In Scandinavia, a guard at Amalienborg Palace, Copenhagen
Too many travelers believe Scandinavia is much too expensive. They’re wrong…
By Jim Ferri
Many travelers would love to travel to Scandinavia.
But for some there always seems to be a reason to put off the trip. It’s too long a flight…the cities are so far apart…the languages are incomprehensible. And, of course, the most famous of all: Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark are way too expensive.
Midnight sun in central Finland
I’ve harbored each of those excuses at one time or another. And from experience, I can tell you they’re all inaccurate.
The Facts About Travel in Scandinavia
Just because Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark are way up north on the map doesn’t mean they’re difficult to reach. On today’s modern planes, flights to Scandinavia have never been shorter.
It now takes the same time to fly from New York to Copenhagen, Oslo or Stockholm as it does to Paris. Helsinki is about an hour further, the same time it takes to fly to Rome. And as for that language barrier, it’s almost non-existent since most Scandinavians speak perfect English. Much better than me, anyway.
Finally, there’s that expense factor, which isn’t as accurate as many expect.
Stockholm Harbor
Furthermore, the dollar now buys about 30% more in Scandinavia than it did just three years ago.
The one caveat, of course, is that it’s anyone’s guess as to whether that will remain true. Nevertheless, it likely will stay less costly than Scandinavia was decades ago.
Cutting Hotel and Food Costs in Scandinavia
During several trips to Scandinavia, I’ve found that the Internet and common sense can significantly mitigate one’s costs.
It’s well worth your time, for example, to search the Internet for good two-star hotels. Although the rooms in two-star hotels are usually smaller, in Scandinavia they’re clean and comfortable. I’ve stayed in the Danish chain Cabinn City, near Copenhagen’s Central Station and Tivoli, and although the rooms are quite small, the price was excellent.
If you’re looking for a low-cost hotel or hostel go to Booking.com. Enter your dates and desired city and then click “Lowest Price First” to sort. Their bookings are risk free since you can cancel at any time. As with any online-booked hotel, just be sure to read non-biased reviews before making your choce.
Food vendors in Helsinki’s Market Square
You can also cut your food costs in Scandinavia without sacrificing quality. At a nice, upscale restaurant in Copenhagen’s Tivoli Gardens, I enjoyed a very good sampler plate of four entrees (more than I could finish), with wine for about $30. For the same price in Oslo, I had a quite good meal with wine at a pasta restaurant. In Bergen, I had an excellent dinner of venison along with half a carafe of good wine at Holberg-Stuen, a popular local restaurant, for $50.
And when dining in Scandinavia, don’t just think of restaurants. Dine in food markets/halls to mix with locals and cut costs. I enjoy the Östermalm Food Hall in Stockholm. At a food stand in Helsinki’s Market Square, I enjoyed reindeer meatballs, wurst, potatoes and a beer for $12.
Planning Your Trip to Scandinavia
You can cut costs while enjoying a good sampling of Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark. Plan to spend 14 days in Northern Europe, not including your flights there and back. Fly first to Helsinki and then travel west.
View from the train of the “Roof of Europe” in Norway
Arrive in Helsinki the morning of Day1 and depart via air for Stockholm on the afternoon of Day 3. The morning of Day 6 fly from Stockholm to Bergen, Norway. Spend 1½ days in Bergen, departing on the morning of Day 8 for a ferry cruise on a fjord. The cruise connects with a trip on the world-famous and spectacular Flam Railway. This is followed by a rail trip across the “Roof of Europe,” the barren yet beautiful Hardangervidda Plateau. You’ll arrive in Oslo late that night. Spend Day 9 in Oslo, departing by air for Copenhagen the afternoon of Day 10. Spend Day 11 in Copenhagen, and depart for home on Day 12.
“What?” you ask. “I thought you said it would be a 14-day trip in Scandinavia.” Yes, I did – but I left two days for you to insert wherever you’d like to linger a bit longer.
Following the above Scandinavian itinerary, I spent one additional day in Oslo, the other taking the train to Copenhagen. The trip was eight hours long, but it was quite enjoyable since I enjoy train travel. It all worked out quite well.
