Hello,

I was wondering if anyone could share some information on Sweden and Norway with me. I am planning on traveling in July for about 10 days with a couple of friends. I didn't know if this was a good time to go. I typically like traveling for the beaches, and am opting to think that this is not the best spot for that, but I did want to try something different. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Well, that is a good time for those countries. We were there last June. I think the crowds get a bit bigger in July, but not sure. And, even at it's most crowded, it isn't supposed to be terrible, as it gets in other touristy parts of Europe.
We didn't hunt for beaches, but my guess is you won't find any good ones. But, it is a GREAT place to see. Norway was especially beautiful. Look into the "norway in a nutshell" tour.

We thought Stockholm was beautiful, but thought the drive to get there was rather boring.

Will you be driving or using the train?

Things are a bit more costly there, in Scandanavia, by the way.
EK

Check out the Lofoten Islands in northern Norway!!!
YES, to the Norway-in-a-nutshell!!!

It is the PERFECT time to visit both. The weather is at its warmest, the sun hardly sets, the people are friendly, the food is great, there's a lot to do. If you need to swim or lounge around, they have many public pools that are more like country clubs than our U.S. public pools. They serve alcohol. A really great public pool in Oslo is in Vigeland Park, right before you hit the long walk with all the sculptures. It's also a great place to hang out as well.

Many of the hotels also have indoor pools and spas, which are really nice, and another great way to kick back after sightseeing.

If you go to Oslo you will definately be able to hit the beaches. After all Oslo is a coastal city... As has been said earlier, you often get good sunny weather with tempartures in the 20-25 range. Oslo has lots of small islands with public beaches serviced by local ferries (part of the same PT network as the busses/trams/subways/trains). And the Sognsvann inland lake is also popular. Of course the sea as it's the sea isn't at tropical temperatures usually in June it's around the 16-18degrees C, while Sognsvann is 1-2 degrees warmer. If the water temperature is important then August is the best month... or as Surfergirl mentioned, both Frognerbadet within Vigelandsparken, and Tøyenbadet are open with outdoor pools (Tøyenbadet has a large indoor one as well).
If you need more info please ask.

Cobos

Kirsing, I posted this in my "Greek Cruise" thread, but in case you didn't see it there:

Kirsing, Norway is wonderful! We spent one week on the Lofoten Islands and about 8-days traveling around the Western Fjords. We travelled with another couple in early August 2001, so splitting a one-way car rental cost and cabin/room costs (cooked most of our own meals) made Norway very affordable. We splurged on flying to Aalesund (much better than Bergen IMHO, 2 nts. in a private room at the IYH), drove to Aandalsnes to see the Trollveggen (cloudy), drove over the Trollstigen and down the Ornevegen to Geiranger(amazing views along this route-2 nights in the WONDERFUL 2 bdrm cabins at Grande Hytteutleige ) we took the local Geirangerfjord boat tour to the Skageflå stop (arrange with boat before hand-this is the awesome picture often shown of a farm high on a cliff above Geirangerfjord) we hiked up to Skageflaa and back to Geiranger, then drove via the scenic Gamle Strynefjellsvegen (though we wouldn't know since it was fogged in) to the Kjenndaslbreen glacier (near Stryn), we stayed 2 nights at a 2-bedroom apartment at Helset on the amazing blue waters of Lake Lovatnet (about $72pn tel. 57877631). We would sit out in the evening and watch chunks of ice from the hanging glacier across the lake come crashing down. daytrip to the Brikdalsbreen glacier for the glacier walk (highly recommend!). Drove to Borgund (ferry crossing Sognefjord) to the Borgund Stave church (a MUST see!) and then over the Snovegen (very scenic) down to Flaam (2 nts private room at IYH). Daytrip doing the abbreviated "Norway in a Nutshell" RT from/to Flåm. We feel our day would have been better spend just hiking somewhere (maybe just up the Flåmsdalen and train down), though the bus ride to Stalheimskleiva is fantastic. we drove to Bergen for 1-nt (IYH NOT recommended here) drop off car and fly home. The only change we would make to this itinerary is to cut out Bergen all together-it just seemed so touristy after all the lovely more off-the-beaten-track places we'd been. Also skip most of "NIAN" since most of the train is in tunnels. I think the "NIAN" is really set up for people who don't have a lot of time coming from Oslo. Hope this gives you some ideas. If I had 10-days I would do this trip adding the few extra days along the coast (boat excursion to Runde or drive along the Atlantic Road?) Let me know if you'd like to know about our week in the Lofoten Islands.


http://www.geirangerfjord.no/
http://www.vandrerhjem.no/ (youth hostels)
http://www.geiranger.no/
http://www.grande-hytteutleige.no/
http://www.briksdalsbreen.com/
http://www.sognefjord.no/english/sta...ch/borgund.asp
http://www.flam.no/
http://www.visitalesund.com/
http://www.jostedal.com/
http://www.fjordnorway.com/
http://www.atlanterhavsveien.no/e_index.html




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Author: Nidwaldner_Chris
Date: 02/03/2004, 09:53 am
Message: Kirsing, I have just become aware of these new no-frills flights within Norway and to Stockholm and London, flight between Norway and Aalesund for example about $36!
http://www.norwegian.no/

and www.nordicairlink.se

Hi

I live in Stavanger on the south west coast of Norway and I would like to claim that we have some of the best beaches in Norway OK, there is a little drawback of course...the water is not really that warm...my wife (she is from South Africa) claims that it is cold but I would like to refer to it as refreshing But July could be a good time...the weather can be pretty nice in July and August here.

If you like to do a bit of trekking I would like to recommend the amazing places Kjerag and Preikestolen (Pulpit rock). I went to both places last year and I have posted a trip report on the following page: http://www.gardkarlsen.com/kjerag.htm. At Kjerag you are located 1000 meters above Lyse fjord and the view is just amazing on nice summer days And if you are not afraid of heights you can walk out on the Kjeragbolten and take a picture of yourself...this is a big rock that is wedged into a crack in the mountain.

I have also posted some pictures and some information about my hometown Stavanger on my personal homepage www.gardkarlsen.com. Hopefully it can be of some help to you. Get in touch if you have any questions.

Regards
Gard
Stavanger, Norway

Hi

By the way: you should have picked a better title for your posting so that people can know that you are going to Scandinavia

Regards
Gard
www.gardkarlsen.com