Scandinavia Itinerary (2024)

By Rick Steves

So much to see, so little time. How to choose? To help you get started, I've listed my top picks for where to go in Scandinavia, and my plan for your best three-week trip, whether by car or train and boat.

Depending on the length of your trip, and taking geographical proximity into account, here are my recommended priorities:

  • 4 days: Copenhagen, Stockholm (connected by a 5.5-hour express train)
  • 6 days, add: Oslo
  • 8 days, add: Norway in a Nutshell fjord trip, Bergen
  • 10 days, add: Overnight cruise from Stockholm to Helsinki
  • 14 days, add: Ærø, Odense, Roskilde, Frederiksborg (all in Denmark)
  • 17 days, add: Aarhus (Denmark), Kalmar (Sweden)
  • 21 days, add: Tallinn (Estonia) and more time in capitals
  • 24 days, add: More Norwegian countryside or Stockholm's archipelago

Rick’s Best Three-Week Scandinavia Trip by Car

Scandinavia Itinerary (1)Day 1: Arrive in Copenhagen (sleep in Copenhagen)

Day 2: Copenhagen (sleep in Copenhagen)

Day 3: Copenhagen (sleep in Copenhagen)

Day 4: Sights near Copenhagen, into Sweden (sleep in Växjö)

Day 5: Växjö, Glass Country, Kalmar(sleep in Kalmar)

Day 6: Kalmar to Stockholm (sleep in Stockholm)

Day 7: Stockholm (sleep in Stockholm)

Day 8: Stockholm, night boat to Helsinki (sleep on boat)

Day 9: Helsinki, night boat back to Stockholm (sleep on boat)

Day 10: Uppsala to Oslo (sleep in Oslo)

Day 11: Oslo (sleep in Oslo)

Day 12: Oslo (sleep in Oslo)

Day 13: Lillehammer, Gudbrandsdal Valley (sleep in Jotunheimen area)

Day 14: Jotunheimen Country (sleep in Lustrafjord area or Aurland)

Day 15: Sognejord, Norway in a Nutshell (sleep in Bergen)

Day 16: Bergen (sleep in Bergen)

Day 17: Long drive south, Setesdal Valley (sleep in Kristiansand)

Day 18: Jutland, Aarhus, maybe Legoland (sleep in Aarhus, maybe Billund)

Day 19: Jutland to Odense en route to Ærø (sleep in Ærøskøbing)

Day 20: Ærø (sleep in Ærøskøbing)

Day 21: Roskilde on the way into Copenhagen (sleep in Copenhagen)

Flying into Copenhagen and out of Bergen (with a likely transfer in Copenhagen) can be wonderfully efficient; if you opt for this, see Jutland and Ærø sights near Copenhagen at the beginning of your trip.

Rick’s Best Three-Week Scandinavia Trip by Train and Boat

Day 1: Arrive in Copenhagen (sleep in Copenhagen)

Day 2: Copenhagen (sleep in Copenhagen)

Day 3: Copenhagen (sleep in Copenhagen)

Day 4: Roskilde, Odense, Ærø (sleep in Ærøskøbing)

Day 5: Ærø (sleep in Ærøskøbing)

Day 6: Ærø to Kalmar (sleep in Kalmar)

Day 7: Kalmar (sleep in Kalmar)

Day 8: Kalmar, early train to Stockholm (sleep in Stockholm)

Day 9: Stockholm (sleep in Stockholm)

Day 10: Stockholm, night boat to Helsinki (sleep on boat)

Day 11: Helsinki (sleep in Helsinki)

Day 12: Helsinki, afternoon boat to Tallinn (sleep in Tallinn)

Day 13: Tallinn, night boat to Stockholm (sleep on boat)

Day 14: Stockholm, afternoon train to Oslo (sleep in Oslo)

Day 15: Oslo (sleep in Oslo)

Day 16: Oslo (sleep in Oslo)

Day 17: Train and boat to Aurland (sleep in Aurland)

Day 18: Aurland to Bergen via fjord cruise (sleep in Bergen)

Day 19: Bergen (sleep in Bergen)

Day 20: Free day: more fjords, resting, or whatever

Day 21: Trip over; consider splicing in an extra day for sights in and near either Copenhagen or Stockholm

If you want to see Legoland (near Billund) and the "bog man" (in Aarhus), visit these from Odense (closer) or Copenhagen. You could save lots of time by flying from Tallinn to Oslo.