Finally, plan to buy the special city tourist cards that provide reduced transportation rates. Most also provide for free admission to many of the sites you’ll want to see. And, of course, they’ll save you some time.
Now, some good things to enjoy along the way.
Senate Square, Helsinki
Helsinki, Finland (Day 1)
Helsinki anchors the Scandinavian Peninsula to Russia and the Continent. It’s a mix of east and west that’s quite evident in its architecture.
It’s also a compact place that’s easy to explore on a tour or by foot. Start your city tour at Helsinki Cathedral, the white neoclassical building that’s become a symbol of the city. Climb its steps that face the city’s historic Senate Square, and you’ll be rewarded with a beautiful view of the area and the city beyond.
Walk down the steps and through the historic 18th-century quarter in front of you; After a block or two, you’ll come to Market Square on the harbor, the hub of the city’s waterfront. From the market turn west and walk up the Esplanade, one of the prettiest boulevards in Europe.
The Sibelius Monument, Helsinki
The Esplanade is lined with some well-known shops such as Louis Vuitton, as well as cafés and coffee bars. You’ll also see the store for Marimekko, the fabrics popularized by Jackie Kennedy and still popular today. (Marimekko has its annual sales in June/July and January.)
Be sure to see the Sibelius Monument, dedicated to the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius, with its soaring stainless steel tubes. Nearby, visit the Temppeliaukio Underground Church and the Kiasma, the city’s museum of contemporary art.
If there’s time also spend a half-day at the harbor sea fortress of Suomenlinna (the largest in the world, courtesy of Sweden’s occupation).
For foodies, the gourmet food and wine festival Taste of Helsinki takes place June 15-18, 2017. The city’s Baltic Herring Festival (Silakkamarkkinat), an ancient tradition in Helsinki, takes place October 1-7, 2017.
Depart Helsinki on the afternoon of Day 3 for the three-hour flight to Stockholm.
Gamla Stan on Stockholm Harbor
Stockholm, Sweden (Day 3)
If your closest contact with Sweden has been Volvo, IKEA, Absolut, or those little meatballs, a visit to Stockholm will provide some pleasant surprises.
Stockholm is a beautiful city built on fourteen islands with ten centuries of history and Scandinavian culture. It’s one of the top 10 places in Sweden to visit.
First and foremost, leave a good bit of time to wander about Gamla Stan, the old city. Here you’ll find a web of cobbled streets and alleyways, boutiques and antiques, restaurants and cafés. You’ll also find the Nobel Museum and the Royal Palace, the largest in Europe. Although the Royal family no longer lives there, the changing of its guard is one of Stockholm’s most popular attractions. (The Royal Family now resides in Drottningholm Palace, about seven miles outside of town.)
A café in Gamla Stan, Stockholm
Certainly visit City Hall, the venue for the Nobel Prize Award dinner that’s held every December. Take the 45-minute guided tour, during which you’ll likely be impressed by Golden Hall, where more than 18 million pieces of gold and glass mosaics cover the walls.
Also be sure to visit the Vasa Museum (free with the Stockholm Pass. It’s unlike any other museum anywhere, a celebration of the ignominious launch of a warship in 1628. (It sank after sailing barely ¾ mile on its maiden voyage). You’ll find the museum on the harbor shore, almost hidden behind the Nordic Museum, reached via tram #7. It’s fascinating.
Walk along Strandvägen, Stockholm’s answer to New York’s Fifth Avenue. Then head over to the Östermalm Food Hall, that’s not far away. It’s a great Old World food hall set inside a beautiful old medieval brick building. Good for lunch and a few samplings.
At day’s end, watch the sunset from Södra Blasieholmskajen on the east side of the harbor near the National Museum.
Hanseatic Wharf in Bergen, Norway
Bergen, Norway (Day 6)
Bergen is a charming small best travel Scandinavian city, quite easy to walk about in a day. Its claim to fame is its history as a port of the powerful Hanseatic League in the 13th century.
See the old colorful Hanseatic Wharf, and the offices and living quarters of the men who worked here. Today they are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and are home to dozens of shops, galleries, and restaurants.
For a beautiful view of the city and its fjord take the nearby Fløibanen funicular to the top of Fløyen, 1050 feet above sea level.
