagen) at night, but will look into Bakken and Arhus, sounds interesting. Will probably head south on E45, so will go right through Arhus. Think my daughter (5) will enjoy Legoland & Odense the most. Thanks again for all the info. Will be checking the websites tonight.

The Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde might be just what your son likes then.

Patty: I am delighted that you have decided to reduce the amount of geography you want to cover. I think you will have a much better trip.
I liked Tivoli in Copenhagen better than Tivoli at Arhus. But, there is an excellent Skansen (living museum) at Arhus (Den Gammle By) as Will has suggested, that I'm sure your children will enjoy. Old buildings from all over Denmark have been established here and the docents in each building are in costume of the period. There are craftsman of every kind and they are especially attentive to kids, giving them samples of there wares and letting them try differnt activities.
There is a Viking Museum At Roskilde as I mentioned. At least take a quick look at the Cathedral. It is marvelous. Then, go on to the Viking Museum (after you've had the sausage roll on the square). It's pretty basic, but there are several Viking Ships in diferent levels of survival. You can get quite close to them.
While it isn't a Viking Ship, don't miss the Vasa Museum in Copenhagen.I am sure your childrens will be very impressed by the size and granduer of this 15th century ship which is in excellent condition and you can get right up to it on several levels.
The Viking Museum in Oslo is excelent, so save that one for your next visit.
There is a Viking Village at Ribe in the form of a living museum; docents in costume doing what Vikings did in their villages. A pretty good trip from Arhus, but kind of on the way back to Copenhagen and not far from Legoland. Have a great trip.

Of course, the Vasa Museum is in Stockholm, not Copenhagen. Sorry!

Will/Joe, Thanks for the additional information. I know we'll have a great time. Ryan & Emma are both getting excited. Can't believe it's only 4 days until we leave. If you think of anything else, I'll be checking in up until Sat morning (UK time), as we leave in the afternoon. Thanks again.

We just got back from a Scandinavian cruise Monday evening. We were very disappointed in Den Gamle By in Arhus, a type of place we usually enjoy.

Tivoli in Copenhagen was delightful, as was the canal boat tour. We went on Netto Badene, which was much less expensive (20 DKK) than DFDS. I don't think kids would enjoy walking the Stroget, which seemed to us to be primarily shopping. A ride in the bicycle powered rickshaws might be fun. Rosenborg Palace has beautiful gardens, where kids could run and play, and a picnic would be fun.

I agree that the Vasa Museum in Stockholm was amazing, and there are boat tours there as well.

Sometimes there are entertainers on the Stroget, but of course this is unpredictable.

I didn't visit the planetarium in Copenhagen, but the kids might like it. Another thing I didn't try that they might like was renting a paddle boat to take around the lakes (you can do this in either Copenhagen or Malmo and probably elsewhere, I think). The zoo is also in the same general area as the lakes and the planetarium.

You and/or joegri have mentioned the Boda glassworks and Vaxjö. Since your husband is of Swedish descent, I suggest you go to the Emigrant House in Vaxjö. It has an excellent permanent exhibit of the emigration. Those of us who are of Swedish ancestry appreciate what our forefathers and mothers went through. I think they have a Swedish/American festival there in August, but I don't know the dates. I believe even your younger will appreciate this museum.
Boots Newstrom