How to Take a Multi-Country Scandinavia Trip
Do you want to see all three of the Scandinavian countries in one trip?
If you're like many travelers to Europe, Scandinavia is likely on your itinerary at some point. And for good reason, it's one of the most beautiful parts of Europe. And while it has some big cities, like Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo. Those cities don't have the intense hustle and bustle of cities like London or Paris.
I think that each of these countries is incredible and is deserving of its own trip. A few days or even a week isn't enough time to really explore any of these majestic destinations.
But if you're short on time, the proximity of these countries and their largest cities does make it possible to get a taste of each of the Scandinavian cultures in one shot.
Where to Stay
If you're limited to just a week in Scandinavia, your most efficient option is to pick 3 stays in Oslo, Copenhagen and Stockholm. If you're really limited on time you could switch Stockholm for Gothenburg. But honestly Stockholm is one of my favorite cities, so I would struggle skipping it.
If you have a little more than a week I would spend that extra time in Norway and see the fjords somewhere like Bergen or Alesund (you can read more about Alesund here). And if you have multiple weeks, you have a multitude of options depending on what you desire. But since most people only have a week or two I'll just discuss the main cities.
Between the largest cities you can fly in or out of any of them fairly easily. So you can't really go wrong with which one you start with and which one you end with.
How to Get Around
If you are just staying in the larger cities (including Gothenburg and Bergen) you can easily get by with public transportation. All of these cities have robust trains, subway and bus systems to get you from point A to point B. They are also, for the most part, very walkable to see the main sites, especially Oslo. You don't need a car if you are just going to these cities.
Oslo, Bergen, Copenhagen and Stockholm also all have tourist city cards that include transportation and/or entrances to attractions for free or at a discount. Each city has different options and it might be worht it if you plan to use public transportation in the cities a lot or if you want to get to multiple attracts within them.
However, if you do want to spend some time outside the cities, I would recommend renting a car. You can get to other places by train but will be limited on where you can go, especially in Norway where the mountains and fjords hinder where trains can go. Plus you'll get to see some of the most beautiful countryside in the world. If you have the extra time, spend it in Norway, go to Bergen and get a car for at least a day to drive around the fjords. You wont regret it.
If you want to travel even further north into Norway to somewhere like Alesund, you will almost certainly need a car. You can get around by bus or ferry on the fjords but doing that can be painfully slow. And if you rent a car, you'll likely get a chance to go on a ferry anyway when crossing the fjords.
You'll also need to decide how to get between destinations. You have several options between the countries that are so close to each other. The first we'll look at is the train.
You can get between the three major cities, Oslo, Copenhagen and Stockholm by train fairly easily. You can also include Gothenburg and Bergen as well as they are connected by train. This includes options for night trains, which cut down on costs and you won't spend daytime traveling when you could be exploring. If you don't go with the night train, you'll need to plan at least half a day to get between any of the cities.
Next, let's look at ferry or boat options on the water. Despite it being located close the Baltic Sea, there are not ferry options to get to Stockholm from Oslo, Copenhagen or Gothenburg. Nor can Gothenburg be reached by ferry alone. You can get from Oslo to Copenhagen or Bergen by ferry. Your options are limited and usually run seasonally so if your trip to Scandinavia is in the winter, you might not be able to book the ferry. These do sell out in the summer so I recommend booking ahead of time.
The distance between major Scandinavian cities does make flying an excellent option, with most flights being an hour or less, which when you include time to get to the airport, is usually less than taking the train or ferry. While they might be more expensive, a flight is a great option if you are short on time. Just be sure to book plenty in advance as these flights will sell out in the summer.
Your last option is to rent a car. A Scandinavian road trip has the potential to make an incredible vacation. Driving will take about as long as the train to get between cities in most cases, but it does give you the option to hop out and enjoy the landscape, which is stunning in most cases. The roads in most of the Scandinavian countries are well-maintained and marked, making driving relatively smooth. The downside to renting a car for your entire trip is that when you rent a car in one country and return it in another, there is usually a hefty cost ($1000 or more in some cases).