Scandinavia Itinerary (2024)

FAQs

How many days are enough for Scandinavia? ›

EXPERIENCE SCANDINAVIA IN 15 DAYS

A Scandinavia itinerary of 15 days means you can explore the region at leisure, as well as nearby destinations like Bergen or Helsinki and Tallinn. We can add extra nights to these tours if you want to see Scandinavia in 15 days.

What is the best way to see Scandinavia? ›

Give or take a port or two, there's perhaps no better or easier way to see Denmark, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden — collectively considered as the broader Scandinavia — than by cruise ship.

What is the best month to visit Scandinavia? ›

No surprise here: June, July and August are the most popular months for travellers coming to Scandinavia. There are loads of reasons why people choose this time, not least of all being the temperate, sunny weather and the wonderful 'summer house' coastal culture found throughout the region.

What Scandinavian countries can you see in 2 weeks? ›

EXPERIENCE SCANDINAVIA IN 2 WEEKS

A Scandinavia itinerary of two weeks means you can explore Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo at leisure. You could also visit destinations nearby like Bergen and the fjords, Gothenburg, or Helsinki and Tallinn.

What is the best Scandinavian country for Americans? ›

What Is the Best Scandinavian Country to Move to From the USA? Nordic countries for US expats are Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. Norway offers stunning natural landscapes, a strong economy, and a high standard of living, making it attractive for outdoor enthusiasts and professionals alike.

Is Scandinavia expensive to visit? ›

Scandinavia is considered by a lot of tourists and visitors to be relatively expensive compared to their own country, specifically referring to consumer goods which are often the only exposure for visitors.

What is the nicest country in Scandinavia? ›

After analyzing all of these countries, Finland is the best Scandinavian country to live in and worth visiting in all terms.

Which Scandinavian country has the most tourists? ›

Denmark accounted for five out of ten overnight stays made by international tourists in the Nordic countries in 2022, while Sweden followed second with a share of 25 percent. In total, Denmark counted more than 30 million overnight stays by foreign visitors in 2022.

Which country to combine with Norway? ›

One can easily vacation entirely in Norway, but if your group is interested in combining Norway with its Scandinavian neighbors (Denmark and Sweden), it is easily done.

What is the cheapest Scandinavian country to fly into from the US? ›

Out of all of Scandinavia, Denmark is the cheapest to visit – especially if you visit early February which is usually always the most cost-effective time to fly and stay.

Which is the cheapest Nordic country to visit? ›

For those of you who consider a budget holiday in Scandinavia, this is good news. Sweden is as it is now 26% cheaper than Norway and a whopping 28% cheaper than Denmark.

What is the best Scandinavian capital to visit? ›

Copenhagen

Copenhagen is consistently rated as one of the happiest cities in the world, and it's not hard to see why. In the capital of Denmark, you can experience Michelin-starred restaurants, grand sites like castles and palaces, and cutting-edge galleries. You may have heard about Copenhagen's green credentials too.

How long to stay in Scandinavia? ›

Spending 10 days in Scandinavia is a trip that should be on everyone's bucket list. Whether you are looking for beautiful nature, charming cities, or fascinating history you will find it somewhere in this itinerary.

How many days are enough for Norway? ›

Either way, five days is just enough time to see Norway in a nutshell® and the above travel itinerary should help you make the most of your time.

How many days are enough for Sweden? ›

With our help, you'll be able to make the most of your time in Sweden and create a trip you'll never forget. 10 days is plenty of time to explore and see the best of what this beautiful country has to offer.

How many days to visit Copenhagen and Stockholm? ›

Depending on the length of your trip, and taking geographical proximity into account, here are my recommended priorities: 4 days: Copenhagen, Stockholm (connected by a 5.5-hour express train) 6 days, add: Oslo.

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