A Kode Museum in Bergen, Norway
If you walk instead toward the ocean and you’ll reach the Bergenhus Fortress. Inside are the Royal Residence and banquet hall built in the 13th century, when Bergen was the capital of Norway. Built to protect the harbor, the fortress has been in use as recently as World Wart II.
At the head of the harbor adjacent to the wharf, you’ll find the fish market, a lively place. It’s one of the few places where you’ll find a polar bear, albeit stuffed, standing at its full height. It’s also a good place to grab a bite to eat whether you want fish or just a sandwich.
In addition to the Hanseatic Wharf, the most well known of Bergen’s museums are a clutch of galleries about a 15-minute walk away. Numbered one through four, they are called Kode and house international art treasures ranging from classical to contemporary.
Aboard the Flam Railway in Norway
Flam and the Trip to Oslo (Day 8)
The next morning depart Bergen a little after 8:00 via railway, bus and ferry to the town of Flam. Don’t worry about the connections – on these Norway in a Nutshell tours everything works like clockwork.
Kjosfossen Waterfall along the Flam Railway
The ferry ride up the beautiful Aurlandfjord leaves you in the town of Flam where you’ll board the Flam Railway. It will take you to Myrdal to connect with the train to Oslo.
The Fläm Railway – described by some as “take-your-breath-away” Scandinavian trip – is one of the most beautiful in the world. While the ride from Fläm to Myrdal is only 12½ miles, it takes 50 minutes to go from sea level to 2,800 feet, on switchbacks and through 20 tunnels on some of the steepest “normal” tracks in the world.
En route from Myrdal to Oslo you’ll cross, as noted earlier, you’ll cross the Hardangervidda Plateau, the “Roof of Europe.”
A restaurant in Aker Brygge, Oslo
Oslo (Day 9)
Oslo is a laid back, quiet Scandinavian city, revitalized in recent years by North Sea oil money. It’s a wonderful city to visit with much to do.
The most visible fragment of this rebirth is the spectacular Oslo Opera House on the harbor. It’s often compared to an iceberg for the way its jagged shape seemingly rises up out of the water.
Visit the nearby Nobel Peace Center, a fascinating small state-of-the-art museum. Close by is Aker Brygge, a former shipyard that is now a hip and attractive car-free area filled with shops, restaurants, and cafés.
Anchored to it by a small bridge is Tjunholmen, the city’s newest glittering borough. Tjunholmen is two small islands chockablock with galleries, restaurants and Oslo’s Museum of Modern Art.
Look out from Tjunholmen, and you’ll find it hard to believe the city has more than 600,000 residents. That’s because it’s spread out over an expanse four times the area of Paris with a huge amount of green space throughout it.
The Viking Ship Museum, Oslo
A prominent piece of this Scandinavian green space is Frogner Park, home to the incredible – and to some, disturbing – Vigeland Sculptures. Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland’s 212 life-size nude sculptures show the breath of humanity in all stages of life. It’s the most popular attraction in Norway.
From the park, you can take the #30 bus out to Bygdøy Peninsula, a museum-loaded spit of land on the far side of the harbor.
Here you’ll find four of the city’s popular museums. First is the Norsk Folkemuseum, with more than 150 buildings from all over Norway. Further along is the Viking Ship Museum, the closest you’ll ever get to the Viking civilization. In the Kon-Tiki Museum, you’ll learn about the famous voyage across the South Pacific; the Fram tells the story of Norwegian polar exploration.
Nyhavn in Copenhagen
Copenhagen, Denmark (Day 10)
You can do a lot in Copenhagen in a day or so since everything is fairly centrally located.
If you’re starting out from Central Station, head towards Stroget. It’s Copenhagen’s famous shopping street and the longest pedestrian street in the world. Along the way, you’ll pass Christiansborg Palace with its copper-clad steeples, the seat of the Danish Parliament.
It’s only about a 10-15 minute walk from Stroget to picturesque Nyhavn where 18th-century gabled townhouses line a harbor-side promenade. Hans Christian Andersen lived in several during his lifetime.
The Little Mermaid, Copenhagen
Continue on to Amalienborg Palace, home of the Danish Royal Family. Only about a 10-minute walk away, the palace is actually four identical rococo buildings, quite stately and palatial-looking.