My suggestion is to do a combination of transportation between countries. The ferry between Oslo and Copenhagen is an excellent option. Then, taking the train between Copenhagen and Stockholm and flying between Oslo and Stockholm.
What to do
I could write an entire book about all of the things you could do in Scandinavia. And you could probably spend 3 months in Scandinavia and still not see everything it has to offer. So I'll stick to the highlights and provide some lesser-known activities I would recommend and I'll do it by country.
Let's start with Denmark. Copenhagen is an obvious choice if you only have a little time. A beautiful city with canals and castles. For castles, I recommend Fredericksborg Castle and UNESCO heritage Kronborg Castle. Both are a bit outside of the city, but are worth the trip to see. While in
Copenhagen, I'd also recommend finding a spa to relax at. There are a number of options, including Kastrup Sea Baths.
If you want to spend more time in Denmark, I suggest going to Billund, the birthplace of Lego. You can read more about it here. It's too far for a day trip fromCopenhagen but one or two days is all you need to spend there.
Next, we'll go to Stockholm. A few days in Stockholm is only enough to get a taste of the city. Stockholm is the largest of the Scandinavian cities, and as such has a lot to offer within the city itself. Even if you aren't into museums or history or boats, I highly recommend the Vasa Ship museum be towards the top of your list. Not only is the story of this ship incredible, you also get to walk all around the outside of the ship itself and see just how majestic it is.
The two other things I recommend you do is to get out on the waterways by kayak or paddleboard. You'll get an appreciation of the city from the water that you wont get on the city streets. It's a wonderful way to spend a summer afternoon. The second is to enjoy the craft beer scene. Stockholm has a plethora of craft taprooms serving up local brews. One of them is located in an old church, a pretty unique setting.
If you have time you should take it to get out of the city for a little while. The Swedish landscape is beautiful; it reminded me somewhat of parts of Minnesota, where I'm from. For a real taste of nature, go to Tyresta National Park, which is accessible by public transportation from Stockholm, or you can rent a car for the day to do further exploring while there.
I save the best of the Scandinavian countries for last, Norway. Oslo is considered a sleepy town. For being the largest city in Norway with about a population a little under a million people, it definitely has a calm feel to it. That doesn't mean there isn't a ton to experience.
There are numerous world-class museums to explore in Oslo. My favorite was the Viking ship museum. However, it is closed until sometime in 2027. But in the meantime, you can visit the Kon Tiki Museum, the Munch Museum or the Norsk Folkemuseum. If you'd rather be outdoors to do some hiking, take the number 1 line from Oslo Central to the last stop at Frognerseteren where you'll find a web of hiking trails just outside of the city.
While there is the Oslofjord in Oslo, you don't get a feel for the majestic beauty of the fjords until you get to the west coast of Norway. The easiest place to do this is in Norway's 2nd largest city, Bergen. Within Bergen, there are plenty of opportunities to immerse yourself in Norwegian culture with the UNESCO heritage Bryggen Wharf and the nearby fish market. Outside of the city both the King and Queen of the fjords, the Songnefjord and Hardangerfjord, are easy day trips from Bergen, as is the majestic Voringfossen waterfall.
The village of Alesund is the other stop I highly recommend in Norway. You can read all about Alesund here. From Alesund, you can visit the UNESCO World Heritage Geirangerfjord. You can also visit the Atlantic Ocean road or take one of the most underrated hikes in Norway at Ramsdalseggen, which you can read about here. You could easily spend a week in and around Alesund and find plenty of adventures.
Realistically, if you want to visit all of the Scandinavian countries in one trip, this is about as much as you can pack in without overwhelming yourself. Trust me, I know from experience.
Why it's worth it
A multi-country trip for your first time to any of the Scandinavian countries is a great way to get a taste of what each has to offer. With multiple transportation options and the close proximity between the countries, you can easily visit all three in a trip that is 10 days or longer. Then, depending on your desires, you can spend more time in one country than the others. Or you can decide you want to come back for a longer journey. There is a ton to offer in each of the Scandinavian destinations. Which one do you want to visit first?