The world-renowned 100+-year-old statue of the Little Mermaid sits on the edge of the harbor about a 15-minute walk from Amalienborg Palace. You can also reach the mermaid via Bus #26 (Langelinie stop), with stops at Central Station, Nyhavn, and Rosenborg Castle.
Rosenborg Castle is a 15-minute ride from the Little Mermaid, and it’s well worth the trip. The former summer palace, it’s another step back in time in a city that sometimes seems lost in time.
Rosenborg is a beautiful castle in a beautiful park, its design influenced by the Renaissance architecture of the Netherlands. It’s now the home to the Royal Treasury that contains both regalia and jewels.
No visit to Copenhagen is complete without a visit to Tivoli Gardens, the most famous theme park in Scandinavia. Although it’s now a bit commercialized, it’s still magical in the evening under its twinkling lights. If you have a late train or flight, have dinner there, since Central Station is just across the street. You can leave your luggage at the station, so there’s no need to drag your belongings with you.
Editor’s Note: you may also enjoy Top Places To Visit in Italy, Things to Do in Ljubljana, and Best Greek Islands
If you go:
Rail Europe https://www.raileurope.com/
2 weeks -14 days including airfare/travel Tampa Florida USA to Stockholm, Oslo, and Copenhagen 2 adults – hotel included
some tours- train OK also skip Finland Cost per person in USD =?
Hi Michael,
You’ll have to speak with a travel agent to ascertain your costs. It’s a great trip.
Jim
Hi Jim,
ls the itinerary above applicable during winter?Thank you.
Hi Jane,
You can replicate this trip during the winter. In fact, your costs may even be lower then, since it’s the off-season and you’re doing a self-tour.
The only organized tour is the Norway in a Nutshell segment — but they also offer those tours in the winter. You can see more here: https://www.norwaynutshell.com/norway-in-a-nutshell-winter-tour/
Dress warmly though — it can get quite cold in Scandinavia in the winter, especially in the fjords.
Let me know if you have other questions, and have a great trip!
Jim
“Spend 1½ days in Bergen, departing on the morning of Day 8 for a ferry cruise on a fjord. The cruise connects with a trip on the world-famous and spectacular Flam Railway. This is followed by a rail trip across the “Roof of Europe,” the barren yet beautiful Hardangervidda Plateau. You’ll arrive in Oslo late that night. Spend Day 9 in Oslo”
hello! i don’t understand, how am i supposed to get to oslo?
Hi,
The Flam Railway train runs between Flam and Myrdal. At Myrdal it connects with the train to Oslo. The train ride from Flam takes about an hour, from Myrdal to Oslo about six hours.
Hi Jim,
You picked me up in hitchhiking in Northern Greece many decades ago when I was backpacking through Europe, and I still travel cheap. Here’s three lodging tips for anyone traveling light and making their own itinerary. 1. Copenhagen is expensive, but the Danhostel near the center of the city is cheap, clean, quiet, and comfy. My wife and I got a double there for a few days. 2. In Helsinki, we stayed in a university dormitory that was like an efficiency apartment It was very nice and quite reasonable. Sorry, can’t remember its name though. I think we found it through the tourist office. 3. The all-night sleeper train from Helsinki to Kemijarvi above the Arctic Circle provides excellent transportation and a bed at a good rate. It’s called the Santa Claus Express and makes a stop in Rovaniemi, his “hometown”. Skal and have fun – Stan
I will always remember Stan McGahey who I picked up hitchhiking in Northern Greece long ago. Night was falling and you were near a military base in a not-so-good area, which made the situation a bit unsafe. With a large, hairy sheepdog in the back of our station wagon, and my wife and baby daughter in the front we crammed you and two other hitchhikers in the back seat. One was a young Canadian woman, the other that crazy guy returning, he said, from working in the diamond mines in South Africa.
Oh, the people you meet on the road!!! It was such an interesting trip back up to Germany.
Thank you for all your tips. I must try them.
We are a family of three . We start from Bombay (India) on the 18th of May and we will be following the itinerary suggested by you . At the end we will be in Amsterdam for three nights . Thanks .
Hi Mickey,
I hope you have a wonderful time in Scandinavia. You’ll also love Amsterdam.
Hi Jim , We will be taking the Norway in a nutshell tour from Bergen to Oslo . I just hope changing so many modes of transport with our luggage doesn’t turn out to be cumbersome . Hopefully there will be space provided for luggage in all the modes . Your view on this will be appreciated . Thanks .
Great Work Jim, We are travelling in June. However we are thinking of adding Tallin to our trip. Is it worth going there.
Thanks
Hi Vikas, I haven’t been to Tallinn in years but I’m planning on heading back there in July. I would add it for a day trip or an overnight (probably from Helsinki) if I were you. I love these old cities with great old towns that look as if they’ve been plucked out of time. Stay long enough and maybe I’ll bump into you there!
Hi Jim,
We are 2.5 family and want to experience Scandinavian countries in October end for a 10 day trip.
We would like to cram train travel with possibly boat / ship also.
Would welcome your assistance.
Rgds, SS
Hi Sanjay,
I think the best thing you can do is look at “Norway in a Nutshell” — they have many trips that include all those elements. You may want to also contact Visit Sweden for things to do in that country.
I hope you have a great trip — it sounds quite exciting!
Jim
Great itinerary. Planning this for the summer of 2019.
Any part of the trip between countries, that I can skip air travel and use the train?
Please suggest.
Thanks
Maddy
Hi Maddy, If you don’t wish to fly, take the train from Helsinki to Turku and then the ferry to Stockholm. The ferry can get quite crowded in the summer, however. I liked the late afternoon/evening cruise to Stockholm, which was beautiful in some spots. From Stockholm you can train anywhere. Also the train from Oslo to Bergen (or vice versa) across the highest plateau in Europe is beautiful and spectacular. This is a great trip. I hope you have a great time!
Had a fantastic vacation . Followed your itinerary to the T . Norway in a nutshell was spectacular . Thanks Jim .
Mickey Sachar
Hi Mickey,
I’m glad you had such a good time! In many ways I envy you since you were on a trip that I enjoyed so much! Hopefully, I’ll get back to Scandinavia soon.
Hi Jim,
Im planning to travel to these countries next year, March. What is your thought in squeezing 3 days to see Northern Lights in Finland (Lapland I Guess).
Thank you in advance for the response.
Hi Leexee,
I think it’s a great idea since you’ll be in the right part of the world for seeing the Northern Lights. And yes, it should be Lapland.
One note of caution, however, is that you’ll need several nights in order to better your chances of seeing the lights. Being there for 3 days would mean 2 nights. If you can squeeze in a third night you’ll increase your chances of having a clear sky for one of those nights, which is critical since you can’t see the lights if the sky isn’t clear. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you.
Jim
Hello
I’m planning for a 2 week trip to all 4 countries in October
Is it fine at that time also what about commuting inter cities, is it costly?
Regards
Ieshan
Just discovered overnight ferry service between Oslo and Denmark and the accommodations were quite good and food excellent. Definitely a mini cruise experience with great views of the fjord as you leave Oslo- boat departs at 4:30 from near the Opera House. Leaving from Denmark means you might miss that view so not sure I would recommend that. The company is DFDS.
Hi Kelli,
This is a great bit of info. Thanks for sharing it with all of us.
The name of this article is a misnomer as there’s hardly any mention of real expenses. Besides, the author thought everyone lives in the US.
Hi Rituparna,
On many blogposts it’s meaningless to provide actual costs since they constantly change throughout the year. In addition, everyone will have a different budget in mind.The post is meant to show how you can lower your costs while traveling through Scandinavia.
Jim
Hi Jim, interesting tour!! Tqvm. My husband and me intend to go through how you did it in Early July 2020. Our flight will be from Kuala Lumpur Malaysia to Helsinki
I hope you have a wonderful trip through Scandinavia. Just remember that July-August is high season in Scandinavia – if you need reservations anywhere, make them as far in advance as possible. For the most part you’ll find the tourist offices there very helpful.
Hi Jim,
I would like to travel from Copenhagen to Rovaniemi for 2 days 21st to 23rd May 2020 with my 8 year old son.
what would be the options to visit Santa Claus as that is the only and main attraction of visit.
Also any suggestions to a reasonable stay in an igloo room?
Hi Jim,
This is Rakesh here from India. Planning trip to Scandinavian countries with my family (me, wife & youth daughter) during April, May 2020. I m planning Helsinki(2days), Reykjavik(3days), Norway(7days) & Sweden(3days).
Can you help me with the itinerary for the same with your valued suggestions.
Regards
Hi Rakesh,
This sounds like a great trip! I suggest that you schedule to start in Helsinki,then Sweden, Norway, and finish in Iceland. You could also reverse that itinerary although I think Helsinki would be a good first stop since it (and Reykjavik) are so different from Sweden and Norway. You can see a lot in Norway in 7 days. The fjords are spectacular! You’ll need a travel advisor/agent to put together the itinerary, however. In Norway you may want to look into their “Norway in a Nutshell” tours, which are very good and put together well — they work like clockwork. You can also easily book those yourself. In Sweden I’d spend the full 3 days in Stockholm, perhaps possibly taking 1 day trip outside the city. In Reykjavik you’ll definitely want to spend a day or two outside the city. Plan to travel in May, if possible, when the weather will be better. Let me know if I can provide you with additional info. Have a great trip! By the way, how old is your daughter?
Hi Jim,
I’m Dyah from Jakarta, Indonesia. I’m planning to have a trip to Denmark (4 days), Sweden (4 days), and Norway (4 days) in late August next year. Do you have any recommendation for a female solo traveller?
Thanks!
Hi Dyah,
You should have a wonderful time. Scandinavia is a great place to travel solo sine it’s relatively safe, easy to get around, and English is almost universally spoken. In Denmark and Sweden I’d spend 2 days in the city and the rest of your time on day trips outside the capitals. In Norway I’d spend one day in Oslo and then book a “Norway in a Nutshell” tour out to the fjords, since the scenery there is so spectacular and the tours run like clockwork. You can see them here: https://www.norwaynutshell.com/. Whatever you choose to do you’ll have agreat time in a great part of the world.
Jim
Hi Jim,
My wife and I will be traveling to Finland from 5 to 17 Feb ‘20 but we have no idea how we should plan our itinerary as we also like to visit and explore as much as possible during our trip there! (:
I am also afraid that spending a few days in each country would be insufficient.
Hope you could give us some valuable advices and tips! Thank you in advance!
Hi Milton,
Please accept my apology for the long delay in answering you. During the Christmas holidays I took a holiday — and am just catching up. Although I’ve traveled a bit about Finland I’ve never done it in the winter. Because of that I think you should contact the folks at Visit Finland (www.visitfinland.com). They are usually very helpful. The site also provides a trip planning service: https://trip-planner.visitfinland.com/. I’m sorry that I can’t be more helpful but I think it’s in your best interest to go to the most knowledgeable people.
I hope you and your wife have a wonderful trip.
Jim
HI Jim:
Advice on adding the Northern Lights to this itinerary ? We plan to go sometime in the near future.
Hi Roberto,
That’s really a tough question since it adds another expense to seeing Scandinavia on a budget. But it can be done – the problem is finding the way that fits in your budget (and holiday/vacation time).
Remember that you’ll need to travel up north to the Arctic, and the Scandinavian countries are REALLY long. Norway in a Nutshell has a 7-day program that will add $2300+ to your trip, for example. On the other hand, traveling to northern Sweden by train is much less expensive – you can also fly to Kiruna up north from Stockholm and then take a bus to a national park in about 6 hours for (hopefully) good viewing for a few hundred dollars.
I did some research and found a good website that addresses all of this throughout Scandinavian, which should be a great source of info for you: https://www.routesnorth.com. Check out this tour in Sweden that for about $250 provides a two-hour or so tour to see the Northern Lights in a national park including a camera to use (it doesn’t include the cost of getting there, however, but it should be less expensive than in other Scandinavian countries). Go to: https://www.routesnorth.com/tours-and-tickets/aurora-photo-tour-abisko-autumn/.
I hope this was of some help, or at least gets you headed in the right direction.
Jim… This is very useful thank you